UMBRELLA RIB NESTING ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of umbrella assemblies and production methods, especially of strutless umbrellas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Umbrellas normally have a plurality of pivot connections between stick of the umbrella and the proximal ends of a plurality of canopy ribs. The pivot connection allows the rib to move between a closed canopy state with the ribs lay substantially parallel to the stick, and an open state of the canopy with the ribs positioned each with a certain angle respective to the stick. In a most common case a plurality of umbrella ribs are nested, angularly spaced about a nesting ring with which they form the pivot connection. The nesting ring is attached to the top of the stick. In some strutless umbrellas the ribs extend beyond their pivot connection towards the center of the umbrella, wherein the extensions form levers for moving the ribs between said open and closed states. The levers can be manipulated (i.e. pulled or pushed) by a force generated near the lower end of the stick and transmitted through the interior space of the stick. Examples of strutless umbrellas having .ribs with lever portions extending beyond the ribs ' pivots towards the axis of the umbrella are disclosed in US 5,711,332, AT 231634 and WO2005/102097.

In US 5,711,332 the pivot point of each of the ribs is located between a pair of arms. A hinge pin connects each rib to a respective pair of arms for pivotally mounting the rib.

AT 231634 discloses the ribs of the umbrella pinned by a hinging pin to arms protruding inwardly from a wall of a housing, said housing is connected on top of the umbrella stick.

In WO2005/102097 each rib is hinged between a pair of arms protruding upwardly from a nesting element.

As can be appreciated, in all said publications the nesting element has protruding arms having pre prepared holes. By having the arms protruding from the nesting element a rib can be inserted between the arms with a hole in the rib brought into alignment with the pre prepared holes of the arms. This allows for hinging the rib by inserting a pin through the thus aligned holes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rib nesting device for pivotally securing umbrella ribs to a stick of the umbrella, the device comprises a two part body a first of which constituting a base part is attachable to a top end of the stick and a second of which constituting a cap part is attachable on top of the base part; at least one of the base and cap parts comprises pairs of recesses located on a portion thereof which constitutes an attachment face to which a matching attachment face of the other of said parts is attachable; the recesses of each pair are parted by a rib receiving gap and are

configured such that a rib pre prepared with a pair of hinging protrusions can be positioned in the gap with the hinging protrusions situated in the recesses respectively, and such that by attaching the base and the cap parts together, the rib become pivotally captured in between.

According to various preferred embodiments of the invention, the two part body forms a housing from above the stick having internal space for receiving extensions of the ribs constituting short lever arms for manipulating the ribs. This configuration is especially useful for stratless umbrellas.

Preferably the base part of the two part body has a truncated conical shape tapering towards the stick.

According to some preferred embodiments of the invention the exterior wall of the two part body is sufficiently thick for accommodating the recesses within its thickness such that the nested ribs are hinged within the wall's thickness with no hinging holes exposed. In case the ribs are hinged by a stand-alone pin, it cannot escape laterally from the hinging holes, since their ends are closed within the wall of the two part body.

The invention relates also to a method for assembling umbrellas, comprising providing a plurality of umbrella ribs, each comprising a longitudinal body having a pair of lateral protrusions protruding from opposite sides of the longitudinal body near one of its ends; providing a two part rib nesting body attachable to a top end of umbrella stick and having pairs of pivot bores each configured to receive a respective pair of the pivot protrusions of a rib, each pivot bore is formed in a

border region between the two parts of the nesting body such that when the two parts are apart the bores are exposed as recesses on a border face of at least one of the parts to which a matching border face of the other part is attachable; positioning the plurality of ribs with the pair of pivot protrusions of each seated in a respective pair of recesses when the body parts are apart, then capturing the ribs by attaching the two body parts together thereby accomplishing a pivot bore around each pivot protrusion.

According to some embodiments the exposure of the recesses on the border face is of a slightly smaller width than a diameter of the rib's hinging protrusions such that some pressure is required and therefore applied during assemblage, for inserting the protrusions to seat inside the respective recesses. This is useful for keeping the ribs in position without escaping during assembling work of the umbrella, even if the construction is to be turned upside down for some purpose.

