Lock mechanism of large umbrella for effecting a multi-sectional length adjustment of telescopic shank

• US 20070079854A1
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ching-Chuan You
• Original Assignee: Ching-Chuan You
• Inventors: You, Ching-Chuan
• Granted Patent: US 7,322,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 135/25.400
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 19/04 with telescopic sticks
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/08 Devices for fastening or locking
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/22 Devices for increasing the resistance of umbrellas to wind

Abstract

A lock mechanism mounted in a large umbrella includes a sliding sleeve including an aperture on surface of a lower extension, a telescopic shank including a lower tube fixed in a handle and a sliding upper tube, a lock device disposed in the upper tube such that disposing a resilient projection of the lock device through holes of the tubes may fasten the shank, an actuation assembly for receiving the extension and including a transverse opening and a spring biased actuation member having a portion disposed in the aperture for locking the extension in a closed position of the umbrella, the actuation member including a trigger, and a spring biased rib fixing assembly disposed between the handle and the actuation assembly. Pushing the trigger will disengage the portion with the aperture to open the umbrella. Operating the lock device will effect a subsequent multi-sectional length adjustment of the shank.

Claims

1. A lock mechanism mounted in a large umbrella having a handle, a plurality of ribs, a plurality of spreaders, and a canopy, the lock mechanism comprising:

a sliding sleeve connected to the spreaders and including a lower extension and a first aperture on a surface of the extension;

a telescopic shank including a lower tube fixed in the handle, a sliding upper tube adapted to slide in the lower tube, and a lock device disposed in the upper tube;

an actuation assembly including a hollow upper enlargement with the extension received therein, a transverse first opening formed on the enlargement, and a spring biased actuation member adapted to have a first predetermined portion disposed in the first aperture for locking the extension in a closed position of the umbrella, and a second predetermined portion disposed externally of the enlargement; and

a spring biased rib fixing assembly disposed between the handle and the actuation assembly, the rib fixing assembly being adapted to fix tips of the ribs in the closed position of the umbrella;

whereby pushing the second predetermined portion of the actuation assembly will disengage the first predetermined portion with the first aperture to unlock the extension of the sliding sleeve for sliding the sleeve upward to open the umbrella, and operating the lock device of the telescope shank will effect a subsequent multi-sectional length adjustment of the shank.

2. The lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the upper tube comprises a lengthwise groove and a lower second aperture, and wherein the lower tube comprises two longitudinal recesses in communication with each other and disposed in the groove so as to guide a sliding of the upper tube in the lower tube in a predetermined position.

3. The lock mechanism of claim 2, wherein the lower tube comprises a plurality of longitudinal holes formed on a surface thereof, and wherein the lock device comprises an arcuate elastic member urged against an inner surface of the upper tube, the elastic member including a protrusion formed at one end projected from the second aperture through one of the holes.

4. The lock mechanism of claim 3, wherein the protrusion is adapted to push to compress the elastic member until the protrusion clears the second aperture, the upper tube is adapted to subsequently push downward until the protrusion aligns with a different one of the holes, and wherein the protrusion is adapted to subsequently project from the different one of the holes.

5. The lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the extension comprises two opposite projecting members formed above the first aperture, and wherein the enlargement further comprises two notches on its inner surface engaged with the projecting members.

6. The lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the protrusion has a predetermined length for permitting the sleeve to pass therethrough by sliding in opening or closing the umbrella.

7. The lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the enlargement further comprises a receptacle opposite the first opening for anchoring the actuation member, and a lower projecting portion including a plurality of flanges formed therearound;

wherein the second predetermined portion of the actuation member is formed as a trigger; and

wherein the actuation member further comprises a loop interconnected the first and the second predetermined portions, a cavity formed in the first predetermined portion opposite the receptacle, and a first elastic element having one end anchored in the receptacle and the other end anchored in the cavity.

8. The lock mechanism of claim 7, wherein the rib fixing assembly comprises a cup including a bottom second opening urged against one of the flanges, and a second elastic element compressed between the cup and the handle.

9. The lock mechanism of claim 8, wherein the tips of the ribs are adapted to dispose proximate the cup in response to closing the umbrella.