US20030230327A1

US20030230327A1 - Windproof umbrella having multiple canopies in a partial covering relation therebetween

Info

Publication number: US20030230327A1
Application number: US10/172,050
Authority: US
Inventors: Ching-Chuan You
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-06-17
Filing date: 2002-06-17
Publication date: 2003-12-18

Abstract

A windproof umbrella comprising a lower canopy including a central opening, an intermediate canopy in a partial covering relation to the lower canopy and including a central opening, and an upper canopy in a partial covering relation to the intermediate canopy. Two sets of gaps are temporarily formed between lower and intermediate canopies and between intermediate and upper canopies during high winds because wind caught beneath the canopies will apply pressure upward to force both the intermediate canopy to lift away from the lower canopy for wind escape and the upper canopy to lift away from the intermediate canopy for wind escape respectively.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to umbrellas and more particularly to an umbrella having multiple canopies in a partial covering relation therebetween so as to have more escape paths for wind for avoiding inversion from the wind.

2. Description of Related Art

Frequently, a wind will catch an umbrella user unaware and exert a force against the inner surface of the canopy which will cause the canopy to invert from its normal operable position to an upwardly convex position. Accordingly, specially designed umbrellas for rainy, windy weather have been proposed. As shown in FIG. 7, this disclosed windproof umbrella has a small

upper canopy

31 in a partial covering relation to a large lower canopy 30 secured to a plurality of ribs 41 of frame 40. The lower canopy 30 has a plurality of (eight as shown) vent holes 301 equally disposed apart therearound. The upper canopy 31 is in covering relation to the vent holes 301. During rainy, windy weather, wind caught beneath the lower canopy 30 exits through the vent holes 301 and applies pressure to the underside of the upper canopy 31. This forces the upper canopy 31 to lift away from the lower canopy 30 for providing a path (i.e., through peripheral edge 311) for wind to escape the umbrella.

Another conventional windproof umbrella 5 is shown in FIG. 8 in which a small upper canopy 51 is in a partial covering relation to a large lower canopy 50. Likewise, during rainy, windy weather, wind caught beneath the lower canopy 50 applies pressure to the underside of the upper canopy 51. This forces the upper canopy 51 to lift away from the lower canopy 50 for providing a path (i.e., through peripheral edge 511) for wind to escape the umbrella.

However, both the prior art suffered from several disadvantages. For example, the number of escape paths for wind is small. Thus, a desired sufficient air escape is not achievable. Further, the covering area is relatively large, resulting in an increase in the manufacturing cost, i.e., excessive fabric is wasted. Furthermore, the manufacturing process is time consuming due to the provision of vent holes.

Still another conventional

windproof umbrella

2 is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 in which a plurality of inverted V-shaped elastic strips 22 are secured between a plurality of fasteners 121 on stretchers 12 and a peripheral edge 211. However, the prior art still suffered from several disadvantages. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the elastic strips 22 are generally parallel to ribs 11 when the upper canopy 20 lifts away from the lower canopy 21 by strong wind. As a result, the peripheral edge 211 is generally closed, i.e., escape path from the peripheral edge 211 to vent holes 204 is blocked. Moreover, the vent holes 204 are generally closed as indicated by arrow A when a strong wind exerts a force upward on the elastic strips 22. As a result, the air escape function is compromised. Also, because the elastic strips 22 often stretched, its elasticity will be worn out after being used for a predetermined times. As an end, the escape space for wind will become smaller. Additionally, the mounting of fasteners 121 on the stretchers 12 is a time consuming process and thus cost ineffective. Therefore, improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a windproof umbrella having multiple canopies in a partial covering relation therebetween for effectively preventing inversion of the umbrella during high winds.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a windproof umbrella having multiple canopies in a partial covering relation therebetween in which a stitching process of canopies and ribs is simplified.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a windproof umbrella having multiple canopies in a partial covering relation therebetween in which a fabric cut out from the central opening of the lower canopy is used for the upper canopy so that fabric is saved during the manufacturing process.

