US2747592A - Collapsible umbrella - Google Patents

Description

May 29, 1956 s. H. EPsTl-:IN

COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA Filed June 23. 1955 FIG.

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INVENTOR STANLEY H. EPSTEIN BY @ma M l#Qq/www:

WAM, ATTOR United States Patent O f'ice COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA Stanley H. Epstein, Far Rockaway, N. Y. Application June 23, 1955, Serial No. 517,545

Claims. (Cl. 13S-20) This invention relates to improvements in collapsible umbrellas, and more particularly to a new type of collapsible umbrella.

The present invention provides an inexpensive, dlsposable umbrella, characterized by its simplicity in both operation and fabrication.

The umbrella of the present invention is made with a special tubular handle member having a series of transverse openings near the top, ribs having their inner ends extending through the aforementioned openings and bent to an angle, and an actuating member, advantageously a special tube frictionally mounted within the tubular handle member and adapted to slide therein. Movement of the actuating member, or an extension thereof, acts upon the bent inner ends of the ribs, simultaneously raising the outer portion of the ribs and opening the umbrella. Returning the actuating member to its previous position permits the bent ends of the ribs to swing back when the umbrella is to be closed or collapsed.

The ribs, preferably constructed of metal or plastic material, have at inner ends which extend through the slots. The use of ilat inner ends, while not essential to the functioning of the umbrella, advantageously gives improved leverage when the umbrella is to be raised, and similarly prevents the ribs from moving unsteadily within the slots.

Dilferent forms of the actuating member can be located within the tubular handle member to functionally act upon the inner ends of the ribs when opening and closing the umbrella. I have found it advantageous to construct the actuating member from a tube, preferably cardboard, with openings corresponding to but somewhat larger than the slots of the tubular handle member. When the umbrella is in a collapsed position and the openings are aligned, the inner ends of the ribs extend through the aligned openings; downward movement of the actuating member will cause the inner ends of the ribs to swing so as to open the umbrella.

The tubular handle member and the actuating member together form the umbrella handle, but a third element, preferably an inner tube, is advantageously provided to slide into the tubular handle when the umbrella is collapsed. Withdrawing the inner tube allows it to form an extension of the handle when the umbrella is to be raised.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a specic embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Fig. l is a perspective, with parts cut away, of the raised umbrella;

Fig. 2 is a perspective, with parts cut away, of the collapsed umbrella;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a fragment of the collapsed umbrella, illustrating the position of one of the umbrella ribs;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of a fragment of the raised umbrella, showing the position of one of the extended ribs; and

Fig. 5 is a section along the line 5--5 of Pig. 4.

2,747,592 .Patented May 29, 1956 Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral '1 designates the tubular handle member havingV near its top a series of transverse openings or slots 2, which are perpendicularto the longitudinal axis and spaced at a dis'- tance from the top and equidistantly about the circumference of the tube.

The actuating member shown is tube 3, frictionally mounted within the tubular handle member and adapted to slide therein. Tube S'possesses a series of openings 4 which correspond to but are somewhat larger than'the slots 2 in the tubular handle member. When the umbrella is in a collapsed position, the openings 4 are directly registered over the slots 2 in the tubular handle member.

The actuating tube is provided withl a circular discS, to prevent water from entering the tube.

A plurality of umbrella ribs 6, whose inner ends 6a are bent to an angle, are attached to the tubular handle member by extending the inner ends 6a through the slots 2 of the tubular handle member. The bent inner ends 6a are at, to give added leverage when the umbrella is to be opened. In addition, flat inner ends prevent the umbrella ribs from moving unsteadily within the slots 2.

A cover 7, of suitable material, is supported lby the ribs and aixed to the tubular handle member by the tape 8.

A third telescopic tube 9 nests within the actuating tube and serves as an extension of that member. Tube'9 is fitted with collar 10 as ameans for engaging collar 11 at the bottom of the actuating tube. Whenl tube 9 is drawn out, it forms an extension of the umbrella length.

