Umbrella assembly

Abstract

An umbrella assembly is described. Manual movement of a knob away from a handle moves each rib and a canopy to a position outside of an inner hollow component of a frame such that the umbrella assembly is in an open and in-use position. In the open and in-use position, a shape of each rib of the set of ribs is curved. Elastic potential energy of a spring located within the inner hollow component of the frame retracts each rib and the canopy into the inner hollow component of the frame. Each rib has a bending resistance such that when each rib is retracted into the inner hollow component of the frame, a shape of each rib moves towards a planar shape.

1 . An umbrella assembly comprising:
 a canopy component having an interior side disposed opposite an exterior side;   a handle component; and   a frame component affixed between the canopy component and the handle component, wherein the frame component comprises:
 a first end disposed opposite a second end, wherein the first end comprises an opening, and wherein the second end engages the handle component; and 
 a body portion disposed between the first end and the second end, the body portion comprising an inner hollow component surrounded by an outer component,
 wherein the inner hollow component comprises:
 a spring having a first end disposed opposite a second end, the second end being affixed to a base component proximate the second end of the frame component; 
 a set of curved ribs having a first end disposed opposite a second end, wherein the first end of each rib of the set of curved ribs are affixed to the interior side of the canopy component 
  wherein the set of curved ribs are curved when both in an open position and a closed position, 
  wherein the canopy is opened by the curvature of the set of curved ribs when transitioning from the closed to the open position; 
 
 a seat component having a first side disposed opposite a second side, wherein the first side of the seat component is configured to receive the second end of each rib of the set of curved ribs, and wherein the second side of the seat component is affixed to the first end of the spring; and 
 a support rod having a first side disposed opposite a second side, 
 
 wherein the first side of the support rod is configured to contact the interior side of the canopy component, and wherein the second side of the support rod contracts the first side of the seat component; 
 wherein the outer component comprises a knob affixed to the seat component such that a force exerted on the knob in a direction away from the handle component moves each rib of the set of curved ribs and the canopy component to a location outside of the inner hollow component of the body portion of the frame component, and 
 wherein the spring is configured to retract the set of curved ribs and the canopy component into the inner hollow component of the body portion of the frame component. 
   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each rib of the set of curved ribs comprises a bending resistance such that when each rib of the set of curved ribs is retracted into the inner hollow component of the body portion of the frame component, a shape of each rib of the set of curved ribs represents a planar shape in a closed and non-use position. 
     
     
         4 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion of the frame component comprises one or more openings disposed therethrough to allow the canopy component to dry. 
     
     
         5 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the handle component comprises a slip-resistant material. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the knob comprises a lock component configured to lock the knob in an open position or a closed position. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first end of a first subset from the set of curved ribs are affixed to a first location along a periphery of the interior side of the canopy component, and   wherein the first end of a second subset from the set of curved ribs are affixed to a second location on the interior side of the canopy component.   
     
     
         11 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the first location differs from the second location, and   wherein the second location is proximate a center of the canopy component as compared to the first location.   
     
     
         12 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a material of the canopy component is selected from the group consisting of: a nylon material and a polyester material. 
     
     
         13 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a material of each rib of the set of curved ribs is selected from the group consisting of: a metal material, a fiberglass material, and a plastic material.