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Home | Alpha Telephone | Domain Names | Web Hosting | Get Traffic | xrEvidence | xrSoccer United States Patent
FOLDING UMBRELLA A folding umbrella having the rib structure wherein an end rib is spaced from a main rib and connected thereto through a connecting link and a strut is connected to one of said connecting link, said end rib and an auxiliary link, which is capable of being closed into two positions, namely, the collapsed closed position and the uncollapsed closed position, according to necessity.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: What is claimed is: 1. A folding umbrella, comprising: a contractile center rod movable between a collapsed storage position and an extended use position; a ferrule fixedly secured to the center rod directly adjacent the upper end thereof; a runner slidably mounted on said center rod intermediate the ends thereof; and a collapsible rib assembly movable between a collapsed storage position and an extended position, said rib assembly including a main rib, an end rib, a connecting link, an auxiliary link and a strut; said main rib having the upper end thereof pivotally connected to said ferrule and the lower end thereof pivotally connected to the inner end of said auxiliary link; said end rib being carried by said auxiliary link and spaced from said main rib; said connecting link having the outer end thereof pivotally connected to the upper end of said end rib and the inner end thereof pivotally connected to said main rib at a location disposed between the upper and lower ends of said main rib; and said strut being pivotally connected at the inner end thereof to said runner and having the outer end thereof pivotally connected to one of said auxiliary link, said connecting link and said end rib, including the pivotal joints thereof. 2. A folding umbrella, comprising: a contractile center rod movable between a collapsed storage position and an extended use position; a ferrule fixedly secured to the center rod directly adjacent the upper end thereof; a runner slidably mounted on said center rod intermediate the ends thereof; and a collapsible rib assembly movable between a collapsed storage position and an extended position, said rib assembly including a main rib, an end rib, a connecting link, an auxiliary link and a strut; said main rib having the upper end thereof pivotally connected to said ferrule and the lower end thereof pivotally connected to the inner end of said auxiliary link; said end rib being carried by said auxiliary link and spaced from said main rib; said connecting link composed of a first connecting link member and a second connecting link member and having the outer end thereof pivotally connected to the upper end of said end rib and the inner end thereof pivotally connected to said main rib at a location disposed between the upper and lower ends of said main rib; and said strut being pivotally connected at the inner end thereof to said runner and having the outer end thereof pivotally connected to said auxiliary link at a position spaced from the joint of said auxiliary link and said main rib. 3. A folding umbrella, comprising: a contractile center rod movable between a collapsed storage position and an extended use position; a ferrule fixedly secured to the center rod directly adjacent the upper end thereof; a runner slidably mounted on said center rod intermediate the ends thereof; and a collapsible rib assembly movable between a collapsed storage position and an extended position, said rib assembly including a main rib, an end rib, a connecting link, an auxiliary link and a strut; said main rib having the upper end thereof pivotally connected to said ferrule and the lower end thereof pivotally connected to the inner end of said auxiliary link; said end rib being carried by said auxiliary link and spaced from said main rib; said connecting link is composed of a first connecting link member and a second connecting link member and having the outer end thereof pivotally connected to the upper end of said end rib and the inner end thereof pivotally connected to said main rib at a location disposed between the upper and lower ends of said main rib; and said strut being pivotally connected at the inner end thereof to said runner and having the outer end thereof pivotally connected to said end rib. 4. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises a rib-support member provided under the ferrule and having a groove communicating with a groove formed on said ferrule for receiving the base end of the main rib, whereby said main rib is positively retained in the required position without possibly tangling with another main rib arranged around the center rod. 5. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 2, which further comprises a rib-support member provided under the ferrule and having a groove communicating with a groove formed on said ferrule for receiving the base end of the main rib, whereby said main rib is positively retained in the required position without possibly tangling with another main rib arranged around the center rod. 6. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 3, which further comprises a rib-support member provided under the ferrule and having a groove communicating with a groove formed on said ferrule for receiving the base end of the main rib, whereby said main rib is positively retained in the required position without possible tangling with another main rib arranged around the center rod. 7. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises a spring disposed between the runner and the strut and adapted to urge said strut inwardly. 8. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 2, which further comprises a spring disposed between the runner and the strut and adapted to urge said strut inwardly. 9. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 3, which further comprises a spring disposed between the runner and the strut and adapted to urge said strut inwardly. 10. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 1, which fruther comprises a slidable means provided in at least one side of the quadrilateral formed by the main rib, the connecting link, the end rib and the auxiliary link. 11. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 2, which further comprises a slidable means provided in at least one side of the quadrilateral formed by the main rib, the connecting link, the end rib and the auxiliary link. 12. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 3, which further comprises a slidable means provided in at least one side of the quadrilateral formed by the main rib, the connecting link, the end rib and the auxiliary link. 13. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises an automatic opening means having an actuator slidably mounted on the center rod under the runner, a spring fixed at its upper end to said runner and at its lower end to said actuator, and an actuator strut connected between said actuator and the auxiliary link. 14. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 2, which further comprises an automatic opening means having an acutator slidably mounted on the center actuator under the runner, a spring fixed at its upper end to said runner and at its lower end to said actuator, and an actuator strut connected between said actuator and the auxiliary link. 15. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 3, which further comprises an automatic opening means having an actuator slidably mounted on the center rod under the runner, a spring fixed at its upper end to said runner and at its lower end to said actuator, and an actuator strut connected between said actuator and the auxiliary link. 16. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 13, which further comprises a catch means provided in the center rod and adapted to lock the actuator when the umbrella is closed. 17. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 14, which further comprises a catch means provided in the center rod and adapted to lock the actuator when the umbrella is closed. 18. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 15, which further comprises a catch means provided in the center rod and adapted to lock the actuator when the umbrella is closed. 19. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 13, which further comprises a spring locking means for controlling the expanding force of the spring disposed between the runner and the actuator. 20. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 14, which further comprises a spring locking means for controlling the expanding force of the spring disposed between the runner and the actuator. 21. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 13, which further comprises a spring locking means for controlling the expanding force of the spring disposed between the runner and the actuator. This invention relates to a folding umbrella having an end rib spaced from a main rib and connected thereto through a connecting link, and more particularly to a folding umbrella of such structure, which is capable of being closed into two positions, namely, a collapsed storage position and an extended or uncollapsed position, according to necessity. A conventional umbrella having such a rib construction as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,467,115 wherein an end rib is spaced from a main rib and connected thereto through a connecting link is forcibly or inevitably collapsed into contracted compact state when closed. Such an umbrella collapsible into a compact form is convenient for storage and handy for carring when it is not in use. However, it is not always required or desirable for the umbrella to be closed with the rib structure collapsed. On the contrary, it is sometimes required to be closed in the extended state without collapsing the rib structure. Stated illustratively, it is more desirable to keep the umbrella in the extended state for putting the umbrella against an umbrella stand or resting it against a wall of a train etc. when the umbrella is temporarily closed for re-using. In fact, it is unpleasant and troublesome to handle a wetted umbrella and it is difficult to remove water from the wetted umbrella if the wetted umbrella is forcibly collapsed. The present invention was made upon consideration of the above-mentioned requirement and to solve the disadvantage of the above-mentioned conventional umbrella. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a folding umbrella having the rib construction wherein an end rib is connected not directly but through a connecting link to a main rib, which is capable of being closed from the opened position into an uncollapsed or extended state for a further use and then collapsed into a storage position. It is another object of the present invention to provide a folding umbrella of the rib construction as mentioned above, which is capable of being opened either from the extended closed position or from the collapsed closed position. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a folding umbrella of the construction, as mentioned above which is capable of being closed first into the collapsed position and then extendible according to necessity into the uncollapsed position keeping the closed state. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a folding umbrella of the structure as mentioned above, which is capable of being automatically opened by one operation. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a folding umbrella of the above-mentioned structure and capable of being automatically opened, which has a safety means for locking the automatic opening means. According to the present invention, there is provided a folding umbrella, comprising: a contractile center rod movable between a collapsed storage position and an extended use position, a ferrule fixedly secured to the center rod directly adjacent the upper end thereof; a runner slidably mounted on said center rod intermediate the ends thereof; and a collapsible rib assembly movable between a collapsed storage position and an extended position, said rib assembly including a main rib, an end rib, a connecting link, an auxiliary link and a strut; said main rib having the upper end thereof pivotally connected to said ferrule and the lower end thereof pivotally connected to the inner end of said auxiliary link; said end rib being carried by said auxiliary link and spaced from said main rib; said connecting link having the outer end thereof pivotally connected to the upper end of said end rib and the inner end thereof pivotally connected to said main rib at a location disposed between the upper and lower ends of said main rib; and said strut being pivotally connected at the inner end thereof to said runner and having the outer end thereof pivotally connected to one of said auxiliary link, said connecting link and said end rib, including the pivotal joints thereof. The invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical side view of one embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the opened position thereof; FIG. 2 is a diagrammatical side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the uncollapsed closed position thereof; FIG. 3 is a diagrammatical side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the collapsed closed position thereof; FIG. 4 is a side view of one form of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the opened position thereof; FIG. 5 is a side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 4, illustrating the uncollapsed closed position thereof; FIG. 6 is a side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 4, illustrating the collapsed closed position thereof; FIG. 7 is a side view of a ferrule employable in the umbrella of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a side view of another form of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the opened position thereof; FIG. 9 is a side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 8, illustrating the uncollapsed closed position thereof; FIG. 10 is a side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 8, illustrating the collapsed closed position thereof; FIG. 11 is a diagrammatical side view of a further form of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the opened position thereof; FIG. 12 is a diagrammatical side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 11, illustrating the closed position thereof; FIG. 13 is a diagrammatical side view of another embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the opened position thereof; FIG. 14 is a diagrammatical side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 13, illustrating the uncollapsed closed position thereof; FIG. 15 is a diagrammatical side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 13, illustrating the collapsed closed position thereof; FIG. 16 is a side view of one form of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 13, illustrating the opened position thereof; FIG. 17 is a side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 16, illustrating the uncollapsed closed position thereof; FIG. 18 is a side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 16, illustrating the collapsed closed position thereof; FIG. 19 is a fragmentary view of the rib assembly of FIG. 13, illustrating a positional relation between the strut and the connecting link thereof; FIG. 20 is a similar fragmentary view of the rib assembly, illustrating another positioned relation between the strut and the connecting link thereof; FIG. 21 is a diagrammatical side view of a further embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the opened position thereof; FIG. 22 is a diagrammatical side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 21, illustrating the uncollapsed closed position thereof; FIG. 23 is a diagrammatical side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 22, illustrating the collapsed closed position thereof; FIG. 24 is a side view of one form of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 21, illustrating the opened position thereof; FIG. 25 is a side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 24, illustrating the uncollapsed closed position thereof; FIG. 26 is an explanatory side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 24, illustrating the uncollapsed closed position thereof; FIG. 27 is a side view