Umbrella with buffering connection between ribs and stretchers

Abstract

An umbrella includes a plurality of ribs pivoted to a ferrule on a stem, and a plurality of stretchers pivoted to a runner which is slidably sleeved on the stem. Each interconnecting member includes a first portion mounted on the respective rib, and a second portion mounted on the respective stretcher and connected to and retainingly slidable relative to the first portion along the length of the rib so as to provide a buffering action to the rib once the latter is subjected to an upwardly blowing force of wind.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An umbrella comprising: 
 an elongate stem extending along an axis, and having an upper end, a lower end, and a middle portion therebetween;    a ferrule fixed on said upper end of said stem;    a canopy mounted on said ferrule;    a plurality of ribs disposed on said ferrule underside of said canopy, and displaced angularly from each other about the axis, each of said ribs including a first proximate end portion pivotally mounted on said ferrule, and a first distal end portion extending from said first proximate end portion in a first direction radial to the axis so as to support said canopy in a spread-out position and in a collapsed position;    a tubular runner sleeved on and slidable along said middle portion of said stem relative to said ferrule between upper and lower positions which correspond to the spread-out and collapsed positions;    a plurality of stretchers disposed angularly from each other about the axis, and each including a second proximate end portion pivotally mounted on said runner, and a second distal end portion extending from said second proximate end portion in a second direction radial to the axis; and    a plurality of interconnecting members, each disposed between and interconnecting said first and second distal end portions to permit a respective one of said stretchers to stretch or retract a respective one of said ribs so as to put said canopy in the spread-out position or the collapsed position when said runner is moved to the upper position or the lower position respectively, each of said interconnecting members having a first portion which is mounted on said first distal end portion, and a second portion which is mounted on said second distal end portion and which is connected to and which is retainingly slidable relative to said first portion in the first direction between proximate and distal positions respectively proximate and distal to said first proximate end portion, such that once wind blows a respective one of said ribs upwardly when said canopy is in the spread-out position, a sliding movement of said second portion relative to said first portion from the distal position toward the proximate position provides a buffering action to said first distal end portion of the respective one of said ribs against blowing force of the wind.    
     
     
         2 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein said first portion of each of said interconnecting members has a keyway extending in the first direction and having proximate and distal limits, said second portion of each of said interconnecting members having a key extending through said second distal end portion of a respective one of said stretchers, and inserted into and movable along said keyway between the proximate position where said key engages said proximate limit, and the distal position where said key engages said distal limit.  
     
     
         3 . The umbrella of  claim 2 , wherein said keyway is an elongate slot extending through said first portion in a transverse direction transverse to the first direction and the axis, said key being a pivot pin journalled on said second distal end portion and slidably movable in said elongate slot between the proximate and distal positions.  
     
     
         4 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein said first distal end portion of each of said ribs is tubular, said umbrella further comprising a plurality of reinforcing rods, each of which is received in said first distal end portion of a respective one of said ribs and extends along the first direction so as to strengthen said first distal end portion.  
     
     
         5 . The umbrella of  claim 4 , wherein each of said reinforcing rods is made of a glass-fiber material.