US3853136A

US3853136A - Self-centering foldable umbrella structure

Info

Publication number: US3853136A
Application number: US00390509A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Schwartzenberg
Original assignee: STORM HERO UMBRELLA CO Inc
Current assignee: STORM HERO UMBRELLA CO Inc
Priority date: 1973-08-22
Filing date: 1973-08-22
Publication date: 1974-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-10

Abstract

The invention relates to a foldable umbrella structure having improved safety and durability factors resulting from a unique construction wherein the umbrella shaft does not penetrate the cover, the cover, instead, being disposed over the shaft and being free of any connection to the shaft. The cover is fixedly connected at its margins to the distal or outermost ends of the cover supporting ribs, the innermost ends of the ribs terminating in spaced relation to the shaft. The cover is free from fixed connection to the umbrella frame except at the margins whereby the cover is self-centering relative to the shaft. The apex of the cover is provided with a wear resistant cap which may readily be deflected upon impact, providing a safety feature.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Schwartzenberg Dec. 10, 1974 [75] Inventor: Julius M. Schwartzenberg, White Plains, NY.

[73] Assignee: Storm Hero Umbrella Co., Inc.', New

York, NY.

[22] Filed: Aug. 22, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 390,509

[52] US. Cl, 135/25 R [51] Int. Cl A45b 19/00 [58] Field of Search 135/20 .R, 25 R, 26

[5 6] References, Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 16,340 l/l857 Selden 135/25 R 1,824,192 9/1931 Bouma 135/25 R 2,076,525 4/1937 Bouma l35/25 R 3,467,115 9/l969 Brooks et al 135/25 R SELF-CENTERING FOLDABLE UMBRELLA STRUCTURE Primary Examiner-J. Karl Bell Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Mark T. Basseches; Paula T. Basseches [57] ABSTRACT The invention relates to a foldable umbrella structure having improved safety and durability factors resulting from a unique construction wherein the umbrella shaft does not penetrate the cover, the cover, instead, being disposed over the shaft and being free of any connection to the shaft. The cover is fixedly connected at its margins to the distal or outermost ends of the cover supporting ribs, the innermost ends of the ribs terminating in spaced relation to the shaft. The cover is free from fixed connection to the umbrella frame except at the margins whereby the cover is self-centering relative to the shaft. The apex of the cover is provided with a wear resistant cap which may readily be deflected upon impact, providing a safety feature.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SELF-CENTERING FOLDABLE UMBRELL I STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is directed to an improvement in umbrellas of the foldable type.

2. The Prior Art Conventionally, umbrellas comprise a shaft, a collapsible frame mounted on the shaft and a cover. The frame includes ribs which typically are pivotally connected at their inner ends to-the shaft and extend to the margins of the cover, to stretch the same to a desired configuration.

In still other forms of umbrellas, the ribs are not connected directly to the shaft but, rather, may be supported by linkage which shifts the ribs between their extended or operative, and collapsed or inoperative positions.

In known umbrellas, the central portion or apex of the umbrella cover is secured to the umbrella shaft. Typically the shaft extends through the cover, terminating in a wear resisting tip or projection.

Such known umbrellas incorporate deficiencies. The exposed tip, projection or extension of a usual umbrella, especially where the same is pointed, is afrequent cause of accidents and injuries.

A further deficiency of conventional umbrella constructions is the susceptibility of the cover to ripping or tearing in the area of the umbrella tips.

I have discovered that a cause of such wear and destruction of the umbrella cover and stitching is the fact that in conventional umbrellas the cover is secured to the frame both at the tip and the shaft. Minor variations in manufacturing tolerances, and particularly variations in the length of the cover between the points of affixation to the tip and shaft, may result in substantially different stresses being applied to specific areas of the cover and to the supporting framework, which stresses, if excessive, manifest themselves most often in severing of the connections between cover and rib tip. Additionally, uneven stress distribution may result in frame distortions.

SUMMARY The present invention may be summarized as directed to an improved umbrella device characterized by the cover being fixedly attached to the frame solely at the tips of the ribs, the cover overlying and being unconnected, and hence transversely movable relative to the umbrella shaft. The cover is free to shift lengthwise relatively to the ribs except at the rib tips. Connections may be provided between the cover and ribs other than at the rib tips, such connections preferably permitting a degree of movement of the cover seams lengthwisely of the ribs while restricting transverse displacement of such parts. By reason of the absence of any connection between the apex of the umbrella and the umbrella shaft, the cover is enabled, to a degree, to be selflocating relative to the frame, whereby the usually encountered variations in dimension of the cover resulting from improper manufacture are more readily accommodated, with reduced likelihood of damage to the cover, particularly at its connection with the tips.

