Rugged assemable, disassemable and storable umbrella

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the field of umbrellas and in particular to umbrellas that can be assembled, disassembled and stored.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Kim, “Folding Device of a Tent-Framework,” U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,509 (1988) shows in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, a joint plate

5

formed at the center of a central hub member

1

. A plurality of U-shaped concave openings

7

are formed in the periphery of the joint plate

5

and spaced radially around the joint plate, for receiving the ends of ribs or framework pieces

3

. Each opening

7

has a joint groove

9

located on each of the sidewalls of the opening, which are substantially perpendicular to the outer periphery of the joint plate

5

. Each joint groove

9

is further provided with two hanging jaw devices

8

located across from one another on the walls of the joint groove

9

. A plurality of approximately half round rib grooves

6

are spaced radially about the periphery of the disk or hub member

1

and located adjacent to each opening

7

. Preferably, six of these openings and rib grooves are provided around the periphery of the hub member

1

, for receiving six radially extending ribs

3

, as indicated.

Beaulieu, “Hub Assembly For A Collapsible Structure,” U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,210 (1986) shows in

FIGS. 5 and 6

, circular hub body

20

with a central opening

22

which forms inner wall

24

. Preferably, eight retaining slots or sockets

30

, each preferably being circular in cross-section, extend radially inward through the thickness of hub body

20

. Shoulders or collars

32

are located approximately near the middle of each retaining slot

30

's length. The spherical heads

14

of extension caps

12

fit within retaining slots or sockets

30

while shoulders

32

provide seats to prevent heads

14

from passing therethrough, analogous to a ball-and-socket relationship.

Lucas, “Umbrella,” U.S. Pat. No. 2,306,706 (1941) shows in

FIGS. 6 and 7

, a rib holder is mounted upon post

11

, this holder comprising a notched hub

33

, a notched retaining disk

34

, and a retaining ring

35

. One end of the hub is reduced in size and the ring is placed upon this reduced end and in a groove that is closed on one side by the disk

34

, as shown in the Figures. The ribs

16

have loops

36

with elongated openings

24

within which the retaining ring

35

is engaged, gaps

37

into the elongated openings

24

being provided to receive the edge of the rib support when the ribs are turned to their lowered positions.

Zeigler, “Hub Assembly For Collapsible Structures,” U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,521 (1981) shows in

FIG. 3

, the two hub bodies

9

and

10

are of similar configuration. The body

9

is of disk-like form provided with a central opening

11

and with a series of radial slots

12

. The face

13

of the body

9

is provided with the circular recess

14

which is so located that it intersects the slots

12

adjacent to but spaced outwardly from their inner ends

15

. The body

10

is similarly formed with the central opening

11

′, radial slots

12

′, and circular recess

14

, in its face

13

′. As shown in

FIG. 2

, these two bodies are assembled in face-to-face relation with the openings

11

,

11

′, slots

12

,

12

′, and recesses

14

,

14

′ in registry.

Prusmack, “An Articulating Hub Assembly,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,695 (1998) shows in the Figures, a tang

14

having a head

15

and a tail

16

is inserted into each of the radial slots

3

and

8

. Tang

14

is held in place by a roll pin

17

which is inserted through an opening

18

through head

15

and is secured in groove

3

A. As shown in

FIG. 1

, hub body

1

is a disk-like unit having a central opening

2

therethrough and a series of radial slots

3

extending inwardly from the periphery of disk

1

and having a series of openings

4

extending through disk

1

and positioned radially between each of the radial slots

3

and between periphery

5

and central opening

2

. A groove

3

A is located perpendicular to each of radial slots

3

.

What is needed is a simple, robust hub and rib combination for use as an umbrella in which the hub is integral and provides rigid, captured structural support for each rib, provides for the possibility of individual rib replacement, and provides for storage using the hub as the storage fixture.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an umbrella frame for supporting a cover comprising a hub, a center pole coupled to the hub for supporting the hub in a vertical position, and a plurality of ribs disposable into the hub. The ribs serve to extend, stretch or support the cover. The hub has a corresponding plurality of bores defined therein to receive the ribs. The bores are paired with each other as corresponding first and second sets. The first set of the bores are used for deploying the ribs in a configuration to support the cover. The second set of the bores are used to provide a storage configuration of the ribs. The umbrella frame can be considered as being combined with the cover to provide an umbrella assembly.

The first set of bores are inclined relative to a horizontal plane defined by the hub. The second set of bores are defined to be vertical relative to a horizontal plane defined by the hub.

Each rib has an inner end which is disposable into the hub and a spring lock to selectively retain the rib in the hub. The second set of bores coact with the spring lock to selectively lock the rib in the first set of bores. The first set of bores coact with the spring lock to selectively lock the rib in the second set of bores.

