Umbrella rib assembly and foldable umbrella

Abstract

The present invention relates to an umbrella rib assembly and to a foldable umbrella. The umbrella rib assembly comprises: a plurality of main ribs, a plurality of first auxiliary ribs, and a plurality of second auxiliary ribs. Each of the main ribs includes an inner member, one end of which is coupled to a main rib fixing member such that the inner member is circumferentially rotatable; an intermediate member, one end of which is rotatably coupled, via a pin, to an upper portion from the other end of the inner member; and an outer member, one end of which is rotatably coupled, via a pin, to the other end of the intermediate member, wherein said inner member, said intermediate member, and said outer member are assembled so to be foldable. Each of the first auxiliary ribs has one end coupled via a pin to a first auxiliary rib fixing member such that the first auxiliary rib is circumferentially rotatable, each of the first auxiliary ribs has an intermediate portion to which the other end of the inner member is rotatably coupled via a pin, such that the first auxiliary rib is parallel to the intermediate member of the main rib, and the other end of each of the first auxiliary ribs is rotatably coupled, via a pin, to a lower portion from the upper end of the outer member rotatably coupled to the intermediate member of the main rib. One end of each of the second auxiliary ribs is coupled to a second auxiliary rib fixing member interposed between the main rib fixing member and the first auxiliary rib fixing member such that the second auxiliary rib is circumferentially rotatable, and the other end thereof is rotatably coupled, via a pin, to the portion to which the inner member of the main rib and an intermediate portion of the first auxiliary rib are coupled. The diameter of the joint portion of the main rib fixing member ( 15 ), to which the inner member ( 12 a ) of the main rib ( 12 ) is rotatably coupled, is significantly larger than the diameter of the joint portion of the second auxiliary rib fixing member to which the second auxiliary rib is rotatably coupled, such that the second auxiliary rib fixing member is drawn downwardly to spread the umbrella rib assembly, and pushed upwardly to fold the umbrella rib assembly. Foldable umbrellas having various configurations can be produced using the umbrella rib assembly of the present invention.

1 . An umbrella rib assembly  11  comprising: a plurality of main ribs  12  comprising an inner member  12   a , one end of which is coupled to a main rib fixing member  15  such that the inner member  12   a  is circumferentially rotatable, an intermediate member  12   b , one end of which is rotatably coupled, via a pin, to an upper portion from the other end of the inner member  12   a , and an outer member  12   c , one end of which is rotatably coupled, via a pin, to the other end of the intermediate member  12   b , wherein the inner member  12   a , the intermediate member  12   b , and the outer member  12   c  are assembled so to be foldable; a plurality of first auxiliary ribs  13  which has one end coupled to a first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  such that the first auxiliary rib  13  is circumferentially rotatable and has an intermediate portion to which the other end of the inner member  12   a  is rotatably coupled via a pin, such that the first auxiliary rib  13  is parallel to the intermediate member  12   b  of the main ribs  12 , and has the other end rotatably coupled, via a pin, to a lower portion from the upper end of the outer member  12   c  rotatably coupled to the intermediate member  12   b  of the main ribs  12 ; and a plurality of second auxiliary ribs  14  which has one end coupled to a second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  interposed between the main rib fixing member  15  and the first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  such that the second auxiliary rib  14  is circumferentially rotatable, and the other end rotatably coupled, via a pin, to the portion to which the inner member  12   a  of the main ribs  12  and an intermediate portion of the first auxiliary rib  13  are coupled; and the diameter D 1  of the joint portion of the main rib fixing member  15 , to which the inner member  12   a  of the main rib  12  is rotatably coupled, is significantly larger than the diameter D 2  of the joint portion of the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  to which the second auxiliary rib  14  is rotatably coupled, such that the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  is drawn downwardly to spread the umbrella rib assembly  11 , and pushed upwardly to fold the umbrella rib assembly  11 . 
     
