JPH0478282B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an umbrella that can be automatically closed or opened with a single push of a button. This relates to an automatic umbrella that can be opened and closed.

[Conventional technology]

Automatic umbrellas that can open and close automatically already exist, such as U.S. Patent No. 3,856,030 to Mr. Sato. This type of conventional umbrella is equipped with two push buttons for its opening and closing operations. Such umbrellas are not only complex in structure, but also difficult to assemble, and are therefore expensive. Furthermore, the space for the operation of such a mechanism must also be large, which also affects the appearance of the umbrella. Also,
There are two push buttons, so if you do not press the push button after confirming the open/closed state of the umbrella, you will often press the wrong button and make an erroneous operation, which is inconvenient for use. In addition, there was a disadvantage that the push button mechanism could be damaged due to incorrect operation.

In order to solve the above problems, the inventor filed a patent application in 1983.
−141641 proposed an automatic umbrella that can open and close the umbrella by operating a single button.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

As shown in FIG. 9, the automatic umbrella described above is opened and closed by a single push button 6,
The structure has been simplified and the operation has become easier compared to the conventional method using two push buttons, but when opening this umbrella, the first step is to push the push button 6 toward the shaft. To close an open umbrella, you must first pull down the push button 6 with your finger and then press it toward the shaft.Since the two operations for opening and closing the umbrella are different, you always have to press it. It was inconvenient because I had to operate it while being confused as to whether it was OK or whether I should pull it down and then push it. Furthermore, since long spring claws 9 are used, after long-term use, the locking action of the spring claws 92 becomes ineffective due to elastic fatigue, often resulting in failure.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above problems, the automatic umbrella of the present invention is an automatic umbrella equipped with a single push button, an outer cylindrical shaft 1 and an intermediate member slidably inserted into the outer cylindrical shaft 1. Above the cylindrical shaft 2 and the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2,
Upper inner shafts 4 each slidably inserted into the lower end.
and a lower inner shaft 3, an upper ring 41, an intermediate ring 21, and a lower ring 11 attached to the upper ends of the upper inner shaft 4, the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, and the outer cylindrical shaft 1, respectively, and in relation to these rings. The ribs 5 of the plurality of pivoted umbrellas, the first coil spring 7 mounted between the intermediate ring 21 and the lower ring 11 so as to surround the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, and the upper portion inside the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2. , an automatic umbrella consisting of a second coil spring 8 disposed between the lower inner shafts 4 and 3 and a push button 6 provided on a grip 31 attached to the lower end of the lower inner shaft 3. A claw piece 92 at the tip at a location corresponding to the upper end side of the grip 31 always protrudes from the claw hole 38 provided in the inner shaft by a spring 97, and when the umbrella is closed, the middle cylindrical shaft 2 and the outer cylindrical shaft A first spring pawl 9 is rotatably provided to face the inner end surface 66 of the push button 6, and is rotatably secured to the two locking holes 23 and 12 provided at the lower end of the shaft 1 at the same time. The inner end surface of the push button 6 provided on the grip 31 always faces the claw piece 92 of the spring claw 9,
The grip 31 is arranged so that its outer end always protrudes from the push button mounting hole 34 of the grip 31 and is biased by a spring 64 provided inside the grip 31. Furthermore, when the push button 6 is pressed, The center part of the inner end surface pushes the claw piece 92 of the spring claw 9 from the outermost locking hole 12 or 23 by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the outer cylindrical shaft 1 or the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, and presses the button. Both sides in the width direction of the inner end surface 66 of the spring claw 9 come into contact with both side edges of the locking hole 12 or 23 to release the locking state between the locking piece 92 of the spring pawl 9 and the locking hole 12 or 23. It is configured to allow

[Effect]

With this configuration, the present invention is configured such that the umbrella can be cyclically opened and closed by a simple push operation of a single push button in a single direction. When the umbrella is closed, pressing the button will open the umbrella, pressing the button again will close the umbrella, and when the umbrella is not open, the umbrella will not close. It is very convenient to use because you don't have to pay attention to the operation, there is no erroneous operation like in the past, and you can open and close with just one touch of the same button.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

The automatic umbrella of the present invention comprises an outer cylindrical shaft 1 having a lower ring 11 at its upper end, an intermediate cylindrical shaft slidably inserted into the outer cylindrical shaft 1 and having an intermediate ring 21 at its upper end. 2. A lower inner shaft 3 which is slidably inserted into the lower end of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 and has a grip 31 at its lower end; ring 4
1 is provided with an upper inner shaft 4, each ring 11,
a plurality of ribs 5, each end of which is rotatably pivoted to 21, 41; an operating push button 6 operatively disposed between the lower inner shaft 3 and the upper end of the grip 31; A first coil spring 7 is provided between the ring 21 and the lower ring 11 so as to surround the upper end of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2; and a second coil spring 8 stretched between the two coil springs.