The ribs and center pole are telescopic and locking so that their length can be adjusted. The cover has a center grommet and the center pole has a pin. The pin is disposable in the grommet when the cover is deployed on the ribs. Thus the tension on the cover is adjustable.

In the illustrated embodiment the hub includes a corresponding plurality of integral fixture blocks, each block having one bore from each of the first and second sets defined therein. In very general terms, when the hub has n-fold symmetry and n ribs are disposable therein, a selected number, j, of the n ribs can selectively be disposed in the hub, where j=n or less, and preferably some submultiple, i.e. j=4 if n=8, 3 if n=6, 3 if n=9 and so forth to result in a symmetrical array of ribs, even at the submultiple number. Thus, an octagonal or square cover can be set on an octagonal hub, a hexagonal or triangular cover can be set on a hexagonal hub and so forth.

The umbrella assembly thus has the versatility that the cover deployed on one and the same umbrella frame can be any one of a plurality of selectable sizes, shapes or motifs, i.e. colors or graphically decorated.

On the top of the central hub is a universal mounting stub at the top end of the telescopic center pole. This stub allows a variety of finials to be firmaly secured to the umbrella. Custom or corporate logo flags may be used in lieu of typical finials.

A pair of storage plates having an array of mounting means defined therein for engaging the center pole at its opposing ends can be used to store a plurality of the umbrella frames into an array of frames. In the embodiment where the mounting means is an array of holes, the plurality of the umbrella frames are stored in an alternating array of upright and inverted umbrella frames.

While the apparatus and method has or will be described for the sake of grammatical fluidity with functional explanations, it is to be expressly understood that the claims, unless expressly formulated under 35 USC 112, are not to be construed as necessarily limited in any way by the construction of “means” or “steps” limitations, but are to be accorded the full scope of the meaning and equivalents of the definition provided by the claims under the judicial doctrine of equivalents, and in the case where the claims are expressly formulated under 35 USC 112 are to be accorded full statutory equivalents under 35 USC 112. The invention can be better visualized by turning now to the following drawings wherein like elements are referenced by like numerals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is side elevational view of the center pole and hub of the umbrella.

FIG. 2

is a plan elevational view of the hub as seen through sectional lines

2

—

2

of FIG.

1

.

FIG. 3

is a side elevational enlarged view of one of the rib fixtures shown attached to the hub plate which is shown in partial side cross-sectional cutaway view.

FIG. 4

is a side perspective of the center pole, hub and ribs shown in an assembled configuration.

FIG. 5

is a side perspective of the umbrella with the cover installed.

FIG. 6

a

is a top plan view of the umbrella with an octagonal cover installed.

FIG. 6

b

is a top plan view of the umbrella with a square cover installed.

FIG. 7

is a top plan view of one of two storage plates.

FIG. 8

is a side diagrammatic view of a plurality of umbrellas configured in the stored configuration and retained by two opposing storage plates.

FIG. 9

a

is a side elevational enlarged view of a rib.

FIG. 9

b

is a side elevational enlarged view of a rib rotated 90° relative to the view shown in

FIG. 9

a.

FIG. 9

c

is a side cross-sectional view of the inner end of the rib shown in a locked position in the deployed configuration in the hub fixture.

The invention and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which are presented as illustrated examples of the invention defined in the claims. It is expressly understood that the invention as defined by the claims may be broader than the illustrated embodiments described below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An umbrella frame includes a hub, a center pole coupled to the hub for supporting the hub, and a plurality of ribs disposable into the hub. The ribs serve to extend, stretch or support the cover. The hub has a corresponding plurality of pairs of bores defined therein. One of the bores of each pair is used for deploying the ribs in a configuration to support the cover and the other for storing the ribs. One of the bores of the pair is inclined relative to a horizontal plane defined by the hub, and the other is vertical to a horizontal plane. Each rib has an end disposable into the hub and a spring lock to selectively lock into the hub. The pair of bores coact with the spring lock to selectively lock the rib in the bores in both the deployment and storage configurations.

FIG. 1

is a side elevational view of a telescopic and locking center pole

10

fitted with a top hub generally denoted by reference numeral

12

.

FIG. 2

is a plan view of hub

12

as seen through sectional lines

2

—

2

of

FIG. 1

which shows an octagonal metal plate

14

with a plurality of pole fixtures

16

attached thereto. In the illustrated embodiment plate

12

is octagonal and has eight fixtures

16

affixed by welding or other means to plate

12

. It is to be understood that hub

12

may have other symmetries if desired, for example, triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, and any other regular or irregular polygonal shape can be equivalently substituted for the octagonal hub

12

shown. A plurality of telescopic ribs

24

can be locked in hub

12

in a deployed configuration as shown in the perspective view of FIG.

