UMBRELLA RIB ASSEMBLY AND FOLDABLE UMBRELLA

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an umbrella rib assembly and a foldable umbrella, and more particularly, to an umbrella rib assembly which is folded and spread by small force, and a foldable umbrella that is manually or automatically operated and enables a user to fold and spread by manipulating a handle by using the umbrella rib assembly and ensures convenience in use.

BACKGROUND ART

A user uses an umbrella to protect the body from rain. An umbrella which is widely used is classified into a long umbrella and a foldable umbrella which is portable and is folded and put in a bag.

Such long and foldable umbrellas have been developed into a configuration that spreads an umbrella rib assembly by pushing a button in a handle coupled to a lower end of an umbrella bar and ensures user's convenience.

To fold the long and foldable umbrellas after use, a user should grab and pull downwardly an auxiliary rib fixing member, which is provided in an upper end of the umbrellas to the umbrella bar.

This operation causes a lot of inconvenience in using the umbrellas, and particularly, a user's body or clothes become wet by the rain water present in an umbrella cloth coupled to an outer side of the umbrella ribs during the operation.

To settle such inconvenience, the present inventor has filed several applications in connection with long umbrellas, but the problem has not been solved for foldable umbrellas.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

The present invention has been made to solve the problems and it is an object of the present invention to provide an umbrella rib assembly which is folded and spread by small force, and a foldable umbrella which is manually or automatically operated by spreading and folding the umbrella through manipulation of a handle by using the umbrella rib assembly and ensures convenience in use.

Technical Solution

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, an umbrella rib assembly comprises a plurality of main ribs comprising an inner member, one end of which is coupled to a main rib fixing member such that the inner member is circumferentially rotatable, an intermediate member, one end of which is rotatably coupled, via a pin, to an upper portion from the other end of the inner member, and an outer member, one end of which is rotatably coupled, via a pin, to the other end of the intermediate member, wherein the inner member, the intermediate member, and the outer member are assembled so to be foldable; a plurality of first auxiliary ribs which has one end coupled to a first auxiliary rib fixing member such that the first auxiliary rib is circumferentially rotatable and has an intermediate portion to which the other end of the inner member is rotatably coupled via a pin, such that the first auxiliary rib is parallel to the intermediate member of the main ribs, and has the other end rotatably coupled, via a pin, to a lower portion from the upper end of the outer member rotatably coupled to the intermediate member of the main ribs; and a plurality of second auxiliary ribs which has one end coupled to a second auxiliary rib fixing member interposed between the main rib fixing member and the first auxiliary rib fixing member such that the second auxiliary rib is circumferentially rotatable, and the other end rotatably coupled, via a pin, to the portion to which the inner member of the main ribs and an intermediate portion of the second auxiliary rib are coupled; and the diameter D1 of the joint portion of the main rib fixing member 15, to which the inner member 12a of the main rib 12 is rotatably coupled, is significantly larger than the diameter D2 of the joint portion of the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 to which the second auxiliary rib 14 is rotatably coupled, such that the second auxiliary rib fixing member is drawn downwardly to spread the umbrella rib assembly 11, and pushed upwardly to fold the umbrella rib assembly 11.

According to the present invention, a foldable umbrella with various configurations using the umbrella rib assembly may be manually or automatically folded and spread.

Advantageous Effect

An umbrella according to the present invention provides the following effects.

The umbrella has a simple configuration and produced and distributed with small expenses.

The umbrella may address concern for error or malfunction.

The umbrella may be easily spread and folded within a short stroke from a handle, convenient in use and ensure stability.

The umbrella may be easily spread and folded by small force.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an umbrella rib assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and illustrates a spread umbrella rib assembly.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the umbrella rib assembly according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention and illustrates a folded umbrella rib assembly.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a foldable umbrella that is spread according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a foldable umbrella that is folded according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a foldable umbrella that is spread according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a foldable umbrella that is folded according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a foldable umbrella that is spread according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a foldable umbrella that is folded according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a foldable umbrella that is spread according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the foldable umbrella according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which only an umbrella rib assembly is folded.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the foldable umbrella according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention which illustrates a compressed coil spring that is spread while only the umbrella rib assembly is folded.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a coupling state of a manipulation button which is employed in the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, a configuration of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described on the basis of accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an umbrella rib assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and illustrates a spread umbrella rib assembly. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the umbrella rib assembly according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention and illustrates a folded umbrella rib assembly.

An umbrella rib assembly 11 according to the present invention includes a plurality of main ribs 12 in which an inner member 12a, an intermediate member 12b and an outer member 12c are combined and assembled to be foldable; a plurality of first auxiliary ribs 13 which is connected to the inner member 12a and an outer member 12c via a pin to be parallel to the intermediate member 12b of the main rib 12; and a plurality of second auxiliary ribs 14 which is coupled to a portion to which the inner member 12a and the first auxiliary rib 13 are coupled.