A lower ring 11 is provided at the upper end of the external cylindrical shaft 1, and an elongated hole 12 is formed in one side wall of the lower end.
is formed, and serves as a spring claw locking hole, which will be described later. The intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 is slidably inserted into the external cylindrical shaft 1, and the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 is formed longer than the external cylindrical shaft 1, and an intermediate ring 21 is provided at its upper end. There is. Further, on the inside of the upper and lower ends of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, there are at least one, preferably two symmetrical and inwardly protruding axial guide protrusions 22, 22 as in this embodiment.
is formed (Figures 3, 4A and 4B).
(see figure). These two guide protrusions 22, 22 allow the upper and lower inner shafts 4, 3 to move above the intermediate cylinder shaft 2,
This prevents rotation inside the lower end and also serves as a guide when the two inner shafts 3 and 4 slide up and down inside the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2. Further, a spring claw 9 is provided on one side wall of the lower end of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2.
A locking hole 23 is formed for this purpose. This locking hole 2
3 is disposed between the two axial guide protrusions 22, 22. The first spring claw 9 has a hook-shaped claw piece 92 with one end protruding outward, and the other end is pivotally attached so that the claw piece 92 can be locked to the lower edge of the locking hole 23. is attached inside the lower end of the lower inner shaft 3. Further, a second spring claw 95 is provided inside the upper end of the lower inner shaft 3 and is biased so that the claw piece 96 at the tip always comes into contact with the inner wall of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 through the hole 30 provided in the inner shaft 3. It is installed like this. The lower inner shaft 3 and the upper inner shaft 4 each have at least one, preferably two symmetrically arranged axial guide grooves 32, 42, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. ing. The upper end of the lower inner shaft 3 is slidably inserted into the lower end of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, and the lower end of the upper inner shaft 4 is a guide protrusion formed on the upper and lower ends of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2. 22, 22 are fitted into the guide grooves 32, 42 of the lower and upper inner shafts 3, 4, thereby preventing the upper and lower inner shafts 4, 3 from sliding in the axial direction within the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2. Although it is possible, it is configured so that rotation in the circumferential direction is not possible. Further, in order to prevent the lower inner shaft 3 from coming off downward from the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 or the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 from coming off from the lower inner shaft 3 upward, the upper end of the guide groove 32 is provided with a guide convex strip. A locking portion 321 that locks at the upper end of 22 is formed.
The grip 31 is fixedly attached to the lower end of the lower inner shaft 3 by a pin 33 extending radially through the lower part thereof. A cylindrical part 35 is formed at the upper end of the pin 33 of the grip 31 and has a push button mounting hole 34 on one side thereof, and the push button 6 for opening/closing the umbrella projects outward from the hole 34. operatively disposed within.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, this push button 6 has one end fixed to the inner wall of the cylindrical portion 35, and the other end a spring 6 formed of a wire attached to the inner end of the button 6.
4, the flange portion 65 is elastically attached to the attachment hole 34 so that it always comes into contact with the inner wall of the attachment hole 34. The lower surface of the flange portion 65 of the button 6 is easily secured to the button 6 by the end walls of the locking pieces 12 and 23 when the outer cylindrical shaft 1 and the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 slide, respectively.
is formed into an inclined surface 67 so as not to displace the inner end surface 66 of the slider and disturb the upward sliding movement, and
The width of the inner end surface 66 of the flange portion 65 is larger than the width of the spring claw locking holes 12 and 23 provided in the outer cylindrical shaft 1 and the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, as shown in FIG.

