US20060032523A1

US20060032523A1 - Automated-open-close umbrella

Info

Publication number: US20060032523A1
Application number: US10/915,898
Authority: US
Inventors: Lung-Chiao Chou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-10
Filing date: 2004-08-10
Publication date: 2006-02-16

Abstract

The present invention provides a simplified structure and manufacturing process handle control mechanism of an automated-open-close umbrella, which is comprised of an open mechanism, a central handle assembly, wherein said open mechanism is consisted of a main holder, a controller, a button component, a switcher and a spring; wherein, the main holder includes a cavity upward on the axis, and a radial hole at one side for containing a button; the controller is a cylinder retained in the cavity of said main holder, there is a sliding slot built upon one side of said cylinder axially, opposite the sliding slot a cramp leaf is embedded in the inside wall; the button component includes a button ring and a restoring spring, therein said button ring is located on the topside of said controller, and fit into the radial hole of said main holder, and a part of the back side of pushing portion of it may extend into the inside of said sliding slot of the controller, on the other side, a lug with a slope matching to the main stick assembly is built upon the inside of the button ring, and a restoring spring is located on the back side of the lug on the outside of the button ring diametrically; the switcher is an elastic J-shape cramp located on the sliding slot freely, and the long side faces to the outside and slides along the sliding slot; the spring is placed on the bottom side of the controller and pushes up the switcher.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is relative to an automated-open-close umbrella in the umbrella field, and especially to an automated-open-close control apparatus in the handle of stick or multi-fold umbrella.
2. Description of Prior Art
In accordance with the conventional earlier umbrellas, as trying to open, the user has to push the low rib neat sliding up along the stick until get into a proper position, the umbrella is opened, but if running into a passing heavy shower or just only one hand free, the umbrella has been not opened, the user has been drenched. So someone designed an umbrella, in which a button is set upon the handle, as it is pressed down the umbrella is opened automatically, but, without automated-closing function, so that when getting on a vehicle two hands are employed simultaneously for closing the umbrella, even if it will take a short, the user maybe be still drenched by rain, so it is lose its convenient function. Therefore the automated-open-close umbrella was come out, just as the inventor designed and applied patents-an automatic multi-folded or stiff umbrella. By pressing down a button set upon the handle repeatedly, and cooperating with an opening mechanism, a main stick assembly and a ratio mechanism, carry out automated-open umbrella function. Because the handle takes on open and close two functions, so the design of control device in the handle becomes more important.
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, they are showing an automatic multi-folded umbrella, which includes a main holder 1′, a button component 2′ and a shell 3′, wherein said main holder 1′ includes a cavity 11′ upward on the axis for passing through the main stick assembly C′, and a flange 12′ on the up portion, a radial container 13′ below said flange 12′ for holding a button 21′, therein a baffle 14′ and a locking lever 15′ are pivoted on the both opens of said container 13′ with two pins X′ respectively, said baffle 14′ is backed by a spring 141′ at inside, next it downward a slot 17′ is built upon for casing a snap frame 16′ that is pressed and located with a spring 18′ and a block 19′ sequentially on the main holder 1′, meanwhile the opposite side of said snap frame 16′ touches against the bottom side of said locking lever 15′; said button component 2′ is consisted of a button 21′ and a switcher 22′ for opening and closing the umbrella, therein they are pivoted together with a pin X′, meanwhile a spring 23′ is sandwiched between said button 21′ and said switcher 22′; said switcher 22′ is a frame so that the main stick assembly C′ and the low rib nest B2′ of the open mechanism B′ pass through the hollow portion surrounded by the frame, said button 21′ is to cover on the upper portion of said baffle 14′, meanwhile the switcher 22′ is extended into the radial container 13′ of said main holder 1′; said low rib nest B2′ of the opening mechanism B′ has a catching slot B21′ coordinating to said switcher 22′; said switcher 22′ has a snatch lug with a slope at upside coordinating to the catching slot B21′; the shell 3′ is a shield fitting over the main holder 1′, and pre-set upon an open slot 31′ for placing the button.
Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, they are showing an automated-open-close handle control device of a walking-stick umbrella, in the same way, it includes a main holder 1″, a button component 2″ and a shell 3″, wherein said main holder 1″ includes a cavity 11″ upward on the axis for passing through the main stick assembly C″, and a flange 12″ on the up portion, a radial container 13″ below said flange 12″ for holding a button 21″, therein a baffle 14″ and a locking lever 15″ are pivoted on the both opens of said container 13″ with two pins X″ respectively, said baffle 14″ is backed by a spring 141″ at inside, next it downward a slot 17″ is built upon for casing a snap frame 16″ that is pressed and located with a spring 18″ and a block 19″ sequentially on the main holder 1″, meanwhile the opposite side of said snap frame 16″ touches against the bottom side of said locking lever 15″; said button component 2″ is consisted of a button 21″ and a switcher 22″ for opening and closing the umbrella, therein they are pivoted together with a pin X″, meanwhile a spring 23″ is sandwiched between said button 21″ and said switcher 22″; said switcher 22″ is a frame so that said main stick assembly C″ passes through the hollow portion surrounded by the frame, the shield C2″ of said main stick assembly C″ has a catching slot C21″ at the bottom side; said switcher 22″ has a snatch lug 221″ with a slope at upside coordinating to the catching slot C21″; said button 21″ is to cover on the upper portion of said baffle 14″, meanwhile the switcher 22″ is extended into the radial container 13″ of said main holder 1″; the shell 3″ is a shield fitting over the main holder 1″, and pre-set upon an open slot 31″ for placing the button.
