JPS6249043B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an umbrella that can be automatically closed and opened, and more particularly to an umbrella that can be automatically opened and closed by operating a single push button.

Automatic umbrellas that open and close automatically already exist, such as U.S. Patent No. 3,856,030, issued to Mr. Sato. This type of conventional umbrella is equipped with two push buttons for its opening and closing operations. Such umbrellas are not only complex in structure, but also difficult to assemble, and are therefore expensive. Furthermore, since the operating mechanism occupies a large space, the space for the operation of such a mechanism must also be large, which also affects the appearance of the umbrella. Moreover, since the push button does not have a safety device, if the wrong push button is pressed, an open umbrella may be accidentally closed, or the push button may malfunction.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional automatic umbrella and provide a completely automatic umbrella that can be opened and closed by operating a single push button.

Another object of the invention is to provide a single push button operable automatic umbrella in which the push button device is a dual locking mechanism. This double locking mechanism prevents umbrella failures caused by accidentally closing an open umbrella or pressing the wrong push button device.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic umbrella that can be operated with a single push button, in which the push button device for operation is thin and simple, and the operating portion can be designed smartly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic umbrella that is simple in construction, easy to manufacture, low in product cost, and operable by a single push button.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

The automatic umbrella of the present invention includes an outer cylindrical shaft 1, an intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, a lower inner shaft 3, an upper inner shaft 4, a plurality of ribs 5, an operation push button 6, a first coil spring 7, a second coil spring 8. It is made up of. The outer cylindrical shaft 1 has a lower ring 11 fixedly attached to its upper end. The intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 is slidably inserted into the outer cylindrical shaft 1 . The intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 further includes an intermediate ring 21 fixedly attached to its upper end. Of the two internal shafts, the lower internal shaft 3 is slidably inserted into the lower end of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, and has a grip 31 at its lower end. On the other hand, the upper inner shaft 4 is slidably inserted into the upper end of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, and has an upper ring 41 fixed thereto at its upper end. The rings 11 , 21 , 41 rotatably carry each end of the rib 5 and surround the upper end of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 . A first coil spring 7 is attached between the intermediate ring 21 and the lower ring 11. The operation push button 6 is connected to the lower inner shaft 3 and the grip 3.
1 and is housed in the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2. Furthermore, the upper inner shaft 4
A second coil spring 8 is attached between the lower inner shaft 3 and the lower inner shaft 3 .

The upper end of the external cylindrical shaft 1 is provided with a lower ring 11 , the lower end of which forms an enlarged cylindrical part 13 . The enlarged cylindrical portion 13 has an inwardly extending annular flange 12. There are two openings 15 and 14 in the lower end and middle part of one side of the external cylindrical shaft 1, and these openings engage with the second spring pawl 95. This claw 95 will be described later. An intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 slidably inserted into the outer cylindrical shaft 1 is longer than the latter and has an intermediate ring 21 fixedly attached to its upper end. Further, inside the upper and lower ends of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, at least one
In this embodiment, preferably two symmetrical, inwardly directed guide projections 22, 22 are formed (see FIGS. 4A and 4B). These two guide protrusions 22, 22 prevent the upper and lower inner sides 4, 3 from rotating inside the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2. Also,
The guide protrusions 22, 22 act as guide protrusions when the two inner shafts 4, 3 slide up and down. Furthermore, two openings 23 and 24 are formed on one side of the lower end and the middle part of the wall of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2. The former is arranged between the two guide protrusions 22, 22. This allows the enlarged locking head 92 (described below) of the first spring pawl 9 to enlarge therein. The latter is arranged on top of the first spring pawl 9, so that the second spring pawl 95 can engage therein. The lower inner shaft 3 and the upper inner shaft 4 have at least one, preferably a fourth A
As shown in FIG. 4B, two guide grooves 32 and 42 are arranged symmetrically. The upper part of the lower inner shaft 3 is slidably inserted into the lower part of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, and the lower part of the upper inner shaft 4 is slidably inserted into the upper part of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, and The guide protrusions 22, 22 formed at the upper and lower ends engage with the guide grooves 32, 42 of the lower and upper inner shafts 3, 4, and prevent their rotation within the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2. The grip 31 is fixedly attached to the lower end of the lower inner shaft 3, this attachment being effected by a locking pin 33 therein. A sleeve member 35 is mounted over the upper end of the lock pin 33. Sleeve member 3
5 has a rectangular opening 34 on one side thereof and receives an operating pushbutton 6 operatively arranged therein.