of a still further form of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the opened position thereof; FIG. 28 is a side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 27, illustrating the uncollapsed position thereof; FIG. 29 is a side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 27, illustrating the collapsed position thereof; FIG. 30 is a side view of another form of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 13; illustrating the opened position thereof; FIG. 31 is a side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 30, illustrating the uncollapsed closed position thereof; FIG. 32 is a side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 30, illustrating the collapsed closed position thereof; FIG. 33 is a side view of another form of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 21, illustrating the opened position thereof; FIG. 34 is a side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 33, illustrating the uncollapsed closed position thereof; FIG. 35 is a side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 33, illustrating the collapsed closed position thereof; FIG. 36 is a side view of a still further embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the opened position thereof; FIG. 37 is a side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 36, illustrating the uncollapsed closed position thereof; FIG. 38 is a side view of the rib assembly shown in FIG. 36, illustrating the collapsed closed position thereof and; FIG. 39 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the safety means employable for the umbrella of the present invention. In the drawings and the following descriptions, like portions or parts are denoted by like numerals or characters and the term "collapse" is used herein to mean that the rib structure is folded into the contracted state with its end rib folded on its main rib, whereas the term "uncollapsed position" herein means a state of the rib assembly in which it is closed keeping its end rib extended with reference to its main rib. In FIGS. 1 to 3 is diagrammatically shown one embodiment of the present invention. Numeral 1 designates a center rod of well-known collapsible or contractile structure and numeral 2 a ferrule which is fixedly secured to the center rod 1 directly adjacent the upper end thereof. A main rib 3 is pivotally connected at its upper end to said ferrule 2 and at its lower end to the inner end of an auxiliary link 8. The outer end of said auxiliary link 8 is connected to the intermediate position of an end rib 6. Said end rib 6 is spaced from said main rib 3 and connected thereto at its intermediate position through a connecting link 7. A strut 9 is pivotally connected at its inner end to a runner 5 and has the outer end pivotally connected to said auxiliary link 8 at a position except the joint of said auxiliary link 8 and the main rib 3. When the thus constructed umbrella is closed from the opened position thereof as shown in FIG. 1, the strut 9 is lowered to pull down the end rib 6 through the auxiliary link 8, thus keeping the rib assembly in the uncollapsed or extended state. If said strut 9 is then raised, while being inwardly pressed, from the position of FIG. 2, the auxiliary link 8 is provided, in the arrow direction, at A which is a joint of the main rib 3 and the auxiliary link 8, thus collapsing the rib assembly into the collapsed storage position as shown in FIG. 3. As mentioned above, the folding umbrella according to the present invention is capable of being closed in the uncollapsed or extended state with great advantage over the conventional umbrella of the kind. One form of the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6. A central rod 1 is divided into an upper part 1a and a lower part 1b and movable between a collapsed storage position and an extended use position. A ferrule 2 is fixedly secured to the top portion of said center rod 1. Numerals 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9 designate a main rib, and end rib, a connecting link, an auxiliary link and a strut, respectively. A runner 5 is slidably mounted on said center rod intermediate the ends thereof. A catch means 10 is provided in the runner 5 and has a hook portion 10a springily pressed against the center rod 1. When the umbrella is opened, said hook portion 10a is adapted to engage with a slot 1a, formed at the upper portion of the upper part 1a of the center rod 1 to keep the opened position, and when the umbrella is required to be closed, a button portion 10b is pushed to release the engagement. A resilient protuberance 11 is provided at the upper end portion of the lower part 1b of the center rod 1 and engageable with a slot formed at the lower end portion of the upper part 1a of the rod 1 when the rod is extended to the utmost position to keep the extended state. In order to close the umbrella from the position as shown in FIG. 4, the button portion 10b is pressed to release the engagement of the hook portion 10a with the slot 1a, and the runner 5 is lowered manually. According to the lowering of the runner 5, the strut 9, the main rib 3, the connecting link 7 and tha auxiliary link 8 are folded onto the center rod 1 without collapsing. Therefore, the folding umbrella of the present invention retained in this position can be put in an umbrella stand or rest against the wall of a train, etc., as an ordinary uncollapsible umbrella can. When the umbrella is then required to be collapsed