Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Umbrella – Self-opening and closing
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-01
2004-03-09
Wilkens, Janet M. (Department: 3637)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Umbrella
Self-opening and closing
C135S028000, C135S029000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06701946
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to umbrellas, and more particularly, to a collapsible frame structure for umbrella with a self-opening mechanism that allows the umbrella, after being collapsed, to be opened automatically without manual effort from the user. Furthermore, the inner end of each second pivotal-coupling device is in contact with an outer end of the inner linking member of the support rib, according to the present invention, the setting position for second pivotal-coupling device at the supporting rib is easy and accurate in assembly process, therefore, the yield ratio will be increased.
2. Description of Related Art
A collapsible umbrella (also called a foldable umbrella) allows the user to collapse the umbrella when the umbrella is not in use for easy storage or carriage. Collapsible umbrellas are typically provided with a self-opening mechanism that allows the umbrella, after being collapsed, to be opened automatically without manual effort from the user. Conventional collapsible umbrellas, as shown in
FIG. 4
is U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,540 which is assigned to the same applicant of the present invention, however, it can not be easily assembled during manufacturing due to setting position of coupling structure of supporting rib in the collapsible frame structure encountering difficulties, which will be illustratively described in the followings.
In assembly, the inner end of the main rib
15
is coupled to the upper running hub
14
; the inner end of the supporting rib
17
is coupled to the intermediate running hub
13
and the outer end of the same is coupled to the middle of the main rib
15
by means of the first pivotal-coupling device
16
; and the linkage beam
19
is connected to the second pivotal-coupling device
18
by hooking its upper hook and to the bottom running hub
11
by hooking its bottom hook.
The correct coupling position of the second pivotal-coupling device
18
is at the hooking position of the upper hook of the linkage beam
19
. It means that the second pivotal-coupling device
18
should be installed at a correct position of the supporting rib
17
with respect to the inner linking member
173
. This is because that the elasticity of the spiral spring
12
is related to the force and the speeds of opening and folding an umbrella. The faster the speed, the larger the force required to operate the umbrella. Furthermore, the force and the speeds of opening and folding an umbrella also relate to the correct position of the second pivotal-coupling device
18
. Therefore, in mass production, how to fix the second pivotal-coupling device
18
to a correct position at the supporting rib
17
has become an important problem to be resolved.
In general, for increasing the yield, it is often the quality is deteriorated. Furthermore, if the assembly work is performed in night, the quality will further deteriorate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a collapsible frame structure for self-opening umbrella, wherein the quality is improved by deleting the carelessness of the operator in assembly process.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible frame structure for self-opening umbrella, wherein the length of the inner side of second pivotal-coupling device for supporting a rib is prolonged to contact the outer end of the inner linking member. Therefore, the setting position for second pivotal-coupling device at the supporting rib is easy and accurate in assembly process. Furthermore, the yield ratio will be increased and the cost of QC will be reduced.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible frame structure for self-opening umbrella, wherein in storing the umbrella, the linkage beam can be stored in the trench. Therefore, the volume of the frame between the intermediate running hub and bottom running hub can be reduced, so that an umbrella with two ribs can be stored.
In accordance with the foregoing and other objectives of the present invention, an improved collapsible frame structure is provided for self-opening umbrella. The collapsible frame structure of the invention includes:
a main shaft; a bottom running hub slidably mounted on the main shaft; an intermediate running hub slidably mounted on the main shaft; an elastic member mounted on the main shaft between the bottom running hub and the intermediate running hub; an upper running hub fixedly mounted on a top of the main shaft; a plurality of main ribs, each being made from enforced FRP and having one end pivotally linked to the upper running hub; a plurality of supporting ribs having a double-bar beam portion, each being made from enforced FRP and having an outer linking member formed at one end thereof pivotally connected to the main rib, an inner linking member formed at the other end thereof pivotally linked to the intermediate running hub; a plurality of linkage beams, each being made from a steel bar formed with a bottom hook connected to the bottom running hub and an upper hook pivotally coupled to each of the supporting rib; a plurality of first pivotal-coupling devices, each coupling an outer end of each of the supporting rib to each of the main rib, each of the first pivotal-coupling devices including a tubular member to have each of the main rib to pass therethrough and at least one ear formed thereunder with a hole pivotally connected to each of the outer linking member of the supporting rib; a plurality of second pivotal-coupling devices each being made through injection molding with nylon plastics, each devices including a linking member having two parallel through holes formed therein to allow the double-bar beam portion of each of the supporting rib to pass through, said linking member being formed with a plurality of pivotal shafts coupling hole in a middle portion thereof to hook with the upper hook of each of the linkage beams, allowing each of the linkage beam to be pivotally coupled to each of the supporting ribs; and an inner end of each second pivotal-coupling device being in contact with an outer end of the inner linking member of each support rib.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6076540 (2000-06-01), You
patent: 6158452 (2000-12-01), You
patent: 6314976 (2001-11-01), Clarke
patent: 6345637 (2002-02-01), Ko
patent: 6397866 (2002-06-01), You
Dennison Schultz Dougherty & MacDonald
Wilkens Janet M.
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