Crown of large-sized umbrella

Abstract

An umbrella crown includes a crown body having a base plate with a threaded cylindrical projection extending from a first surface of the plate for engaging an inner-threaded cap. A circular groove is defined in the first surface of the base plate and a corresponding rib is formed in the cap whereby the rib can be received in the groove for interposing and securing an edge of a canopy therebetween. A conic projection extends from a second surface of the base plate and has a reduced free end with a bore defined therein to be tightly fit over a central post of the umbrella. A plurality of radially-extending slits is defined in the conic projection with a cross bar formed in each slit. Ribs that support the canopy have J-shaped ends respectively received in the slits and engaging the cross bars for forming pivotal joint between the ribs and the crown. The ribs are maintained in position by the central post. A slot is defined in the conic projection by two opposite side walls. A pulley having a shaft is received in the slot with the shaft rotatably supported in notches defined in the side walls. A rope is movably received in the central post with an end extending out of the post under the guidance of the pulley for driving a runner that is connected to the ribs by stretchers to move along the central post to open/close the umbrella.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An umbrella crown adapted to be mounted to an upper end of a central post of an umbrella, the crown comprising: 
 a body comprising a base plate having first and second surfaces, a threaded cylindrical projection extending from the first surface, a circular groove being defined in the first surface concentric with the threaded projection, a conic projection extending from the second surface with a reduced free end, a central bore being defined in the conic projection and exposed to the free end of the conic projection for being fit over the upper end of the central post, a plurality of radially-extending slits being defined in the conic projection adapted to each receive a rib of the umbrella;    a pulley rotatably received in a slot defined in the conic projection adapted to escort a rope of the umbrella; and    a cap having an inner-threaded cavity engaging with the threaded projection to secure the cap to the body, the cap forming a rib corresponding to and received in the circular groove of the body adapted to interpose and thus secure an edge of a canopy of the umbrella therebetween.    
     
     
         2 . The umbrella crown as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the conic projection is divided into a number of spaced segments by the slits, a cross bar being formed in each slit and connecting to adjacent segments, each cross bar being adapted to engage a J-shaped end of the corresponding rib for pivotally attaching the rib to the crown body.  
     
     
         3 . The umbrella crown as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the cross bars are arranged to form an imaginary ring when viewed from the free end of the conic projection.  
     
     
         4 . The umbrella crown as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the slot is defined by opposite side walls, each side wall forming a notch for rotatably receiving a shaft of the pulley.  
     
     
         5 . The umbrella crown as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the central bore of the conic projection is dimensioned to be tightly fit over the upper end of the central post with a translation of the J-shaped end of the each rib in a radial direction being prevented by the central post thereby securely retaining the ribs to the crown.  
     
     
         6 . The umbrella crown as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the notches are arranged to have the shaft of the pulley securely retained in the notches by the central post.