Closable, Collapsible Umbrella for One-Hand Operation

The present invention relates to an umbrella and, more particularly, to a folding umbrella.

The present invention makes use of an operating principal described in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,796,226 which is incorporated herein by reference and should be referred to for further information.

A main object is to provide an umbrella which not only can be conveniently opened and closed but also can be conveniently extended to a convenient length for use, collapsed, and retained in the collapsed position by one hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a folding umbrella, i.e. suited for one hand control, constructed to be retained in the closed position held tip downward by a spring which has been energized when the umbrella is being opened. The spring force thus militates against ease of opening operation, and the force required for this is reduced by having the ribs, stretchers, links and auxiliary links for supporting the umbrella fabric are so arranged that they expand to open and contract to close instead of swinging as described in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,796,226. This is particularly advantageous for the umbrella of the invention which is opened by squeezing a radius hand-grip with the thumb while the other fingers are gripping the stem and the handle.

And another object of the invention is to provide an umbrella which is more easy to operate and economical to manufacture.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of umbrella in a closed, stem-expanded position;

FIG. 2 shows the umbrella in an open stem-expanded position;

FIG. 3 is a partially cross sectioned side elevation showing the umbrella in locked position after the umbrella has been closed and the stem has been collapsed;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the normally concealed adjoining ends of the upper tube and lower tube of the umbrella stem illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the struts, links and stretchers of the umbrella according to the invention in the open position.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the umbrella there shown comprises a telescopic stem including an upper large diameter tube 1 and a lower smaller diameter tube 2, slidable within the upper large diameter tube 1. The upper tube 1 is connected to a crown 3 at its top end and at its lower end an inwardly flanged tip 4 is provided. The lower tube 2 is formed with a longitudinal groove 5 which extends from its bottom end to a position near its opposite upper end. The inwardly flanged tip 4 is adapted to engage with the groove 5 to prevent relative rotation between the upper tube 1 and the lower tube 2 and to limit the maximum extension of the umbrella stem in usual and conventional manner. A provided runner 6 is slidably attached along the stem and pivotally supports one end of a stretcher 7. Proximate ends of links 8 are pivotally supported by the crown 3 and the distal ends of links 8 are pivotally attached to the stretchers 7 at a position intermediate between the ends of the stretcher 7. Auxilliary links 9 are pivotally attached at one of their ends to the links 8 intermediate the link ends thereof and at their other ends to the inner ends of ribs 10. The outer ends of the stretchers 7 are pivotally attached to the ribs 10 outwardly of their inner ends. A tubular elongated runner slide 11 is slidably arranged within the runner 6 and around the stem and carries at its upper end a notch member 12 which moves between the crown 3 and the runner 6. The lower tube 2 carries at its bottom end a handle 13 to which a bow-like radius hand-grip 14 is pivoted at point 15. A lever 16 is pivoted by one of its ends at point 17 to the outer end of the radius handgrip 14 and at its other end to a collar 19, which is secured to the lower end of the tubular elongated runner slide 11. Struts 20 pivotally supported by the notch member 12 are pivotally attached to the links 8 for opening or closing the umbrella on movement of the elongated runner slide 11 which is displaced by the radius hand-grip 14 through the lever 16. A compression spring 21 is arranged between the crown 3 and the notch member 12 for closing the umbrella and retaining the umbrella in a closed position. A compression spring 22 is arranged inside the upper tube to retain the stem in an extended position. It is customary to make the telescopic stem and the elongated runner slide substantially different in diameter in order to provide ample clearance therebetween. A sleeve 23 is tightly fitted inside the tubular elongated slide in a desired position and secured thereto serving as a bushing slidably mounted on the lower smaller diameter tube 2. For operation, the umbrella is so arranged and constructed that the distance from the pivot point 18 to the axis of the stem is longer than the distance from the pivot point 15 to the axis of the stem and longer than the distance from the pivot point 17 to the axis of the stem when the umbrella is closed and the stem is shortened or collapsed. Thus the force produced by the compression spring 22 inside the upper tube 1 is diverted in order to retain the umbrella in locked position. For extending the umbrella to a convenient length the outer end of the radius hand-grip 14 is pulled away from the stem by the thumb and forefinger of the hand holding the umbrella while the handle 13 is supported in the palm of a user's hand. The stem of the umbrella will be extended by the force produced by the compression spring 22 inside the upper tube 1. To open the umbrella the hand holding the umbrella transfers to grip the umbrella with the thumb placed on the outer end of the radius hand-grip 14 while other fingers are holding the stem and the handle 13, the radius hand-grip 14 is squeezed until its outer end rests on the stem, since the distance from the pivot point 17 to the axis of the stem is shorter than the distance from the pivot point 18 to the axis of the stem and shorter than the distance from the pivot point 15 to the axis of the stem the force of the compression spring 21 is diverted to retain the umbrella in open position. To close the umbrella while the fingers are holding the stem and the handle, a flick of the thumb applied to the radius hand-grip 14 removes the outer end of the radius hand-grip 14 from the stem and the umbrella closes by the force of the compression spring 21. By pushing the handle toward the crown while the top of the crown 3 is supported or proped against any object, the stem of the umbrella is shortened and simultaneously the radius hand-grip 14 and the lever 16 are being collapsed upon each other, and when the umbrella has been fully collapsed the force of the compression spring 22 is diverted to retain the collapsed umbrella in locked position as previously described.

Referring to FIG. 5 the construction of the umbrella is the same as described in FIGS. 1 to 4 except that the struts 20 are pivoted to the stretchers 7 instead of to the links 8. The umbrella can be operated as previously described.

It will be understood that the specification and examples are illustrative but not limitative of the present invention and that other embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.