Strutless type umbrella

Abstract

Umbrella rib assembly is presented for use in strutless umbrella having a pin and slide canopy conducting mechanism. The rib assembly comprises a longitudinal rib body having a pivot member at its end, and a rib lever extending from the rib body, and being characterized in that the pivot member and the rib body together with the rib lever present a single piece of material, and the pivot member is located in a corner formed between the rib body and the rib lever.

1 . Umbrella rib assembly for use in strutless umbrella having a pin and slide canopy conducting mechanism, the rib assembly comprising a longitudinal rib body having a pivot member at its end, and a rib lever extending from the rib body, and being characterized in that the pivot member is located in a corner formed between the rib body and the rib lever. 
   
   
       2 . The rib assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rib lever extends from the rib body in an angle of between 110-160 degrees. 
   
   
       3 . The rib assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rib lever has a goggles shaped profile. 
   
   
       4 . The rib assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rib lever of the rib body has rounded upper and lower sliding surfaces, the height of the rib body being similar to a maximal distance between said rounded surfaces. 
   
   
       5 . The rib assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a maximal thickness of the rib lever is smaller comparing to a maximal distance between rounded upper and lower sliding surfaces of the rib lever. 
   
   
       6 . The rib assembly of  claim 1 , wherein rounded upper and lower sliding surfaces of the rib lever are substantially planner in a direction parallel to a pivoting axis of the rib assembly. 
   
   
       7 . The rib assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot member is formed as a pair of lateral protrusions protruding from a pivot point to form a pivoting axis from the same piece of material. 
   
   
       8 . The rib assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the pivot member and the free end of the rib lever does not exceed about 200% of the maximal distance between round upper and lower sliding surfaces of the rib lever. 
   
   
       9 . The rib assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a free end portion of the rib lever has a coin shape tapering towards the free end of the rib lever. 
   
   
       10 . The rib assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a free end portion of the rib lever has a coin shape truncated at the free end of the rib lever. 
   
   
       11 . The rib assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot member has a diameter greater than about 20% of the rib lever's length. 
   
   
       12 . The rib assembly of  claim 1 , wherein, formed from a polymeric material. 
   
   
       13 . A strutless umbrella comprising a plurality of the rib assemblies according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       14 . The umbrella of  claim 13 , wherein each of said rib assemblies is pivotally mounted in a housing having a base part connected on top of the umbrella's stick and a cap part secured on top of the base part, pairs of recesses being formed between the base part and the upper part each accommodating a pivot axis of one of the rib assemblies. 
   
   
       15 . The umbrella of  claim 14 , wherein the free ends of the rib levers are located between upper and lower restricting members forming a slide in which rounded upper and lower surface of the rib levers can slide when the rib assemblies are forced to pivot upon a linear movement of the slide in line with the longitudinal axis of the umbrella, the upper and lower restricting members being secured to each other and to the upper edge of a rod passing through the stick, by means of a screw. 
   
   
       16 . The umbrella of  claim 14 , wherein the free ends of the rib levers are located between upper and lower restricting members forming a slide in which rounded upper and lower surfaces of the rib levers can slide when the ribs are forced to pivot upon a linear movement of the slide in line with the longitudinal axis of the umbrella, a distance between the round surfaces of the rib lever being greater than a distance between slides which serve mirroring ribs. 
   
   
       17 . The umbrella of  claim 13 , wherein the rib assemblies have gradually reduced thickness towards their distal ends resulting in flexibility of the ends of the rib assemblies useful for obtaining mushroom shaped canopy.