Self-opening umbrella

[57] ABSTRACT

An automatic umbrella which includes a releasable self-opening means, such as a compression spring provided between a pair of runners sliding on the stick, wherein the spring is compressed when the runners are in a closed position and locked by a resilientlypivoted locking pawl inside the stick protruding radially outwardly of the stick to engage a runner and a push-button having an enlarged head for releasing the locking pawl from the runner to allow the umbrella to open. A sliding ring is provided which includes a safety lock for the push-button with the large head whereby when the ring is in a predetermined position, the head cannot be depressed to release the runners. The ring can be moved axially to disengage the safety lock from the pushbutton head.

Claims, 4 Drawing Figures

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US Patent sept. 23,1975 sheet 1 of 3 3,906,970

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US Patent sept. 23,1975 sheet 2 of 3 3,906,970

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FIG. 3

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 3 of 3 3,906,970

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FIG. 4

3,906,970

SELF-OPENING UMBRELLA

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to umbrellas and more particularly to umbrellas of the self-opening type.

2. Description of Prior Art

In self-opening umbrellas, releasable locking means must be provided so as to retain the components loaded in a closed position. For instance, a typical self-opening umbrella includes a pair of runners slidable on the stick and a compression spring between the runners which is compressed and loaded when the runners arc adjacent one another when the umbrella is in a closed position. In this case, the runners arc near the handle of the telescoped stick. Normally, in such umbrellas, a locking pawl within the umbrella stick is provided with a locking head protruding radially from the stick and adapted to engage one of the runners. The locking pawl includes a push-button release closer to the handle which forces the resilient-pivotally-mounted locking pawl to disengage the runner when the push-button is depressed so as to allow the loaded umbrella components to move towards an open position.

One of the disadvantages of the construction described is that since the push-button release for the locking pawl is near the handle, it can be easily accidentally depressed causing the umbrella to open accidentally. Since only a small amount of relative movement is provided between the runners, a very strong spring must be used between the runners. If the components are accidentally unlocked, this relatively strong spring forcing the components to open could cause injury when it forces the dome ribs, for instance, to move rapidly outwardly.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an aim of the present invention to provide an automatic. self-opening umbrella wherein a safety lock is provided for preventing the locking pawl push-button from .being depressed accidentally and forcing the user to positively unlock the release push-button before depressing it in order to open the umbrella.

It is also an aim of the present invention to further provide means for holding the tips of the umbrella in a stored position when the umbrella is closed.

A construction in accordance with the present invention includes an umbrella having a stick, a handle at one end of the stick, a crown at the other end of the stick, at least one runner slidable on the stick, dome ribs hinged to the crown and stretcher means hinged to the runner and the dome ribs for supporting the dome ribs when the umbrella is in an open position. There is provided energy-storing means for loading the components of the umbrella when the umbrella is closed and the runner is adjacent the handle, and a locking pawl is pivotally mounted in the hollow stick with a locking head protruding radially from the stick and engaging a scat provided in the runner. Releasable push-button means is associated to the pivoted locking pawl, whereby when the push-button means is depressed, the locking pawl will pivot inwardly of the stick and disengage the runner.

The improved feature includes a sliding member adapted for limited axial movement whereby in one position, it engages and locks the push-button release, and in a second position, it is disengaged from the pushbutton allowing it to be depressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration, a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a selfopening umbrella in a closed position, showing a detail thereof, partly in cross section;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the components of the umbrella in a different operable position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a detail of the components shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a detail similar to FIG. 3, but of the components shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, an umbrella of the self-opening type is shown fragmentarily and includes a stick 1 having a handle 2 and dome ribs 3. The dome ribs 3 arc pivoted to a crown (not shown) at the other end of the stick 1. A runner 4 is provided on the stick and is adapted to slide thereon. Stretcher members 5 arc hinged at one end to a flange 6 on the runner 4 and at the other, they are hinged to the dome ribs 3. A runner 7, which also slides on the stick, is provided with strut members 9 hinged to the flange 8 of the runner 7 and to the stretcher members 5 at the location indicated by the numeral 10 in the drawings, particularly in FIG. 1. Finally, a compression spring K is provided between the runners 4 and 7. The compression spring K is fully compressed when the umbrella is in a position as shown in FIG. 1, and tends to separate the runners thereby forcing the umbrella to open as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a blade-type pawl 19 is shown pivoted within the hollow stick 1 about a pivot shaft 27. An opening 18 is defined in the wall of the stick 1 to allow the enlarged locking head 13, having a locking lip 17, to protrude from the stick and engage the shoulder 12 of the runner 7, as shown. The pawl 19 includes a stem 16 between the locking head 13 and the shaft 27. At the other end of the stem 16 is an abutment head 20 which is adapted to protrude through an aperture 21 in the stick 1.

An annular member 24 is provided immediately adjacent the handle 2 and is held there by the transverse pin 23. The member 24 includes a recess 22 which coincides with the opening 21 in the stick. A recess 22 communicates with the outer wall 24' of the member 24 by means of a bore 22'. A push-button 14, includes an enlarged head 35 adapted to be engaged by an operator’s thumb and an abutment 25 at the other end of a shank 15 sliding in the bore 22'. The abutment 25, of course, engages the abutment head 20 of the pawl 16.

There is a U-shaped spring blade 28 provided in the hollow stick 1 which engages the pawl 19 and rcsilicntly holds the locking head 13 protruding outwardly of the stick and the abutting head 20 penetrating the recess 22 so that the pushbutton 14 is fully extended as shown in FIG. 3.

A sliding member 29 is provided having an annular skirt 29 extending downwardly therefrom, and an an3,906,970 nular reccss 30 in the top portion thereof for receiving the ends 3' of the dome ribs. The member 29 is adapted to slide on the stick 1. An axially-extending slot 36 is provided in the skirt 29 and receives the shank 15 of the push-button 14. Just below the slot 36, an enlargement of the skirt is provided which has a thickness substantially the same as the distance between the outer surface of the member 24 and the undersurface of the shoulder of the head 35. The enlarged member 34 has a flat top surface 34' and a beveled surface 34”';

Finally, the member 24 includes a recess for receiving a compression spring 31. The end 33 of the spring 31 engages against the underside of the member 29 for normally holding the member 29 in a position whereby the enlarged portion 34 is immediately below the shoulder of the head 35 of the push-button 14 as shown in FIG. 3. When the member 29 is slid axially in the opposite direction, it is limited by the metal ring 37 on the shoulder of the handle 2.

In operation, when the umbrella is in a closed position with the runner engaged by the locking head 13 ot the pawl 16, the push-button 14 is in its fully extended position as shown in FIG. 3, and the enlarged portion 34 of the skirt 29 of the member 29 locks the head 35 preventing it from accidentally being depressed. If it is required to open the automatic umbrella, the member 29 must be manually slid downwardly against the ring 37 so that the enlarged portion 34 clears the space between the head 35 and the surface 24' of the member 24. Then the push-button 14 can be depressed, forcing the pawl to pivot, thereby disengaging the locking head 13 from the shoulder 12 of the runner 7, whereby the spring K will force the runners apart causing the umbrella to open in the known manner.