A first spring claw 9 is arranged inside the lower inner shaft 3, and the first spring claw 9 extends over almost the entire length of the lower inner shaft 3. A fixed end 91 of the first spring pawl 9 is defined in the recess 37 . A recess 37 is formed at the upper end of the lower inner shaft 3. An enlarged lock head 9 is located in the middle of the first spring pawl 9.
There are 2. The lock head 92 protrudes from the front end of the elongated slot 38 formed in the lower inner shaft 3. An F-shaped protrusion 9 is provided at the other end of the first spring claw 9.
3 is formed. The protrusion 93 is the lock head 9
2 and has a notch 94. The protrusion 93 extends behind the slot 38 and is slidably attached to the operating pushbutton 6. The operating pushbutton 6 then projects through the opening 34 of the sleeve member 35. A hole 61 is provided at the lower end of the operating push button 6, through which the operating push button 6 slideably engages with the protrusion 93. At the blocking end of the projection 93, the hook 62 extends downwardly and forwardly and engages a notch 94 on the blocking side of the projection 93.
Between the front wall inside the hole 61 and the protrusion 93,
A spring 63 is attached. The spring 63 is designed to always push the operation push button 6 forward. This causes the hook portion 62 to engage the notch 94.

Behind the slot 38, an enlarged opening 39 is formed continuously. The opening 39 corresponds in position to the opening 34 of the sleeve member 35. Above the first spring claw 9, a second spring claw 95 is provided at the upper end of the lower inner shaft 3. Its lock head 96 protrudes from the opening 30 and reaches the opening 24 of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2. The upper ring 41 is fixed to the middle of the upper inner shaft 4. A cap 43 is screwed into its upper end.

Multiple ribs are usually 8 or 10 dome ribs5
1 and the same number of support ribs 53. One end of the dome rib 51 is rotatable by the upper ring 41, and the other end is free. On the other hand, a rotating member 54 is provided at the intermediate portion.
is installed. The rotating member 54 is rotatably coupled to one end of the elongated rib 52. The other end of the elongated rib 52 is also rotatably attached to the intermediate ring 21. Further, a rotating member 55 is attached to the intermediate portion of the elongated rib 52, and is thereby rotatably coupled to one end of the supporting rib 53. The other end of the support rib 53 is rotatably attached to the lower ring 11. intermediate ring 21
The coil spring 7 between the lower ring 11 and the lower ring 11 is in a freely extended state when the umbrella is closed, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the second coil spring 8 is in a compressed state when the umbrella is closed. Further, the second coil spring 8 presses the upper inner shaft 4 and the lower inner shaft 3 upward and downward. At this time, since the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 and the external cylindrical shaft 1 are locked by the lock heads 92 and 96 of the two spring claws 9 and 95, the coil spring 7
and 8 cannot separate the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 and the outer cylindrical shaft 1, as well as the upper inner shaft 4 and lower inner shaft 3.

Corresponding to the position of the opening 23 of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, the opening 16 can also be formed in the lower end of the outer cylindrical shaft 1 instead of in the annular flange 12 (see FIG. 7).

When the automatic umbrella of the present invention is fully closed as shown in FIG. 1, the ribs are completely folded. . That is, the first coil spring 7 is fully extended and open, and the second coil spring 8 is compressed and elastic energy is stored. At the same time, the outer cylindrical shaft 1, the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, and the lower inner shaft 3 are locked by the two spring claws 9 and 96, thereby maintaining the closed state of the umbrella. The operation push button 6 located at the upper part of the opening 34 has a hook part 62.
The hook portion 62 is provided with a notch 94 of the protruding portion 93.
is engaged in.

In the process of opening the umbrella from the closed position, the operation push button 6 is pushed out, and the protrusion 93 is moved from the external cylindrical shaft 1 by the fixed end 91 as a support point against the elastic force of the spring-loaded claw 9. It disengages and retreats into the opening 23 of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2. The operating pushbutton 6 is mounted in this way so that when it is in the forward position it can be pressed a certain distance, ie a distance d. This causes the locking head 92 to disengage from the annular flange 12 of the external cylindrical shaft 1.
However, even in this case, the lock head 92 still engages with the opening 23 of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2. As a result, the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 and the lower inner shaft 3 are still in engagement. Due to the released outer cylindrical shaft 1 being biased by the upward stretching force of the coil spring 8, the second spring pawl 95 disengages from the opening 14, and further moves the upper inner shaft 4 into the intermediate cylindrical shaft. 2 and move it upwards. As a result, the upper ring 41 also moves upward along the upper inner axis 4.

