Collapsible umbrella with reinforced rib structure

Abstract

A foldable umbrella includes a post; a stationary hub secured to an upper end of the post; a canopy centrally secured to the stationary hub; a sleeve slidably mounted on the post; a plurality of radially oriented ribs secured to the canopy in equiangularly spaced relation, each rib having a radially inner end and a radially outward end; a plurality of foldable strut assemblies, each strut assembly connected between the sleeve and a respective one of the ribs, each strut assembly including a first strut having one end pivotally connected at a first pivot point to the sleeve and a second end pivotally connected to a respective one of the ribs at a second pivot point spaced radially outwardly from the radially inner end of the rib, a second strut having one end pivotally connected at a third pivot point to the stationary hub and a second end pivotally connected at a fourth pivot point to an intermediate point of the first strut, and a third strut having one end pivotally connected at a fifth pivot point to an intermediate point of the second strut and a second end pivotally connected at a sixth pivot point to the respective one of the ribs, the sixth pivot point being positioned radially inward of the second pivot point; and a U-shaped channel mounted to each rib for receiving the first strut therein when the umbrella is in an open configuration.

What is Claimed is:  
     
         1 . A foldable umbrella comprising: 
 a post;    a stationary hub secured to an upper end of said post;    at least one canopy centrally secured to said stationary hub;    a sleeve slidably mounted on said post;    a plurality of radially oriented ribs secured to said canopy in equiangularly spaced relation, each said rib having a- radially inner end and a radially outward end;    a plurality of foldable strut assemblies, each strut assembly connected between said sleeve and a respective one of said ribs, each strut assembly including: 
 at least a first member strut having one end portion pivotally connected at a first pivot point to said sleeve and a second end portion pivotally connected to a respective one of said ribs at a second pivot point spaced radially outwardly from said radially inner end of the rib, and  
   a U-shaped channel mounted to one of said rib and said first strut member for receiving the other of said rib and first strut member therein when said umbrella is in an open configuration and when said rib is caused to move toward an inverted condition of the umbrella.    
     
     
         2 . A folding umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein said U-shaped channel is mounted to said rib and has an open end that extends down in the open configuration of the umbrella, for receiving said first strut member therein.  
     
     
         3 . A folding umbrella according to  claim 2 , wherein said U-shaped channel is dimensioned to snugly receive said first strut member therein.  
     
     
         4 . A folding umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein said post is a telescoping post including at least two ( telescoping post members.  
     
     
         5 . A foldable umbrella comprising: 
 a post;    a stationary hub secured to an upper end of said post;    at least one canopy centrally secured to said stationary hub; .    a sleeve slidably mounted on said post;    a plurality of radially oriented ribs secured to said canopy in equiangularly spaced relation, each said rib having a radially inner end and a radially outward end;    a plurality of foldable strut assemblies, each strut assembly connected between said sleeve and a respective one of said ribs, each strut assembly including:    a first strut having one end pivotally connected at a first pivot point to said sleeve and a second end pivotally connected to a respective one of said ribs at a second pivot point spaced radially outwardly from said radially inner end of the rib,    a second strut having one end pivotally connected at a third pivot point to said stationary hub and a second end pivotally connected at a fourth pivot point to an intermediate point of said first strut, and    a third strut having one end pivotally connected at a fifth pivot point to an intermediate point of said second strut and a second end pivotally connected at a sixth pivot point to said respective one of said ribs, said sixth pivot point being positioned radially inward of said second pivot point; and    a U-shaped channel mounted to each said rib for receiving said first strut therein when said umbrella is in an open configuration.    
     
     
         6 . An umbrella according to  claim 5 , 
 further comprising a bracket secured to the radially inner end of each said rib, and    wherein: 
 said first strut is pivotally secured to said bracket at said second pivot point, and thereby to said rib,  
 said third strut is pivotally secured to said bracket at said sixth pivot point, and thereby to said rib, and  
 said U-shaped channel is provided on said bracket at a position between said second and sixth pivot points.  
   
     
     
         7 . An umbrella according to  claim 5 , wherein said U-shaped channel has an open end that extends down in the open configuration of the umbrella, for receiving said first strut therein.  
     
     
         8 . An umbrella according to  claim 5 , wherein said U-shaped channel is dimensioned to snugly receive said first strut therein.  
     
     
         9 . An umbrella according to  claim 5 , wherein said third strut is bent downwardly adjacent said sixth pivot point to angle said U-shaped channel downwardly to receive said first strut therein.  
     
     
         10 . An umbrella according to  claim 5 , wherein said first strut is bent downwardly adjacent said second pivot point to provide an upward bend therein which is received in said U-shaped channel.  
     
     
         11 . A folding umbrella comprising: 
 a post;    a stationary hub secured to an upper end of said post;    at least one canopy centrally secured to said stationary hub;    a sleeve slidably mounted on said post;    a plurality of radially oriented ribs secured to said canopy in equiangularly spaced relation, each said rib having a radially inner end and a radially outward end;    a plurality of folding strut assemblies, each strut assembly connected between said sleeve and a respective one of said ribs, each strut assembly including: 
 a first strut having one end pivotally connected at a first pivot point to said sleeve and a second end pivotally connected to a respective one of said ribs at a second pivot point spaced radially outwardly from said radially inner end of the rib,  
 a second strut having one end pivotally connected at a third pivot point to said stationary hub and a second end pivotally connected at a fourth pivot point to an intermediate point of said first strut, and  
 a third strut having one end pivotally connected at a fifth pivot point to an intermediate point of said second strut and a second end pivotally connected at a sixth pivot point to said respective one of said ribs, said sixth pivot point being positioned radially inward of said second pivot point; and  
   at least one of said first through third struts having a substantially U-shaped bend therein for receiving another part of the umbrella in a closed configuration of the umbrella so as to enable the umbrella to fold into a more compact configuration.    
     
     
         12 . An umbrella according to  claim 11 , 
 further comprising a bracket secured to said second strut at said intermediate point thereof for pivotally securing said one end of said third strut to said second strut at said fifth pivot point, and    wherein said first strut has said substantially U-shaped bend therein adjacent said fourth pivot point, for receiving said bracket in the closed configuration of the umbrella.