FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes an umbrella that does not require rigid rods, or tabs, or other mechanisms with a plurality of connections to provide the umbrella body with shape and rigidity. In particular, the umbrella described comprises flexible rods, which may be folded down in order to make the umbrella easier to store and transport. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An umbrella is an object to protect oneself from the rain. Generally, umbrellas are formed by an unfolding concave surface, which is usually a waterproof or plastic fabric, fastened to a rod structure arranged around a central shaft ending at one of the ends thereof in a ferrule that serves as a support, and at the other end ending in a handle or grip, which is suitable for being held by the hand.

The problem of umbrellas lies in their rigid design, this meaning that the useful life of umbrellas is reduced due to fact that the pieces thereof are damaged when they are exposed to weather conditions such as strong winds.

Since an umbrella is a consumer instrument, it is mainly manufactured using cheap materials, such as plastic and aluminium. This means that it has the limitations of these materials.

Currently, umbrella designs are based on that the article keeps its shape with rigid rods that may break or be damaged when strong winds blow, due to the low flexibility, structure, and torsion and stress strength.

An attempt has been made to reinforce the rods of umbrellas by including a reinforcing mechanism such as spokes and double rods. However, there are few solutions that aim to remove the rods from the design, although currently there are some umbrella models that do not use rods, such as inflatable umbrellas for example.

Patent application US 12/798,467 owned by Raider is known, where a device that functions as an umbrella and that has the particular feature of keeping fixed rods horizontal, which are coupled to the waterproofing fabric, is presented. Each rod is a semi-circle and are placed and constructed such that they enable the device to be stored in a suitcase. The user does not need to use their hands to shelter under the umbrella. The device has adjustable rods that retract in order to store the device, and as such does not resolve the problem detailed above that umbrellas have, since the retractable rods do not add strength to the structure of the device.

Patent US 5,894,855 owned by Gefell describes an inflatable umbrella with rigid structural mechanisms but not coupled to the fabric of the umbrella. When the umbrella is folded, such that the inside is reversed, due to the effects of strong winds, for example, the structure thereof does not suffer any damage since it is completely reversible. The most notable drawback of this invention is that the inflation system is prone to damage, and due to its inflatable nature, the umbrella loses its capacity to hold air. Therefore, the inflatable system does not fully resolve the problem presented of umbrellas.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The main aim of this invention is to provide an improved umbrella, the body of which keeps its shape and rigidity with flexible helical rods to protect from the rain and prevent damage from the wind.

Another aim of the invention is that the helical rods be sufficiently flexible to be gathered up by means of a string mechanism and thus enable the umbrella to be easily stored.

Another aim of the invention is to provide an umbrella that does not use tabs sliding on the shaft.

Another aim of the present invention is to place the helical rods in the inner portion of the canopy of the umbrella connected to the waterproof fabric or plastic; extending from the tip of the shaft to the outer circumference of the canopy. Such the helical rod may be gathered up, thus reducing the size of the circumference drawn by the profile thereof, obtaining a shape in which the umbrella is transportable.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide each rod with sufficient flexibility and rigidity, being made from a single strip of a metal with sufficient properties such that it may be folded down and extended. The mechanism used to fold down or extend the flexible rod depends on a plurality of strings or cords that are aligned inside the canopy forming a canal, connected at the end to the sliding rods such that a user may pull this cord in order fold it down. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As a complement to the present description, and for the purpose of helping to make the characteristics of the invention more readily understandable, in accordance with a preferred practical exemplary embodiment thereof, said description is accompanied by a set of drawings constituting an integral part of the same, which by way of illustration and not limitation represent the following:

Figure 1 . Shows a general front view of the umbrella in the open position thereof and the helical rod may be seen therein.

Figure 2. Shows a sectional view of the open umbrella wherein it can be appreciated the strings mechanism.

Figure 3. Shows a bottom perspective view of the umbrella in the open position thereof wherein the strings mechanism may be seen.

Figure 4a. Shows a view of the umbrella in the closed position wherein an exemplary embodiment of the strings mechanism may be seen.

Figure 4b. Shows a view of the umbrella in the closed position thereof wherein another exemplary embodiment of the strings mechanism may be seen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The figures included in the present description are not to scale and the actual dimensions and shape of the device may vary. Said figures show a single helical rod for illustrative purposes, but the umbrella may have a plurality thereof. Likewise, the figures show a single canal for the string mechanism for illustrative purposes, but it may comprise a plurality of canals. The figures showing the umbrella in a closed position are examples of how the device may be kept in this position but different methods may also be used that prevent the strings mechanism from returning to the initial position thereof and are also applicable.

Figure 1 shows a general front view of the umbrella in the open position thereof. As may be seen, the umbrella comprises an umbrella body (1 ), a shaft (3) and a handle (4), and comprises at least one flexible helical rod (2) connected to the shaft (3) at an upper end thereof and a string mechanism (5) to retract the umbrella body (1 ) by actuating the flexible helical rod (2).

Figure 1 shows the umbrella body (1 ), the flexible helical rod (2), the shaft (3) of the umbrella, the handle (4) of the umbrella and the strings mechanism (5) in order to retract the umbrella body (1 ). It may be seen in the figure how the flexible helical rod (2) shapes the umbrella body (1 ), which may be of fabric or another material that prevents water and rays of sunshine from passing through.

The umbrella body (1 ) is connected to the umbrella in the upper portion of the shaft (3). The flexible helical rod (2) is connected to the upper end of the shaft (3). In figure 1 , the string mechanism is found in the initial position thereof, enabling the flexible helical rod (2) to extend and shape the umbrella body.

Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the umbrella. It shows the umbrella body (1 ), the shaft (3) and some of the components of the strings mechanism.

The strings mechanism comprises a string (5b), a grip of the string (5a), a retainer of the string to the body (5c), a retainer of the string to the shaft (5d) and a retainer of the string to the flexible helical rod (5e).

Figure 3 is a bottom isometric view of the umbrella in the open position thereof. It shows the rest of the components of the string mechanism that do not appear in figure 2. The shaft (3) holds the retainer of the string to the shaft (5d) and this enables the string (5b) to be pulled by means of the grip of the string (5a) without removing it from its position. The string (5b) is connected at one end to the flexible helical rod (2) and at the other end to the grip of the string (5a).

The string (5b) is connected to the umbrella body (1 ) by means of the retainers of the string to the body (5c), which in an exemplary embodiment are flaps. As a result of this, when the user pulls on the string (5b), with the grip of the string (5a), it retracts the body (1 ) with the movement thereof. This prevents the string (5b) from losing its placement when the flexible rods (2) are retracted.

When the string (5b) is pulled and the flexible rods (2) are fully retracted, the umbrella is in a transport or storage position. In order to keep this position, the string mechanism (5) is secured. In this position, the flexible helical rods (2) are tensed and have a tendency to return to the previous position thereof and for this reason the string (5b) must be secured.

Figures 4a and 4b represent an umbrella in a closed position, ready to be stored or transported. These figures show two alternatives for blocking the string mechanism.

Figure 4a shows a first embodiment (6) of the umbrella in a closed position. It is shown the strings mechanism (5) with a hook (7) configured to secure the string mechanism (5) by means of the grip of the string (5a).

Figure 4b shows a second embodiment (8) of the umbrella in a closed position. It is shown the strings mechanism (5) that is secured by a pressure mechanism (9) of the umbrella. It is stated that other methods may exist that fulfil this aim and the current ones are presented by way of illustration.