The dome rib 51 rotatably attached to the upper ring 41 tries to move upward along the latter, but the middle portion of the dome rib 51 is rotatably attached to one end of the elongated rib 52 and the intermediate ring 21. The dome rib 51 is rotatably connected to the intermediate ring 21 which is fixedly held with respect to the other end and the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, so that the dome rib 51 is connected to the upper ring 4
1 extends upward and acts as a center ring 21
As the elongated rib 52, which has a rotation point of , moves upward, it gradually opens. As the extension rib 52 moves upward, the support rib 53 rotatably connected thereto pulls up the outer cylindrical shaft 1 with respect to the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 against the elastic force of the first coil spring 7 . The first coil spring 7 between the middle ring 21 and the lower ring 11 is compressed by the upward extension of the outer cylindrical shaft 1 and stores elastic energy, which is then used when closing the umbrella. This accumulation of elastic energy takes place until the second spring pawl 95 engages with the opening 15 of the external cylindrical shaft 1 . When the first coil spring 7 is fully compressed, the forces of the springs 7 and 8 are balanced, the outer cylindrical shaft 1 does not extend any further, and the second coil spring 8 retains some extension force, but only partially It will be in a stretched state. In this state, the umbrella is fully opened and ready for use (see Figure 2).

When closing the open umbrella next time, as shown in FIG.
Press down against the force of step 3. While resisting the elastic force of the first spring claw 9, the operating pushbutton 6 located directly above the opening 39 is in the maximum position, thereby
The lock head 92 is disengaged from the opening 23 of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2. The partial extension force of the second coil spring 8 pushes the lower inner shaft 3 and moves it downward. In other words,
Push the lower inner shaft 3 outward. Since the grip is held firmly and the lower inner shaft 3 is stationary, the extension force of the second coil spring 8 is instead applied to the upper inner shaft 4.
, which slides upwards and closes the lower opening 15 . On the other hand, since the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 is in a freely slidable state, the extension force of the first coil spring 7 acts through the intermediate ring 21 and moves it upward, causing the outer cylindrical shaft 1 to move upwardly. Move it downward. When the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 moves upward, the second spring claw 9
5 is retracted into the opening 30 and disengaged from the holes 24 and 14 by the lower side wall of the hole 24 in conjunction with the slope of the lock head. In this way, the outer tube slides downwards relative to the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2. By the movement of the two shafts 1 and 2, the ribs are folded into the umbrella-closing position. This is ring 11, 21, 41
This is done by joint operation of the elongated ribs 52 and the support ribs 53 along. This action is continued until the springs 7 and 8 are expanded to a substantially released state and the umbrella is closed as shown in FIG.

The next and final step in the sequence is to press the umbrella against the ground or a hard surface and apply the tension of the second coil spring 8 to the opposite end of the shaft, i.e. to the top of the upper inner shaft 4 and to the grip 31. applies a compressive force in the opposite direction, causing the shaft to contract. When performing this compression, the lower inner shaft 3 is connected to the second coil spring 8.
is inserted deeply into the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 by compressing it. The compression action of the second coil spring 8 is caused by the locking head 92 of the first spring-loaded pawl 9 in the lower inner shaft 3.
engages in the opening 23 of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 and projects into the enlarged cylindrical portion 13 of the outer cylindrical shaft 1, forming an annular flange 1.
2 until the middle cylindrical shaft 2 and the outer cylindrical shaft 1 are brought together and together with the lower inner shaft 3 form a single shaft. On the other hand, in this state, the compressive force of the first coil spring 7 is weakened and the first coil spring 7 is in a free state. The second coil spring 8 is also in a compressed position, where elastic energy is stored and used to automatically close the opened umbrella.

The embodiment described above and shown in FIG. 1 not only allows a single pushbutton to open and close the umbrella, but also avoids the mechanical failures associated with double lock designs. When closing an open umbrella,
The sleeve member 3 further resists the tension force of the spring 63.
5, the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 is disengaged from the lower inner shaft 3, and the operating push button 6 must be pressed down. However, simply pressing or pulling down the operation pushbutton 6 does not cause anything to happen. Therefore, even if the operation push button 6 is pressed by mistake, the opened umbrella will not be closed. Furthermore, unlike conventional automatic umbrellas that require separate operation of different push buttons, the umbrella of the present invention is very easy to use. Furthermore, the umbrella of the present invention has a simple structure, so the push button can be designed smartly.