That is, the umbrella rib assembly 11 includes the plurality of main ribs 12 including the inner member 12a, one end of which is coupled to a main rib fixing member 15 such that the inner member 12a is circumferentially rotatable, the intermediate member 12b, one end of which is rotatably coupled, via a pin, to an upper portion from the other end of the inner member 12a, and the outer member 12c, one end of which is rotatably coupled, via a pin, to the other end of the intermediate member 12b, wherein the inner member 12a, the intermediate member 12b, and the outer member 12c are assembled so to be foldable; the plurality of first auxiliary ribs 13 which has one end coupled to a first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 such that the first auxiliary rib 13 is circumferentially rotatable and has an intermediate portion to which the other end of the inner member 12a is rotatably coupled via a pin, such that the first auxiliary rib 13 is parallel to the intermediate member 12b of the main ribs 12, and has the other end rotatably coupled, via a pin, to a lower portion from the upper end of the outer member 12c rotatably coupled to the intermediate member 12b of the main ribs 12; and the second auxiliary ribs 14 which has one end coupled to a second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 interposed between the main rib fixing member 15 and the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 such that the second auxiliary rib 14 is circumferentially rotatable, and the other end rotatably coupled, via a pin, to the portion to which the inner member 12a of the main ribs 12 and an intermediate portion of the first auxiliary rib 13 are coupled.

The diameter D1 of the joint portion of the main rib fixing member 15, to which the inner member 12a of the main rib 12 is rotatably coupled, is significantly larger than the diameter D2 of the joint portion of the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 to which the second auxiliary rib 14 is rotatably coupled.

Unlike a conventional umbrella rib assembly in which a first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 is pushed upwardly to spread the umbrella rib assembly 11 and is drawn downwardly to fold the umbrella rib assembly 11, in the umbrella rib assembly 11 according to the present invention, the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 which is interposed between the main rib fixing member 15 and the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 is drawn downwardly to spread the umbrella rib assembly 11 and is pushed upwardly to fold the umbrella rib assembly 11.

That is, in the umbrella rib assembly 11 with the foregoing configuration, if the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 is moved downwardly, the second auxiliary rib 14 which has one end coupled to the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 such that the second auxiliary rib 14 is circumferentially rotatable, and the other end rotatably coupled, via a pin, to the portion to which the inner member 12a and an intermediate portion of the first auxiliary rib 13 are coupled pushes outwardly and rotates the portion coupled via the pin to spread the umbrella rib assembly 11. If the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 is moved upwardly, the second auxiliary rib 14 which has one end coupled to the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 such that the second auxiliary rib 14 is circumferentially rotatable, and the other end rotatably coupled, via a pin, to the portion to which the inner member 12a and an intermediate portion of the first auxiliary rib 13 are coupled pulls inwardly and rotates the portion coupled via the pin to fold the umbrella rib assembly 11.

Such configuration is provided to spread and fold the umbrella rib assembly 11 by small force with respect to a short typical stroke.

If the diameter D1 of the joint portion to which the inner member 12a of the main rib 12 is larger than the diameter D2 of the joint portion to which the second auxiliary rib 14 is coupled, the umbrella rib assembly 11 may be easily spread and folded by small force.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a foldable umbrella that is spread according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a foldable umbrella that is folded according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A foldable umbrella 1 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is manually spread and folded. As shown therein, the foldable umbrella 1 includes a handle 2. An umbrella bar 5 includes a lower bar, a lower end of which is coupled and fixed to the handle 2 and an upper bar 4 which is slidably coupled to an outside of the lower bar.

An enlarged holding bar 6 is formed in an upper end of the lower bar 3 forming the umbrella bar 5 and holds a reduced holding bar 7 formed in a lower end of the upper bar 4 to thereby control the rising of the upper bar 4. A plate spring 8, in which a projection 9 exposed to the outside through operation holes 3a and 3b is formed, is installed within upper and lower end parts of the lower bar 3. A hole 4a into which the projection 9 formed in the plate spring 8 is inserted is formed in a lower end of the upper bar 4.

An operation handle 10 is slidably coupled to the outside of the hole 4a formed in the lower end of the upper bar 4. A projection 4b is formed in an outside of the upper bar 4 to be positioned in upper and lower parts of the hole 4a and prevents the operation handle 10 from being separated voluntarily. A groove 10a is formed in an inside of the operation handle 10 to accommodate the projection 9 formed in the plate spring 8 exposed through the hole 4a formed in the upper bar 4.

The operation handle 10 presses the projection 9 of the plate spring 8 provided in the groove 10a when a user grabs and moves the operation handle 10 upwardly and downwardly.

The groove 10a is shaped like a circle and may maintain its functionality even if the operation handle 10 rotates.

