US20090308419A1

US20090308419A1 - Umbrella with rearward extending frame and canopy

Info

Publication number: US20090308419A1
Application number: US12/155,952
Authority: US
Inventors: Ching-Chuan You
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-06-12
Filing date: 2008-06-12
Publication date: 2009-12-17

Abstract

An umbrella includes a shank, a frame, and a canopy in covering relationship to the frame wherein the canopy includes a main section and a rearward extending section, and the frame includes a plurality of rearward extending first rib sections. The umbrella being open is adapted to provide a wider protection area to an object carried on the shoulder or towed by the hand against the rain. The umbrella frame is made of FRP so as to reduce weight significantly.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to umbrellas and more particularly to such an umbrella having a rearward extending frame and canopy so as to, for example, protect an object (e.g., a golf bag) carried on the shoulder or an object (e.g., a wheeled golf bag) towed by the hand against the rain.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, an umbrella aims to protect an individual against the rain or sun. A conventional umbrella 100 being opened is shown in FIG. 1. As illustrated, a wheeled golf bag 200 is towed by an individual who holds the open umbrella 100. However, it is seen that the wheeled golf bag 200 is not protected against the rain by the umbrella 100. Hence, rain may enter the wheeled golf bag 200. This is not desired.
A large umbrella may solve the above problem. However, such type of umbrella is generally too heavy or may obstruct the view while walking. Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide an umbrella having a rearward extending folding frame with canopy covered thereon so as to provide a wider protection area to an object either being carried or towed without significantly increasing weight and without obstructing the view while walking.
To achieve the above and other objects, the invention provides an umbrella comprising a shank, a frame and a canopy in covering relationship to the frame, wherein the canopy comprises a main section and a rearward extending section, and the frame comprises a plurality of rearward extending first rib sections.
In one aspect of the invention the umbrella is an automatic umbrella.
In another aspect of the invention the umbrella frame is made of FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastics) so as to be lightweight.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a conventional umbrella being open with a wheeled golf bag being towed in a rainy day;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of umbrella according to the invention where the umbrella is open;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the umbrella of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the umbrella components of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the umbrella of the invention being open with a wheeled golf bag being towed in a rainy day;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 where the wheeled golf bag being carried on the shoulder; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side view of the umbrella of the invention being folded.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 7, an umbrella 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a shank 10, a lower sleeve 13 slidably put on the shank 10, an upper runner 12 slidably put on the shank 10, a spring 14 put on the shank 10 being biased between the sleeve 13 and the runner 12, a hub 11 on the top end of the shank 10, a frame 20, and a canopy 30 in covering relationship to the frame 20.
The canopy 30 comprises a main section 31 and a rearward extending section 32. The frame 20 comprises a front section 21 and a rear section 22.
The front section 21 comprises a plurality of ribs 211 extending radially from the hub 11 and adapted to pivot about the hub 11 with a portion of the main section 31 in covering relationship thereto, a plurality of first fixed joints 212 provided in the intermediate portions of the ribs 211, and a plurality of first stretchers 213 pivotably interconnecting the first fixed joints 212 and the runner 12.
The rear section 22 comprises a plurality of second rib sections 221 extending radially from the hub 11 and adapted to pivot about the hub 11 with the remaining portion of the main section 31 in covering relationship thereto, a plurality of second stretchers 223 extending radially from the runner 12 and adapted to pivot about the runner 12, a plurality of second fixed joints 222 provided in the intermediate portions of the second stretchers 223, a plurality of pivotal joints 224 provided in the open ends of the second stretchers 223, a plurality of links 225 pivotably interconnecting the pivotal joints 224 and distal ends of the second rib sections 221 and being substantially parallel to the second stretchers 223 when the umbrella 1 is open, and a plurality of first rib sections 40 having proximal ends fixedly secured to the pivotal joints 224.
A plurality of first auxiliary stretchers 131 are pivotably interconnected the top of the sleeve 13 and predetermined points of the first stretchers 213 proximate the runner 12. A plurality of second auxiliary stretchers 132 are pivotably interconnected the top of the sleeve 13 and predetermined points of the second stretchers 223 proximate the runner 12. By configuring as above, the umbrella 1 can be automatically opened by pressing a lock tab (not shown) on the shank 10.
Preferably, the ribs 211, the first stretchers 213, the second rib sections 221, the second stretchers 223, and the first rib sections 40 are made of FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastics) so as to significantly decrease the weight of the umbrella 1. Moreover, the first stretchers 213 and the second stretchers 223 are formed by a twin-FRP-pipe so as to significantly increase the strenght of the frame of the umbrella 1.
Referring to FIG. 5 specifically, an object (e.g., a wheeled golf bag) 200 being towed is protected by the rearward extending section 32 against the rain when the umbrella 1 is open. Further, referring to FIG. 6 specifically, an object (e.g., a wheeled golf bag) 200 carried on the shoulder is protected by the rearward extending section 32 against the rain when the umbrella 1 is open. As a result, rain is prevented from entering the wheeled golf bag 200.
It is seen that the view is not obstructed by the open umbrella 1.
Referring to FIG. 7 specifically, the rearward extending section 32 is folded into three sections, the folded main section 31 is still fixed in length, and the length of the rearward extending section 32 is about the same as that of the main section 31 when the umbrella 1 is folded. This has the benefit of facilitating the storage and carrying of the umbrella 1.
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.