Naturally, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications can be made to the embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows the umbrella of the invention in a partially sectional view in the closed and folded state. FIG. 2 shows, in partial section, the umbrella of the invention in a fully extended state.
FIG. 3 shows, in partial section, the umbrella of the invention in a closed state from the position shown in FIG. FIG. 4A is a partial cross-section of the umbrella along line A--A of FIG. FIG. 4B is a longitudinal cross-section of the portion of the member shown in FIG. 4A. FIG. 5 is a portion of the lower inner shaft member showing the axial slot and opening. FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing the operation of the push button mechanism of FIG. 1 in detail. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of elements of another embodiment showing the engagement means of the external shaft member. Explanation of symbols, 1... External cylindrical shaft, 2... Intermediate cylindrical shaft, 3... Lower inner shaft, 4... Upper inner shaft, 5... Rib, 6
...Operation push button, 7...First coil spring, 8...
Second coil spring.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A fully automatic umbrella with a single push button, comprising an outer cylindrical shaft, an intermediate cylindrical shaft, a lower inner shaft, an upper inner shaft, a plurality of ribs, a first spring means and The outer cylindrical shaft has a lower ring fixed to its upper end, an engagement means formed at its lower end, and two openings formed in its middle and lower parts. wherein the intermediate cylindrical shaft has the external cylindrical shaft slidably received therein, an intermediate ring fixed to an upper portion thereof, and at least one convex portion formed on the upper and lower walls thereof. and two engaging openings formed on one side of the walls of the lower and intermediate portions, the lower inner shaft being slidably insertable into the lower end of the intermediate cylindrical shaft, and a grip attached to the lower end of the portion protruding from the intermediate cylindrical shaft, and a first grip provided at the lower and upper ends of the grip and detachable from the intermediate cylindrical shaft and the external cylindrical shaft. a second spring pawl, and a pusher adapted to control the first spring pawl, slidably attached to the lower end of the first spring pawl, and further positioned at the upper end of the grip. the upper inner shaft is slidably attached to the upper end of the intermediate cylindrical shaft; a cap screwed into the upper end; and an upper ring fixed to the upper end. the plurality of ribs have a dome rib, an elongated rib, and a support rib, one end of the dome rib is rotatably coupled to the upper ring, the other end is free, and one end of the elongated rib is rotatably coupled to the intermediate ring, the other end is rotatably coupled to approximately the middle of the dome rib, one end of the support rib is rotatably coupled to the lower ring, and the other end is rotatably coupled to the dome rib. The first spring means is rotatably coupled to substantially the middle of the elongated rib, the first spring means being for closing the umbrella, and the first spring means is coupled to the upper end of the intermediate cylindrical shaft, and further connected to the intermediate ring and the lower ring. the second spring means being adapted to open the umbrella and being provided on the intermediate cylindrical shaft and further between the upper inner shaft and the lower inner shaft; An automatic umbrella featuring 2 The lower inner shaft is provided with a slot extending along its axis, has an enlarged opening at its lower end and an upper opening at the upper end of the lower inner shaft, and a first spring is disposed inside the lower inner shaft. a pawl and a second spring pawl are provided, the second spring pawl locking the intermediate cylindrical shaft and the external cylindrical shaft, the upper end of the former being fixed to the upper end wall of the lower inner shaft; The lower end is free and has a protrusion that can protrude from the enlarged lower end, and a lock head is formed in the middle of the protrusion, and the lock head is formed from the upper end of the enlarged slot. the protrusion is slidably engageable with the push button member, and the second spring member is engageably mounted to an upper end of the lower inner shaft on the first spring member. and when the umbrella is in the closed position, the locking head of the first spring pawl engages the lower opening of the intermediate cylindrical shaft with the engaging means of the external cylindrical shaft, and the second spring The pawl engages with the upper opening of the intermediate cylindrical shaft and the upper opening of the outer cylindrical shaft, and when the umbrella is in the open position, the lock head is engaged only with the lower opening of the intermediate cylindrical shaft. 2. The automatic umbrella according to claim 1, wherein the second spring claw engages with an upper opening of the intermediate cylindrical shaft and a lower opening of the outer cylindrical shaft. 3. The pushbutton member comprises a sleeve member, a pushbutton, and spring means, the sleeve member being attached to the front end of the grip and having a pushbutton attached to the side of the enlarged slot aligned with the enlarged opening. an aperture, the push button being mounted in the push button aperture of the sleeve member and slidably engaging the first spring pawl member protrusion through the aperture therebelow; , and also has an engageable hook portion formed on the underside of the projection below its lowest portion, the spring means being within a cavity in the pushbutton, and at the front end of the cavity. and the front end of said projection, whereby said pushbutton is always biased towards its front side, and its hook portion is engaged in said notch. The automatic umbrella described in Scope 1. 4. The push button has an actuation space therebelow, whereby the push button has a depth sufficient to disengage the locking head of the first spring pawl from the engagement means of the external cylindrical shaft. When the push button can be pressed and the push button is pressed down to its normal position, the locking head still engages the opening of the intermediate cylindrical shaft and is further pulled downwardly against it. When pressed into said enlarged opening, said pushbutton passes through said enlarged opening and said lock head moves downwardly, so that said openings in said intermediate and outer cylindrical shafts are The automatic umbrella according to claim 1, wherein the automatic umbrella is disengaged. 5. Said second spring means is in a compressed state and when said umbrella is in a fully closed position said first spring means is in an unstressed and freely extended state and said umbrella is in an open position. , said first spring means is in a partially compressed state, and when the opened umbrella is closed, said first spring means is in an extended, free state, while said second spring means is in a partially compressed state. Automatic umbrella according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring means are still in an unstressed or stretched state.