The umbrella rib assembly 11 according to the present invention is installed in an outside of the upper bar 4 of the umbrella bar 5. The main rib fixing member 15 to which the internal member 12a of the main rib 12 is rotatably coupled is fixed to and installed in an upper end of the upper bar 4. The second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 is installed in an outside of the upper bar 4 below the main rib fixing member 15. The second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 has a lower part which is adjacent to the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 that rises as the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 falls and the umbrella rib assembly 11 is spread if the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 having a second auxiliary rib 14 rotatably coupled thereto in an outside of the upper bar 4 below the main rib fixing member 15 and is adjacent to the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 at its lower part, and the umbrella rib assembly 11 is folded if the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 rises to the main rib fixing member 15. The first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 is installed in an outside of the upper bar 4 in the upper side of the operation handle 10. An upper part of the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 is adjacent to the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 as it rises and the umbrella rib assembly 11 is spread and the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 having a first auxiliary rib 13 rotatably coupled thereto in an outside of the upper bar 14 above the operation handle 10 rises when the umbrella rib assembly 11 is spread and is adjacent to the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 at its upper part and falls to the operation handle 10 when the umbrella rib assembly 11 is folded.

An elongated hole 4c is formed in an upper end of the upper bar 4 and is as long as the rising/falling width of the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17. An elevation member 19 which is located within the upper bar 4 and is axially coupled to a pulley 18 is fixed to the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 through a pin 20 that is inserted into the elongated hole 4c.

A step 21 is formed in an inside of the upper bar 4 to be positioned below the elongated hole 4c, and the step 21 is connected to an upper end of a rope fixing bar 22 formed in an upper end of the lower bar 3 through a rope 23 associated with the pulley 18.

With the foregoing configuration, as described above, the foldable umbrella 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention enables a user to grab the handle 2 and the operation handle 10 with his/her hand and move the handle 2 upwardly and downwardly to thereby easily spread and fold the foldable umbrella 1 by small force with respect to a short typical stroke. Hereinafter, an operational example will be described.

If a user desires to spread the umbrella 1 which is folded as in FIG. 4, he/she may grab the operation handle 10 coupled to the lower end of the upper bar 4 with his/her hand and pull the handle 2 downwardly.

If a user grabs the operation handle 10 and draws the handle 2, the operation handle 10 moves relatively upwardly, and the projection 9 formed in the lower plate spring 8 provided within the lower side of the lower bar 3 with respect to the groove 10a formed in an inside of the operation handle 10 is pressed and is separated from the hole 4a formed in the lower end of the upper bar 4 through the operation hole 3b so that the lower bar 3 continues to fall and the projection 9 of the upper plate spring 8 provided within the upper side of the lower bar 3 is inserted into the hole 4a formed in the lower end of the upper bar 4 through the operation hole 3a and the extended umbrella bar 2 is fixed and the umbrella rib assembly 11 is spread.

The operation handle 10 is held and suspended by the upper projection 4b formed in an outside of the lower end of the upper bar 4, and the projection 9 of the upper plate spring 8 provided within the upper side of the lower bar 3 is inserted into the groove 10a as in FIG. 3.

The operation of spreading the umbrella rib assembly 11 is performed as the lower bar 3 slidably falls from the upper bar 4 and the rope fixing bar 22 formed in the upper end of the lower bar 3 also falls to fall the elevation member 19 by drawing the rope 23 associated with the pulley 18 axially coupled to the elevation member 19 and connected to the step 21 formed in the upper bar 4 and an upper end of the rope fixing bar 22. Then, the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 which is coupled to the elevation member 19 via the pin 20 also falls and rotates the second auxiliary rib 14, which is rotatably coupled to the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 and an end of the inner member 12a of the main rib 12, toward the outside of the upper bar 4 and rotates the inner member 12a toward the outside of the upper bar 4, and moves the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 upwardly. Thus, the umbrella rib assembly 11 is spread by the linkage thereof.

As described above, the diameter D1 of the joint portion, to which the main rib 12 is rotatably coupled, is significantly larger than the diameter D2 of the joint portion, to which the second auxiliary rib 14 is coupled, and the moving distance of the lower bar 3 is twice longer than the moving distance of the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 by using the pulley 18. Thus, a user may grab the operation handle 10 with his/her hand and draw the handle 2 downwardly by small force to thereby spread the umbrella rib assembly 11 and extend the umbrella bar 5.

If a user desires to fold the umbrella 1 after use, he/she may grab the handle 2 with his/her hand and draw and move the operation handle 10 downwardly.

If the operation handle 10 which is held and suspended by the projection 4b formed in the outside of the lower end of the upper bar 4 and has the groove 10a into which the projection 9 of the upper plate spring 8 is inserted is moved downwardly, the projection 9 formed in the upper plate spring 8 provided within the upper side of the lower bar 3 with respect to the groove 10a formed within the operation handle 10 is pressed and separated from the hole 4a formed in the lower end of the upper bar 4 through the hole 3a and then is held by the lower projection 4b and the upper bar 4 continues to fall. Then, the projection 9 of the lower plate spring 8 provided within the lower side of the lower bar 3 is inserted into the hole 4a formed in the lower end of the upper bar 4 through the hole 3b, and the umbrella bar 2 is folded and fixed and the umbrella rib assembly 11 is folded as in FIG. 4.