In accordance with above two prior arts, we can find they are essentially same; the only difference between them just is the former is to control the low rib nest, but the later is to control the shield of the main stick assembly. But both of them have common shortcomings: too much pieces of parts in the control device, too complicated structure, therefore the installation process is too complexes, the production cost is too high, and on the other hand, due to too much and complexes parts, the volume of the handle is become bigger, especially applying to the stick umbrella, the bigger handle will affect its artistic.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The key object of the present invention is to provide a simpler and smaller umbrella handle with an automated-open-close mechanism.
For archiving above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an umbrella handle with an automated-open-close mechanism comprised of a main holder, a controller, a button component, a switcher and a spring; wherein, the main holder in- cludes a cavity upward on the axis, and a radial hole at one side for containing a button; the controller is a cylinder retained in the cavity of said main holder, there is a sliding slot built upon one side of said cylinder axially, opposite the sliding slot a cramp leaf is embedded in the inside wall; the button component includes a button ring and a restoring spring, therein said button ring is located on the topside of said controller, and fit into the radial hole of said main holder, and a part of the back side of pushing portion of it may extend into the inside of said sliding slot of the controller, on the other side, a lug with a slope matching to the main stick assembly is built upon the inside of the button ring, and a restoring spring is located on the back side of the lug on the outside of the button ring diametrically; the switcher is an elastic J-shape cramp located on the sliding slot freely, and the long side faces to the outside and slides along the sliding slot; the spring is placed on the bottom side of the controller and pushes up the switcher.
The back side of the pushing portion of said button ring is built upon a lug inward extending into the sliding slot of the controller.
The sliding slot of the controller is a T-shaped slot; the size of the upper slot is coordinated to the size of the lug of the button ring, the width of lower slot is matched to the switcher.
Applying above-described structure, due to employing a new control mechanism in the handle, so reduce some parts in the prior art, such as pins, restoring springs, locking lever, snap frame and block and so on, and the structure of the main holder is simplified, therefore, the less parts are employed, the processing technique is simplified in process, and the production cost is decreased; and on the other hand, due to reducing the number of the parts, the volume of the handle is reduced too.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing the first design of the prior art.
FIG. 2 is a cross-section view showing the combination state of the first design of the prior art.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the second design of the prior art.
FIG. 4 is a cross-section view showing the combination state of the second de- sign of the prior art.
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-section view showing the appearance of closing state of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the open action of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing close action of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the appearance of closing state of the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a cross-section view showing open action of the second embodiment of the present invention (1).
FIG. 11 is a cross-section view showing open action of the second embodiment of the present invention (2).
FIG. 12 is a cross-section view showing close action of the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 5 cooperating to FIG. 6 to FIG. 11, the present invention is comprised of an umbrella handle with an automated-open-close mechanism cooperating to the open mechanism, the main sick assembly, and the ratio mechanism of the umbrella to carry out automatic opening and closing umbrella functions;
The handle control device typically includes a main holder 1, a button component 2, a controller 3, a switcher 4 and a spring 5;
Wherein said main holder 1 has a cavity 11 upward on the axis, and a radial hole 12 at one side for containing a button;
The controller 3 is looked like a cylinder retained in the cavity 11 of said main holder 1, there is a sliding slot 31 built upon one side of said cylinder axially, said sliding slot 31 of is a T-shaped slot; the size of the upper slot 311 is coordinated to the size of the below lug 211 of the button ring 21, the width of lower slot 312 is matched to the switcher 4, opposite the sliding slot 31 a cramp leaf 32 is embedded in the inside wall;
The button component 2 includes a button ring 21 and a restoring spring 22, therein said button ring 21 is located on the topside of said controller 3, and fit into the radial hole 12 of said main holder 1, and a lug 211 at the back side of pushing portion of it extends into the inside of said sliding slot 311 of the controller 3, on the other side, a lug 212 with a slope matching to the main stick assembly C is built upon the inside of the button ring 21, and a restoring spring 22 is located on the back side of the lug 212 on the outside of the button ring 21 diametrically;
The switcher 4 is an elastic J-shape cramp located on the sliding slot 31 of the controller 3 freely, the short side 41 is placed to the inside and the long side 42 faces to the outside and slides along the sliding slot 31;
The spring 5 is placed on the bottom side of the controller 3 and pushes up the bottom of the switcher 4.
