GB1274802A - Improvements in automatically openable, foldable umbrellas - Google Patents

Abstract

1,274,802. Automatic umbrellas. ALASKA UMBRELLA INDUSTRIES CO. Ltd. April 20, 1970 [Oct. 6, 1969; Oct. 7, 1969; Oct. 8, 1969], No. 18759/70. Heading A4P. An automatically openable, foldable umbrella has a stick 1 comprising large and small diameter tubes 2 and 4 respectively telescopically engaged and extensible by a spring 11, Fig.3. Upper and lower sliders 18 and 19 respectively carry struts and auxiliary struts 21 and 22, Fig. 1, respectively, the sliders are separated by a spring 25, which is in two oppositely wound parts 41 and 42, and which on expansion erects the canopy frame. The outer ends 21<SP>1</SP> of the struts 21 are pivoted to the inner ends of outer rib portions 20b, which are of circular section, by means of a mounting member (35<SP>1</SP>), Fig. 4 (not shown), and slide within "U" section inner rib portions 20a guided by a tube 35. A resilient locking member 15 has large and small detents 14 and 13 respectively which project through slots in the small diameter tube 4 to engage slots in the large diameter tube 2 and the lower slide 19 in the closed position. Large detent 14 also engages a slot 31 in a sleeve 32 of a tip cup 29 which when slid along the tube 4 against a spring 34 both depresses the large detent 14 so releasing the large diameter tube 4 and the lower slider 18, and disengages the tipsof the ribs 20 thus permitting self erection of the umbrella. Relative rotation of the component parts is prevented by a groove (3), Fig. 8 (not shown) in the small diameter tube 1 which engages a projection 39 in the tip cup 29 and a projection 38 in the large diameter tube 2. A rod 8 projecting into the groove (3) acts as a stop to limit the extension of the stick by engaging projection (10) Fig. 7 (not shown) on the large diameter tube 2. An open position detent is provided by balls 6 which are urged outwardly by leaf-spring 7. The impact of opening is absorbed by a cushioning spring 37. Alternative embodiments of the tip cup 29 are shown in Figs. 12-15 (not shown). In Figs. 14 and 15 the tips are guided into the cup by means of a tapered guide surface (40).