To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provide a windproof umbrella comprising a lower canopy including a central opening, an upper peripheral edge, and a lower peripheral edge; an intermediate canopy in a partial covering relation to the lower canopy and including a central opening, an upper peripheral edge, and a lower peripheral edge; an upper canopy in a partial covering relation to the intermediate canopy and including a lower peripheral edge; a shank; a first ring slidable along the shank; a plurality of ribs; a plurality of spreaders secured between the first ring and predetermined positions of the ribs; a hub at a top of the shank; wherein two sets of a plurality of gaps are temporarily formed between the lower and the intermediate-canopies and between the intermediate and the upper canopies during high winds as wind caught beneath the canopies will apply pressure upward to force both the intermediate canopy to lift away from the lower canopy a predetermined distance to provide paths through one set of the gaps for the wind to escape the umbrella and the upper canopy to lift away from the intermediate canopy a predetermined distance to provide paths through the other set of the gaps for the wind to escape the umbrella respectively.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a windproof umbrella according to the invention for illustrating details of the top; [0013]
FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the umbrella for illustrating details of the bottom; [0014]
FIG. 3 is a side view of the umbrella; [0015]
FIGS. 4A and 4B are fragmentary enlarged view of FIG. 3 for illustrating a closed escape path for wind and an open escape path for wind during high winds respectively; [0016]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a windproof umbrella according to the invention for illustrating details of the bottom; [0017]
FIGS. 6A and 6B are fragmentary enlarged view of FIG. 5 for illustrating a closed escape path for wind and an open escape path for wind during high winds respectively; [0018]
FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a conventional windproof umbrella; [0019]
FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of another conventional windproof umbrella; [0020]
FIG. 9 is a partial side view of still another conventional windproof umbrella; and [0021]
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged view of FIG. 9 for illustrating a closed escape path for wind during high winds.[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. [0023] 1 to 4, there is shown a first preferred embodiment of a windproof umbrella constructed in accordance with the invention comprising a lower canopy 10 including a central opening 11, an upper peripheral edge 12, and a lower peripheral edge 14; an intermediate canopy 20 in a partial covering relation to the lower canopy 10 and including a central opening 21, an upper peripheral edge 22, and a lower peripheral edge 24; an upper canopy 30 in a partial covering relation to the intermediate canopy 20 and including a lower peripheral edge 34; a shank 40; a ring 41 slidable along the shank 40; a plurality of ribs 43; a plurality of spreaders 44 secured between the ring 41 and predetermined positions of the ribs 43; a hub 42 at a top of the shank 40; a lower fastening means 51 for securing each lower corner of the lower canopy 10 along the lower peripheral edge 14 to a free end of rib 43; an intermediate fastening means 52 for securing each lower corner of the intermediate canopy 20 along the lower peripheral edge 24 and also each upper portion of the lower canopy 10 along the upper peripheral edge 12 to an about central portion of rib 43; and an upper fastening means 53 for securing each corner of the upper canopy 30 along the lower peripheral edge 34 to a corresponding upper portion of the intermediate canopy 20 adjacent either side of the rib 43. Hence, as shown in FIG. 4A, during calm weather, two sets of a plurality of small gaps S1 and S2 are temporarily formed between the lower and the intermediate canopies 10 and 20 and between the intermediate and the upper canopies 20 and 30. During windy weather, wind (as indicated by each arrow of FIG. 4B) caught beneath the canopies 10, 20 and 30 will apply pressure upward. This forces both the lower peripheral edge 24 of the intermediate canopy 20 to lift away from the lower canopy 10 a predetermined distance to provide paths through the gaps S1 for the wind to escape the umbrella and the lower peripheral edge 34 of the upper canopy 30 to lift away from the intermediate canopy 20 a predetermined distance to provide a path through the gap S2 for the wind to escape the umbrella respectively. As a result, a potential inversion from the wind during strong winds is prevented.
Note that fabric cut out from the [0024] central opening 11 of the lower canopy 10 is discarded in the prior art. However, such fabric in the present invention is used to manufacture the upper canopy 30 so as to save fabric material during the manufacturing process. Further note that the securing of lower and intermediate fastening means 51 and 52 to the ribs 43 is done by stitching additionally, while the securing of upper fastening means 53 is done by stitching to the fabric only without securing to the ribs 43 in manufacturing process. Thus, the manufacturing process is faster.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown a second preferred embodiment of a windproof umbrella constructed in accordance with the invention. The differences between the first and the second preferred embodiments are detailed below. In the second embodiment, there are further provided a [0025] second ring 60 between the ring 41 and the hub 42 and a plurality of inelastic strips 70 interconnecting the second ring 60 at inner end 72 and upper corners 121 of the upper peripheral edge 12 at outer end 71. As a result, an opening is formed in each sector of the upper peripheral edge 12 of the lower canopy 10. Further, the openings are in fluid communication with one set of the gaps S1 formed between the lower canopy 10 and the intermediate canopy 20 during windy weather. This can further increase ventilation during high winds. Note that the outer end 71 of inelastic strip 70 is stitched to the upper corner 121 of lower canopy 10 in a generally horizontal direction and the inner end 72 thereof is secured to the second ring 60 in a generally horizontal direction. As shown, each sector of upper peripheral edge 12 of the lower canopy 10 is open to its lower edge by the inelastic strip 70 (i.e., forming a gap) in a generally horizontal direction. Moreover, the inelastic strip 70 is about perpendicular to the shank 40. As such, the gap S2 can be opened to its maximum. As a result, the escape path for wind is not blocked completely. It is noted that in another preferred embodiment, an orientation of the inelastic strip 70 is about ±30 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction.
While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims. [0026]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A windproof umbrella comprising:

