Inside out compact umbrella

Abstract

There have been attempts to create a folding umbrella so that once folded the wet side of the canopy folds upon itself containing any residual water on the canopy within allowing the user to handle the dry side when furling the canopy closed. This prevents the residual water on the canopy dripping on the floor or wetting the user. The design is also to facilitate folding of the frame away from the user allowing it to close through small spaces, such as the close gap of a doorway. The present innovation achieves the intended objectives whilst maintaining the size and weight of the umbrella comparable to conventional single fold folding umbrellas.

1 . An inside out folding umbrella, comprising:
 a. a shaft;   b. a canopy;   c. a first or top slider, a second slider and a third slider each located along the shaft, each of the first or top, second and third sliders being provided with coupling and uncoupling features, wherein each of the first or top, second and third sliders are configured to control a tension coupling and uncoupling mechanism;   d. a frame comprising a plurality of primary spokes, secondary spokes, tensioning spokes, and top supporting spokes;   e. each of the primary and secondary spokes being configured to be connected together with a first sliding connector, wherein the primary spokes are configured to support the canopy and the secondary spokes are configured to support the corresponding primary spokes, wherein the first sliding connector is configured to allow the primary spoke to extend through the first sliding connector;   f. a second sliding connector located on the secondary spoke which is connected to the corresponding top supporting spoke which is supported by the first or top slider on the shaft and which is connected to a linkage mechanism, wherein the linkage mechanism is configured to actuate a movement of the corresponding tensioning spoke that is configured to control the position of the corresponding primary spoke; and   g. an actuating mechanism configured to be actuated by the rotation of the secondary spoke and the second sliding connector, which is located on the secondary spoke, relative to the corresponding top supporting spoke that is supported by the first or top slider on the shaft at one end and connected to the second sliding connector located on the secondary spoke at the other end thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The inside out folding umbrella as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the shaft is telescopic. 
     
     
         3 . The inside out folding umbrella as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the shaft is formed from a single piece. 
     
     
         4 . The inside out folding umbrella as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a fourth or bottom slider is provided and wherein the fourth or bottom slider is configured to control the movement of the first or top slider. 
     
     
         5 . The inside out folding umbrella as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a frame closure mechanism, the frame closure mechanism comprising a rotating component configured to rotate up towards the shaft to close the frame and the canopy to contain and lock the frame in position. 
     
     
         6 . The inside out folding umbrella as claimed in  claim 5  further comprising a canopy furling mechanism, the canopy furling mechanism comprising a circumferential component attached to the rotating component configured such that as the rotating component rotates and closes onto the shaft the canopy furls around the frame as well as the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The inside out folding umbrella as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a spring latch mechanism, the spring latch mechanism comprising a two-piece elastic spacer and a spring wherein the first piece of the two-piece elastic spacer is connected to the first or top slider located on the shaft and supports one end of the spring and the second piece two-piece elastic spacer contains a latch at one end and the other end supports the other end of the spring, wherein the spring latch mechanism is configured to create a returning spring force which allows the frame to move from its open configuration to minimize the wind force and return to its equilibrium position.