The operation of folding the umbrella rib assembly 11 is performed as the upper bar 4 moves downwardly together with the operation handle 10 and the rope fixing bar 22 formed in the upper end of the lower bar 3 moves relatively upwardly, and the rope 23 holding the elevation member 19 is loosened and the umbrella rib assembly 11 is folded to some extent by tension of the umbrella cloth, and the upper end of the rope fixing bar 22 pushes upwardly the lower end of the elevation member 19 to completely fold the umbrella rib assembly 11.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a foldable umbrella that is spread according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a foldable umbrella that is folded according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A foldable umbrella 1 according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention is manually spread and folded. Basic concept of the foldable umbrella 1 including the configuration of the umbrella rib assembly 11 according to the second exemplary embodiment is the same as the foldable umbrella 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment.

As shown therein, the foldable umbrella 1 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a handle 2. An umbrella bar 5 includes a lower bar, a lower end of which is coupled and fixed to the handle 2 and an upper bar 4 which is slidably coupled to an outside of the lower bar.

An enlarged holding bar 6 is formed in an upper end of the lower bar 3 forming the umbrella bar 5 and holds a reduced holding bar 7 formed in a lower end of the upper bar 4 to thereby control the rising of the upper bar 4. A plate spring 8, in which a projection 9 exposed to the outside through an operation hole 3a is formed, is installed in an upper end of the lower bar 3. Holes 4a and 4a′ into which the projection 9 formed in the plate spring 8 is inserted are formed in lower end and an intermediate part of the upper bar 4.

A center of a rotating lever 28 is assembled via a pin to an upper end of the plate spring 8. The rotating lever 28 is low and contacts an inner surface of the lower bar 3 toward the hole 3a, and is high toward the opposite side and is connected to an L-shaped rotating member 30 rotating by a push button 29 through a rope 31 while an end thereof is installed in the handle 2 so that the projection 9 formed in the plate spring 8 may be forcedly inserted into the lower bar.

The operation handle 10 is fixed to and installed in an outside of the upper bar 4 from an upper part of the hole 4a formed in the lower end of the upper bar 4 and is used to spread the umbrella 1.

The umbrella rib assembly 11 according to the present invention is installed in an outside of the upper bar 4 of the umbrella bar 5. The main rib fixing member 15 to which the internal member 12a of the main rib 12 is rotatably coupled is fixed to and installed in an upper end of the upper bar 4. The second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 is installed below the main rib fixing member 15. The second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 has a lower part which is adjacent to the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 that rises as the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 falls and the umbrella rib assembly 11 is spread if the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 having a second auxiliary rib 14 rotatably coupled thereto in an outside of the upper bar 4 below the main rib fixing member 15 and is adjacent to the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 at its lower part, and the umbrella rib assembly 11 is folded if the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 rises to the main rib fixing member. The first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 is installed in an outside of the upper bar 4 in the upper side of the operation handle 10. An upper part of the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 is adjacent to the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 as it rises and the umbrella rib assembly 11 is spread, and the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 having a first auxiliary rib 13 rotatably coupled thereto in an outside of the upper bar 14 above the operation handle 10 rises when the umbrella rib assembly 11 is spread and is adjacent to the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 at its upper part and falls to the operation handle 10 when the umbrella rib assembly 11 is folded.

An elongated hole 4c is formed in an upper end of the upper bar 4 and is as long as the rising/falling width of the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17. An elevation member 19 which is located within the upper bar 4 and is axially coupled to a pulley 18 is fixed to the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 through a pin 20 that is inserted into the elongated hole 4c.

A step 21 is formed in an inside of the upper bar 4 to be positioned in a lower side of the elongated hole 4c, and the step 21 is connected to an upper end of a rope fixing bar 22 formed in an upper end of the lower bar 3 through a rope 23 associated with the pulley 18.

A coil spring 32 is installed between the step 21 positioned below the elongated hole 4c of the upper bar 4 and the elevation member 19 in which the pulley 18 is installed.

The coil spring 32 contracts when a user grabs the operation handle 10 with his/her hand and draws the handle 2 and spreads the umbrella 1, and expands when a user folds the umbrella 1 to thereby automatically fold the umbrella 1.

With the foregoing configuration, as described above, the foldable umbrella 1 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention enables a user to grab the operation handle 10 and draw the handle 2 with his/her hand to thereby easily spread the umbrella 1 by small force, and enables a user to fold the umbrella 1 by the expansion of the coil spring 32 folding the umbrella 1 when the push button 29 installed in the handle 2 is pressed. Hereinafter, an operational example will be described.

If a user desires to spread the umbrella 1 which is folded as in FIG. 6, he/she may grab the operation handle 10 coupled to the lower end of the upper bar 4 with his/her hand, and pull the handle 2 downwardly while pushing the push button 29 installed in the handle 2.

