Sunshade with telescopic ribs

Abstract

A sunshade comprises a post, a support rod having a lower end detachably mounted on top of the post, a runner mounted to the support rod and slidable along a longitudinal direction of the support rod, plural stretchers, and plural ribs. Each rib comprises an upper tube and a lower tube that are engaged together in a manner allowing relative longitudinal telescopic movement therebetween. Each upper tube comprises an upper end pivotally connected to an upper end of the support rod. A button is provided for retaining each lower tube in one of an extended state and a retracted state relative to an associated one of the upper tubes. An end of each stretcher is pivotally connected to an associated one of the lower tubes. The other end of each stretcher is pivotally connected to the runner.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A sunshade comprising: 
 a post;    a support rod having an upper end and a lower end detachably mounted on top of the post;    a runner mounted to the support rod and slidable along a longitudinal direction of the support rod;    plural stretchers each having a first end and a second end;    plural ribs each comprising an upper tube and a lower tube that are engaged together in a manner allowing relative longitudinal telescopic movement therebetween, each said upper tube comprising an upper end pivotally connected to the upper end of the support rod;    means for retaining the runner in a position corresponding to an unfolded state of the sunshade; and    means for retaining each said lower tube in one of an extended position and a retracted position relative to an associated one of the upper tubes;    the first end of each said stretcher being pivotally connected to an associated one of the lower tubes, the second end of each said stretcher being pivotally connected to the runner.    
     
     
         2 . The sunshade as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising means for retaining the runner in a position corresponding to a semi-unfolded state of the sunshade to thereby allow telescopic movement of each said lower tube relative to an associated one of the upper tubes.  
     
     
         3 . A sunshade comprising: 
 a post;    a support rod having an upper end and a lower end detachably mounted on top of the post;    a runner mounted to the support rod and slidable along a longitudinal direction of the support rod;    plural stretchers each having a first end and a second end;    plural ribs each comprising an upper tube and a lower tube that are engaged together in a manner allowing relative longitudinal telescopic movement therebetween, each said upper tube comprising an upper end pivotally connected to the upper end of the support rod, each said upper tube further comprising a lower end received in an associated one of the lower tubes, each said lower tube comprising a pivotal seat securely attached to an upper end thereof;    the first end of each said stretcher pivotally connected to the pivotal seat of an associated one of the lower tubes, the second end of each said stretcher being pivotally connected to the runner;    an upper spring-biased stop mounted to the support rod and having an end movable between an inward position inside the support rod and an outward position outside the support rod for supporting the runner;    a lower spring-biased stop being mounted to the support rod and located below the upper spring-biased stop, the lower spring-biased stop having an end movable between an inward position inside the support rod and an outward position outside the support rod for supporting the runner;    each said lower tube comprising an upper positioning hole and a lower positioning hole;    each said upper tube comprising a spring-biased button for releasably engaging with one of the upper positioning hole and the lower positioning hole;    wherein when the runner rests on the lower spring-biased stop, each said lower tube is telescopic relative to the associated one of the upper tubes and thus movable between a retracted position and an extended position;    wherein the sunshade is in a fully opened state when the runner rests on the upper spring-biased stop, and the sunshade is moved to a fully folded state when the runner is moved to a position below the lower spring-biased stop.    
     
     
         4 . The sunshade as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein each said upper tube comprises a stop securely mounted thereto and located in the associated one of the lower tubes, each said pivotal seat comprising a protrusion projecting into the associated one of the lower tubes, said protrusion being stopped by the stop to thereby prevent disengagement of the associated one of the lower tubes from the associated one of the upper tubes.  
     
     
         5 . The sunshade as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein each said upper tube comprises a spring having a first end attached to an inner periphery of the upper tube and a second end attached to an associated one of the buttons to thereby bias the associated one of the buttons toward the associated one of the lower tubes.