Operation mechanism for umbrella

Abstract

An operation mechanism for umbrellas includes a runner movably mounted to a shaft and including a first extension and a second extension connected to a top and a bottom of the runner. The first extension includes a hole. A cap is connected to a top of the shaft and has a third extension. A locking unit is located in the shaft or the third extension of the cap or the first extension of the runner. An operation unit includes an operation member and a driving member which is connected to the operation member by a link. The operation member is movably mounted to the second extension and the driving member is movably mounted to the first extension. The driving member includes a push portion extending from an inside thereof and the push portion pushes the locking unit to operate the umbrella by pulling the operation member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An operation mechanism for umbrellas, comprising:
 a runner movably mounted to a shaft and including a first extension and a second extension connected to a top and a bottom of the runner, the first extension including a hole, a cap connected to a top of the shaft and having a third extension;   a locking unit located in the shaft, the third extension of the cap or the first extension of the runner, and   an operation unit including an operation member and a driving member, a link connected between the operation member and the driving member, the operation member movably mounted to the second extension and the driving member movably mounted to the first extension, the driving member including a push portion extending from an inside thereof, the push portion pushing the locking unit.   
     
     
         2 . The mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the push portion includes a first inclined surface on a top thereof and a second inclined surface is defined on a lower end of the push portion, the first and second inclined surfaces push the locking unit respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The mechanism as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein an escape area is defined in the inside of the driving member and located beneath the second inclined surface, a part of the locking unit is received in the escape area. 
     
     
         4 . The mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second extension includes a guide rib extending from an outside thereof and the operation member includes a groove defined in the inside thereof, the guide rib is slidably engaged with the groove. 
     
     
         5 . The mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the stretchers includes an end member extending from an end thereof and a distal end of the end member contacts against the shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the locking unit includes a protrusion and a spring member which pushes the protrusion outward from the hole, the protrusion is located in the hole in the shaft or the pin hole in the third extension and the hole in the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The mechanism as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the spring member is a curved spring plate. 
     
     
         8 . The mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second extensions are an integral piece and the runner is mounted to the integral piece. 
     
     
         9 . The mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spring member includes a top end fixed in an inside of the third extension and the protrusion is connected to a lower end of the spring member, a space is defined in the third extension and allows the spring member and the protrusion to move therein. 
     
     
         10 . The mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spring member includes a lower end fixed in an inside of the third extension and the protrusion is connected to a top end of the spring member, a space is defined in the third extension and allows the spring member and the protrusion to move therein. 
     
     
         11 . The mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spring member is a compression spring or spring plate.