Collapsible umbrella

• US 5,116,258 A
• Filed: 08/28/1990
• Issued: 05/26/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nijtech BV
• Original Assignee: Nijkamp BV
• Inventors: Vennik, Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAI, LANNA
• Application Number:
  US07/574,148
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 135/19.5, 135/21, 135/15.1, 135/20.3, 135/19, 135/16
• US Class Current: 135/20.3
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 11/00 Umbrellas characterised by their shape or attachment
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2023/0012 Ground supported umbrellas or sunshades on a single post, e.g. resting in or on a surface there below
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2023/0037 the support arm being attached to the stick or to the crown, the canopy being suspended there below
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2023/0043 the support arm being attached to the stick or to runner, the canopy being suspended there above
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2025/146 with a crank connected to a rope
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 23/00 Other umbrellas
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/14 Devices for opening and for closing umbrellas

Abstract

The invention concerns a collapsible umbrella against for instance sunlight, rain and so on, consisting of a shaft and a number of ribs fixed pivotally relative thereto for supporting fabric-like material, which ribs are each pivotally connected to the one end of a rod-like stretcher, the other end of which is displaceable in lengthwise direction of the shaft characterized in that said shaft takes a hollow form and serves as guiding for a common control rod connected to the stretcher rods. It is suitable for stationary use and it is suspended from above to avoid obstruction of the space underneath the umbrella.

To allow the umbrella to be collapsed the shaft thereof is hollow and it accommodates a common control rod connected to all the stretchers, the other sides whereof are connected with the ribs. The umbrella is suspended from a carrier pivotally connected to a standard. Such a standard may bear several umbrellas.

Claims

1. Collapsible umbrella against for instance sunlight, rain and so on, comprising:

a shaft and a number of ribs fixed pivotally thereto for supporting a fabric-like material, which ribs are each pivotally connected to a rod=like stretcher, a bottom end whereof is displaceable in lengthwise direction of said shaft, wherein said shaft takes a hollow form and serves as a guide for a common control rod slidably received within the shaft, said shaft having a top end and a length dimension, said control rod being connected to said stretcher rods;

wherein the control rod has a length form a top end that is greater than said length of said shaft;

a hollow carrier for axially receiving the top end of the control rod, said carrier being pivotally attached to the shaft at a location below the top end of the shaft and pivotable thereon to a position angularly spaced from the shaft; and

wherein the carrie space for receiving the top end of said control rod is positioned to selectively lock the shaft against pivotal motion when the control rod top end is received in said space.

2. Collapsible umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier is pivotally connected to a standard.

3. Collapsible umbrella as claimed in claim 1, a flexible element, fastened with one end to a fixed point and is trained through the standard, the carrier and the shaft to the top end of the control rod.

4. Collapsible umbrella as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fixed point of the flexible element is attached to the standard, wherein the bottom end of the carrier is movable toward and away from said fixed point by means of a slide member displaceable along said standard.

5. A group of collapsible umbrellas, comprising:

a standard;

a plurality of umbrellas mounted to and arranged angularly about the standard, each of said umbrellas including;

a shaft and a number of ribs fixed pivotally thereto for supporting a fabric-like material, which ribs are each pivotally connected to a rod-like stretcher, a bottom end whereof is displaceable in lengthwise direction of said shaft, wherein said shaft takes a hollow form and serves as a guide for a common control rod slidably received within the shaft and having a top end and a length dimension, said control rod being connected to said stretcher rods;

wherein the control rod has a length from a top end that is greater than said length of said shaft;

a hollow carrier pivotably mounted to the standard and normally positioned thereon for axially receiving the top end of the control rod, said carrier being pivotally attached to the shaft at a location below the top end of the shaft and pivotable thereon to a position angularly spaced from the shaft; and

wherein the hollow carrier is positioned to selectively lock the shaft against pivotal motion when the control rod top end is received therein.