Slimmed rib assembly for multiple-fold umbrella

Abstract

A slimmed rib assembly for multiple-fold umbrella includes: a flat rib pivotally connected with an inner rib and respectively pivotally secured to an upper notch of an umbrella shaft and a runner slidably held on the umbrella shaft, a middle rib having an U-shaped groove and pivotally connected to the flat rib, and a tail rib pivotally securable to the middle rib, with the inner rib having an U-shaped groove recessed therein; whereby upon closing of the umbrella, the flat rib will be received into the U-shaped grooves respectively formed in the middle rib and in the inner rib to greatly minimize the volume of the rib assembly when folded to thereby provide a slim umbrella for convenient storage and handling.

1 . A slimmed rib assembly for multiple-fold umbrella comprising:
 an inner rib having an U-shaped groove recessed therein;   a flat rib formed as a longitudinal flat slim plate pivotally connected with said inner rib to be respectively pivotally secured to an upper notch formed on a top of a central shaft and a runner slidably held on said central shaft; a middle rib pivotally secured to the flat rib; and a tail rib pivotally securable to said middle rib; whereby upon folding of the rib assembly when closing the umbrella, the flat rib will be received into the U-shaped groove in the inner rib and the flat rib will be folded to approximate the middle rib to thereby form a slim folded rib assembly when closing the umbrella.   
     
     
         2 . A rib assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said flat rib is a stretcher rib pivotally secured to said runner; and said inner rib is a top rib pivotally secured to the upper notch on said central shaft. 
     
     
         3 . A rib assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said inner rib includes a pair of bifurcated arm members biased outwardly from a main rib portion of said inner rib at an acute angle, whereby upon folding of the rib assembly when closing the umbrella, the main rib portion of the inner rib will be generally aligned with or juxtapositionally close to said flat rib to form a slim folded rib assembly. 
     
     
         4 . A rib assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said flat rib includes a recess portion concaved outwardly to engage with a pin formed on an outer portion of said inner rib and adapted for pivotally connecting an inner connecting rib pivotally secured with said middle rib, and said pin operatively received into the recess portion of the flat rib for forming a slim rib assembly when folded. 
     
     
         5 . A rib assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said flat rib is operatively partially received into a longitudinal U-shaped groove recessed in said middle rib when folding the rib assembly when closing the umbrella. 
     
     
         6 . A rib assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said middle rib is slidably coupled with an inner spring rib as limited by a limiting means secured on said middle rib. 
     
     
         7 . A rib assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said tail rib is respectively pivotally secured to said middle rib by an outer connecting rib and an outer spring rib juxtapositioned to said outer connecting rib. 
     
     
         8 . A slimmed rib assembly comprising:
 an inner rib having an U-shaped groove recessed therein;   a flat rib formed as a longitudinal flat slim plate pivotally connected with said inner rib to be respectively pivotally secured to an upper notch formed on a top of a central shaft and a lower runner slidably hold on said central shaft;   a middle rib pivotally secured to said flat rib; a tail rib pivotally secured to said middle rib; and a lower auxiliary rib pivotally secured to a lower portion of said flat rib and pivotally secured to a lowest runner positioned under said lower runner and slidably held on said central shaft for forming a multiple-fold automatic umbrella; whereby upon folding of the rib assembly when closing the umbrella, the flat rib will be received into the U-shaped groove in said inner rib and will be folded to approximate the middle rib to form a slim folded rib assembly when closing the umbrella.   
     
     
         9 . A rib assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said flat rib is formed with a hole in the lower portion of said flat rib adapted for pivotally securing an outer portion of the lower auxiliary rib in said hole in said flat rib. 
     
     
         10 . A rib assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said flat rib further includes a clad member fastened on said flat rib, having a hook hole formed in said clad member for pivotally connecting an outer hook portion of said lower auxiliary rib. 
     
     
         11 . A rib assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said flat rib is formed with a lower recess portion therein, and said clad member fastened to said lower recess portion of said flat rib. 
     
     
         12 . A rib assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said inner rib includes a pair of bifurcated arm members biased outwardly from a main rib portion of said inner rib at an acute angle, whereby upon folding of the rib assembly when closing the umbrella, the main rib portion of the inner rib will be generally aligned with said flat rib to form a slim folded rib assembly. 
     
     
         13 . A rib assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said flat rib includes an upper recess portion concaved outwardly in an upper portion of said flat rib to engage with a pin formed on an outer portion of said inner rib and adapted for pivotally connecting an inner connecting rib pivotally secured with said middle rib and said pin operatively received into the upper recess portion of the flat rib for forming a slim rib assembly when folded.