To raise the umbrella, tube 9 is withdrawn until it engages and pulls down upon the actuating tube. The downward movement of the actuating tube swings the inner ends 6a of the ribs between the actuating tube and the tubular handle member. This wedging of the bent inner ends between the actuating tube and the tubular handle member, as schematically illustrated in Fig. 4, raises the ribs and opens the umbrella.

Collapsing or closing the umbrella requires only that the actuating tube be pushed back into the tubular handle member, allowing the ends of the ribs to swing back into the aligned openings 4, as shown in Fig. 3.

By properly constructing the respective tubular members, the resultant frictional engagement of these members adequately serves to keep the umbrella in an open or extended position when desired.

The area of the umbrella cover varies with the length of the ribs. As a practical matter, I have found it desirable to make the tubular handle member 1 of a length approximately equal to that of the ribs. Thus, when tube 9 is telescoped into the handle, the collapsed umbrella presents a compact appearance.

The tubular members are advantageously manufactured from cardboard. The ribs are constructed of a stiff material, such as wire or plastic, while any suitably waterproofed material may be used for the umbrella cover.

I claim:

l. A collapsible umbrella comprising a tubular handle member having a plurality of transverse openings near its upper end, an actuating member frictionally mounted within the tubular handle member and adapted to slide therein, at least one additional element mounted within the actuating member and adapted to extend the length of the handle, a plurality of ribs whose inner ends are bent to an angle and extend through the transverse openings into the tubular handle member, whereby downward movement of the actuating member will act upon the inner ends of the ribs to open the umbrella.

2. A collapsible umbrella comprising a tubular handle member having a plurality of transversetopenings near its upper end, a tube frictionally nicunterluwitliin the tubular handle member and adaptedl to slide therein, said i i 3 tube having a' plurality of openings in alignment with the openings of the tubular handle member when the umbrella is in a collapsed position, a plurality of ribs whose inner ends are bent to an angle and extend through the aligned openings when the umbrella is in a collapsed position, the

arrangement being suchthat downward movement of the inner tube will cause the inner bent ends of therurnbrella tubular handle member, thereby causing'the ribs to swing up and open the umbrella. r 3. A collapsible umbrella comprising a tubular handle member having a plurality of transverse openings near its upper end, a tube frictionally mounted within the tubular handle member and adapted to slide therein, said tube having a plurality of transverse openings registering with the openings of the tubular handleV member when the umbrella is in a collapsed position, at least one additional element mounted within the inner tube and adapted to extend the length of the handle, a plurality of ribs whose inner ends are bent to an angle and extend through the `ribs to become wedged between the inner tube and the *f tube frictionally mounted within the outer tube and adapted to slide therein, said middle tube having a plurality of openings in alignment with the openings of the outertube when the umbrella is in a collapsed position, at least one inner tube mounted within the middle tube and adapted to extend the length of the outer tube, a plurality of ribs whose inner ends are bent to an angle and extend through the aligned openings when the umbrella is in a collapsed position, the arrangement being such that downward movement of themiddle tube will force the inner bent ends of the umbrella ribs to become wedged between the middle tube and the outer tube, thereby causing the ribs to swing out and open the umbrella.

5. A collapsible umbrella comprising a tubular handle member having a plurality of transverse openings perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and spaced at a distance from the top and equidistantly about the circumference, a tube frictionally mounted within the tubular handle member and adapted to slide therein, said inner tube having a plurality of openings in alignment with the openings ofthe tubular handle member when the umbrella is in a collapsed position, a plurality of ribs whose inner ends are bent to an angle and extend through the aligned openings when the umbrella is in a collapsed position, the arrangement being such that downward movement of the inner tube will force the inner bent ends of the umbrella ribs to become wedged between the inner tube and the tubular handle member, thereby causing the ribs to swing out and open the umbrella.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,748,347 Horowitz Feb. 25, 1930 1,797,019 Polansky Mar. 17, 1931 2,700,390 Poston Jan. 25, 1955

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