US20070056615A1

US20070056615A1 - Umbrella having reinforced connecting structure

Info

Publication number: US20070056615A1
Application number: US11/225,786
Authority: US
Inventors: Jin-Sheng Lai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-09-13
Filing date: 2005-09-13
Publication date: 2007-03-15

Abstract

An umbrella includes an upper shank, an upper connecting tube, a lower shank, a lower connecting tube, and a locking ring. Thus, the stop flange of the locking ring is rested on the catch flange of the upper connecting tube, and the tenons of the upper connecting tube are inserted into the mortises of the lower connecting tube, so that the upper connecting tube is connected with the lower connecting tube rigidly and stably, thereby reinforcing the strength of the umbrella.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an umbrella, and more particularly to an umbrella, such as a parasol or sunshade.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional two-stage type umbrella comprises an upper shank and a lower shank combined with the upper shank in a screwing manner. However, the lower shank is easily unscrewed from the upper shank to detach the umbrella, thereby causing inconvenience to a user. In addition, the lower shank is not secured to the upper shank closely, so that the lower shank is easily detached from the upper shank due to a larger wind blow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an umbrella, comprising an upper shank, an upper connecting tube having an upper end mounted on a lower end of the upper shank, a lower shank located under the upper shank, a lower connecting tube having an upper end mounted on a lower end of the upper connecting tube and a lower end mounted on an upper end of the lower shank, and a locking ring mounted between the upper connecting tube and the lower connecting tube to lock the upper connecting tube and the lower connecting tube.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an umbrella having a reinforced connecting structure.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an umbrella that is assembled easily and conveniently.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide an umbrella, wherein the stop flange of the locking ring is rested on the catch flange of the upper connecting tube, and the tenons of the upper connecting tube are inserted into the mortises of the lower connecting tube; so that the upper connecting tube is connected with the lower connecting tube rigidly and stably, thereby greatly reinforcing the strength of the umbrella.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide an umbrella, wherein the stop flange of the locking ring is rested on the catch flange of the upper connecting tube, thereby preventing the locking ring from slipping downward.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan exploded view of an umbrella in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partially perspective view of the umbrella in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the umbrella as shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a plan cross-sectional view of the umbrella as shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a partially exploded view of the umbrella as shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is a partially exploded view of the umbrella as shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-4, an umbrella in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an upper shank 4, a rib and canopy assembly 41 mounted on an upper end of the upper shank 4, an upper connecting tube 1 having an upper end mounted on a lower end of the upper shank 4, a lower shank 5 located under the upper shank 4, a lower connecting tube 2 having an upper end mounted on a lower end of the upper connecting tube 1 and a lower end mounted on an upper end of the lower shank 5, and a locking ring 3 mounted between the upper connecting tube 1 and the lower connecting tube 2 to lock the upper connecting tube 1 and the lower connecting tube 2. The upper end of the lower connecting tube 2 is secured to the lower end of the upper connecting tube 1 by a mortise and tenon engagement.
The upper end of the lower connecting tube 2 has an end face 20 formed with two radially opposite mortises 22. The end face 20 of the lower connecting tube 2 has a peripheral wall formed with an outer thread 21.
The lower end of the upper connecting tube 1 has an end face 10 rested on the end face 20 of the lower connecting tube 2 and formed with two radially opposite tenons 12 each inserted into a respective one of the mortises 22 of the lower connecting tube 2. The end face 10 of the upper connecting tube 1 has a peripheral wall formed with a catch flange 11 which is extended radially outward. The tenons 12 of the upper connecting tube 1 are formed on and protruded outward from the catch flange 11.
The locking ring 3 has an inner wall having an upper end formed with a stop flange 31 which is extended radially inward and rested on the catch flange 11 of the upper connecting tube 1 and a lower end formed with an inner thread 30 screwed onto the outer thread 21 of the lower connecting tube 2.
The upper shank 4 is made of a solid wooden tube. The lower end of the upper shank 4 is formed with a reduced post 40 inserted into the upper end of the upper connecting tube 1.
The lower shank 5 is made of a solid wooden tube. The upper end of the lower shank 5 is formed with a reduced post 50 inserted into the lower end of the lower connecting tube 2. Preferably, an aluminum tube 51 is mounted around the reduced post 50 of the lower shank 5 to reinforce the strength of the lower shank 5, and a screw 52 is extended through the aluminum tube 51 and partially inserted into the reduced post 50 of the lower shank 5 to combine the aluminum tube 51 and the lower shank 5. In addition, the screw 52 is partially extended through the reduced post 50 of the lower shank 5.
In assembly, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 with reference to FIGS. 1-4, the upper connecting tube 1 is initially mounted on the upper shank 4, and the lower connecting tube 2 is initially mounted on the lower shank 5. Then, the tenons 12 of the upper connecting tube 1 are inserted into the mortises 22 of the lower connecting tube 2, so that the upper connecting tube 1 is connected with the lower connecting tube 2. Finally, the locking ring 3 is locked onto the lower connecting tube 2, with the inner thread 30 of the locking ring 3 being screwed onto the outer thread 21 of the lower connecting tube 2, so that the upper connecting tube 1 is closely connected with the lower connecting tube 2 by the locking ring 3. At this time, the stop flange 31 of the locking ring 3 is rested on the catch flange 11 of the upper connecting tube 1, and the tenons 12 of the upper connecting tube 1 are inserted into the mortises 22 of the lower connecting tube 2, so that the upper connecting tube 1 is connected with the lower connecting tube 2 rigidly and stably, thereby reinforcing the strength of the umbrella. Thus, the umbrella has a reinforced connecting structure.
Accordingly, the upper connecting tube 1 is initially locked on the lower connecting tube 2 by a mortise and tenon engagement, so that the umbrella is assembled easily and conveniently. In addition, the stop flange 31 of the locking ring 3 is rested on the catch flange 11 of the upper connecting tube 1, and the tenons 12 of the upper connecting tube 1 are inserted into the mortises 22 of the lower connecting tube 2, so that the upper connecting tube 1 is connected with the lower connecting tube 2 rigidly and stably, thereby greatly reinforcing the strength of the umbrella. Further, the stop flange 31 of the locking ring 3 is rested on the catch flange 11 of the upper connecting tube 1, thereby preventing the locking ring 3 from slipping downward. Further, the aluminum tube 51 is mounted around the reduced post 50 of the lower shank 5, so that the surface of the reduced post 50 of the lower shank 5 is smooth.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An umbrella, comprising:

an upper shank;

an upper connecting tube having an upper end mounted on a lower end of the upper shank;

a lower shank located under the upper shank;

a lower connecting tube having an upper end mounted on a lower end of the upper connecting tube and a lower end mounted on an upper end of the lower shank;

a locking ring mounted between the upper connecting tube and the lower connecting tube to lock the upper connecting tube and the lower connecting tube.

2. The umbrella in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper end of the lower connecting tube is secured to the lower end of the upper connecting tube by a mortise and tenon engagement.

3. The umbrella in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper end of the lower connecting tube has an end face formed with two radially opposite mortises, and the lower end of the upper connecting tube has an end face formed with two radially opposite tenons each inserted into a respective one of the mortises of the lower connecting tube.

4. The umbrella in accordance with claim 3, wherein the end face of the upper connecting tube is rested on the end face of the lower connecting tube.

5. The umbrella in accordance with claim 3, wherein the end face of the upper connecting tube has a peripheral wall formed with a catch flange, and the locking ring has an inner wall having an upper end formed with a stop flange rested on the catch flange of the upper connecting tube.

6. The umbrella in accordance with claim 5, wherein the end face of the lower connecting tube has a peripheral wall formed with an outer thread, and the inner wall of the locking ring has a lower end formed with an inner thread screwed onto the outer thread of the lower connecting tube.

7. The umbrella in accordance with claim 5, wherein the tenons of the upper connecting tube are formed on and protruded outward from the catch flange.

8. The umbrella in accordance with claim 5, wherein the catch flange of the upper connecting tube is extended radially outward.

9. The umbrella in accordance with claim 5, wherein the stop flange of the locking ring is extended radially inward.

10. The umbrella in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lower end of the upper shank is formed with a reduced post inserted into the upper end of the upper connecting tube.

11. The umbrella in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper end of the lower shank is formed with a reduced post inserted into the lower end of the lower connecting tube.

12. The umbrella in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an aluminum tube mounted around the reduced post of the lower shank.

13. The umbrella in accordance with claim 12, further comprising a screw extended through the aluminum tube and partially inserted into the reduced post of the lower shank to combine the aluminum tube and the lower shank.

14. The umbrella in accordance with claim 13, wherein the screw is partially extended through the reduced post of the lower shank.