Inside the lower inner shaft, the first spring pawl 9 has one end rotatably pivoted to the inner shaft 3 by a pin 93, and the pawl piece 92 at the other end always protrudes from the pawl hole 38 to lock the shaft. The base portion is biased by a spring 97 that is engaged with the inner wall of the inner shaft 3 so as to be engaged with the engagement holes 12 and 23 of the inner shaft 3. Further, inside the upper end of the inner shaft 3, the second spring pawl 95 is biased so as to protrude outward from the hole 30. In the state shown in FIG. 3, this spring pawl 95 engages with the locking holes 12 and 23 of the outer cylindrical shaft 1 and the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2. The upper ring 41 is attached to the upper end of the upper inner shaft 4, and a cap 43 is fitted to the upper end of the inner shaft 4.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the push button 6 is located on the outer surface of the locking holes 12 and 23 with its inner end surface facing the claw piece 92, so that the push button 6 can be pushed. When the umbrella is opened, the claw piece 92 is configured to sink to a depth approximately equal to the thickness of the shaft 1 or 2.
When pressed, the inner end surface 66 of the button locks on both side edges of the locking hole 12 of the shaft 1 as shown in FIG. is pushed down into the locking hole 23, the engagement of the claw piece 92 with the locking hole 12 is released, and the external cylindrical shaft 1 can slide upward to open the umbrella. Note that when the button 6 is pressed after the umbrella is opened, the center part of the inner end surface 66 of the button 6 pushes the claw piece 92 into the hole 38 of the inner shaft 3, as shown by the dotted line in FIGS. 7 and 8. Claw piece 92
The engagement between the locking hole 33 and the locking hole 33 is released, and both ends of the locking hole 23 come into contact with both side edges of the locking hole 23 and do not advance any further. At this time, the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 slides upward to close the umbrella.

The plurality of ribs 5 usually includes eight to ten dome ribs 51, the same number of elongated ribs 52, and the same number of support ribs 53. One end of the dome rib 51 is rotatably pivoted to the upper ring 41,
The other end is a free end. On the other hand, a pivot member 54 is attached to the intermediate portion of the dome rib 51, one end of the elongated rib 52 is rotatably attached to the pivot member 54, and the other end is attached to the intermediate ring 2.
1 is rotatably attached. Further, a pivot member 55 is attached to the intermediate portion of the elongated rib 52, and one end of the support rib 53 is rotatably pivoted to the pivot member 55, and the other end is rotatably attached to the lower ring 11. It is movably mounted. The first coil spring 7 stretched between the intermediate ring 21 and the lower ring 11 is in a freely extended state when the umbrella is closed as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the second coil spring 8 provided between the upper and lower inner shafts 4 and 3 within the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 is in a compressed state when the umbrella is closed, and the spring 8 is in a compressed state. Both ends urge the upper inner shaft 4 and the lower inner shaft 3 upwardly and downwardly, respectively. At this time, the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 and the external cylindrical shaft 1
are both locked by the claw pieces 92 of the spring claws 9, so the coil springs 7 and 8 can push and extend the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 and the outer cylindrical shaft 1, as well as the upper inner shaft 4 and the lower inner shaft 3. First, the entire state shown in FIG. 1 can be maintained.

Next, the operation and usage conditions of the automatic umbrella of the present invention will be explained.

When the automatic umbrella of the present invention is completely closed as shown in FIG. 1, the ribs 5 are completely folded. That is, the first coil spring 7 is fully extended and has no tension or almost no tension, and the second coil spring 8 is pre-compressed and stores elastic energy. At the same time, the outer cylindrical shaft 1, the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, and the lower inner shaft 3 are locked by the spring claws 9, thereby maintaining the closed state of the umbrella. At this time, the operation push button 6 is located at the upper part of the mounting hole 34 as shown in FIG.
are opposed to the outer surface of the claw piece 92 with a slight interval therebetween.

To open the umbrella from this closed state, push the operation push button 6 toward the grip side with your thumb, and the push button 6 will move the spring claw piece 92 toward the shaft 1 side against the elastic force of the springs 64 and 97. When the claw piece 92 sinks into the elongated hole 12, the locked state of the external cylindrical shaft 1 is released. At this time, when you release your finger pressing the button 6, the button 6 returns to its original position by the force of the spring 64, and at the same time the second coil spring 8
tries to push the lower inner shaft 3 downward, that is, toward the lower end of the outer cylindrical shaft 1, but since the grip 31 attached to the lower end of the lower inner shaft 3 is held in the user's hand, the lower The inner shaft 3 does not move, and the force of the spring 8 acts on the upper inner shaft 4, pushing it up above the shaft 2. When the upper inner shaft 4 moves upward, the outer cylindrical shaft 1 passes through the inclined surface 67 of the button 6 and is pulled upward by the unfolding action of the umbrella rib 5 which is linked to the upward movement of the upper ring 41. te, top,
The umbrella can be opened by the relationship between the middle and lower rings 41, 21, and 11. Specifically, at this time, the dome rib 51 which is rotatably pivoted to the upper ring 41 tries to move upward together with the ring 41, but one end of the dome rib 51 is pivoted to the middle ring 21 at the middle part of the dome rib 51. Since the intermediate ring 21 is attached to the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 and does not move, the dome rib 51 is attached to the upper ring 41 as the ring 21 moves upward. The umbrella rotates in the direction in which the umbrella opens, with the extension rib 52 interlocked with the intermediate ring 21 attached to the upper end of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 as a fulcrum, and one end rotates in the direction in which the umbrella opens. A support rib 53 whose other end is pivotally connected to the lower ring 11 in the middle of the rib 52 resists the elastic force of the first coil spring 7 via the lower ring 11 as the extension rib 52 moves. The external cylindrical shaft 1, which has been released from the locked state, is pulled up along the outer periphery of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2. The first coil spring 7 provided between the middle ring 21 and the lower ring 11 is compressed by the upward movement of the external cylindrical shaft 1, and elastic energy is stored therein, which is used the next time the umbrella is closed. At this time, the first coil spring 7 is completely compressed and in close contact with each other, and the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 is locked with the spring pawl 9, so that the intermediate ring 21 cannot move. The umbrella ribs 52, 53, middle ring 21 and lower ring 11 form a rigid framework like a truss, and the umbrella will not open any further. Second coil spring 8
has a certain degree of elongation elasticity, so it is possible to prevent the upper inner shaft 3 from wobbling, and it is constructed to have a structure that maintains the unfolded shape and is sufficiently resistant to wind, as shown in Fig. 2. The umbrella will be fully opened as shown in the figure. In addition, when closing an open umbrella, first press the push button 6 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7.
When the spring claw 9 is pushed down toward the locking hole 23 against the force of the springs 64 and 97, the claw piece 92 of the spring claw 9 releases the locking state with the locking hole 23 of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, and the second The coil spring 8 attempts to push the lower inner shaft 3 downward. In other words, an attempt is made to push the lower inner shaft 3 downward, but since the grip 31 is held in the user's hand and cannot be moved, the tension force of the spring 8 acts on the upper inner shaft 4, causing the shaft to move. 4 slides upwards and tends to close the dome rib 51. On the other hand, since the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 is released from the locking of the spring claws 9 and is in a state where it can freely slide, the extension force of the first coil spring 7 acts on the shaft 2 via the intermediate ring 21. While pushing it upward, the external cylindrical shaft 1 is moved downward via the lower ring 11. When the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 moves upwards, the outer cylindrical shaft 1 will descend relative to the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, and
When the upper end of the guide protrusion 22 of the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 engages with the locking portion 321 of the guide groove 32 of the lower inner shaft 3 (see FIG. 4B), the movement of both shafts 1 and 2 is stopped.
At this time, both shafts 1 and 2 have respective locking holes 12 and 2.
3 are overlapped and locked by the spring claws 95, so that they do not move any further and are held in the state shown in FIG.
When the ribs are folded to the umbrella closing position and the external cylindrical shaft 1 and the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 are sliding relative to each other, the rings 11, 21, 41 and each rib 51, 5
2 and 53, the umbrella is closed, and the first coil spring 7 and the second coil spring 8 are in a freely released state in which they are almost fully extended, and the ribs 5 of the umbrella are fully extended as shown in FIG. This will continue until it closes.