If the push button 29 installed in the handle 2 is pushed, an L-shaped rotating member 30 which is rotatably installed in the handle 2 rotates and a rotating lever 28 which is assembled via a pin to the plate spring 8 installed within the upper side of the lower bar 3 is pulled by the rope 31, and the projection 9 of the plate spring 8 is separated from a hole 4a′ formed in an intermediate part of the upper bar 4 through the hole 3a. If a user grabs the operation handle 10 with his/her hand and continues to draw the handle 2 while not pushing the push button 29, the lower bar 3 continues to fall and the projection 9 of the plate spring 8 is inserted into the hole 4a formed in the lower end of the upper bar 4 through the hole 3a, and the loosened umbrella bar 5 is fixed.

If the lower bar 3 falls, the rope fixing bar 22 formed in the upper end of the lower bar 3 also falls to fall the elevation member 19 by drawing the rope 23 associated with the pulley 18 axially coupled to the elevation member 19 and connected to the step 21 formed in the upper bar 4 and an upper end of the rope fixing bar 22. Then, the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 which is coupled to the elevation member 19 via the pin 20 also falls and rotates the second auxiliary rib 14, which is rotatably coupled to the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 and an end of the inner member 12a of the main rib 12, toward the outside of the upper bar 4 and rotates the inner member 12a toward the outside of the upper bar 4, and moves the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 upwardly. Thus, the umbrella rib assembly 11 is spread by the linkage of the umbrella rib assembly 11 as in FIG. 5. The coil spring 32 which is installed between the step 21 and the elevation member 19 is compressed when the elevation member 19 falls, and expands when a user folds the umbrella 1 to thereby automatically fold the umbrella 1.

As described above, the diameter D1 of the joint portion, to which the main rib 12 is rotatably coupled, is significantly larger than the diameter D2 of the joint portion, to which the second auxiliary rib 14 is coupled, and the moving distance of the lower bar 3 is twice longer than the moving distance of the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17. Thus, a user may grab the operation handle 10 with his/her hand and draw the handle 2 downwardly by small force and compresses the coil spring 32 to thereby spread the umbrella rib assembly 11 and extend and fix the umbrella bar 5.

If a user desires to fold the umbrella 1 after use, he/she may push the push button 29 installed in the handle 2. If the push button 29 is pushed, an L-shaped rotating member 30 which is rotatably installed in the handle 2 rotates and a rotating lever 28 which is assembled via a pin to the plate spring 8 provided within the upper end of the lower bar 3 is pulled by the rope 31, and the rotating lever 28 acts as a lever with one end contacting an inner wall of the lower bar 3, and the projection 9 integrally formed in the plate spring 8 is separated from a hole 4a formed in a lower end of the upper bar 4. Then the compressed coil spring 32 expands and raises the second umbrella rib fixing member 17, which is coupled via the pin 20 to the elevation member 19, toward the main rib fixing member 15 to fold the umbrella rib assembly 11 and shorten the umbrella bar 2 by drawing the lower bar 3 connected through the rope. If the push button 29 is not pushed, the projection 9 of the plate spring 8 is inserted into the hole 4a′ formed in an intermediate portion of the upper bar 4 and the umbrella 1 is in the state as in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a foldable umbrella that is spread according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a foldable umbrella that is folded according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A foldable umbrella 1 according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention is configured to be automatically spread and manually folded. Basic concept of the foldable umbrella 1 including the configuration of the umbrella rib assembly 11 according to the third exemplary embodiment is the same as the foldable umbrella 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment.

As shown therein, the foldable umbrella 1 according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a handle 2. An umbrella bar 5 includes a lower bar, a lower end of which is coupled and fixed to the handle 2 and an upper bar 4 which is slidably coupled to an outside of the lower bar.

An enlarged holding bar 6 is formed in an upper end of the lower bar 3 forming the umbrella bar 5 and holds a reduced holding bar 7 formed in a lower end of the upper bar 4 to thereby control the rising of the upper bar 4. A hole 4a into which a projection 26 integrally formed in a manipulation button 25 installed in the handle 2 is inserted is formed in a lower end of the upper bar 4 while the upper bar 4 is inserted into the handle 2. An operation handle 10 is fixed to and installed in the upper side of the upper bar 4.

The manipulation button 25 includes a push unit 25b, which is elastically supported by the plate spring 27 and is exposed to the outside of the handle 2, and an assembly hole 25a into a center of which the umbrella bar 5 is inserted. The projection 26 is formed within the assembly hole 25a. An inclination guiding surface 26a is formed upwardly in the projection 26 formed in the assembly hole 25a so that the projection 26 is naturally inserted into the hole 4a formed in the upper bar 4 while the upper bar 4 falls when the umbrella rib assembly 11 which will be described later is folded.

