Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Umbrella – Ribs and stretchers
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-25
2001-06-12
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Umbrella
Ribs and stretchers
C135S025300, C135S029000, C135S023000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244284
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an umbrella, more particularly to a foldable umbrella which has a plurality of three-fold rib assemblies and a plurality of connecting members that are made of a rigid material for strengthening the rib assemblies when the umbrella is in use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a conventional foldable umbrella
10
is shown to include an elongate handle
18
, a ferrule
17
, a runner
19
, a plurality of rib assemblies, and a plurality of stretcher assemblies.
As illustrated, the handle
18
has an upper end
180
, a lower end
181
and a middle portion
182
between the upper and lower ends
180
,
181
. The ferrule
17
is fixed on the upper end
180
of the handle
18
. The runner
19
is sleeved slidably on the middle portion
182
of the handle
18
. Each of the rib assemblies includes a first rib
11
, a second rib
12
, and a third rib
13
. The first rib
11
has a first proximate end
110
connected pivotally to the ferrule
17
, a first distal end
111
opposite to the first proximate end
110
, and a first pivot
112
between the first proximate and first distal ends
110
,
111
. The second rib
12
has second proximate and second distal ends
121
,
122
opposite to each other relative to the ferrule
17
, and a second pivot
123
between the second proximate and second distal ends
121
,
122
and disposed adjacent to the second proximate end
121
. The second pivot
123
is connected pivotally to the first distal end
111
of the first rib
11
.
Each of the stretcher assemblies includes a stretcher
14
, a first connecting member
15
and a second connecting member
16
. The stretcher
14
has a third proximate end
141
connected pivotally to the runner
19
, and a third distal end
142
connected pivotally to the first pivot
112
of the first rib
11
of a corresponding one of the rib assemblies. The first connecting member
15
is a non-flexible elongate member having a fourth proximate end
150
connected pivotally to the stretcher
14
adjacent to the third distal end
142
, and a fourth distal end
151
connected pivotally to the second proximate end
121
of the second rib
12
of the corresponding one of the rib assemblies. The third rib
13
has fifth proximate and fifth distal ends
131
,
132
opposite to each other relative to the ferrule
17
, and a third pivot
133
between the fifth proximate and fifth distal ends
131
,
132
and disposed adjacent to the fifth proximate end
131
. The third pivot
133
is connected pivotally to the second distal end
122
of the second rib
12
. The second connecting member
16
is a flexible elongate member and has a sixth proximate end
161
connected pivotally to the first rib
11
adjacent to the first distal end
111
, and a sixth distal end
162
connected pivotally to the fifth proximate end
131
of the third rib
13
of the corresponding one of the rib assemblies. Movement of the runner
19
along the handle
18
will cause the first, second and third ribs
11
,
12
,
13
of the rib assemblies to move between spread-out and collapsed positions. The second connecting member
16
supports the third rib
13
of the corresponding one of the rib assemblies in the spread-out state.
However, a drawback of the aforesaid conventional foldable umbrella arises in the presence of relatively strong wind. It is noted that the second connecting members
16
are flexible members which can lead to ease of deformation of the rib assemblies.
In U.S. patent Ser. No. 09/407,153 by the applicant, there is disclosed a foldable umbrella that includes an elongate handle, a ferrule fixed on an upper end of the handle, and a runner sleeved slidably on a middle portion of the handle. Each of a plurality of rib assemblies includes a first rib having an elongate abutment wall with opposite longitudinal edges, two opposite side walls that extend downwardly and respectively from the longitudinal edges of the abutment wall, a first proximate end connected pivotally to the ferrule, a first distal end opposite to the first proximate end, and a first pivot between the first proximate and first distal ends. A second rib has second proximate and second distal ends opposite to each other relative to the ferrule, and a second pivot between the second proximate and second distal ends and disposed adjacent to the second proximate end. The second pivot is connected pivotally to the first distal end of the first rib. Each of a plurality of stretcher assemblies includes a stretcher having a third proximate end connected pivotally to the runner, and a third distal end connected pivotally to the first pivot of the first rib of a corresponding one of the rib assemblies. A flexible and elongate connecting member has a fourth proximate end connected pivotally to the stretcher adjacent to the third distal end, a fourth distal end connected pivotally to the second proximate end of the second rib of the corresponding one of the rib assemblies, and an intermediate portion between the fourth proximate and fourth distal ends. The connecting member has a length sufficient to cause the intermediate portion to flex so as to extend between the side walls and abut against the abutment wall of the first rib of the corresponding one of the rib assemblies when the first and second ribs of the corresponding one of the rib assemblies are generally aligned with one another in a spread-out state of the corresponding one of the rib assemblies.
The intermediate portion of the connecting member is straightened when an external force applied on the second rib of the corresponding one of the rib assemblies causes the second rib of the corresponding one of the rib assemblies to pivot upwardly relative to the first rib about the second pivot in the spread-out state of the corresponding one of the rib assemblies to avoid deformation of the second rib.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main object of this invention is to provide a foldable umbrella which is clear of the aforesaid drawback that generally results from the use of the conventional foldable umbrella.
Accordingly, a foldable umbrella of the present invention includes an elongate handle having an upper end, a lower end and a middle portion between the upper and lower ends. A ferrule is fixed on the upper end of the handle. A runner is sleeved slidably on the middle portion of the handle, and is movable between a lower position with respect to the ferrule, where the umbrella is in a folded state, and an upper position, where the umbrella is in a spread-out state. Each of a plurality of rib assemblies includes elongated first, second and third ribs. The first rib has a first proximate end connected pivotally to the ferrule, a first distal end opposite to the first proximate end, a first pivot between the first proximate and distal ends, and a longitudinal slide slot formed therethrough between the first pivot and the first distal end. The second rib has second proximate and second distal ends opposite to each other relative to the ferrule, and a second pivot between the second proximate and second distal ends and disposed adjacent to the second proximate end. The second pivot is connected pivotally to the first distal end of the first rib. The third rib has third proximate and third distal ends opposite to each other relative to the ferrule, and a third pivot between the third proximate and third distal ends and disposed adjacent to the third proximate end. The third pivot is connected pivotally to the second distal end of the second rib. Each of a plurality of stretcher assemblies includes a stretcher, an elongate non-flexible first connecting member, and an elongate rigid second connecting member. The stretcher has a fourth proximate end connected pivotally to the runner, and a fourth distal end connected pivotally to the first pivot of the first rib of a corresponding one of the rib assemblies. The first connecting member has a fifth proximate end connected pivotally to the stretcher adjacent to the fourth distal end, a fifth distal end connected pivotally to the s
Friedman Carl D.
Ladas & Parry
Yip Winnie
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