Umbrella frame

Abstract

An umbrella frame includes a runner movably sleeved on a central shaft and a rib-and-stretcher assembly coupling the runner with a top end of the central shaft for spreading and collapsing a canopy. A plurality of petal-like members extend radially and axially from each of the top end of the central shaft and the runner, and define a plurality of accommodating slots for pivotally receiving a plurality of modular connector shells. Each of the rib unit and the stretcher unit has a plug-like connecting end configured to be fitted in a socket-like connected end of the corresponding connector shell and detachably fastened by a fastener. The rib-and-stretcher assembly can be conveniently and easily connected to and detached from the central shaft for replacement.

1 . An umbrella frame comprising:
 a central shaft which extends along an axis and which has a top end;   a runner which is sleeved on and movable relative to said central shaft between proximate and distal positions relative to said top end;   a rib-and-stretcher assembly which has a rib unit and a stretcher unit associated with each other, and which is disposed to couple said runner with said top end of said central shaft to be displaceable between collapsed and spread positions that correspond to the distal and proximate positions, respectively, said rib unit having a plurality of first connecting ends for coupling with said top end, said stretcher unit having a plurality of second connecting ends for coupling with said runner;   a plurality of petal-like members which extend radially and axially from one of said top end of said central shaft and said runner, and which are angularly apart from one another about the axis so as to define a plurality of accommodating slots that are alternately disposed with said petal-like members; and   a plurality of modular connector shells which are respectively fit in said accommodating slots, and which are pivotally mounted about a pivoting axis that extends to bridge two adjacent ones of said petal-like members, each of said modular connector shells having a connected end which is configured to permit a corresponding one of said first and second connecting ends to be fitted thereto, and which is turnable about the pivoting axis so as to permit displacement of said rib-and-stretcher assembly between the collapsed and spread positions.   
     
     
         2 . The umbrella frame according to  claim 1 , wherein said connected end of each of said modular connector shells is in form of a socket end, and each of said first and second connecting ends is in form of a plug end which is configured to be fitted in said socket end. 
     
     
         3 . The umbrella frame according to  claim 2 , wherein said socket end and said plug end respectively have connected and connecting holes which are registered with each other when said plug end is fitted in said socket end;
 said umbrella frame further comprising a plurality of fasteners, each including a pin extending through one of said connected and connecting holes to engage the other one of said connected and connecting holes so as to detachably fasten said plug end in said socket end.   
     
     
         4 . The umbrella frame according to  claim 3 , wherein said connecting hole includes a smaller-diameter region and a larger-diameter region extending to terminate at a hole bottom and to define a shoulder therebetween, said pin having an enlarged head which is disposed in said larger-diameter region, and a bolt which extends through said smaller-diameter region to engage said connected hole;
 each of said fasteners further including a biasing spring disposed between said hole bottom and said enlarged head to bias said pin into said connected hole.   
     
     
         5 . The umbrella frame according to  claim 3 , wherein each of said fasteners further includes an internally threaded portion formed in said connecting hole, and an externally threaded portion formed on said pin and threadedly engaged with said internally threaded portion to detachably fasten said plug end in said socket end.