The umbrella rib assembly 11 according to the present invention is installed in an outside of the upper bar 4 of the umbrella bar 5. The main rib fixing member 15 to which the internal member 12a of the main rib 12 rotatably coupled is fixed to and installed in an upper end of the upper bar 4. The second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 is installed in an outside of the upper bar 4 below the main rib fixing member 15. The second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 has a lower part which is adjacent to the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 that rises as the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 falls and the umbrella rib assembly 11 is spread if the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 having a second auxiliary rib 14 rotatably coupled thereto in an outside of the upper bar 4 below the main rib fixing member 15 and is adjacent to the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 at its lower part, and the umbrella rib assembly 11 is folded if the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 rises to the main rib fixing member 15. The first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 is installed in an outside of the upper bar 4 in the upper side of the operation handle 10. An upper part of the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 is adjacent to the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 as it rises when the umbrella rib assembly 11 is spread, and the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 having a first auxiliary rib 13 rotatably coupled thereto in an outside of the upper bar 14 above the operation handle 10 rises when the umbrella rib assembly 11 is spread and is adjacent to the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 at its upper part and falls to the operation handle 10 when the umbrella rib assembly 11 is folded.

An elongated hole 4c is formed in an upper end of the upper bar 4 and is as long as the rising/falling width of the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17. An elevation member 19 which is located within the upper bar 4 and axially coupled to a pulley 18 is fixed to the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 through a pin 20 that is inserted into the elongated hole 4c.

A step 21 is formed in an inside of the upper bar 4 to be positioned below the elongated hole 4c, and the step 21 is connected to an upper end of a rope fixing bar 22 formed in an upper end of the lower bar 3 through a rope 23 associated with the pulley 18.

A coil spring 24 is installed between the enlarged holding bar 6 formed in the upper end of the lower bar 3 and the step 21 positioned below the elongated hole 4c of the upper bar 4.

The coil spring 24 contracts when the umbrella 1 is folded, and expands when the umbrella 1 is spread to thereby automatically spread the umbrella 1.

With the foregoing configuration, the foldable umbrella 1 according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention is spread when the manipulation button 25 provided in the handle 2 is pushed. If a user grabs the handle 2 and the operation handle 10 with his/her hand and moves the operation handle 10 downwardly while the umbrella 1 is spread, the umbrella 1 is folded. Hereinafter, an operational example will be described.

If a user desires to spread the umbrella 1 while the umbrella 1 is folded as in FIG. 8, he/she may push a push unit 25b of the manipulation button 25 provided in the handle 2 to separate a projection 26 formed in an assembly hole 25a of the manipulation button 25 from a hole 4a formed in the lower end of the upper bar 4.

Then, a coil spring 24 which is compressed between the enlarged holding bar 6 formed in the upper end of the lower bar 3 and the step 21 provided below the elongated hole 4c of the upper bar 4 expands, and the lower bar 3 is slidably taken out from the upper bar 4 and spreads the umbrella rib assembly 11.

The operation of spreading the umbrella rib assembly 11 is performed as the lower bar 3 slidably falls from the upper bar 4 and the rope fixing bar 22 formed in the upper end of the lower bar 3 also falls to fall the elevation member 19 by drawing the rope 23 associated with the pulley 18 axially coupled to the elevation member 19 and connected to the step 21 formed in the upper bar 4 and an upper end of the rope fixing bar 22. Then, the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 which is coupled to the elevation member 19 via the pin 20 also falls and rotates the second auxiliary rib 14, which is rotatably coupled to the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 and an end of the inner member 12a of the main rib 12, toward the outside of the upper bar 4 and rotates the inner member 12a toward the outside of the upper bar 4, and moves the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 upwardly. Thus, the umbrella rib assembly 11 is spread by the linkage thereof.

As described above, the diameter D1 of the joint portion, to which the main rib 12 is rotatably coupled, is significantly larger than the diameter D2 of the joint portion, to which the second auxiliary rib 14 is coupled, and the moving distance of the lower bar 3 is twice longer than the moving distance of the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17. Thus, a user may spread the umbrella rib assembly 11 and extend the umbrella bar 5 by using the coil spring 24 with a small strength.

If a user desires to fold the umbrella 1 after use, he/she may grab the handle 2 with his/her hand and draw and move the operation handle 10 downwardly. If the upper bar 4 moves downwardly together with the operation handle 10, the lower bar 3 moves upwardly together with the handle 2 and compresses the coil spring 24 installed between the enlarged holding bar 6 formed in the upper end of the lower bar 3 and the step 21 within the upper bar 4, and the projection 26 of the manipulation button 25 is inserted into the hole 4a formed in the lower end of the upper bar 4 to thereby fold and fix the umbrella bar 2 and fold the umbrella rib assembly 11 as shown in FIG. 8.

The operation of folding the umbrella rib assembly 11 is performed as the upper bar 4 moves downwardly together with the operation handle 10, and relatively the lower bar 3 and the rope fixing bar 22 formed in the upper end of the lower bar 3 move upwardly together with the handle 2, and the rope 23 holding the elevation member 19 is loosened, and the umbrella rib assembly 11 is folded to some extent by tension of the umbrella cloth and the upper end of the rope fixing bar 22 pushes upwardly the lower end of the elevation member 19 to completely fold the umbrella rib assembly 11.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a foldable umbrella that is spread according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the foldable umbrella according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which only an umbrella rib assembly is folded. FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the foldable umbrella according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention which illustrates a compressed coil spring that is spread while only the umbrella rib assembly is folded. FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a coupling state of a manipulation button which is employed in the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A foldable umbrella 1 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention is automatically spread and folded. The foldable umbrella 1 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment is automatically folded like the foldable umbrella according to the second exemplary embodiment while it is automatically spread like the foldable umbrella according to the third exemplary embodiment. A configuration of the umbrella rib assembly 11 and basic concept of the foldable umbrella 1 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment is the same as the foldable umbrella 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment.

