Umbrella, umbrella frame and rib therefor

Abstract

An umbrella has a canopy, a main shaft and a plurality of ribs pivotally attached to the main shaft, each rib being of adjustable length and including a pair of outer rib elements, wherein the outer rib elements are flexible and normally adopt a straight configuration aligned with the main shaft in a closed position of the umbrella, and in an open position of the umbrella, flex so that outer ends of the outer rib elements extend generally circumferentially with respect to the canopy. The umbrella can have ribs that would normally be of one piece, in which case accommodation is made for an effective change in the radius of the ribs as the outer rib elements flex. The umbrella may be a folding umbrella with two part ribs. The outer ribs can have a non-uniform cross-section and may taper.

1 . A frame for an umbrella for supporting a canopy, the frame comprising: a main shaft; a plurality of ribs connected to the main shaft, each rib including a pair of outer rib elements, with an outer end of the each outer rib element being connected to the free end of the outer rib element of an adjacent rib, and being adapted to be attached to the periphery of the umbrella canopy. 
     
     
         2 . A frame as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the free ends of the outer rib elements are connected together by one of a pivot connection and a living hinge, and wherein said one of a pivot connection and a living hinge preferably includes an opening, for attaching the frame to the canopy by thread. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A frame as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the outer rib elements has a first bending resistance in a direction generally perpendicular to the canopy in use, and a second bending resistance in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the first bending resistance is greater than the second bending resistance. 
     
     
         5 . A frame as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the depth and the width of each outer rib element tapers from a larger dimension at an inner end thereof to a smaller dimension at an outer end thereof, and wherein each outer rib element optionally has one of a rectangular and elliptical cross-section 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A frame as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein each rib includes a middle rib element and the outer rib elements are attached to the middle rib elements such that each outer rib element, in an open position of the frame, forms a shallow V-shape with an adjacent outer rib element of another rib. 
     
     
         8 . A frame as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each rib is adjustable in length, to accommodate flexing of the outer rib elements, to enable a substantially constant radius to be maintained from inner ends of the ribs where they are connected to the main shaft and an outer periphery defined by connections between outer ends of the outer rib elements. 
     
     
         9 . A frame as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each rib comprises an inner rib element, a middle rib element pivotally connected thereto, and said pair of outer rib elements connected to the middle rib element, and a mechanism for causing the inner and middle rib elements to move between an extended position and a closed position. 
     
     
         10 . A frame as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein, for each rib, the inner rib element is connected to a second slider on the main shaft, a first slider is mounted on the main shaft below the second slider, an actuation link pivotally connects the first slider to the inner rib element, and an actuation spring is provided between the first and second sliders. 
     
     
         11 . A frame as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein, for each rib, a first connecting rib is pivotally connected between the main shaft and the corresponding inner rib element, and a second connecting rib is pivotally connected between the first connecting rib and the corresponding middle rib element. 
     
     
         12 . A frame as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein each rib includes a primary support rib pivotally connected between a first slider and the corresponding middle rib element, and a secondary support rib pivotally connected between a second slider mounted on the main shaft and the corresponding first support. 
     
     
         13 . A frame for an umbrella, the frame comprising a main shaft, a plurality of ribs pivotally connected to the main shaft, each rib being of adjustable length, and each rib including a pair of outer rib elements, that are flexible, whereby in use, the outer rib elements in a closed configuration, extend generally straight and aligned with the main shaft, and in an open configuration, are flexed so that outer ends thereof extend generally circumferentially, wherein the length of each rib is adjustable by an amount to compensate for an apparent change in radius caused by flexing of the outer rib elements 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A frame as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein each rib has at least two components pivotally connected, so as to be movable between open and closed configurations that accommodate the flexing of the outer rib elements 
     
     
         16 . A foldable umbrella comprising: a canopy; a main shaft; a plurality of ribs pivotally attached to the main shaft, each rib comprising at least two rib elements pivotally attached to one another, to enable the umbrella to fold to a compact closed configuration, and each rib further including a pair of outer rib elements, that extend generally straight and aligned with the main shaft in the closed configuration, and in an open configuration have outer ends extending generally circumferentially with respect to the canopy. 
     
     
         17 . A foldable umbrella as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein each outer rib element is generally continuous and integral with, or connected to, an outer rib element of an adjacent rib. 
     
     
         18 . A foldable umbrella as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein each outer rib element has an outer end that is pivotally attached to the outer end of the outer rib element of an adjacent rib, wherein outer ends of the outer rib elements are preferably connected by one of pivots and living hinges. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A foldable umbrella as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the outer ends of the outer rib elements are attached to the periphery of the canopy, wherein the outer ends of the outer rib elements are attached to the periphery of the canopy by thread, or are received in pockets in the canopy. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A foldable umbrella as claimed in  20 , wherein each rib comprises an inner rib element and a middle rib element, with the middle rib element being connected to a pair of outer rib elements, wherein the canopy is slidably connected to at least the middle rib elements. 
     
     
         24 . A foldable umbrella as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein peripheral portions of the canopy are attached to the outer rib elements, so as to follow at least part of the profile of the outer rib elements, and to present a multi-lobed appearance. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A rib structure for an umbrella or the like, comprising an inner rib element, and a pair of outer rib elements, that are flexible, for adopting a straight configuration in a closed configuration of an umbrella and being capable of flexing for an open position of an umbrella, wherein the outer rib elements preferably have non-uniform cross-sections, and wherein each outer rib element more preferrably provides for a first bending resistance to movement generally circumferentially in an open configuration of an umbrella, and a second bending resistance generally perpendicular to the canopy of an umbrella. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled)