Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Reeling device – With brake
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-09
2001-03-06
Canfield, Robert (Department: 3635)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Reeling device
With brake
C242S395000, C242S306000, C135S020300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196489
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a large-sized umbrella, and in particular, to a wire-winding device of a large-sized umbrella which winds/unwinds a wire for moving a runner to open/close the umbrella.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Large-sized umbrellas, such as beach umbrella, are well known. A conventional large-sized umbrella is shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
of the attached drawings, comprising a shank
10
to which a wire-winding device
11
operable by a crank arm
15
is fixed for winding/unwinding a wire
12
extending through the shank
10
. The wires
12
moves a runner
13
along the shank
10
for driving a plurality of rib-stretcher sets
14
to open the umbrella (
FIG. 1
) or to close the umbrella (FIG.
2
).
The conventional wire-winding device, however, has disadvantages. For example, the conventional wire-winding device comprises no means to automatically stop the operation thereof when the umbrella is fully opened. Thus, over-tensioning the wire may occur in the neglect of a user. This may eventually cause a damage or even break of the wire.
Furthermore, the conventional wire-winding device does not comprise means to maintain a half-opened condition of the umbrella. Thus, if the user fails to properly secure the wire at the fully open position, the umbrella automatically close itself due to gravity and may cause damage to the user. A known way to solve the problem is to add a latch to the wire-winding device that prevents the crank arm from being rotated. However, the latch complicates the structure of the umbrella wire-winding device and requires a tedious operation. Manufacture costs of the umbrella are also increased.
It is thus desirable to have an umbrella wire-winding device that overcomes the above problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella wire-winding device comprises means for automatically stopping the rotation of a reel shaft when the umbrella is fully opened thereby avoiding over-tensioning a wire wound on the reel shaft for opening the umbrella.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella wire-winding device comprising a ratchet mechanism for retaining the umbrella at a half-opened position and preventing the half-opened umbrella from automatically closing itself due to gravity.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella wire-winding device comprising means for generating vibration and sound during the rotation of the reel shaft which keep the a user aware of the operation thereof.
To achieve the above objects, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an umbrella wire-winding device comprising a casing fixed to a shank of an umbrella. A crank arm is manually operable and has an axle rotatably received in an opening defined in the casing. The axle defines a central bore for drivingly receiving a reel shaft therein. The reel shaft extends through holes defined in the shank for winding a wire extending through the shank to move a runner. The reel shaft has a threaded end and a nut engages with the threaded end of the reel shaft. The nut is axially movably received in a bore defined in the casing whereby the rotation of the reel shaft causes an axial movement of the nut in the bore. The bore has a bottom that limits the axial movement of the nut and thus the rotation of the reel shaft for avoiding over-tensioning the wire. A toothed section is formed on the axle and at least one spring plate is fixed in the casing and engaging with the toothed section thereby serving as a ratchet between the casing and the reel shaft. The contact of the spring plate with the toothed section also generates sound and vibration during the rotation of the reel shaft thereby keeping a user aware of the operation of the wire-winding device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2914154 (1959-11-01), Russell
patent: 3142307 (1964-07-01), Danciart et al.
patent: 3273820 (1966-09-01), Quenot
patent: 4386621 (1983-06-01), Redl
patent: 4619281 (1986-10-01), Redl et al.
patent: 4622987 (1986-11-01), Redl et al.
patent: 5437297 (1995-08-01), Crisman et al.
patent: 5884859 (1999-03-01), Ma
Canfield Robert
Rosenberg , Klein & Lee
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