     
         2 . A foldable umbrella  1  comprising: an umbrella bar  5  in which an enlarged holding bar  6  and a reduced holding bar  7  are formed in an upper end of a lower bar  3 , a lower end of which is coupled and fixed to a handle  2 , and in a lower end of an upper bar  4  slidably coupled to an outside of the lower bar  3 , respectively, to control a rising, a plate spring  8  having a projection  9  that is exposed to the outside through operation holes  3   a  and  3   b  is installed in the upper and lower ends of the lower bar  3 , and a hole  4   a  is formed in the lower end of the upper bar  4  and is connected with the projection  9 ; an operation handle  10  which is slidably coupled to an outside of the upper bar  4  to be positioned between projections  4   b  formed in upper and lower sides of the hole  4   a  formed in the lower end of the upper bar  4  and comprises a circular groove  10   a  into which the projection  9  formed in the plate springs  8  exposed through the hole  4   a ; and an umbrella rib assembly  11  according to  claim 1  which is installed in an outside of the upper bar  4  of the umbrella bar  5 , wherein the umbrella rib assembly  11  is coupled to the main rib fixing member  15 , to which the internal member  12   a  of the main rib  12  is rotatably coupled, is fixed to and installed in an upper end of the upper bar  4 , a second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  is installed in an outside of the upper bar  4  below the main rib fixing member  15  and has a lower part which is adjacent to the first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  that rises as the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  falls and the umbrella rib assembly  11  is spread if the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  having a second auxiliary rib  14  rotatably coupled thereto in an outside of the upper bar  4  below the main rib fixing member  15  and is adjacent to the first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  at its lower part, and the umbrella rib assembly  11  is folded if the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  rises to the main rib fixing member  15 , and a first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  is installed in an outside of the upper bar  4  in the upper side of the operation handle  10  and an upper part of the first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  is adjacent to the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  as it rises and the first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  having a first auxiliary rib  13  rotatably coupled thereto in an outside of the upper bar  14  above the operation handle  10  rises when the umbrella rib assembly  11  is spread and is adjacent to the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  at its upper part and falls to the operation handle  10  when the umbrella rib assembly  11  is folded; and an elongated hole  4   c  is formed in an upper end of the upper bar  4  and is as long as the rising/falling width of the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17 , and an elevation member  19  which is located within the upper bar  4  and is axially coupled to a pulley  18  is integrally fixed to the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  through a pin  20  that is inserted into the elongated hole  4   c ; and a step  21  is formed in an inside of the upper bar  4  to be positioned below the elongated hole  4   c , and the step  21  is connected to an upper end of a rope fixing bar  22  formed in an upper end of the lower bar  3 , through a rope  23  associated with the pulley  18 . 
     
     
         3 . A foldable umbrella  1  comprising: an umbrella bar  5  in which an enlarged holding bar  6  and a reduced holding bar  7  are formed in an upper end of a lower bar  3 , a lower end of which is coupled and fixed to a handle  2 , and in a lower end of an upper bar  4  slidably coupled to an outside of the lower bar  3 , respectively, to control a rising, a plate spring  8  having a projection  9  exposed to the outside through operation hole  3   a  is installed in the upper end of the lower bar  3  and holes  4   a  and  4   a ′ are formed in the lower end and an intermediate portion of the upper bar  4  and are connected with the projection  9 ; a rotating lever  28 , a center of which is assembled via a pin to an upper end of the plate spring  8 , and is low and contacts an inner surface of the lower bar  3  toward the hole  3   a , and is high toward the opposite side and is connected to an L-shaped rotating member  30  rotating by a push button  29  through a rope  31  while an end thereof is installed in the handle  2  so that the projection  9  formed in the plate spring  8  is forcedly inserted into the lower bar  3 ; an operation handle  10  which is fixed and coupled to an upper part of the hole  4   a  formed in the lower end of the upper bar  4  and an outside of the upper bar  4 ; and an umbrella rib assembly  11  according to  claim 1  which is installed in an outside of the upper bar  4  of the umbrella bar  5 , wherein the umbrella rib assembly  11  is coupled to the main rib fixing member  15 , to which the internal member  12   a  of the main rib  12  is rotatably coupled, is fixed to and installed in an upper end of the upper bar  4 , a second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  is installed in an outside of the upper bar  4  below the main rib fixing member  15  and has a lower part which is adjacent to the first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  that rises as the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  falls and the umbrella rib assembly  11  is spread if the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  having a second auxiliary rib  14  rotatably coupled thereto in an outside of the upper bar  4  below the main rib fixing member  15  and is adjacent to the first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  at its lower part, and the umbrella rib assembly  11  is folded if the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  rises to the main rib fixing member  15  and a first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  is installed in an outside of the upper bar  4  in the upper side of the operation handle  10  and an upper part of the first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  is adjacent to the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  as it rises and the first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  having a first auxiliary rib  13  rotatably coupled thereto in an outside of the upper bar  14  above the operation handle  10  rises when the umbrella rib assembly  11  is spread and is adjacent to the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  at its upper part and falls to the operation handle  10  when the umbrella rib assembly  11  is folded; an elongated hole  4   c  is formed in an upper end of the upper bar  4  and is as long as the rising/falling width of the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17 , and an elevation member  19 , which is located within the upper bar  4  and is axially coupled to a pulley  18 , is fixed to the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  via a pin  20  that is inserted into the elongated hole  4   c ; and a step  21  is formed in an inside of the upper bar  4  to be positioned below the elongated hole  4   c , and the step  21  is connected to an upper end of a rope fixing bar  22  formed in an upper end of the lower bar  3  through a rope  23  associated with the pulley  18 ; and a coil spring  32  is installed between the step  21  and the elevation member  19 . 
     