from the position as shown in FIG. 5 into the contracted storage position, the strut 9 is raised while being manually pressed inwardly. As a result, the auxiliary link 8 is pivoted and folded in the direction of arrow at A which is a joint of the main rib 3 and the auxiliary link 8, and the end rib 6 is folded on the main rib 3. The center rod 1 is thereafter connected by telescopically inserting the lower part 1b into the upper part 1a. Either from the extended closed position of FIG. 5 or from the collapsed closed position of FIG. 6, the umbrella can be opened only by raising the runner 5. The center rod 1 is subsequently extended during the opening operation. There may be provided a rib-support member 12 under the ferrule 2. As particularly shown in FIG. 7, said rib-support member 12 has a groove 12a which communicates with a groove 2a of the ferrule 2 for receiving the base end 3a of the main rib. Each main rib 3 is received in respective groove 12a when the umbrella is closed. Thus, the rib assemblies arranged around the center rod 1 are neatly held in the respective required positions without tangling each other. Due to this structure, the collapsing operation of the umbrella from the uncollapsed closed position into the collapsed closed position of the opening operation of the umbrella from these closed positions are effected smoothly. In FIGS. 8 to 10 is illustrated another form of the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1. In this modified structure, the auxiliary link 8 is pivotally connected to a slidable means 6a mounted on the end rib 6 so that the outer end of the auxiliary link 8 is slidable with reference to the end rib 6. Such a slidable means 6a is provided to solve the problem that the rib assembly is not moved according to the geometric theory built upon a point and a line because the actual rib assembly has thickness and width. For this purpose, the slidable means 6a is provided on at least one side or in at least one corner of the quadrilateral formed by the main rib 3, the connecting link 7, the end rib 6 and the auxiliary link 8. The runner 5 has a spring holder 5' and a spring 13 is provided between said spring holder 5' and the strut 9. Magnetic means may be alternatively employable for said spring 13. To close the umbrella from the position of FIG. 8, the engagement between the hook portion 10a of the catch means and the slot 1a.sub.1 of the center rod 1 is released by pressing the button portion 10b and the runner 5 is lowered. Upon the lowering of the runner 5, the strut 9 pivots the auxiliary link 8 at A in the direction of arrow since the strut 9 is urged inwardly by the spring 13. Thus, the umbrella is closed into the collapsed position as shown in FIG. 10. When the runner 5 is further lowered from said collapsed position, the umbrella is brought into the uncollapsed or extended position as shown in FIG. 9. When the umbrella is required to the collapsed from the position of FIG. 9, the runner is just to be raised. The spring 13 acts to rotate the auxiliary link 8 at A in the direction of arrow, thus automatically folding the end rib 6 onto the main rib 3. The center rod 1 is subsequently contracted by sliding the lower part 1b into the upper part 1a. From the collapsed position of FIG. 10, the umbrella is opened by further raising the runner 5. In the foregoing rib structures of the present invention, the connecting link 7 may be composed of two members, namely, a first connecting link 7a and a second connecting link 7b as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. They are adapted to form a quadrilateral, similarly to the foregoing structures, in cooperation with the main rib 3, the end rib 6 and the auxiliary link 8 when the umbrella is opened. On the other hand, in the collapsed position of FIG. 12, the connecting link is folded at the joint of said first connecting link 7a and said second connecting link 7b. Regardless of this difference in the structure of the connecting link, the purpose of the present invention can be well achieved by this rib structure by pivotally connecting the strut 9 to the auxiliary link 8 at a position except the joint between said link 8 and the main rib 3. Referring to FIGS. 13 to 15, there is diagrammatically shown another embodiment of the present invention. The main rib 3, the end rib 6, the connecting link 7 and the auxiliary link 8 of this embodiment are arranged in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIG. 1. Whereas, a strut 9' of the present embodiment, whose inner end is pivotally connected to the runner 5, has another end pivotally connected to the connecting link 7 at a position except the joint of said link 7 and the main rib 3. When the thus constructed umbrella is closed from the opened position of FIG. 13, the end rib 6 is lowered toward the center rod 1 through the connecting link 7 without collapsing. Thus, the umbrella can be closed into the extended or uncollapsed position as shown in FIG. 14. If the strut 9' is reraised, from the position of FIG. 14, while being pressed inwardly, the connecting link 7 is pivoted in the direction of arrow A' which is a joint of the main rib 3 and the connecting link 7, thus collapsing the umbrella into the position as shown in FIG. 15 wherein the end rib 6 is folded onto the main rib 3. One form of the present embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 16 to 18. The slidable means 6a is mounted on the end rib 6 and pivotally connected to the