Umbrella for reliably adjusting dome orientation

Abstract

An angle-adjustable umbrella includes a central shaft consisting of at least a lower shaft tube and an upper shaft tube pivotally connected to the lower shaft tube by an angle-adjusting device; a rib assembly pivotally secured to an upper notch on a top of the shaft and a runner slidably held on the shaft; and the angle-adjusting device located in or adjacent to a central portion of a ferrule of the runner when opening the umbrella for ergonomically and reliably adjusting a dome orientation of the umbrella.

1 . An angle-adjustable umbrella comprising: 
 a central shaft consisting of at least a lower shaft tube and an upper shaft tube pivotally connected with an angle-adjusting means;    a rib assembly for securing an umbrella cover thereon including at least a top rib pivotally secured to an upper notch formed on a top of said central shaft and a stretcher rib respectively pivotally secured to said top rib and to a ferrule of a runner slidably held on said central shaft;    said angle-adjusting means located at or adjacent to a central portion of said ferrule of said runner;    whereby upon biasing of said upper shaft tube about said angle-adjusting means, said umbrella cover will be angularly oriented by deviating an upper axis of said upper shaft tube from a lower axis of said lower shaft tube.    
   
   
       2 . An umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein said central shaft includes at least a lowermost shaft tube telescopically engaged with said lower shaft tube.  
   
   
       3 . An umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein said angle-adjusting means includes a first disk member formed with the lower shaft tube, a second disk member formed with the upper shaft tube and pivotally connected with said first disk member by a pivot; said first disk member rotatably engaged with said second disk member.  
   
   
       4 . An umbrella according to  claim 3 , wherein said first disk member is secured to the lower shaft tube, and includes: a plurality of first teeth annularly formed on an inside periphery of the first disk member each said first tooth having a ridge line radially aligned with a radius of the first disk member, a central hole formed through the first disk member for pivotally inserting the pivot through the central hole, a first cylindrical chamber recessed in an outer portion of the first disk member for passing the pivot through the cylindrical chamber having a first tension spring disposed around the pivot and retained within the first cylindrical chamber in between a first chamber bottom and an end cap of the pivot, and a first disk recess adjacent to the first teeth for rotatably mounting therein the second disk member as releasably rotatably engaged with the first disk member.  
   
   
       5 . An umbrella according to  claim 4 , wherein said first disk member, as engaged with said second disk member, further includes a lower sleeve protruding downwardly for inserting the lower shaft tube in a sleeve hole recessed in the lower sleeve, and a ring portion circumferentially formed on the lower sleeve for engaging a runner when opening the umbrella.  
   
   
       6 . An umbrella according to  claim 5 , wherein said lower sleeve has a first disk recess formed in an upper portion of the lower sleeve for accommodating the second disk member in the disk recess.  
   
   
       7 . An umbrella according to  claim 3 , wherein each said disk member is formed as a circular disk.  
   
   
       8 . An umbrella according to  claim 3 , wherein said second disk member, equivalent to and corresponding to the first disk member and secured to the upper shaft tube, includes: a plurality of second teeth annularly formed on an inside periphery of the second disk member each said second tooth having a ridge line radially aligned with a radius of the second disk member, a central hole formed through the second disk member for pivotally inserting the pivot through the central hole, a second cylindrical chamber recessed in an outer portion of the second disk member for passing the pivot through the cylindrical chamber having a second tension spring disposed around the pivot and retained within the second cylindrical chamber in between a second chamber bottom and a nut rotatably engaged with the pivot, and a second disk recess adjacent to the second teeth for rotatably mounting therein the first disk member as releasably rotatably engaged with the second disk member.  
   
   
       9 . An umbrella according to  claim 8 , wherein said second disk member further includes an upper sleeve protruding upwardly for inserting the upper shaft tube in a sleeve hole recessed in the upper sleeve.  
   
   
       10 . An umbrella according to  claim 9 , wherein said upper sleeve has a second disk recess formed therein for accommodating the first disk member in said disk recess.  
   
   
       11 . An umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein said runner includes: 
 a ferrule for pivotally securing the stretcher ribs of the rib assembly, a tubular body secured to the ferrule and slidably held on the shaft tube, and a push button slidably mounted in the tubular body for operatively disengaging the runner, when locked on an umbrella-opening position, for closing the umbrella.    
   
   
       12 . An umbrella according to  claim 11 , wherein said push button includes a ring member slidably disposed on the shaft tube, a latch formed on the ring member and operatively engaged with a ring portion formed on a lower sleeve of an angle-adjusting means when opening the umbrella, and a spring retained in the tubular body of the runner and normally resiliently urging the latch and the push button outwardly in order to be depressed when intended to close the umbrella.  
   
   
       13 . An umbrella according to  claim 8 , wherein said nut is formed with a socket recessed in the nut adapted to be driven by a tool.