GB2330528A - Piston-driven umbrella with combined canopy and casing - Google Patents

Abstract

The umbrella shaft has telescopic upper and lower tubes forming a pneumatic chamber 25. Piston 24, which is connected to the umbrella runner 6, is propelled up the chamber by a battery-powered thruster (23, Fig 11), thus driving the umbrella open and compressing air in the upper region of the chamber. Electromagnetic catches 15 maintain the open position against downward pressure of the compressed air on the piston. Release of the catches causes the umbrella to close. The outer end of each canopy rib 1 carries a flexible external casing section 19. When closed, the sections combine to form a complete casing for the umbrella.

Description

Self- encasing umbrella with automatic opening and closing system.

The present invention relates to a self- encasing umbrella with a system to open and close it automatically. A collapsible telescopic umbrella has been used to illustrate the invention, A conventional, collapsible, automatically opening umbrella as shown in figure 1 includes: canopy ribs comprising of an outer canopy rib means (1) which give the opened umbrella canopy material its structured shape, stretcher ribs (2) and folding rib arms (3,4) which all contribute to giving the umbrella its shape and strength when open and which also make it possible for the umbrella to be collapsible. The stretcher ribs (2) and the first rib folding ann (3) are connected. The second rib folding arm (4) is connected to a retention means (5), the stretcher rib (2) is connected to a runner (6) which slides up and down a central shaft (7). As the runner (6) rises up the shaft (7) the stretcher rib (2) rotates from a vertical to a horizontal position, stretching out the umbrella fabric (8) and the outer canopy rib means (1).

When the umbrella is closed, arms (13) connecting the runner (6) to the lower notch (11) cause the distance between the runner (6) and the lower notch (11) to reduce as the umbrella closes causing upward tension to be stored in the spring (14). This tension in the spring provides an upward force causing the notch and runner subsystem (12) to move up the shaft (7) when opening the umbrella.

A button (9) is pressed to release a lower spring catch (10) which releases the lower notch (11) and runner subsystem (12) releasing the tension mentioned above and thus opening the umbrella. The outer telescopic arm (7) is extended upwards by way of an internal spring.

Releasing the lower spring catch (10) allows the tension in this internal spring to push the outer shaft (7) upwards Once the runner and lower notch subsystem (12) have risen to the top of the central shaft (7), a sprung catch (15) mechanism extends out to block the path of the bottom periphery of the lower notch (11). This prevents the runner and lower notch (12) from moving downwardly, thus keeping the canopy open. This sprung catch (15) must be forced in to the shaft body (7), manually in order for the umbrella to be able to close.

A second spring (16) above the runner prevents the runner from rising too high up the shaft (7), incrementally.

Another pair of sprung catches (17) keep the extended outer part of the telescopic shaft (7) from closing by springing out as it, the outer shaft (17), rises past them as with the runner and lower notch subsystem (12) above. Force must be applied manually to close this sprung catch mechanism (15).

When closed the tension in the subsystem's spring (14) and the internal central shaft spring are held by the lower spring catch (10). Therefore when closed the forces in the umbrella are acting in the direction of opening the umbrella.

When closed the canopy material (8) of the umbrella is loose and is normally bound by an extra piece of fabric attached to an outer part of the umbrella cloth. Any cover or casing comes in the form of a separate fabric or plastic sheath that is manually placed over the closed, bound umbrella.

Unique attributes of present invention o Automatic opening and closing device using pneumatic, motorised and electromagnetic systems facilitating single hand operation.

Self-enclosing mechanism with integrated elastic, waterproof umbrella fabric and durable metallic or plastic casing system.

Automatic opening and closing device Though several umbrellas have automatic opening devices, none as yet have two way automated systems. This may be so because to develop a bi-directional, automated umbrella system presents some interesting problems.