In the umbrella of the instant invention, the degree of movement permitted between the apex of the umbrella and the umbrella shaft enables a wear protecting I ject, providing an additional safety factor.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the terminal ends of the ribs nearest the shaft may be located in a plane slightly above the upper ter minal end of the umbrella shaft, providing a space between the cap carried by the cover and the upper end of the shaft, whereby in the event of impact, the cover component acts as a buffer or spring, reducing the likelihood of injury.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved folding umbrella.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a folding umbrella of the type described and incorporating ribs for supporting the umbrella cover, which ribs have their outermost ends fixed-to marginal portions of the cover, the inner ends of the ribs terminating short of the umbrella shaft, the assembly being characterized by the cover overlapping the upper end of the shaft and being unconnected thereto, whereby the cover is selfcentering upon extension of the frame.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of an umbrella of the type described wherein the'cover is secured to the frame in such manner that the cover is permitted to shift longitudinally relative to the ribs at all points inwardly located with respect to the outer terminal ends of the ribs.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of an umbrella of the type described wherein the cover, in the erected condition, will be spaced from the upper terminal end of the shaft, providing an additional safety factor against injuries.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an umbrella in accordance with the invention in the collapsed condition;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the operative components of the umbrella in the erected or extended position;

FIG. 3 is a magnified fragmentary sectional view of the uppermost components of the umbrella;

FIG. 4 is a magnified section taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3.

Tumingnow to the drawings, the umbrella is comprised of a shaft 10 having at one end a handle 11, the opposite end 12 of the shaft carrying a notch assembly 13. The notch assembly 13'includes a plurality of radially extending, closely spaced pairs of ears 14, the ears of each pair being formed with aligned, horizontally directed apertures 15 for the reception of hinge pins or, as is more often the case, a continuous circumferential wire 16, which wire, in the area between the ears, provides a means of pivotally supporting the expansion links 17.

More particularly, the expansion links 17 include reduced end portions 18 movably disposed between the spaced ears 14, the reduced portion 18 including an ap erture 19 which registers with the aligned apertures 15 of the ears 14, it being understood that the wire segments 16 between the ears or the hinge pins maintain the apertures of the expansion links and ears in alignment while enabling pivotal movement between the links and the assembly 13. The expansion links 17form per se, a satisfactory construction being shown in US.

Pats. No. Brooks.

In the illustrated embodiment, rib 21 is provided with a spaced pair of

hinge projections

22, 23, the section 24 of the rib between the projections forming one side or element of a lazy tongs or parallelogram linkage. Stretcher links 25 have their outermost ends 26 pivotally secured to the upper projection 22, as by hinge pin 27.

Each of the links 25 carries a projection 28, apertures at 29, a hinge pin extending through the projections 28 to the aperture 29 and through a complemental aperture formed in the expansion link 17, thus pivotally to interconnect the

links

17 and 25.

The innermost ends 31 of the stretcher links 25 are pivotally secured to the usual control or runner 32 mounted for movement lengthwisely of the shaft '10. The runner 32 may include radially directed flanges or pairs of flanges 33.

The ends 31 of the stretcher links 25 are provided with apertures 34, hinge pins or a continuous wire 35 similar to the wire 16 of the notch assembly being threaded through the registering apertures of the runner and stretcher links to effect a pivotal connection between the stretcher-links and runner.

A parallelogram link 36 has one end 37 pivotally conl836,322, I-Iaaker,-and No. 3467,115,

nected to the projection 23 of the rib 21 as by hinge pin 38. The opposite end 39 of the link 36 is pivotally connected by pin 40 to the end 41 of drive link 17.

For purposes of rigidity, one or all of the

link components

17, 25, 36 may, in the usual manner, be comprised of U-shaped metal sections, which sections may be provided with clearance apertures, such as aperture- 42 in stretcher link 25, where relative pivotal movement between sections is required.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that a parallelogram linkage or lazy tongs is provided by the section 43 of the stretcher link 25 lying between the pivot 28 and projection 22, which section 43 will always remain parallel to the link section 36. Likewise, the section 44 of the drive link 17 lying between the pivot 28 and the end 41 of the drive link will always remain in parallelism with section 24 of the rib 21.