end of the auxiliary link 8, similarly to the foregoing embodiment shown in FIG. 8 to 10. The spring 13, the rib-support member 12, and a catch means 10 may be identical with said foregoing embodiment. However, the strut 9' may be forked at its outer end portion as shown in FIG. 19. In this case, the auxiliary link 8 is positioned between the forked portions 9'a. The ends of said forked portions 9'a are pivotally connected to the connecting link 7. Alternatively, the strut 9' of a simple structure having no forked portion may be employed and disposed so as to abut against the auxiliary link 8 as shown in FIG. 20. In order to close this umbrella from the position of FIG. 16, the engagement of the catch means 10 is released and the runner 5 is lowered as mentioned before. As the runner 5 is lowered, the connecting link 7 is turned to fold the end rib 6 onto the main rib 3 by the action of the spring 13 which urges the strut 9' inwardly. Thus, the umbrella is closed into the collapsed position of FIG. 18. If the runner 5 is further lowered, the umbrella is extended to the uncollapsed position of FIG. 17 by keeping the closed state. On the other hand, when the umbrella is required to be collapsed from the position of FIG. 17 again to the position of FIG. 18, the runner 5 is to be raised. Due to the action of the spring 13, the strut 9' pivots the connecting link 7, thus automatically collapsing the rib structure. The runner 5 is only to be raised for opening the umbrella of this structure, too. In FIGS. 21 to 23, there is illustrated a further embodiment of the present invention. The rib assembly of the present embodiment has the same structure as the foregoing two embodiments, except the strut. A strut 9" of this rib assembly, whose inner end is pivotally connected to the runner 5, has another end pivotally connected to the end rib 6 at its relatively upper portion. The umbrella thus constructed is capable of being closed from the opened position of FIG. 21 into the uncollapsed position of FIG. 22 since the strut 9" is lowered without folding the end rib 6 with reference to the main rib 3. The umbrella closed in the position of FIG. 22 is collapsed into the position of FIG. 23 by raising the strut 9" while pressing inwardly. The auxiliary link 8 is rotated in the direction of arrow A, in the same manner as in the foregoing embodiment, thus folding the end rib 6 onto the main rib 3. One form of the present embodiment is shown in FIGS. 24 to 26. In this rib assembly, the slidable means 6a, the spring 13, the rib-support member 12, and the catch means 10 are also provided in the manner as known from the foregoing description. The umbrella of this rib structure is first folded into the collapsed position when closed and then extendible into the uncollapsed position, similarly to the foregoing umbrellas having the spring 13. The opening operation also can be effected easily only by raising the runner 5 as already known. In this rib structure, the connecting link may be formed of two members, first connecting link 7a and second connecting link 7b, without losing the advantage of the present invention that the umbrella can be closed into two positions. In FIGS. 27 to 35, there are illustrated three forms of the present rib assembly, which employ an automatic opening means. These three forms of the automatic opening umbrella are only different from one another in the structure of the strut. In the first form of said automatic opening umbrella as shown in FIGS. 27 to 29, the outer end of the strut 9 is pivotally connected to the auxiliary link 8 at a position except the joint between said link 8 and the main rib 3; in the second form as shown in FIGS. 30 to 32, the strut 9' is connected at its outer end to the connecting link 7 except the joint of said link 7 and the main rib 3; and in the third form, the strut 9" has the outer end pivotally connected to the end rib 6 at the relatively upper portion thereof. These automatic opening umbrellas comprise, in addition to the structure of the foregoing non-automatic umbrella, an actuator 14 slidably mounted on the center rod 1 under the runner 5; a spring 15 fixed at its upper end to said runner 5 and at its lower end to said actuator 14; an actuator strut 16 connected between the actuator 14 and the auxiliary link 9, 9' or 9"; a spring 21 disposed in the upper part 1a of the center rod 1 and adapted to push out the lower part 1b for extension of the center rod 1; and a spring 20 provided on the upper part 1a of the rod 1 at the position just under the ferrule 2, which acts as a buffer. The rib-support member 12 as mentioned before may be mounted between the ferrule 2 and this spring 20. A catch means 17 is further provided in the present automatic opening umbrella, which is disposed in the lower part 1b of the center rod 1 for locking the actuator 14. Said catch means 17 has a button portion 17a and a hook portion 17b projected through a slot 1b.sub. 1 formed on said lower part 1b of the rod 1. The hook portion 17b is engageable with the actuator 14 for locking the lower end of the actuator 14 when the umbrella is closed and the button portion 17a is springily retractile to release the engagement. In case the strut 9, 9' or 9" is formed relatively short, another catch means (not shown) may be additionally provided in the lower part 1b of the rod 1 at the position upper than said catch means 17. In this case, said catch means 17 is used for locking the actuator 14 in the collapsed