Collapsible umbrella

Abstract

An umbrella frame comprising a shaft, a canopy frame with a plurality of ribs around the shaft, each rib being collapsible, wherein the canopy frame is deployable to a length RLT, and collapsible to a length CL, such that the ratio RLT:CL is improved over existing umbrellas.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . An umbrella frame collapsible into a compact configuration comprising:
 a shaft,   a canopy frame with a plurality of ribs around the shaft, each rib being collapsible and comprising:
 a first strut with a first point coupled to the shaft, 
 a second strut joined to a second point of the first strut at a first pivot, 
 a strut actuator for manipulating the struts to put the rib in a collapsed configuration, 
 wherein the strut actuator is operable to place the rib into the collapsed configuration by positioning the first and second struts adjacent the shaft, 
 and wherein
 the first strut has a variable length that reduces in the collapsed configuration to reduce the combined length of the first and second strut when positioned adjacent the shaft, and/or 
 the second strut has a variable length that reduces in the collapsed configuration to reduce the length of the second strut when positioned adjacent the shaft. 
 
   
     
     
         31 . An umbrella frame according to  claim 30  wherein the strut actuator comprises:
 a first member coupled to the shaft at a first point and the first strut at a second pivot, and/or 
 a second member coupled to the first member at a second pivot and the second strut at a third pivot. 
 
     
     
         32 . An umbrella frame according to  claim 31  wherein at least one of the first strut or the second strut comprises a telescoping portion to provide the variable length. 
     
     
         33 . An umbrella frame according to  claim 32  wherein the telescoping portion comprises a sleeve and a member slidable within the sleeve, the slidable member being a slidable strut member or a slidable rib member. 
     
     
         34 . An umbrella frame according to  claim 33  wherein the first member is coupled to the slidable strut member and/or the second member is coupled to the slidable rib member. 
     
     
         35 . An umbrella frame according to  claim 31  wherein a first strut lever is pivotably coupled between the first strut and the first member. 
     
     
         36 . An umbrella frame according to  claim 31  wherein the strut actuator further comprises at least one strut lever pivotably coupled to one of the first member or the second member. 
     
     
         37 . An umbrella frame according to  claim 30  wherein the first strut further comprises a slidable coupling that couples the first strut to the shaft at the first point. 
     
     
         38 . An umbrella frame according to  claim 31  wherein the strut actuator is operable to pivot the first strut by moving the first point of the first strut relative and/or opposably to the first point of the first member. 
     
     
         39 . An umbrella frame according to  claim 33  wherein the strut actuator is operable to pivot the first strut by moving the first point of the first strut relative and/or opposably to the first point of the first member,
 wherein the movement along the shaft of the first point of the first strut relative and/or opposably towards the first point of the first member pivots the first strut away from the shaft and moves the slidable strut member of the first strut to increase the strut length into a deployed configuration; and/or 
 the movement along the shaft of the first point of the first strut relative and/or opposably away from the first point of the first member pivots the first strut toward the shaft and moves the slidable strut member of the first strut to decrease the strut length into a collapsed configuration. 
 
     
     
         40 . An umbrella frame according to  claim 33  wherein the strut actuator is operable to pivot the first strut by moving the first point of the first strut relative and/or opposably to the first point of the first member,
 wherein the movement along the shaft of the first point of the first strut relative and/or opposably towards the first point of the first member pivots the second strut away from the shaft and moves the slidable rib member of the second strut away to increase the strut length into a deployed configuration; and/or 
 the movement along the shaft of the first point of the first strut relative and/or opposably away from the first point of the first member pivots the second strut toward the shaft and moves the rib member of the second strut to decrease the strut length into a collapsed configuration. 
 
     
     
         41 . An umbrella comprising:
 an umbrella frame according to  claim 30 ,   a canopy on the umbrella frame.   
     
     
         42 . An umbrella according to  claim 41  wherein when collapsed the umbrella frame has an overall length between about 190 mm and 250 mm, and wherein when deployed provides a canopy radius between about 450 mm and 600 mm. 
     
     
         43 . An umbrella frame collapsible into a compact collapsed configuration comprising:
 a shaft,   a canopy frame with a plurality of ribs around the shaft, each rib being collapsible and comprising:
 a first strut with a first point coupled to the shaft and with a variable length portion, 
 a strut actuator with a first member for manipulating the strut to move the rib between a collapsed and deployed configuration, the first strut and strut actuator being coupled at a first pivot and combining to provide a structural support for the rib, 
   wherein the variable length portion extends and structural support extends to a support length SL in the deployed configuration based on a length R of the first strut between the first point and the first pivot, and the variable length portion contracts and the structural support contracts to a collapsed length CL in the collapsed configuration dependent on a smaller length cR of the first strut between the first point and the first pivot, where cR is less than R.   
     
     
         44 . An umbrella frame according to  claim 43  further comprising a second strut joined to a second point of the first strut at a second pivot, the strut actuator comprising a second member for manipulating the second strut to move the rib between the collapsed and the deployed configuration, the second member providing an additional structural support and the second strut increasing the radius RLT in the deployed configuration. 
     
     
         45 . An umbrella frame according to  claim 44  wherein the ratio of the support length to total umbrella frame radius (SL:RLT) is about 0.2:1 to about 0.4:1; and/or
 the ratio of total umbrella frame radius to compact length (RLT:CL) is about 1.8:1 to about 3.2:1; and/or 
 the ratio of combined radial length of triangular support structure in the deployed state to the combined radial length of the triangular support structure in the collapsed state (R1+R2):(R1+cR2) is about 270:1.56*SL. 
 
     
     
         46 . An umbrella frame according to  claim 44  wherein RLT is about 450 mm to about 600 mm;
 SL is about 100 mm to about 200 mm; 
 R1, R2 are about 100 m to about 200 mm; and 
 CL is about 190 mm to about 250 mm. 
 
     
     
         47 . An umbrella frame according to  claim 43  comprising a canopy on the canopy frame. 
     
     
         48 . An umbrella frame comprising:
 a shaft,   a canopy frame with a plurality of ribs around the shaft, each rib being collapsible and comprising:
 a first strut extendable and collapsible by a strut actuator, the first strut and strut actuator joining at a first pivot to create a rib support structure with: two limbs of length R1, R2 that extends to a support length SL in the deployed configuration, and at least one limb of smaller length cR2 in the collapsed configuration. 
   
     
     
         49 . An umbrella frame according to  claim 48  wherein the canopy frame is deployable to a length RLT, and collapsible to a length CL, such that the ratio RLT:CL is about 0.2:1 to about 0.4:1.