     
         4 . A foldable umbrella  1  comprising: an umbrella bar  5  in which an enlarged holding bar  6  and a reduced holding bar  7  are formed in an upper end of a lower bar  3 , a lower end of which is coupled and fixed to a handle  2 , and in a lower end of an upper bar  4  slidably coupled to an outside of the lower bar  3 , respectively, to control a rising, and a hole  4   a  is formed in the lower end of the upper bar  4  and an operation handle  10  is fixed to and installed in an upper side thereof; a manipulation button  25  which is installed in the handle  2 , comprises a push unit  25   b , which is elastically supported by the plate spring  27  and is exposed to the outside of the handle  2 , and an assembly hole  25   a  into a center of which the umbrella bar  5  is inserted and a projection  26  comprising an inclination guiding surface  26   a  upwardly is integrally formed within the assembly hole  25   a ; and an umbrella rib assembly  11  according to  claim 1  which is installed in an outside of the upper bar  4  of the umbrella bar  5 , wherein the umbrella rib assembly  11  is coupled to the main rib fixing member  15 , to which the internal member  12   a  of the main rib  12  is rotatably coupled, is fixed to and installed in an upper end of the upper bar  4 , a second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  is installed in an outside of the upper bar  4  below the main rib fixing member  15  and has a lower part which is adjacent to the first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  that rises as the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  falls and the umbrella rib assembly  11  is spread if the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  having a second auxiliary rib  14  rotatably coupled thereto in an outside of the upper bar  4  below the main rib fixing member  15  and is adjacent to the first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  at its lower part, and the umbrella rib assembly  11  is folded if the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  rises to the main rib fixing member  15  and a first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  is installed in an outside of the upper bar  4  in the upper side of the operation handle  10  and an upper part of the first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  is adjacent to the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  as it rises and the first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  having a first auxiliary rib  13  rotatably coupled thereto in an outside of the upper bar  14  above the operation handle  10  rises when the umbrella rib assembly  11  is spread and is adjacent to the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  at its upper part and falls to the operation handle  10  when the umbrella rib assembly  11  is folded; an elongated hole  4   c  is formed in an upper end of the upper bar  4  and is as long as the rising/falling width of the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17 , and an elevation member  19  which is located within the upper bar  4  and is axially coupled to a pulley  18  is fixed to the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  via a pin  20  that is inserted into the elongated hole  4   c ; a step  21  is formed in an inside of the upper bar  4  to be positioned below the elongated hole  4   c , and the step  21  is connected to an upper end of a rope fixing bar  22  formed in an upper end of the lower bar  3  through a rope  23  associated with the pulley  18 ; and a coil spring  24  is installed between a holding bar  6  formed in an upper end of the lower bar  3  and the step  21  positioned below the elongated hole  4   c  of the upper bar  4 . 
     