According to various preferred embodiments the ribs comprise levers extending from the pivot protrusions into an inner space of the rib nesting body. When constructing umbrellas of these embodiments the method may further comprise coupling the levers through a bottom opening in the rib nesting body to a canopy drive mechanism located in or near a handgrip of the umbrella.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be further explained by the accompanying Figures. These figures intend to exemplify

some embodiments of the invention. The graphical nature of these Figures may serve a descriptive support for some features omitted from the textual specification of this invention. In no manner should these Figures be interpreted, however, as a renunciation of the broadest eligible scope of protection textually claimable by this invention.

Brief Description of the Figures

Fig. 1 illustrates a top view of a base part of a two part body according to one of the preferred embodiments of the rib nesting device according to the invention, having some ribs in position with their pivot protrusions situated in respective recesses.

Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the embodiment illustrated by Fig. 1, with the cap part of the two part body.

Fig. 3 illustrates a vertical cross section taken through two ribs and a base part according to another preferred embodiment of a rib nesting device according to the invention.

Fig. 4 illustrates a top view of the parts illustrated by fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate in isometric the two parts of the two part body of the embodiment of Fig. 3, wherein Fig. 5 illustrates the cap part from below, while Fig. 6 illustrates the base part from above.

Fig. 7 illustrates an isometric view of an assembled device of the embodiment of Figs 3 - 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGs.

Fig. 1 illustrates a top view of a base part 202 of the two part body of a rib nesting device according to an exemplary embodiment. The base part is shown open, i.e. before the positioning of a matching cap part (not illustrated in this Fig.) on top of the base part 202. A plurality of ribs 205 angularly spaced about umbrella's stick (not seen in this Fig.) are shown in deployed position (due to scale limitations only a proximal end of each rib is actually shown) . Each rib 205 is to be pivotally connected to the stick through a rib nesting device, the base part of which 205 is connected to the upper end of the stick. The pivot connection is by pairs of pivot protrusions 207 made from both rib sides near the rib's proximal end (i.e. its end connected to the stick through the nesting device) to form a pivot axis. The pairs of protrusions 207 are situated in respective pairs of recesses 216 made in the rib holders 216 which in this example being formed as elevated members of the base part 202. Each rib holder 206 contains two recesses 16 each for receiving a respective pivot protrusion 207 of a separate adjacent umbrella rib 205.

In the illustrated embodiment the rib nesting device (with the base part 202 being closed by the cap part 222) not only provides for pivot connections between angularly spaced ribs 205 and the stick of the umbrella, but also

prevents escape or separation of the ribs from a spindle 209 by which rib levers (which are the rib portions extending from the pivot axis towards the spindle 209 in central axis of the umbrella) are coupled to a driving mechanism located near the bottom end of the stick. The spindle is connected to or integral with a shaft (not illustrated) extending from its bottom end. The shaft passes through a hexagonal tunnel 239 in the bottom of the base part 202, to join a driving mechanism either manual or electrical, located in a handgrip of the umbrella.

For the purpose of description only five of a total of eight umbrella ribs 205 are illustrated in this Figure, while spaces in the base part for receiving the three remaining ribs are illustrated empty. Each rib receiving space in the base part 202 contains a gap 215 formed between two rib holders 206 which are base part members elevating from a collar 218. The gaps 215 extend downwards the base part 202 in order to allow the ribs approaching near the stick when pivoting towards a closed state of the umbrella.

The base part 202 further has bores 236 made in the top surface of the rib holders 206, for receiving corresponding protrusions made in the bottom of the cap 222. The connection between the bores 236 and the corresponding protrusions may be reinforced by screws each passing through a respective pair of protrusion and bore.

Fig. 2 is a partial exploded isometric view of an exemplary embodiment a rib nesting device according to

the present invention and of ribs to be nested by. The rib nesting device comprises a two part body, a first of constituting a base part 2 has a collar 218 of a conical shape tapering towards a stick of the umbrella for connection on top of the stick. The stick is to be secured to the hub's collar 218 by means of an insert 219 to be inserted into the inner space of the stick's end, with the stick's wall stressed between the inside of the collar 218 and the outside of the insert 19. The insert 19 includes protrusions 220 matching respective bores made in the base part. Eight canopy ribs 205 (only 2 are illustrated) each having a pair of lateral pivot protrusions 207 on opposite sides thereof, are to be pivotally connected to the stick's upper end by positioning the protrusions 207 in respective pairs of recesses (16 in Fig. 1) made in the rib holders 206.