As shown therein, the foldable umbrella 1 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a handle 2. An umbrella bar 5 includes a lower bar, a lower end of which is coupled and fixed to the handle 2 and an upper bar 4 which is slidably coupled to an outside of the lower bar.

An enlarged holding bar 6 is formed in an upper end of the lower bar 3 forming the umbrella bar 5 and holds a reduced holding bar 7 formed in a lower end of the upper bar 4 to thereby control the rising of the upper bar 4. A hole 4a, into which a projection 26 integrally formed in a manipulation button 25 installed in the handle 2 is inserted is formed in a lower end of the upper bar 4 while the upper bar 4 is inserted into the handle 2. A projection 4d is formed in an opposite side of the hole 4a.

The manipulation button 25 includes a push unit 25b which is elastically supported by the plate spring 27 and is exposed to the outside of the handle 2, and an assembly hole 25a into a center of which the umbrella bar 5 is inserted. The projection 26 is formed within the assembly hole 25a. An inclination guiding surface 26a is formed upwardly in the projection 26 formed in the assembly hole 25a so that the projection 26 is naturally inserted into the hole 4a formed in the upper bar 4 while the upper bar 4 falls when the umbrella rib assembly 11 which will be described later is folded.

The umbrella rib assembly 11 according to the present invention is installed in an outside of the upper bar 4 of the umbrella bar 5. The main rib fixing member 15, to which the internal member 12a of the main rib 12 is rotatably coupled, is fixed to and installed in an upper end of the upper bar 4. The second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 is installed below the main rib fixing member 15. The second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 has a lower part which is adjacent to the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 that rises as the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 falls and the umbrella rib assembly 11 is spread if the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 having a second auxiliary rib 14 rotatably coupled thereto in an outside of the upper bar 4 below the main rib fixing member 15 and is adjacent to the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 at its lower part, and the umbrella rib assembly 11 is folded if the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 rises to the main rib fixing member 15. The first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 is installed in an outside of the upper bar 4 in the lower side thereof. An upper part of the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 has a upper part which is adjacent to the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 as it rises when the umbrella rib assembly 11 is spread, and the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 having a first auxiliary rib 13 rotatably coupled thereto in an outside of the upper bar 14 above the operation handle 10 rises when the umbrella rib assembly 11 is spread and is adjacent to the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 at its upper part and falls to the operation handle 10 when the umbrella rib assembly 11 is folded.

An elongated hole 4c is formed in an upper end of the upper bar 4 and is as long as the rising/falling width of the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17. An elevation member 19, which is located within the upper bar 4 and is axially coupled to a pulley 18, is fixed to the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 through a pin 20 that is inserted into the elongated hole 4c.

A step 21 is formed in an internal center of the upper bar 4 to be positioned in a lower side of the elongated hole 4c, and the step 21 is connected to one end of a rope 23 associated with the pulley 18, and the other end of the rope 23 is connected to the rope fixing bar 22.

The rope fixing bar 22 moves up and down within a guiding bar 19a which is integrally coupled to the elevation member 19 and slides adjacently to the step 21 to be positioned in an upper end of the handle 2 when the umbrella 1 is folded. The rope fixing bar 22 provides stable functionality.

A fixing unit 22a whose diameter is smaller than the rope fixing bar 22 forming the groove 22b therein is formed in the lower end of the rope fixing bar 22, and is inserted into a button housing 33 coupled in an inner lower end of the lower bar 3.

A second button 34 which is pressed by the manipulation button 25 is installed in the button housing 33 to be elastically supported by a plate spring 35. The second button 34 has a hole 34a into which the fixing unit 22a is inserted. A projection 34b which has an inclination surface formed upwardly is integrally formed in the button housing 33 and is inserted into the groove 22b formed in the fixing unit 22a.

A pressing member 36 is installed in the manipulation button 25 and is elastically supported by a spring. A pressing force of the pressing member 36 is shut off when the manipulation button 25 is pressed while the umbrella 1 is folded and the pressing force thereof is provided when the manipulation button 25 is pushed to fold the umbrella 1 while the upper bar 4 is raised. The projection 4d is formed in an opposite side of the hole 4a in a lower end of the upper bar 4 and the pressing member 36 is rotated downwardly when the upper bar 4 is fixed to the handle 2 while the umbrella 1 is folded.

A coil spring 37 is installed between the step 21 formed in an inner central part of the upper bar 4 and the elevation member 19 having a pulley 18 installed therein. A coil spring 38 is installed between the step 21 and the button housing 33 provided in an inner lower end of the lower bar 3.

