Inverse umbrella

Abstract

An inverse umbrella having a double canopy structure and an inverse opening system is disclosed. The double canopy structure comprises an outer canopy and an inner canopy. The inverse opening system comprises a network of ribs and mechanism for moving the ribs so that the inner canopy is on the outside when the umbrella is in the collapsed position. When the inverse umbrella is closed after exposure to rain, the dry inner canopy is on the outside, thereby preventing undesirable dripping. The inverse umbrella also includes a unique sleeve and water collection system that encloses the rain dampened umbrella so that water adhering to the canopy can be properly collected in a unidirectional water-retaining device without making the surroundings wet when the user carries around the rain dampened umbrella. The water collection system comprises a one-way flow check valve that directs water droplets from the wet outer canopy toward a water reservoir while preventing the collected water from flowing out of the reservoir.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An inverse umbrella, comprising: 
 a shaft having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, and comprising a handle provided at said lower end portion;    a sleeve cap assembly slidably mounted at said shaft between said upper and lower end portions;    a plurality of upper ribs radially extended from said shaft, wherein each of said upper ribs is pivotally mounted at said upper end portion of said shaft;    a plurality of upper inverse ribs pivotally connected to distal ends of said upper ribs respectively such that said upper inverse ribs are radially extended from said shaft;    a plurality of lower inverse ribs radially extended from said shaft, wherein each of said lower inverse ribs has an inner end pivotally mounted at said sleeve cap assembly and an outer end coupled with said respective upper inverse rib; and    a double canopy structure comprising an outer canopy supported by said upper ribs and said upper inverse ribs, and an inner canopy supported by said lower inverse ribs such that said inverse umbrella is adapted to fold between an unfolded position and a folded position;    wherein at said unfolded position, said sleeve cap assembly is slid towards said upper end portion of said shaft to radially extend said lower inverse ribs with respect to said shaft such that said upper ribs and said upper inverse ribs are driven to form a plurality of continuous ribs to radially extend from said shaft so as to fully extend said outer canopy in an arched shape manner to shelter said inner canopy therebelow;    wherein at said folded position, said sleeve cap assembly is slid towards said lower end portion of said shaft to pivotally fold said lower inverse ribs to said shaft such that said upper inverse ribs are pivotally folded towards said upper ribs respectively while said outer canopy is overlapped folded up to be sheltered within said inner canopy.    
     
     
         2 . The inverse umbrella, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of inner ribs radially extended from said sleeve cap assembly to said upper ribs respectively in a pivotally movable manner and a plurality of push up ribs pivotally extended from said sleeve cap assembly to said inner ribs respectively such that when said sleeve cap assembly is slid towards said upper end portion of said shaft, said push up ribs are driven to push said inner ribs to radially extended from said shaft so as to force said upper ribs and said upper inverse ribs to form said continuous ribs respectively to support said outer canopy in a fully extending manner.  
     
     
         3 . The inverse umbrella, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said sleeve cap assembly comprises upper and lower annular connectors coaxially mounted on said shaft in a slidably movable manner and a push-up compression spring assembly coaxially mounted on said shaft between said upper and lower annular connectors, wherein said lower inverse ribs are pivotally connected to said lower annular connector while said inner ribs are pivotally connected to said upper annular connector, such that when said lower annular connector is slid upwardly along said shaft, said upper annular connector is pushed by said push-up compression spring assembly to drive said inner ribs to radially extend from said shaft.  
     
     
         4 . The inverse umbrella, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of snap-up springs each having an end coupled with said respective upper rib and an opposed end slidably coupled with said respective upper inverse rib, wherein said snap-up springs are substantially biased against said lower inverse ribs respectively in such a manner that when said lower inverse ribs are driven to radially extend from said shaft, said snap-up springs push said upper inverse ribs to pivotally extend from said upper ribs to form said continuous ribs respectively.  
     
     
         5 . The inverse umbrella, as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of snap-up springs each having an end coupled with said respective upper rib and an opposed end slidably coupled with said respective upper inverse rib, wherein said snap-up springs are substantially biased against said lower inverse ribs respectively in such a manner that when said lower inverse ribs are driven to radially extend from said shaft, said snap-up springs push said upper inverse ribs to pivotally extend from said upper ribs to form said continuous ribs respectively.  
     
     
         6 . The inverse umbrella, as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of snap-up spring holders provided on said lower inverse ribs respectively to hold said snap-up springs in position that said snap-up springs are normally biased against said lower inverse ribs respectively.  
     
     
         7 . The inverse umbrella, as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of snap-up spring holders provided on said lower inverse ribs respectively to hold said snap-up springs in position that said snap-up springs are normally biased against said lower inverse ribs respectively.  
     
     
         8 . The inverse umbrella, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein each of said lower inverse ribs has a channel formed therealong to slidably receive a biasing portion of said respective snap-up spring in said channel so as to hold said snap-up springs in position.  
     
     
         9 . The inverse umbrella, as recited in  claim 5 , wherein each of said lower inverse ribs has a channel formed therealong to slidably receive a biasing portion of said respective snap-up spring in said channel so as to hold said snap-up springs in position.  
     
     
         10 . The inverse umbrella, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an open limit stopper mounted at said upper end portion of said shaft to block a further sliding movement of said sleeve cap assembly at said unfolded position, and a catch mounted at said lower end portion of said shaft to lock up said sleeve cap assembly at said unfolded position.  
     
     
         11 . The inverse umbrella, as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising an open limit stopper mounted at said upper end portion of said shaft to block a further sliding movement of said sleeve cap assembly at said unfolded position, and a catch mounted at said lower end portion of said shaft to lock up said sleeve cap assembly at said unfolded position.  
     
     
         12 . The inverse umbrella, as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising an open limit stopper mounted at said upper end portion of said shaft to block a further sliding movement of said sleeve cap assembly at said unfolded position, and a catch mounted at said lower end portion of said shaft to lock up said sleeve cap assembly at said unfolded position.  
     
     
         13 . The inverse umbrella, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a water-retaining device which comprises a one-way flow check valve coupled at an upper end of said shaft and a water reservoir mounted to said one-way flow check valve for collecting water dripping from said outer canopy through said one-way flow check valve at said folded position.  
     
     
         14 . The inverse umbrella, as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising a water-retaining device which comprises a one-way flow check valve coupled at an upper end of said shaft and a water reservoir mounted to said one-way flow check valve for collecting water dripping from said outer canopy through said one-way flow check valve at said folded position.  
     
     
         15 . The inverse umbrella, as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a water-retaining device which comprises a one-way flow check valve coupled at an upper end of said shaft and a water reservoir mounted to said one-way flow check valve for collecting water dripping from said outer canopy through said one-way flow check valve at said folded position.  
     
     
         16 . The inverse umbrella, as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising a water-retaining device which comprises a one-way flow check valve coupled at an upper end of said shaft and a water reservoir mounted to said one-way flow check valve for collecting water dripping from said outer canopy through said one-way flow check valve at said folded position.  
     
     
         17 . The inverse umbrella, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising means for enclosing said inner canopy at said folded position.  
     
     
         18 . The inverse umbrella, as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising means for enclosing said inner canopy at said folded position.  
     
     
         19 . The inverse umbrella, as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising means for enclosing said inner canopy at said folded position.  
     
     
         20 . The inverse umbrella, as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising means for enclosing said inner canopy at said folded position.