Automatic Umbrella with a Closing Signaling Device

Abstract

An automatic umbrella has a signaling device including sensor and alert units. The sensor unit has a first sensor mounted on one of a handle and a lower end of a central shaft, and a second sensor which is movable with a runner and which is configured to activate the sensor unit to emit a signal once a predetermined spatial relationship is established between the first and second sensors as a result of movement of the second sensor toward said first sensor once the runner is moved to reach the handle. The alert unit is mounted on the handle to receive the signal and generate an alert indication to indicate that the umbrella is in a closed state.

1 . An automatic umbrella comprising:
 a central shaft having upper and lower ends opposite to each other along an axis;   a handle securely mounted on said lower end of said central shaft;   a runner slidably sleeved on said central shaft and movable between proximate and distal positions that correspond respectively to closed and opened states of said umbrella;   an opening spring disposed to bias said runner to move to the distal position;   a retaining unit disposed to releasably retain said runner relative to said handle against a biasing action of said opening spring when said runner is in the proximate position;   a signaling device including:   a sensor unit having a first sensor which is mounted on one of said handle and said lower end of said central shaft, and a second sensor which is configured to activate said sensor unit to emit a signal once a predetermined spatial relationship is established between said first and second sensor as a result of movement of said second sensor toward said first sensor, and which is mounted to be movable with said runner such that, once said runner is moved to reach the proximate position, said sensor unit emits the signal; and   an alert unit mounted on said handle to receive the signal and generate an alert indication.   
     
     
         2 . The automatic umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined spatial relationship is established when there is a physical contact or a predetermined distance between said first and second sensors. 
     
     
         3 . The automatic umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein the alert indication generated by said alert unit is light. 
     
     
         4 . The automatic umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein the alert indication generated by said alert unit is sound. 
     
     
         5 . The automatic umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein said second sensor is mounted on said runner. 
     
     
         6 . The automatic umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein said central shaft includes upper and middle tubular segments which are interposed between said upper and lower ends and which are telescopically fitted to each other, said second sensor being mounted on said upper tubular segment.