     
         5 . A foldable umbrella  1  comprising: an umbrella bar  5  in which an enlarged holding bar  6  and a reduced holding bar  7  are formed in an upper end of a lower bar  3 , a lower end of which is coupled and fixed to a handle  2 , and in a lower end of an upper bar  4  slidably coupled to an outside of the lower bar  3 , respectively, to control a rising, and a hole  4   a  is formed in the lower end of the upper bar  4  and a projection  4   d  is formed in an opposite side of the hole  4   a ; a manipulation button  25  which is installed in the handle  2 , comprises a push unit  25   b , which is elastically supported by the plate spring  27  and is exposed to the outside of the handle  2 , and an assembly hole  25   a , into a center of which the umbrella bar  5  is inserted, and a projection  26  comprising an inclination guiding surface  26   a  upwardly is integrally formed within the assembly hole  25   a ; and an umbrella rib assembly  11  according to  claim 1  which is installed in an outside of the upper bar  4  of the umbrella bar  5 , wherein the umbrella rib assembly  11  is coupled to the main rib fixing member  15  to which the internal member  12   a  of the main rib  12  rotatably coupled is fixed to and installed in an upper end of the upper bar  4 , a second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  is installed in an outside of the upper bar  4  below the main rib fixing member  15  and has a lower part which is adjacent to the first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  that rises as the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  falls and the umbrella rib assembly  11  is spread if the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  having a second auxiliary rib  14  rotatably coupled thereto in an outside of the upper bar  4  below the main rib fixing member  15  and is adjacent to the first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  at its lower part, and the umbrella rib assembly  11  is folded if the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  rises to the main rib fixing member  15  and a first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  is installed in an outside of the upper bar  4  in the lower side of the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  and an upper part of the first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  is adjacent to the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  as it rises and the first auxiliary rib fixing member  16  having a first auxiliary rib  13  rotatably coupled thereto in an outside of the upper bar  14  above the operation handle  10  rises when the umbrella rib assembly  11  is spread and is adjacent to the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  at its upper part and falls to the operation handle  10  when the umbrella rib assembly  11  is folded; an elongated hole  4   c  is formed in an upper end of the upper bar  4  and is as long as the rising/falling width of the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17 , and an elevation member  19  which is located within the upper bar  4  and is axially coupled to a pulley  18  is fixed to the second auxiliary rib fixing member  17  via a pin  20  that is inserted into the elongated hole  4   c ; a step  21  is formed in an intermediate portion of the upper bar  4  to be positioned below the elongated hole  4   c , and the step  21  is fixed to one end of a rope  23  associated with the pulley  18  and the other end of the rope  23  is connected to a rope fixing bar  22  which moves up and down within a guiding bar  19   a  that is integrally coupled to a lower side of the elevation member  19  and slides by contacting the step  21 ; and a fixing unit  22   a  whose diameter is smaller than the rope fixing bar  22  having a groove  22   b  formed therein is formed in a lower end of the rope fixing bar  22  and is inserted into a button housing  33  that is coupled to an inner lower end of the lower bar  3 , wherein a second button  34  which is pressed by the manipulation button  25  is installed in the button housing  33  to be elastically supported by a plate spring  35 , wherein the second button  34  comprises a hole  34   a  into which the fixing unit  22   a  is inserted, and a projection  34   b  which has an inclination surface formed upwardly and is inserted into the groove  22   b  formed in the fixing unit  22   a , and by a pressing member  36  which is installed in the manipulation button  25 , elastically supported by a spring to rotate upwardly and held by the projection  4   d  to rotate downwardly, a pressing force of the pressing member  36  is shut off when the manipulation button  25  is pressed while the umbrella  1  is folded and the pressing force thereof is provided when the manipulation button  25  is pushed to fold the umbrella  1  while the upper bar  4  is raised; and a coil spring  37  is installed between the step  21  formed in an intermediate portion of the upper bar  4  and the elevation member  19  having the pulley  18  installed therein, and a coil spring  38  is installed between the step  21  and the button housing  33  provided in an inner lower end of the lower bar  3 .