In the conventional, automatically opening umbrella as in figure 1, the tension in the umbrellas springs (14) are directed up the longitudinal axis of the central shaft (7) from its proximal to its distal portions. Consequently when the lower spring catch (10), is released, the runner (12) shoots upwards. The runner subsystem (12) is pulled down manually in order to close the umbrella. The important thing to note is that the user must apply a force greater than the force of tension being transferred to the springs by the users pulling the subsystem (12) down. Fig 1 Any automated means off closing such an umbrella would have to counter act this upward force with another force. It could be that the umbrella's forces were directed towards closing the umbrella, in which case a force to open the umbrella would have to counter act this force.

In short, the forces causing the umbrella to open must be greater than the forces causing the umbrella to close in order that the umbrella opens and the forces causing the umbrella to close must be greater than the forces causing the umbrella to open for it to close. Hence most conventional umbrellas only operate automatically in one direction.

The present inventor has overcome this obstacle by adopting an innovating approach to the problem. By using a powerful, motorised, propelling mechanism in a closed pneumatic chamber system (fig 6-13), the present inventor has resolved this problem.

In figures 6-13 we see cross sections of this invention's central, hollow shaft. In the enlarged views of the handle section, (figs 11 & 12), we see a battery (21) and a motorised, (22), recoiling thruster (23). These motorised aspects of the umbrella will be similar to the motorised 'putters' used in golf practising machines. The upward propelling element (23) pushes a piston (24) up an enclosed, sealed air column. This air column (25) and piston (24) serve as a pneumatic chamber (25). As the piston (24) rises there is a build up of pressure at the top of the pneumatic chamber. As the air compresses the pressure increases. The piston (24) is connected to the runner (6) to which the stretcher canopy ribs (2) are connected.

Therefore as the piston (24) and runner (6) move up the shaft (csl) the umbrella opens. As the runner (6) passes the upper catches (15), its bottom periphery is prevented from any further downward movement. Thus the umbrella canopy remains open. It is imperative that the force with which the thruster (23) shoots the piston (24), up the pneumatic chamber (25) is sufficient to shoot the piston (24), and thus runner (6) past the upper spring catches (15). The build up of pressure at the top of the chamber (25) will prevent the piston (24) and runner (6) from moving to far up the shaft (csl).

In this invention there is no longer a need for the lower notch (11) and spring subsystem (12) or the spring (16) between the runner and the retention means (5) as in the conventional umbrella, (fig 1). The pressure in the pneumatic chamber (25) will serve as an incremental damping force to the pistons (24) upward drive.

When the umbrella canopy is open the pressure in the hollow shaft or pneumatic chamber (25) will provide a downward force, causing the umbrella canopy to close. This force will be blocked by the upper catches (15) as in a conventional umbrella. However in this invention the upper catches will have electromagnetic contact points (26) at their inner ends.

By pushing a button (9) an electromagnetic force will pull these catches (15) together in to the central shaft (csl) allowing the downward force in the pressurised gas chamber (25) to push the piston (24) and runner (6) down thus closing the umbrella canopy. Since the upward motion and force was provided by a recoiling, propelled thruster device (23) that remains at the bottom, proximal portion of the shaft in the handle of the umbrella, there is no upward force for the air pressure to work against. This downward force will also be increased by the elastic tension in the umbrellas canopy material (8). It is imperative that a strong enough upwardly propelling thrust system is used to force the canopy open. It is also imperative that this upward motion results in a high enough build up of pressure in the pneumatic chamber (25) to force the canopy to close once the catches (15) are electromagnetically disengaged.

The piston (24) may come right in to the recoiling motor (22) to add to the force that it is shot up with as detailed in figure 12.

Figure 10 details how a telescopic shaft system will work. An inner pneumatic shaft (cs2), with an outer diameter (ocs2) smaller than the outer diameter (ocsl) of the outer pneumatic shaft (csl), will slide up the recesses (rc) allocated to it as shown in figure 6. When the umbrella is closed as shown in figure 7, the smaller shaft (cs2) will completely occupy the recessed area in the larger outer shaft (csl). The larger, outer shaft (csl) will have a pneumatic chamber diameter (pc1) smaller than the inner shaft's chamber diameter (pc2) and an outer chamber diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of the inner shaft (ocs2).

Two lips (lp) as detailed in figure 10 are present in the outer shaft's pneumatic chamber. As the piston (24) and runner (6) are driven down by the pressure in the gas and the piston (24) reaches these lips (lp), it (24) passes neatly between them but its arms (xa) are forced to drag them (the lips) down causing the smaller inner shaft (cs2) to recede into the larger outer shaft (csl). This will cause the umbrella to telescopically close. Similarly, when opening, as the piston (24) rises with great force the outer central shaft (csl) will be driven upwards with the inner lower shaft (cs2) remaining stationary in the users hand. Again this emphasises the importance of the presence of sufficient force in the upward thrusting mechanism. This may be achieved with an electronic motor system (22) powered by a battery (21). When the umbrella is closed there will be a locking device which can be number coded as in a brief case combination lock or may be a digital numeric lock.

The piston (24) will be connected to the runner (6) by thin but strong arms (xa) that will come out of the central shaft (cs 1) through a longitudinal slot from the bottom proximal to the top distal portions of the shaft and curve around the outer surface of the shaft. These arms will slide between two fluid tight lips on the inside and outside of the shaft. The outer lips will overlap the protruding piston arms. This will prevent loss of air enabling the piston to move up and down the shaft without compromising the pneumatic system's vacuum necessity. Fig. 13 As the outer shaft rises it will pass a pair of lower spring catches (17) that will engage outwards to prevent it from falling closed as with the runner system above. These too will be electromagnetically controlled along with the upper spring catches (15). The conventional button (9) for releasing the umbrella may be used to release the spring catches (15,17).

Another button (ub) underneath the handle may be used to engage the thruster, opening the umbrella.

Other means of opening and closing the umbrella such as hydraulic systems, other types of motorised systems and other mechanical possibilities will be researched prior to submission of the final patent application. Practicality and manufacture-ability will assume high priority in developing prototypes.

Self encasing aspect The second aspect of this invention is an umbrella with a series of external casing sections (19). These are joined to its fabric and integrate its canopy rib means (1), forming part of the rain sheltering canopy of the umbrella when it is open and also forming a hard, durable, cylindrical case around the umbrella when it is closed. These external casing sections can be seen in figures 2, 3, 4, and 5.

They will be made of a metallic material such as aluminium or a metal imitating plastic such as carbon fibre, kevler, etc and will strike a balance between strength and flexibility. They must be sufficiently strong to form a solid, durable case when the umbrella is closed (figs 2,8), but also sufficiently flexible to be able to bend to form the conventional umbrella canopy shape when it is open, figs 3, 4 & 5.

These sections may number any where from two to twelve sections. They must inter lock when the umbrella is closed (fig 2) or as the umbrella closes to form a smooth continuous cylindrical structure. Therefore the precision of the umbrellas mechanism and manufacturing processes are of vital importance. The diagrams shown relate to a multi fold, collapsible or telescopic umbrella but the principle can be used for both small and large, full sized, non-telescopic umbrellas. The designs and patterns of the casing sections can vary. A couple of examples are included to illustrate possibilities, figs 2, 2b, 3, 3b. These sections (19) will sit on top of and be attached to the umbrella fabric (8).

In order that the umbrella can close automatically with the external casing sections (19) inter locking to form a cylindrical case, it is necessary that the umbrella canopy material (8) is also packed away neatly and quickly as the umbrella closes. The present inventor has found the drawbacks of conventional umbrellas in this area and has eliminated the problem by utilising a highly elastic waterproof material for the umbrella cloth (8). When the umbrella is open this canopy material will be stretched. Therefore as the canopy closes the fabric will return to its compact, normal state. An additional benefit here is that this elastic tension will contribute to the umbrellas closing mechanism.

Though the automatic opening and closing and self encasing aspects of this invention have been used to describe an umbrella, it is anticipated that these innovations could be used in different applications such as collapsible and retractable satellite reception discs or perhaps even in the form of a high speed automobile braking system.

Claims (11)

1. CLAIM 1. An umbrella comprising a hollow shaft having a longitudinal axis, a proximal portion, a distal portion, an inner chamber and a longitudinal slot extending from the proximal to the distal portion of the shaft and defining an aperture between an outer surface of the shaft and the inner chamber; a piston slideably movable within the inner chamber and along the longitudinal axis from the proximal to the distal portion, the piston having an arm extending through the slot to protrude beyond the outer surface of the shaft; a thruster to propel the piston from the proximal to the distal portion ofthe shaft, a retention means attached to the distal portion of the shaft, a canopy rib pivotally attached to the retention means, a stretcher rib pivotally attached at opposite end portions to the arm of the piston and the canopy rib, respectively, and a canopy material extending along a portion of the canopy rib: wherein slideable movement of the piston within the inner chamber from the proximal to the distal portion of the shaft allows extension of the canopy material to form a canopy and the reverse movement of the piston allows collapse of said canopy and folding of the canopy material about the longitudinal axis of the shaft.
2. 2. An umbrella as claimed in claim 1 wherein the piston engages a catch on slideable movement within the inner chamber from the proximal to the distal portion of the shaft to secure the canopy material in the canopy-forming position.
3. 3. An umbrella as claimed in claim 2 wherein the inner chamber is fluid-filled and fluid-tight, the arm of the piston extends through a fluid-tight seal that closes the slot and the piston is capable of dividing the inner chamber into a proximal and distal section on slideable movement and of providing a fluid tight seal therebetween, wherein slideable movement of the piston within the inner chamber from the proximal to the distal portion of the shaft to engage with the catch is achieved by propulsion of the piston by the motorised thruster.

   4. An umbrella as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein on disengagement of the piston from the catch, slideable movement of the thruster within the inner chamber from the distal to the proximal portion of the shaft results from higher fluid pressure within the distal section than in the proximal section of the inner chamber.

   5. An umbrella comprising a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a proximal and a distal portion, a retention means attached to the distal portion of said shaft, a runner mounted to, and slideably moveable between the proximal and distal portions of, said shaft, a plurality of canopy ribs, each pivotally attached to said retention means, a stretcher rib for each canopy rib, each stretcher rib pivotally attached at opposite end portions of said runner and said canopy rib, respectively, and a canopy material extending along a portion of each canopy rib, wherein slideable movement of said runner from the proximal to the distal portion of said shaft allows extension of said canopy material to form a canopy and reverse movement of said runner allows collapse of said canopy and folding of said canopy material about the longitudinal axis of said shaft, characterised in that a casing section is attached or fastened to the canopy above, each of at least two of said canopy ribs, said casing sections interlocking to form a case substantially enclosing said canopy material when said canopy material is collapsed about the longitudinal axis of said shaft.

   AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS I claim: 1. An umbrella assembly comprising, in combination: a lower tube with a hollow cylindrical configuration having a first diameter and a pair of diametrically opposed slits formed therein and extending along a length thereof with one of the side edges of each of the slits having a resilient lip extending therefrom for covering the associated slit and maintaining the lower tube air tight, the lower tube having a bottom end with a hollow cylindrical handle mounted thereon with a plurality of concentric undulations formed in an outer surface thereof and a top end with an inwardly extending annular lip formed in an inner surface thereof; an air pressure generator positioned within the handle arxdhaving a push button mounted on the outer surface of the handle for excreting air from the handle and into the lower tube upon the depression thereof; an upper tube with a hollow cylindrical configuration having an inner surface with a second diameter less than the first diameter and an outer surface with a third diameter greater than the first diameter, the upper tube having a pair of diametrically opposed slits formed therein with one of the side edges of each of the slits having a resilient lip extending therefrom for covering the associated slit of the upper tube and maintaining the upper tube air tight, the upper tube further having a concentric recess formed in between the inner surface and the outer surface of the upper tube, wherein the concentric recess extends between a central extent of the upper tube and a lower end of the upper tube, the lower end of the upper tube having an inwardly extending annular flange coupled to the inner surface of the upper tube, an outwardly extending annular flange mounted within the concentric recess, and an outwardly extending annular stop coupled to the outer surface of the upper tube, wherein the top end of the lower tube is slidably received within the. concentric recess between a retracted orientation and an extended orientation with the outwardly extending annular flange of the upper tube in engagement with the inwardly extending annular lip of the lower tube, wherein the slits of the upper tube and the lower tube remain in alignment; a slider assembly including a hollow cylinder slidably mounted along the outer surface of the upper tube the cylinder of the slider assembly including a pair of radially spaced tangs extending outwardly therefrom at an upper edge thereof; a piston slidably positioned within the upper tube with a pair of diametrically opposed arms coupled thereto and extending therefrom through the slits of the tubes and coupled to an inner surface of the hollow cylinder for moving coincidentally therewith; a cap mounted on an upper end of the upper tube; a canopy assembly including a plurality of radially spaced upper inboard arms hingably coupled at inboard ends thereof to the cap and extending outwardly therefrom, a plurality of lower inboard arms with lengths greater than that of the upper inboard arms and pivotally coupled at inboard ends thereof to the tangs of the cylinder of the cylinder of the slider assembly and at a central extent thereof to outboard ends of the upper inboard arms, a plurality of intermediate arms having inboard ends pivotally coupled to the upper inboard arms, and a plurality of outboard arms each pivotally coupled to outboard ends of the intermediate arms and the lower inboard arms, the outboard arms each constructed from a resilient material and having an outer surface with an arcuate lateral cross-section, an inner surface with an arcuate lateral cross-section and a pair of side edges which are corrugated with a plurality of recaanguaar cut outs, the canopy assembly filrther including flexible elastic sheet mounted on the arms for defining a hemispherical configuration when the cylinder of the slider assembly is in a raised orientation and wherein the side edges of the outboard arms interlock to define a cylindrical shell which encompasses the tubes in concentric relationship upon the cylinder of the slider assembLy being in a 1Owerçd oXat a pair of diametrically opposed spring biased plungers mounted within the upper tube between the inner surface and the outer surface thereof and extending outwardly therefrom; wherein upon the depression of the button of the air generator, pressure forces the piston and the cylinder of the slider assembly to the raised orientation whereat the same are locked in place via the spring biased plungers and the tubes are transferred to the extended orientation ; wherein upon the sliding of the cylinder of the slider assembly to the raised orientation, a pressure builds between the cap and the piston, said pressure and the elastic material adapted to force the cylinder of the slider assembly to the lowered orientation upon release of the cylinder of the slider assembly by the spring biased plungers.

   2. An assembly comprising: tube; a slider assembly including a slider slidably mounted along the tube; and a piston slidable within the tube which is fluid-filled and fluid-tight, the piston connected to the slider of slider assembly via an arm extending through a slot formed in the tube with a fluid-tight seal for sliding the slider of the slider assembly along the tube by way of pressurized fluid 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the slider of the slider assembly is maintained in at least one orientation by way of a catch positioned on the tube.
4. 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein a retractable assembly is mounted on the tube and connected to the slider of the slider assembly thereby having a raised orientation when the slider and the piston are in a first orientation along the tube and a lowered orientation when the slider and the piston are in a second orientation along the tube.
5. 5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein the pressurized fluid is generated by a pressure generator within a handle on the tube.
6. 6. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein the piston pressurizes fluid as being transferred to the first orientation, wherein said pressurized fluid works to transfer the slider of the slider assembly and the plunger to the second orientation.
7. 7. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein the tube is defined by an upper tube and a lower tube slidably coupled with respect to each other.
8. 8. A dome shaped assembly comprising: a tube; a slider assembly including a slider slidably mounted along the tube; and a retractable assembly mounted on the tube and connected to the slider of the slider assembly and having a raised orientation for deploying the retractable assembly and a lowered orientation for retracting the retractable assembly; wherein the retractable assembly includes a plurality of arms at least a portion of which includes widened members which abut to form a shell encorupassing the tube upon the slider of the slider assembly being transferred to the lowered orientation.
9. 9. A dome shaped assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the widened arms include an arcuate cross-section for definina a cylindrical shell.
10. 10. A dome shaped assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the widened arms each have corrugated side edges for interlocking to define the shew
11. 11. A dome shaped assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the tube is defined by an upper tube and a lower tube slidably coupled with respect to each other.