At this time, the umbrella is in a completely closed state, but it is necessary to store energy in the second coil spring 8 in order to automatically open the umbrella the next time it is used again. In this case, this can be achieved by performing the following operations. That is, turn the umbrella upside down, firmly grasp the grip 31 so that the tip of the umbrella, that is, the tip of the upper inner shaft 4, hits the ground or a hard surface, and press the shaft against the elastic force of the second coil spring 8. wear. At this time, only the lower inner shaft 3 moves deeply forward into the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 while compressing the second coil spring 8. The claw piece 92 of the spring claw 9 in the lower inner shaft 3, which is normally urged toward the locking hole 38 side by the spring 97, is further overlapped from the locking hole 38 to form an intermediate cylindrical shape. When the shaft 2 and the outer cylindrical shaft 1 are locked in the locking holes 23 and 12 and both shafts 1 and 2 are locked, the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, the outer cylindrical shaft 1, and the lower inner shaft 3 are locked. As shown in FIG. 6, the lock part is formed into a triple-shaft structure in which three layers are overlapped, and as shown in FIG. 1, it returns to the closed and energy storage state.
On the other hand, in this state, the first coil spring 7 is in a free state with almost no pressure, and the second coil spring 8 is in a compressed state and accumulates elastic energy, which is used for the next automatic opening and closing operation of the umbrella. be done.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the umbrella can be opened and closed cyclically by a simple push operation of a single push button in a single direction. When the umbrella is closed, pressing the button will open the umbrella, pressing it again will close the umbrella, and when the umbrella is not open, the closing operation will not take place, so the user must select the button one by one when using You don't have to pay attention to the operation,
There is no erroneous operation like in the past, and
It is very convenient to use because you can open and close the umbrella with just one touch of the same button and the same operation. In addition, its structure is simpler than that of the conventional one, making it easier to manufacture and assemble, lowering the cost, and allowing the push button to be designed smartly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a partially vertical bottom view showing the umbrella of the present invention in a closed and folded state, Fig. 2 is a partially longitudinal front view showing the umbrella of the present invention in a fully open state, and Fig. A longitudinal sectional front view of the umbrella of the present invention showing the umbrella in the closed state compared to the opened state in FIG. 2, and FIG.
Partial cross-sectional view of the umbrella along line A, Figure 4B is the fourth
A vertical cross-sectional view of the part shown in Figure A, Figure 5 is a front view showing the arrangement of the axial slots of the lower inner shaft member, and Figure 6 shows the relationship between the push button mechanism and each axis in Figure 1. 7 is an enlarged explanatory view showing the operating state of the push button mechanism, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory view showing the operating state of the push button mechanism taken along the line BB in the figure. 1... External cylindrical shaft, 2... Intermediate cylindrical shaft, 3...
Lower inner shaft, 4... Upper inner shaft, 5... Rib, 6...
Operation push button, 64...Push button return spring, 7...First coil spring, 8...Second coil spring, 9...First spring claw, 95...Second spring claw, 97... ...Return spring for the first spring claw.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An automatic umbrella comprising a single push button 6, comprising: an outer cylindrical shaft 1; an intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 slidably inserted into the outer cylindrical shaft 1; On the cylindrical shaft 2,
Upper inner shafts 4 each slidably inserted into the lower end.
and a lower inner shaft 3, an upper ring 41, an intermediate ring 21, and a lower ring 11 attached to the upper ends of the upper inner shaft 4, the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, and the outer cylindrical shaft 1, respectively, and in relation to these rings. A plurality of pivoted umbrella ribs 5, a first coil spring 7 mounted so as to surround the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 between the intermediate ring 21 and the lower ring 11, and an upper portion inside the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2; In an automatic umbrella comprising a second coil spring 8 disposed between the lower inner shafts 4 and 3 and a push button 6 provided on a grip 31 attached to the lower end of the lower inner shaft 3, the grip inside the lower inner shaft 3 A claw piece 92 at the tip at a location corresponding to the upper end side of 31 always protrudes from the claw hole 38 provided in the inner shaft by a spring 97, and when the umbrella is closed, the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2 and the outer cylindrical shaft A first spring pawl 9 is rotatably provided to face the inner end surface 66 of the push button 6 and simultaneously locks into the two locking holes 23 and 12 provided at the lower end of the push button 6. The push button 6 provided on the grip 31 is inserted into the inside of the grip 31 so that the inner end surface 66 always faces the claw piece 92 of the spring claw 9 and the outer end always protrudes from the push button mounting hole 34 of the grip 31. The push button 6 is arranged so as to be biased by a provided spring 64, and further, when the push button 6 is pressed, the center portion of the inner end surface 66 of the push button 6 is pressed against the claw piece 9 of the spring claw 9.
2 from the outermost locking hole 12 or 23 by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the external cylindrical shaft 1 or the intermediate cylindrical shaft 2, and both sides of the inner end surface 66 of the button 6 in the width direction An automatic umbrella characterized in that the locking piece 92 of the spring claw 9 is released from the locking state of the locking hole 12 or 23 by coming into contact with both side edges of the locking hole 12 or 23. 2 The upper and lower edges of the inner end surface of the push button 6 are located in the overlapping locking holes 12 and 23 of the outer cylindrical shaft and the intermediate cylindrical shafts 1 and 2, and the lower end thereof is located on an inclined surface. The automatic umbrella according to claim 1, characterized in that it is formed in a shape.