When the present invention is used for a multi-fold automated-open-close umbrella, referring to FIG. 6, the open mechanism is comprised of an upper rib nest, a low rib nest B2 and ribs (not shown in drawings); first, sequentially place the restoring spring 22 and the button ring 21 into the radial hole 12 of the main holder 1, and the main stick set C2 of the main stick assembly C is fastened into the cavity 11 of the main holder 1; the spring 5 is placed into the controller 3, and the switcher 4 is fit into the sliding slot 31 of the controller 3, meanwhile the bottom of the switcher 4 is touched against the top end of the spring 5, then as making the upper slot 311 of the controller 3 face to the pressing portion 211 of the button ring 21, the controller 3 is fastened into the main stick set C2 of the main stick assembly, the inner tube C21 of the main stick set C2 has a slot C211 built upon coordinating to the upper slot 311 for facilitating to the switcher 4 sliding reciprocally along the upper slot 311, meanwhile the lower rib nest B2 is withdrew into the cavity 11 of the main holder 1 and retained by locking in the catching slot B21 of the low rib nest B2 with the lug 212 of the button ring 21; additionally, the catching head D1 of the ratio mechanism is locked on the controller 3 by the cramp leaf 32. Because the extension spring C1 is in compression state, under the restoring force, said low rib nest B2 is exerted a pulling force upward, meanwhile the switcher 4 in the controller 3 is pressing down the spring 5 and keeping it in compression state too.
As opening the umbrella, referring to FIG. 7, press down the button ring 21 to push the restoring spring 22 move to the left simultaneously, the lug 212 releases the low rib nest B2, under the action of the extension spring C1, the main stick set C2 is unfolded, the low rib nest B2 is pulled upward sliding along the unfolded telescopic tubes until the umbrella is fully opened. At this time, the compressed restoring spring 22 of the button ring 21 is pushing the button ring 21 rightward to original position as removing the finger from the pressing portion 211.
Referring to FIG. 7 again, at this time, the button ring 21 is in the original state, but, under the action of the spring 5, the switcher 4 is lift up until catching into the upper slot 311 of the controller 3, during this term, the long side 41 of the switcher 4 is pushed upward until to getting the upper slot 311, at this time, the long 41 side of the switcher 4 and the catching head D1 and the lug 212 of the button ring 21 are aligned in one line; as closing the umbrella, referring to FIG. 8, press down the button ring 21 simultaneously to push the long side 41 of the switcher 4 move to the left, so as to push the catching head D1 leftward until it slide off the upper slot 311 of the controller 3, the catching head D1 is released easily to withdraw the cable of the ratio mechanism so that the restoring springs located in the ribs of the open mechanism B are drew back in closing state, and by means of the extra force of hands, the catching slot B21 of the low rib nest B2 is locked on the lug 212 of the button ring 21, in this case the catching head D1 of the ratio mechanism is locked on the sliding slot 31 of the controller 3 by the cramp leaf 32, simultaneously the low rib nest B2 pushes down the switcher 4 to press the spring 5 in the energized state for the next open, so the umbrella is in fully close state, as shown in FIG. 6.
As the handle control mechanism of the present invention is used in a stick umbrella, as shown in FIG. 9, the open mechanism is consisted of ribs (not shown in the drawings), the main stick assembly C includes a extension spring C1, an outer tube C2 and an inner tube C3, the controller 3 is located on the inside of the inner tube C3; coordinating to the sliding slot 31, the inner tube C3 is opened a slot C31 for overlapping the sliding slot 31 in register so that the switcher 4 can reciprocate on it freely as in the sliding slot 31, simultaneously the outer tube C2 is locked by the lug 211 of the button ring 21 catching in the catching slot C21; additionally, the catching head D1 of the ratio mechanism is locked on the sliding slot under the press of the cramp leaf 32. After combination, the extension spring C1 is in compression state so that the outer tuber C2 is always exerted a pulling force under the restoring force of the extension spring C1, simultaneously the switcher 4 in the controller 3 is pressed down to press the spring 5 down in energized state by the outer tube C2.
When opening the umbrella, referring to FIG. 10, press down the button ring 21 simultaneously to press the restoring spring 22 leftward, the lug 211 releases the outer tube C2, under the action of the extension spring C1 the outer tube C2 is drew up along the inner tube C3 relatively to push the ribs to open the umbrella. As removing the finger from the button ring 21, the compressed restoring spring 22 pushes the button ring 21 rightward until getting the original position.
As shown in FIG. 11, at this time the button ring 21 is restored the original state, but, due to the released spring 5, the switcher 4 is pushed up to touch against the top rim of the upper slot 311 of the controller 3, in this case the top end of the long side 42 of the switcher 4 and the catching head D1, and the lug 211 are aligned on a line; as trying to close the umbrella, as shown in FIG. 12, press down the button ring 21 simultaneously to push the long side 42 of the switcher 4 leftward so as to press the catching head D1 moving to the left until it slides off from the upper slot 311 to get free state, simultaneously and easily to withdraw the cable of the ratio mechanism D so that the restoring springs located in the ribs of the open mechanism B are drew back in closing state, and by means of the extra force of hands, the catching slot C21 of the outer tube C2 of the main stick assembly C is locked on the lug 212 of the button ring 21, in this case the catching head D1 of the ratio mechanism is locked on the sliding slot 31 of the controller 3 by the cramp leaf 32, simultaneously the outer tube C2 pushes down the switcher 4 to press the spring 5 in the energized state for the next open, so the umbrella is in fully close state, as shown in FIG. 9.
Certainly, the controller 3 provided by the present invention can be used in a multi-fold or a stick umbrella as a part of the main stick assembly or of the inner tube for carrying out automated-open-close function.
Therefore, relative to the prior art, the handle control mechanism of the present invention has lesser number of parts, simplified structure and manufacturing processes, and lower production cost feathers; on the other hand, due to employing lesser parts, the volume of the handle is reduced, meanwhile providing bigger space for changing the appearance of the handle.