4

. Both ribs

24

and center pole

10

are telescopic locking Fiberglass tubes, which are conventionally telescopic and lockable according to any telescopic and lockable mechanism now known or later devised, including but not limited to the mechanism shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,407. Thus, it is one of the advantages of the invention that the length of ribs

24

can be arbitrarily fixed when the umbrella is assembled or erected to accommodate a variety of covers

36

as will be more fully described in connection with

FIGS. 6

a

and

6

b.

A fixture

16

is mounted on or affixed to plate

12

at the center of each face or segment of hub

12

. Fixture

16

as shown in enlarged side view of

FIG. 3

is a metallic or solid block with an angled rib bore

18

defined therein as shown in dotted outline for receiving the inner end

22

of telescopic radial ribs

24

as best depicted in

FIGS. 9

a

and

9

b

. Bore

18

has a diameter which provides a clearance fit for inner end

22

of telescopic radial rib

24

and is angled downwardly from the center

26

of plate

14

. The angle of inclination is exaggerated in

FIG. 3

, and may be arbitrarily chosen to shed rain and other settling debris, but in the illustrated embodiment an angle of 13 to 15 degrees is preferred.

At the inner end

28

of bore

18

a vertical bore

20

is defined having an opening aperture

30

on lower surface

34

and an upper end

32

which coincides with and merges with inner end

28

of bore

18

. Bore

20

also has a diameter which provides a clearance fit for inner end

22

of telescopic radial rib

24

. Bore

18

thus provides a supporting fixture portion for rib

24

when rib

24

is deployed to carry umbrella cover

36

as shown in FIG.

5

. Bore

20

provides a storage support for rib

24

when the umbrella is disassembled into its storage configuration. In addition edge

38

defined by the junction of bores

18

and

20

provide a locking edge for rib

24

for both the assembled configuration for supporting cover

36

as shown in FIG.

5

and for retaining ribs

24

in the storage configuration as shown in FIG.

8

.

How locking is provided by edge

38

inside bores

18

and

20

can be understood in the context of

FIGS. 9

a

and

9

b

.

FIG. 9

a

shows inner end

22

of rib

24

. In the illustrated embodiment end

22

is provided with a metal fitting

42

coupled to the Fiberglass telescopic rod

40

. Fitting

42

, which is riveted to the end of rod

40

and which provides inner end

22

of rib

24

, has two aligned holes

44

, defined therethrough. A resilient J-shaped leaf spring

48

is disposed in the hollow body of fitting

42

as best depicted in the cutaway view of

FIG. 9

b

. Spring

48

as two aligned buttons

46

a

and

46

b

defined therein which are configured to extend through holes

44

in fitting

42

. Resilient J-shaped leaf spring

48

is oriented in fitting

42

so that a hinge portion

50

is distal from the extreme terminus of end

22

. When the proximal button

46

a

is manually pressed into fitting

42

, distal button

46

bis drawn downward into fitting

42

and completely clears the outer surface of end

22

, even if proximal button

46

a

has not. An elliptical depression

52

can be defined in the proximity of proximal button

46

a

, if desired to facilitate its manual depression into fitting

42

and hence the complete withdrawal of distal button

46

b

into fitting

42

.

When end

22

is disposed in bore

18

as shown in

FIG. 9

c

, proximal button

46

a

is pressed to permit clearance of distal button

46

b

into bore

18

. Proximal button

46

a

is then released and end

22

is disposed upward into bore

18

until distal button

46

b

clears edge

38

and distal button

46

b

pops out into a locking configuration. At this time proximal button is positioned and at all time remains positioned outside of bore

18

. The length of end

22

and the depth of bore

18

prevents fitting

42

from being disposed so deeply within bore

18

that there is a substantial danger of proximal button

46

a

being impacted or depressed. Even if proximal button

46

a

were to abut fixture

16

, proximal button

46

a

would normally prevent further insertion of end

22

into bore

18

. With distal button

46

b

popped out over edge

38

and extending into bore

20

, rib

24

is securely locked into place in bore

18

and will not slide out. The locking of distal button

46

b

into bore

18

also prevents removal rib

24

from bore

20

.

When it is desired to remove rib

24

, proximal button

46

a

is again depressed, distal button

46

b

is withdrawn into fitting

42

and clears edge

38

and bore

20

. Rib

24

can then be easily slid out of bore

18

. By an exactly analogous operation end

22

can be inserted and locked into bore

20

using bore

18

as the locking bore. Rib

24

can then be vertically hung from hub

12

and retained in a locked compact storage position with center pole

10

and the remaining ribs

24

as shown in FIG.

8

.