closed position and said another catch means is used for locking said actuator 14 in the uncollapsed or extended closed position. The catch means 10 employed in the foregoing non-automatic opening umbrella may be omitted in the umbrella having these automatic opening structure. To close the umbrella from the position of FIG. 27, 30 or 33, the actuator 14 is lowered manually. Upon this lowering operation of the actuator 14, the runner 5 is lowered and drawn near to the actuator 14. Thus, the spring 15 disposed between said runner 5 and said actuator 14 is compressed to the utmost position when said runner 5 and said actuator 14 are lowered to their lower utmost position. As the runner 5 and the actuator 14 are lowered, the strut 9, 9' or 9" is folded and drawn near to the center rod 1. The main rib 3, the connecting link 7, the auxiliary link 8 and the end rib 6 are subsequently drawn to the center rod 1 and closed without collapsing the rib structure. When the actuator 14 is lowered to its lower utmost position, the hook portion 17b of the catch means 17 is engaged with said actuator 14, thus retaining the umbrella in the uncollapsed closed position as shown in FIG. 28, 31 or 34. When the umbrella is required to be contracted from the position of FIG. 28, 31 or 34, into the collapsed position, the center rod 1 is to be first contracted against the spring 21 by manually pushing the upper part 1a and the lower part 1b in the directions of p and q, releasing the engagement of the resilient projection 11 with the slot on the upper part 1a. In the position where the center rod 1 is somewhat contracted, the tip end of the end rib 6 is put into and caught by a recess 19a of a handle 19. As the center rod 1 is further contracted in this state, forces p' and q' are applied to the main rib 3 and the end rib 6, resptively, pivoting the auxiliary link 8 in the direction r at A to collapse the rib structure. As shown in FIG. 29, 32 or 35, the umbrella is completely collapsed when the center rod 1 is fully contracted against the spring 21. In this position, the hook portion 17b of the catch means 17 locks the actuator 14. In the uncollapsed closed position of FIG. 28, 31 or 34 and the collapsed closed position of FIG. 29, 32 or 35, if the button portion 17a of the catch means 17 is pressed to release the engagement of the hook portion 17b with the actuator 14, the umbrella will be opened immediately. Stated illustratively, when the engagement between the hook portion 17b and the actuator 14 released, the spring 15 disposed between the runner 5 and the actuator 14 acts to push up said runner 5. The actuator 14 is pulled up by the actuator strut 16 connected to the strut 9, 9' or 9". Upon raising of the runner 5 and the actuator 14, the rib assembly is automatically expanded through the strut 9, 9' or 9". In case the umbrella is opened from the position of FIG. 29, 32 or 35, the center rod 1 is extended by the spring 21 by releasing the engagement of the catch means 17. In the position of FIGS. 28, 31 or 34 and 29, 32 or 35, 9, 9' or 9" is urged to expand outwardly by the spring 15, the rib assemblies arranged around the center rod 1 are held in the respective due positions without tangling one another. Accordingly, the opening operation can be effected smoothly. The rib assemblies of the first and the second forms of the automatic opening umbrella may have a connecting link 7 formed of a first connecting link and a second connecting link as mentioned above. In this connection, it is to be noted that the automatic opening umbrella is, as mentioned in the foregoing, opened automatically and abruptly by the action of the spring and that it may possibly cause troubles when it is wrongly operated or it is unexpectedly opened abruptly. To solve this problem, the automatic opening umbrella according to the present invention may be further provided with a spring locking means as shown in FIGS. 36 to 39. Numeral 23 designates a locking lever which is pivotally connected at its base portion to a support 14a provided on the periphery of the actuator 14. Said locking lever 23 has a tip hooked end 23a which is engageable with a flange 5a of the runner 5. A leaf spring 24 acts to positively retain said locking lever 23 in the upper engaging or locking position, or in the lower released position. In FIG. 39 is illustrated another form of the spring locking means. An annular member 25 is provided at the lower portion of the runner 5. The spring 15 is disposed between said annular member 25 and the actuator 14. The locking lever 23 is adapted to engage with an annular groove 25b formed on a flange 25a which is formed around the periphery of said annular member 25. In order to prevent possible mis-operation of the automatic opening umbrella or possible unexpected automatic opening thereof, the locking lever 23 is held in the position where it is engaged with the runner 5 and the annular member 25. In this state, as the expanding force of the spring 15 is controlled by this locking lever 23, the opening operation of the umbrella is restrained even if the catch means 17 is pressed to release the engagement with the actuator 14. Thus, dangers of unexpected automatic opening can be well prevented. For U.S. patent law, rules, and procedures see MPEP. Disclaimer. Information presented on this page while believed to be reliable, is provided "as is" with no warranties of its accuracy or timeliness. For legal advice seek help of a licensed professional. |