Claims

1. A handle control mechanism of an automated-open-close umbrella, comprised of an open mechanism, a central handle assembly, wherein said open mechanism is consisted of a main holder, a controller, a button component, a switcher and a spring; wherein, the main holder includes a cavity upward on the axis, and a radial hole at one side for containing a button; the controller is a cylinder retained in the cavity of said main holder, there is a sliding slot built upon one side of said cylinder axially, opposite the sliding slot a cramp leaf is embedded in the inside wall; the button component includes a button ring and a restoring spring, therein said button ring is located on the topside of said controller, and fit into the radial hole of said main holder, and a part of the back side of pushing portion of it may extend into the inside of said sliding slot of the controller, on the other side, a lug with a slope matching to the main stick assembly is built upon the inside of the button ring, and a restoring spring is located on the back side of the lug on the outside of the button ring diametrically; the switcher is an elastic J-shape cramp located on the sliding slot freely, and the long side faces to the outside and slides along the sliding slot; the spring is placed on the bottom side of the controller and pushes up the switcher.

2. A handle control mechanism of an automated-open-close umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the back side of the pushing portion of said button ring is built upon a lug inward extending into the sliding slot of the controller.

3. A handle control mechanism of an automated-open-close umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the sliding slot of the controller is a T-shaped slot; the size of the upper slot is coordinated to the size of the lug of the but- ton ring, the width of lower slot is matched to the switcher.