Claims

1. An umbrella (1) comprising:

a shank (10);

a frame (20); and

a canopy (30) in covering relationship to the frame (20);

wherein the canopy (30) comprises a main section (31) and a rearward extending section (32); and the frame (20) comprises a plurality of rearward extending first rib sections (40).

2. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein the rearward extending section (32) is folded into three sections, the main section (31) is fixed in length, and the length of the rearward extending section (32) is about the same as that of the main section (31) when the umbrella (1) is closed.

3. The umbrella (1) of claim 1, further comprising a hub (11) on the top end of the shank (10), a lower sleeve (13) slidably put on the shank (10), an upper runner (12) slidably put on the shank (10), a spring (14) put on the shank (10) being biased between the sleeve (13) and the runner (12), and wherein the frame (20) further comprises a front section (21) including a plurality of ribs (211) extending radially from the hub (11) and adapted to pivot about the hub (11) with a portion of the main section (31) in covering relationship thereto, a plurality of first fixed joints (212) disposed in the intermediate portions of the ribs (211), and a plurality of first stretchers (213) pivotably interconnecting the first fixed joints (212) and the runner (12); and a rear section (22) including a plurality of second rib sections (221) extending radially from the hub (11) and adapted to pivot about the hub (11) with the remaining portion of the main section (31) in covering relationship thereto, a plurality of second stretchers (223) extending radially from the runner (12) and adapted to pivot about the runner (12), a plurality of second fixed joints (222) disposed in the intermediate portions of the second stretchers (223), a plurality of pivotal joints (224) disposed in the open ends of the second stretchers (223) with the first rib sections (40) fixedly secured thereto, and a plurality of links (225) pivotably interconnecting the pivotal joints (224) and distal ends of the second rib sections (221) and being substantially parallel to the second stretchers (223) when the umbrella (1) is open.

4. The umbrella (1) of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of first auxiliary stretchers (131) pivotably interconnected the sleeve (13) and predetermined points of the first stretchers (213), and a plurality of second auxiliary stretchers (132) pivotably interconnected the sleeve (13) and predetermined points of the second stretchers (223).

5. The umbrella (1) of claim 3, wherein the ribs (211), the first stretchers (213), the second rib sections (221), the second stretchers (223), and the first rib sections (40) are made of FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Plastics).

6. The umbrella (1) of claim 3, wherein the first stretchers (213) and the second stretchers (223) are formed by a twin-FRP-pipe.