The linkage as thus far described is essential conventional and shown in the aforementioned Haaker patent, comprising merely a parallelogram assembly, a component 24 of which is defined by a portion of the rib of the umbrella, the function of the parallelogram assembly being to enable the rib 21 to be shifted between inactive position wherein it parallels the shaft 10, and an extended position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, without the necessity of connecting the inner ends 45 of the ribs 21 to the shaft.

It will be evident that in lieu of utilizing link components 36 and section 44 below link 43, the parallelogram may be formed above link 43. In such case there is provided link 36' (dotted lines, FIG. 2), the ends of links 36' being pivotally connected to ends 45 of ribs 21 and to intermediate portions of drive links 17.

The shaft 10 may be provided with the usual cam detent 46 which is cammed into the shaft by a lead end 47 of the runner 32 when the runner is shifted toward the tip 12 of the shaft, the detent snapping behind the runner and engaging its trailing surface 48, thus to maintain the umbrella in erected condition.

A cover assembly 49, typically formed-of cloth, plastic or the like, is secured to the framework 20 in the manner hereinafter set forth.

The cover 49, which is usually made from a series of pieced-together, pie-shaped sections, is provided with a series of tip members 50 secured as by stitches 51 at angularly spaced positions along the outer terminal edges of the cover. The tips 50 are sleeved over and fastened to the outermost end portions 52 of the ribs 21, it being understood that alternatively a direct connection may be effected between the cover and rib ends.

is, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, provided with a wear resisting cap assembly 57. The cap assembly preferably includes components lying within and without the cover, the assembly, in the illustrated embodiment, including a dome-like outer component 58, a partispherical inner component 59, the two components being joined by a connector neck 60. Preferably the upper end 12 of the shaft 10 is provided with a dome- Iike portion 61 facing parti-spherical portion 59.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the inner terminal ends 45 of the ribs 21 are located in a plane slightly above a plane extending through the upper terminal end of the dome-like portion 61 and perpendicular to the shaft whereby, as seen in FIG. 2, the

elements

59 and 61 are disposed in spaced relation in the erected position of the umbrella.

From the preceding description it will be evident that since the cover 49 is free from any connection to the shaft 10 and is fixedly connected to the ribs 21 against longitudinal movement at the tips or outermost ends of the ribs, the cover will be free to center itself when the runner 32 is shifted to the erected position shown in FIG.2. The importance of the self-centering feature is recognized when it is considered that the fabrication of the cover member, as previously noted, typically involves the piecing together or seaming of a plurality of individual pie-shaped sections. Normally the number of sections corresponds with the number of ribs. In the course of the cutting and seaming operations, certain of the segments may be longer than other of the segments, e.g., the distance from the connection to the tip 50 to the nominal center or apex 56 of one segment may vary from that of another. In conventional umbrella constructions such variations manifest themselves in distortions of the frame, e.g., since the ultimate frame configuration is dictated by the dimensions of the cover, it is manifest that the. curvature of the ribs will vary in accordance with the length of the cover between the margin and the connection of the cover to the shaft. While the distortions inhering in the thus formedv umbrellas may be small and not readily apparent, the tension or stress imparted to the umbrella cover and particularly to the stitching connecting the umbrella cover to the ribs or to the tips connected to the ribs may vary significantly with variations in length, with the result that the cover material adjacent the connection or the stitched connection itself may tear. In such instance the umbrella is useless unless restitched, it being evident that such restitching may even further foreshorten the distance between rib tip and shaft.

In the umbrella in accordance with the present invention, inequalities in the length of the cover segments are compensated for by transverse movements of the cap assembly 57 in the plane LL, FIG. 2. Thus, the self-compensating feature assures that the shape of the umbrella will be largely unaffected by variations in the dimensions of the cover.

Moreover, the ability of the cap assembly to shift so that its vertical axis is offset in a lateral direction from the vertical axis of the umbrella shaft equalizes, to a degree, the stresses to which each of the umbrella segments is subjected, whereby the pulling forces exerted on the connection between the cover and rib tips 50 are more readily retained within predictable limits, providing a longer useful life.

The freedom of the cap assembly to move in plane L'-L is facilitated by slackness in and slidability of the

connections

53, 54, 55 between the cover and ribs.