Rotating rib

24

in bore

18

or

20

and advancing rib

24

slightly into the bore also allows distal button

46

b

to ride up and out of the locking bore, i.e. if rib is in bore

18

and locked into bore

20

, rotating it and simultaneously pushing it into bore

18

allows button to move off of edge

38

and to be depressed as it rides onto the interior surface of bore

18

. By this simultaneous motion of rotation and insertion into its bore, distal button

46

b

is shoe-horned out of the locking bore and into the insertion bore, thereby depressing it and allowing it to be removed, provided it remains in a position where it is rotated out of alignment with the locking bore. This allows for quick and easy removal, but does not in any manner jeopardize the security of attachment since ribs

24

are normally not subjected to any rotational force and a very definite and positive degree of rotation exceeding any small accidental rotation is needed to rotate distal button

46

b

out of the locking bore.

After radially extending telescopic and locking ribs

24

shown in

FIG. 4

have been slid into bores

18

with a spring loaded button

46

b

locking into bore

20

to form a conventionally shaped umbrella frame as shown in

FIG. 4

, a conventional fabric umbrella cover

36

with a metallic or hard center grommet

56

is slide over center pole pin

54

. By this grommet and pin combination cover

36

is centered and anchored on the umbrella frame. Radial fabric, leather or plastic pockets

58

attached to the underside of edges

60

of cover

36

provide a snug fit for outer ends

62

of ribs

24

as shown in the cutaway side cross-sectional view of FIG.

5

. Ends

62

may be smoothed or provided with a smooth termination. Ribs

24

are telescopically adjusted and locked into a fixed length to apply the appropriate amount of tension along each rib

24

between center grommet

56

and pocket

58

on edge

60

, thereby providing a radially taut, smooth deployment of covering

36

.

FIGS. 6

a

and

6

b

shown top plan views of a deployed cover

36

a

and

36

b

respectively. The embodiment of

FIG. 6

a

is an octagonal cover

36

a

. The same frame can also support a square cover

36

b

by omitting every other rib

24

. A hexagonal hub

12

can similarly support triangular or hexagonal cover. Hubs of different symmetries can clearly support covers of compatible symmetries according to the teachings of the invention.

It should also be clear that the same frame configuration can support different size covers

36

according to the shortening or lengthening of ribs

24

as well as different shaped covers

36

.

Still further any frame configuration can be easily provided with multiple interchangeable covers

36

since cover

36

is not permanently fixed to ribs

24

or pin

54

. Covers

36

can thus be changed according to the season and event, using for example different covers

36

for rental umbrellas at events sponsored by different sponsors, or changing covers

36

at an outdoor restaurant according to the local season or festival.

When the umbrella is to be stored, then the assembly is taken apart, fabric cover

36

is taken off, and ribs

24

are disposed through bores

20

to be retained in a vertical storage position as shown in FIG.

8

. In this configuration button

46

b

then locks into bore

18

. A pair of storage plates

64

can be used to advantage for this purpose as shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

. Plate

64

may be as simple as a flat metal plate having a plurality of holes

66

a

and

66

b

defined therein. Holes

66

a

and

66

b

may have the same diameter or be differently sized. Holes

66

a

for example are provided for receiving pin

54

of center pole

10

. The terminal portion of pin

54

may be slightly crowned or tapered so that a snug temporary press fit is obtained when pin

54

is inserted into hole

66

a

. Circle

68

in

FIG. 7

represents the envelope in which hub

12

is then positioned. Center pole

10

then extend perpendicularly to plate

64

to an identical opposing plate

64

. The lower end

70

of center pole

10

then fits into an opposing hole

66

a

in the opposing plate

64

. Ribs

24

are telescoped to their minimal length and extend vertically along side of center pole

10

.

A first umbrella frame assembly

72

a

is thus positioned between two opposing plates. A second umbrella frame assembly

72

b

is similarly positioned in an inverted configuration next to first umbrella frame assembly

72

a

with its end

70

disposed and its pin

54

disposed into holes

66

b

in the opposing plates

64

. Thus, holes

66

a

retain the upright frames assemblies

72

a

and holes

66

b

retain the inverted frames assemblies

72

b

. In this manner two plates

64

as shown in

FIG. 7

can provide a storage rack for

15

umbrella frame assemblies

72

. The number and exact array for such storage can be varied arbitrarily according to the teachings of the invention. In this manner, a plurality of umbrella frame assemblies

72

can be transported and handled from site to site.

The advantage of the umbrella is that it is more rugged and can be used in the rental market where shipping, handling and misuse frequently damage conventional designs of umbrellas to either limit their useful life or to result in ongoing repair costs. Heavy walled, impact resistant Fiberglass tubing can be used for ribs

24

and pole

10

making them virtually indestructible. Cover

36

can be made of heavy rip-resistant fabric. Hub

12

is made out of heavy duty machined aluminum or steel. Hub

12

could be made out of a single machined block or metal, or molded in any number of forms to provide a rigid integral structure. It should be clear that hub

12

can take a myriad of outward physical forms or include lightening holes and reinforcing webs of any design without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations.

The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself.

The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.

The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptionally equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the invention.