With the foregoing configuration, the foldable umbrella 1 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention is spread when the manipulation button 25 provided in the handle 2 as described above is pressed, and is folded when the manipulation button 25 provided in the handle 2 is pressed again while the umbrella 1 is spread. Hereinafter, an operational example will be described.

If a user desires to spread the umbrella 1 which is folded as in FIG. 11, he/she presses the manipulation button 25 provided in the handle 2.

If the push unit 25b of the manipulation button 25 is pressed, the projection 26 integrally formed in the manipulation button 25 is separated from the hole 4a formed in the lower end of the upper bar 4. Due to the expansion force of the coil spring 38 contracting between the step 21 formed in an inner central part of the upper bar 4 and the button housing 33 provided in an inner lower end of the lower bar 3, the lower bar 3 is slidably taken out from the upper bar 4 and the umbrella rib assembly 11 is spread and the umbrella bar 5 is expanded.

If the push unit 25b is pressed, the pressing member 36 which is held by the projection 4d and contacts the upper bar 4 while being inclined downwardly is further inclined downwardly. If the upper bar 4 is taken out from the handle 2, the pressing member 36 contacts the second button 34 but the strength of the spring which upwardly moves the pressing member 36 is weak so that the pressing member 36 does not press the second button 34 for movement. If the push button 25b is released from the pressure, the pressing member 36 rotates and faces the second button 34 when it is suspended transversely. Thus, if the push unit 25b is pressed to fold the umbrella 1, the second button 34 may be pressed.

The operation of spreading the umbrella rib assembly 11 is performed as the lower bar 3 slidably falls from the upper bar 4, and the rope fixing bar 22 also falls to fall the elevation member 19 by drawing the rope 23 associated with the pulley 18 axially coupled to the elevation member 19 and connected to the step 21 formed in the upper bar 4 and an upper end of the rope fixing bar 22 as the projection 34b of the second button 34 formed in the button housing 33 coupled to the lower bar 3 is held and fixed to the groove 22b formed in the fixing unit 22a of the lower end of the rope fixing bar 22. Then, the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17, which is coupled to the elevation member 19 via the pin 20, also falls and rotates the second auxiliary rib 14, which is rotatably coupled to the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 and one end of the inner member 12a of the main rib 12, toward the outside of the upper bar 4, and rotates the inner member 12a toward the outside of the upper bar 4, and moves the first auxiliary rib fixing member 16 upwardly. Thus, the umbrella rib assembly 11 is spread by the linkage thereof and the umbrella bar 5 expands as in FIG. 9.

If the elevation member 19 falls, the coil spring 37 which is installed between the elevation member 19 and the step 21 is compressed and used to fold the umbrella rib assemble 11. As described above, the diameter D1 of the joint portion, to which the main rib 12 is rotatably coupled, is significantly larger than the diameter D2 of the joint portion, to which the second auxiliary rib 14 is coupled, and the moving distance of the lower bar 3 is twice longer than the moving distance of the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 by using the pulley 18. Thus, a user may spread the umbrella rib assembly 11 and extend the umbrella bar 5 by compressing the coil spring 37 with the coil spring 38 with the strength that is contracted without difficulty by human power.

If a user desires to fold the umbrella 1 after use, he/she presses the manipulation button 25 provided in the handle 2 again.

When the umbrella 1 is spread, the upper bar 4 is taken out from the handle 2 and the pressing member 36 pressed by the projection 4d formed in a lower end of the upper bar 4 is recovered to a transverse state and faces the second button 34. Thus, if the manipulation button 25 is pressed, the second button 34 installed within the button housing 33 is pressed by the pressing member 36. Then, the projection 34b formed in the second button 34 is separated from the groove 22b formed in the fixing unit 22a of the lower end of the rope fixing bar 22, and the coil spring 37, which is compressed between the elevation member 19 having the pulley 18 axially installed therein and the step 21 within the upper bar 4 expands, and moves upwardly the second auxiliary rib fixing member 17 to the main rib fixing member 15 to thereby fold the umbrella rib assembly 11 as in FIG. 10.

If a user desires to use the folded umbrella rib assembly 11, he/she presses the handle 2 and compresses the coil spring 38 while supporting the main rib fixing member 15 to the ground, etc.

If the coil spring 38 is compressed by pressing the handle 2 and the lower bar 3 is inserted into the upper bar 4 as above, the projection 26 which is integrally formed in the manipulation button 25 is inserted into the hole 4a formed in a lower end of the upper bar 4, and the pressing member 36 is pressed by the projection 4d formed in the lower end of the upper bar 4 and rotates downwardly. While the projection 34b formed in the second button 34 is inserted into the grove 22b formed in the fixing unit 22a of the lower end of the rope fixing bar 22, the upper bar 4 is fixed to the handle 2 and the umbrella is folded as in FIG. 11.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The umbrella according to the present invention has a simple configuration and produced with less productions costs, address concern for error or malfunction. The umbrella according to the present invention is easily spread and folded within a short stroke from a handle and is easy to use and ensures stability. The umbrella according to the present invention is easily spread and folded by small force and is applicable in the industry.