a lower canopy including a central opening, an upper peripheral edge, and a lower peripheral edge;

an intermediate canopy in a partial covering relation to the lower canopy and including a central opening, an upper peripheral edge, and a lower peripheral edge;

an upper canopy in a partial covering relation to the intermediate canopy and including a lower peripheral edge;

a shank;

a first ring slidable along the shank;

a plurality of ribs;

a plurality of spreaders secured between the first ring and predetermined positions of the ribs;

a hub at a top of the shank;

wherein two sets of a plurality of gaps are temporarily formed between the lower and the intermediate canopies and between the intermediate and the upper canopies during high winds as wind caught beneath the canopies will apply pressure upward to force both the intermediate canopy to lift away from the lower canopy a predetermined distance to provide paths through one set of the gaps for the wind to escape the umbrella and the upper canopy to lift away from the intermediate canopy a predetermined distance to provide paths through the other set of the gaps for the wind to escape the umbrella respectively.

2. The windproof umbrella of claim 1, further comprising:

a lower fastening means for securing each lower corner of the lower canopy along its lower peripheral edge to a free end of the rib;

an intermediate fastening means for securing each lower corner of the intermediate canopy along its lower peripheral edge and also each upper portion of the lower canopy 10 along the upper peripheral edge 13 to an about central portion of the rib; and

an upper fastening means for securing each corner of the upper canopy along its lower peripheral edge to an upper portion of the intermediate canopy adjacent either side of the rib.

3. The windproof umbrella of claim 1, further comprising:

a second ring between the ring and the hub; and

a plurality of strips, each of strip interconnecting between the second ring and each sector of upper corners of the upper peripheral edge of the lower canopy;

wherein an opening is formed in each sector of the upper peripheral edge of the lower canopy so that a plurality of openings are in fluid communication with a plurality of gaps formed between the lower canopy and the intermediate canopy during high winds.

4. The windproof umbrella of claim 3, further comprising:

an intermediate fastening means for securing each lower corner of the intermediate canopy along its lower peripheral edge and also each upper portion of the lower canopy along the upper peripheral edge to an about central portion of the rib; and

5. The windproof umbrella of claim 3, wherein an orientation of each strip is about ±30 degrees with respect to a horizontal direction.

6. The windproof umbrella of claim 3, wherein the strips are inelastic.