A further important feature of the invention lies in the safety factor provided where the wear cap assembly 57 is not fixed to the shaft but, rather, is free to move relative thereto in the erected condition of the umbrella. As will be appreciated from FIG. 3, for instance, if the cap 57 is inadvertently poked against aperson or object, the cap may be laterally deflected as a result of the contact. The lateral deflection effected is heightened by the provision of the opposed curvilinear or

angular surfaces

59 and 61.

the frame both at the ribs and at the shaft.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A foldable umbrella structure comprising a shaft, a handle at one end of'said shaft, a notch assembly at the other end of said shaft, a runner mounted on said shaft for movement toward and away from said notch assembly, a plurality of angularly spaced apart linkage means extending radially relative to the axis of said shaft, said linkage means including a pivotal connection to said notch and to said runner, said linkage means being shifted between a collapsed position paralleling said shaft and an extended position spaced from said shaft responsive to said movement of said runner away from and toward said notch, respectively, cover supporting rib means operatively connected to said linkage means, said rib means being shifted between collapsed and extended positions relative to said shaft responsive to movements of said linkage means, said rib means having inner and outer end portions, the inner end portions of said rib means, in said extended position, being spaced from said shaft, a cover member secured to said rib means and overlying said rib means and said shaft, said cover member having an apexportion in registry with said other end of said shaft, and a cap member including portions extending above and If, for instance, the wear cap assembly 57 is impacted against a person or object, the curved components of the two'noted portions will be brought into contact with each other, as shown in FIG. 3, continued movement of the parts toward each other resulting in a carnming and lateral deflection of the cap, thus reducing the likelihood of injury.

The safety factor is further increased where, in the manner previously set forth and as shown in FIG. 2, the cap assembly 57 is spaced from the upper end of the umbrella shaft, in which event the tautened cover supporting the cap acts in the manner of a spring or buffer.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that there is described an umbrella construction having safety and durability advantages when compared with umbrellas heretofore known. Minor variations in dimension of the umbrella cover have relatively little effect upon the geometry of the umbrella, in contrast with umbrellas heretofore known wherein the cover is connected to below said cover secured to said apex, said cap member and the portions of said cover located inwardly of said inner ends of said rib means being free of connection with said shaft and linkage means and being movable relative to said other end of said shaft in said extended position.

2. The umbrella in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cap member, in the extended position of said umbrella, is disposed in spaced relation to said other end of said shaft.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of said shaft and the under surface of said cap include opposed inclined portions whereby movements of said cap member toward said other end of said shaft will function to deflect said cap member laterally relative to saidother end.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inner ends of said ribs are disposed in a plane above a plane normal to said shaft and intersecting said other end of said shaft whereby said cap member is disposed in spaced relation to said other end.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outer end portions of said rib means are fixedly secured to spaced points along the margin of said cover, said cover including, in addition, connector means operatively securing the same to each of said rib means at positions spaced from said outer end portions, said connector means permitting relative movement of said cover and rib means in a direction longitudinally of said rib means, the connections between said end portions the remainder of said umbrella structure.

Claims

1. A foldable umbrella structure comprising a shaft, a handle at one end of said shaft, a notch assembly at the other end of said shaft, a runner mounted on said shaft for movement toward and away from said notch assembly, a plurality of angularly spaced apart linkage means extending radially relative to the axis of said shaft, said linkage means including a pivotal connection to said notch and to said runner, said linkage means being shifted between a collapsed position paralleling said shaft and an extended position spaced from said shaft responsive to said movement of said runner away from and toward said notch, respectively, cover supporting rib means operatively connected to said linkage means, said rib means being shifted between collapsed and extended positions relative to said shaft responsive to movements of said linkage means, said rib means having inner and outer end portions, the inner end portions of said rib means, in said extended position, being spaced from said shaft, a cover member secured to said rib means and overlying said rib means and said shaft, said cover member having an apex portion in registry with said other end of said shaft, and a cap member including portions extending above and below said cover secured to said apex, said cap member and the portions of said cover located inwardly of said inner ends of said rib means being free of connection with said shaft and linkage means and being movable relative to said other end of said shaft in said extended position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of said shaft and the under surface of said cap include opposed inclined portions whereby movements of said cap member toward said other enD of said shaft will function to deflect said cap member laterally relative to said other end.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outer end portions of said rib means are fixedly secured to spaced points along the margin of said cover, said cover including, in addition, connector means operatively securing the same to each of said rib means at positions spaced from said outer end portions, said connector means permitting relative movement of said cover and rib means in a direction longitudinally of said rib means, the connections between said end portions of said rib means and cover and said connector means forming the sole attachment between said cover and the remainder of said umbrella structure.