After the protrusions 207 of all the eight ribs are situated in the respective recesses with their lever portions coupled to the spindle 209, a cap 222 constituting a top part of the two part body may be connected on top of the base part 222 so as to secure the ribs by closing the recesses 216 from above thus accomplishing a pivot bore around each pivot protrusion thereby providing for a pivot connection of the rib and preventing escape of the protrusions 207 from the recesses 216. Closing the base part by the cap 222 may be executed with the ribs maintained in their closed position wherein each is filling the gap 215 made between its rib holders 206. Alternatively, the ribs may be maintained in any other desired position within their pivoting extent, during umbrella's assemblage.

The spindle's bottom end 237 is extended by a shaft (not shown) being either one piece with the spindle or an extension connected to it (e.g. through matching outer and inner threading made respectively on the shaft and on the bottom end of the spindle) . The shaft passes through a tunnel 239 formed in the insert 219, and further extends through the inner space of the stick to reach at a driving mechanism located in a handgrip (not shown) of the umbrella connected to the lower end of the stick.

Fig. 3 illustrates a vertical cross section taken through two ribs 35 and a base part 40 according to another preferred embodiment of a rib nesting device according to the invention. The base part 40 has gaps 44 allowing the ribs 35 to move between open and closed states of the canopy. Each rib 35 has lateral pivot protrusions 32 protruding from both its sides near the proximal end of the rib. The base part has a bottom collar 158 with a circular groove 41 allowing for connecting the base part on top of an umbrella stick (not shown) . The left side rib 35 exemplifies a rib position in an open state of the umbrella. The right side rib 35 exemplify a rib in a closed state of the umbrella. The recesses 42 inside which the rib pivot protrusions 32 are situated are not visible in this Fig., but are clearly seen from above in the following Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 illustrates a top view of the parts illustrated by Fig. 3. Pairs of lateral pivot protrusions 32 of both illustrated ribs 35 are shown situated inside respective pairs of recesses 42 formed in an upper end surface of rib holders 46. The rib holders 46 are actually the exterior wall of the base part 40 being divided by gaps 44. The top surface of the holder is attachable to the

cap part 62 (shown in Fig. 5) of the two part body of the nesting device according to the illustrated embodiment of the invention. Vertically oriented bores 58 are formed in the top surface of the base part 40 for receiving matching protrusions formed in a bottom surface of the cap 62, thus providing for a facile and secured attachment between the base part 40 and the cap part 62 of the two part body. The connection between the two parts may further be improved by screws passing through the at least part of the protrusions 58a into the respective bores 58.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate in isometric the two parts of the two part body of the embodiment of Fig. 3, wherein Fig. 5 illustrates the cap part from below, while Fig. 6 illustrates the base part from above. The cap part 62 has closures 46a matching the top surface of the rib holders 46 of the base part 40. Each closure 46a may thus cooperate with a corresponding rib holder 46 such that when the base part is closed by the cap, the recesses 42 made in the rib holders 46 form pairs of cylindrical spaces constituting pivot bores for accommodating respective pairs of pivot protrusions 32 of the umbrella ribs 31. It is to be noted that it is possible also to have recesses only in the base part, provided that they are sufficiently deep so as to pivotably accommodate the rib protrusions 32. In such a case the bottom of the closures 46a may be flat and yet keep the umbrella ribs captured between the cap 62 and the base part 40. Gaps 44a are formed between pairs of neighboring closures 46a, as extensions for corresponding gaps 44 located between respective pairs of neighboring rib holders 46, Thus

allowing the umbrella ribs to pivot between a fully deployed state and a fully closed state.

Fig. 7 illustrates an isometric view of an assembled device 150 of the embodiment of Figs 3 - 6. The assembled device comprises a base part 140 and a cap part 162, having exterior wall 146 with gaps 144 formed in the wall for allowing the ribs 131 to move closer to the stick 139 of the umbrella, when the umbrella is closed. The device 150 is a housing having an internal space for accommodating rib levers formed as extensions to the ribs between the pivot connections of the ribs and the central axis of the umbrella. Said rib levers are manipulated for pivoting the ribs, by means of driving force originated in a bottom handgrip of the umbrella and to the levers by a shaft passinf through the hollow stick.