Umbrella Having An Improved Locking Mechanism

Abstract

An umbrella including a tube, a whale bone device, a barrel slidably engaged on the tube, means for coupling the barrel to the whale bone device, and a latch slidably received in the channel. The tube includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion includes a handle provided thereon. The upper portion includes an upper locking point formed within the tube. The lower portion includes a lower locking point formed within the tube. The whale bone device is pivotally secured to the upper portion of the tube and is movable between an open position and a folded position. The barrel includes a channel formed therein. The latch includes a support element and a locking element. The support element is slidably received in the channel of the barrel for slidably receiving the tube therein. The locking element is supported by the support element and adapted to engage with the upper locking point and the lower locking point when the channel is aligned with one of the upper locking point and the lower locking point. When the locking element is engaged with one of the upper locking point and the lower locking point, the locking element restrains the barrel from sliding along the tube. When the locking element is not engaged with one of the upper locking point and the lower locking point, the barrel slides freely along the tube.

1 . An umbrella comprising:
 a tube including an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion having a handle provided thereon, the upper portion having an upper locking point formed within the tube, the lower portion having a lower locking point formed within the tube;   a whale bone device pivotally secured to the upper portion of the tube and movable between an open position and a folded position;   a barrel slidably engaged on the tube, the barrel including a channel formed therein;   means for coupling the barrel to the whale bone device,   a latch slidably received in the channel, the latch including:
 a support element slidably received in the channel of the barrel for slidably receiving the tube therein; and 
 a locking element supported by the support element and adapted to engage with the upper locking point and the lower locking point when the channel is aligned with one of the upper locking point and the lower locking point; 
   wherein, when the locking element is engaged with one of the upper locking point and the lower locking point, the locking element restrains the barrel from sliding along the tube, and when the locking element is not engaged with one of the upper locking point and the lower locking point, the barrel slides freely along the tube.   
     
     
         2 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the latch includes a knob extendible outward of the barrel. 
     
     
         3 . The umbrella of  claim 2 , wherein the barrel includes a depression formed therein for receiving the knob. 
     
     
         4 . The umbrella of  claim 2 , wherein the locking element protrudes from a portion of the support element opposite from the knob. 
     
     
         5 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling means includes:
 a ring slidably engaged on the tube;   a stave device pivotally coupled between the ring and the whale bone device;   a stave support pivotally coupled between the stave device and the barrel; and   a spring engaged between the ring and the barrel biasing the ring away from the barrel.   
     
     
         6 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the upper locking point and the lower locking point are holes formed perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tube. 
     
     
         7 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the support element is one of ring-shaped and arm-shaped. 
     
     
         8 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the locking element is spring-biased into an engaged position. 
     
     
         9 . The umbrella of  claim 8 , wherein the locking element is spring-biased into the engaged position by a spring disposed between the barrel and the latch. 
     
     
         10 . A barrel for use with an umbrella, comprising:
 a cylindrical body;   a cylindrical bore substantially centered within the cylindrical body, the cylindrical bore being sized to slidably receive a tube of the umbrella therein;   a channel formed within the cylindrical body, the channel being formed substantially perpendicular to the cylindrical bore;   means for coupling the barrel to a whale bone device of the umbrella; and   a latch slidably received in the channel, the latch comprising:
 a support element slidably received in the channel of the barrel for slidably receiving the tube therein; and 
 a locking element supported by the support element and adapted to engage with a locking point of the tube when the channel is aligned with the locking point. 
   
     
     
         11 . The barrel of  claim 10 , wherein the latch includes a knob extendible outward of the barrel. 
     
     
         12 . The barrel of  claim 11 , wherein the cylindrical body includes a depression formed therein for receiving the knob. 
     
     
         13 . The barrel of  claim 11 , wherein the locking element protrudes from a portion of the support element opposite from the knob. 
     
     
         14 . The barrel of  claim 10 , wherein the locking point is a hole formed perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tube. 
     
     
         15 . The barrel of  claim 10 , wherein the support element is one of ring-shaped and arm-shaped. 
     
     
         16 . The barrel of  claim 10 , wherein the locking element is spring-biased into an engaged position. 
     
     
         17 . The barrel of  claim 16 , wherein the locking element is spring-biased into the engaged position by a spring disposed between the barrel and the latch.