Umbrella frame with folding four-segment ribs

Abstract

Provided is a Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic umbrella frame comprising ribs each consisting of four segments wherein first rib segment and one strut are connected together by one of U-shaped connecting members and one of Y-shaped pivotal members having a cylindrical seat across both ends of its bifurcation, and any two adjacent rib segments are connected together by the U-shaped connecting member and the Y-shaped pivotal member. There are also provided links each for connecting the pivotal member and the distal connecting member. The umbrella can carry out a smooth folding or extending operation and has a reduced folded size and enhanced structural strength.

1 . A Fiberglass Reinforced Plastics (FRP) umbrella including a shank ( 11 ) including a plastic top hub ( 12 ) having a plurality of slots ( 120 ) equally spaced therearound, and a plastic lower sleeve ( 13 ) slidably put on the shank ( 11 ) and having a plurality of slots ( 130 ) equally spaced therearound, and a folding frame ( 10 ) comprising: 
 a plurality of plastic upper connecting rods ( 20 ) each having an end ( 200 ) pivotably connected to the slot ( 120 ) of the hub ( 12 );    a plurality of plastic lower connecting rods ( 21 ) each having an end ( 210 ) pivotably connected to the slot ( 130 ) of the sleeve ( 13 );    a plastic Y-shaped first pivotal member ( 40 ) having a bifurcation ( 408 ), including a cylindrical seat ( 401 ) across both ends of the bifurcation ( 408 ), an opening ( 402 ) defined by the bifurcation ( 408 ) and the seat ( 401 ) thereof, and an intermediate projecting U-shaped element ( 405 );    a plastic Y-shaped second pivotal member ( 41 ) having a bifurcation ( 418 ), including a cylindrical seat ( 411 ) across both ends of the bifurcation ( 418 ), an opening ( 412 ) defined by the bifurcation ( 418 ) and the seat ( 411 ) thereof, and an intermediate projecting U-shaped element ( 415 );    a plastic Y-shaped third pivotal members ( 42 ) having a bifurcation ( 428 ), including a cylindrical seat ( 421 ) across both ends of the bifurcation ( 428 ), an opening ( 422 ) defined by the bifurcation ( 428 ) and the seat ( 421 ) thereof, and an intermediate projecting U-shaped element ( 425 );    a plastic Y-shaped fourth pivotal member ( 43 ) having a bifurcation ( 438 ), including a cylindrical seat ( 431 ) across both ends of the bifurcation ( 438 ), and an opening ( 432 ) defined by the bifurcation ( 438 ) and the seat ( 431 ) thereof;    a plastic U-shaped first connecting member ( 30 ) including a recess ( 302 ), a tubelike first and second extensions ( 300 ,  301 ) both extended from either end of the recess ( 302 ), respectively and a bore ( 3000 ,  3010 ) at either end of the extensions ( 300 ,  301 ) in communication with the recess ( 302 ) thereof;    a plastic U-shaped second connecting member ( 31 ) including a recess ( 312 ), a tubelike first and second extensions ( 310 ,  311 ) both extended from either end of the recess ( 312 ), respectively and a bore ( 3100 ,  3110 ) at either end of the extensions ( 310 ,  311 ) in communication with the recess ( 312 ) thereof;    a plastic U-shaped third connecting member ( 32 ) including a recess ( 322 ), a tubelike first and second extensions ( 320 ,  321 ) both extended from either end of the recess ( 322 ), respectively and a bore ( 3200 ,  3210 ) at either end of the extensions ( 320 ,  321 ) in communication with the recess ( 322 ) thereof;    a plastic U-shaped fourth connecting member ( 33 ) including a recess ( 332 ), a tubelike first and second extensions ( 330 ,  331 ) both extended from either end of the recess ( 302 ), respectively and a bore ( 3300 ,  3310 ) at either end of the in communication with the recess ( 332 ) thereof;    a plurality of FRP struts ( 15 );    a plurality of FRP folding ribs each including a first segments ( 14 ), a second segments ( 16 ), a third segments ( 17 ), and a fourth rib segments ( 18 ); and    a plurality of first, second, and third links ( 50 ,  60 ) and ( 70 ); wherein:    the seat ( 401 ) of the Y-shaped first pivotal member ( 40 ) is fitted in the recess ( 302 ) of the U-shaped first connecting member ( 30 );    the seat ( 411 ) of the Y-shaped second pivotal member ( 41 ) is fitted in the recess ( 312 ) of the U-shaped second connecting member ( 31 );    the seat ( 421 ) of the Y-shaped third pivotal member ( 42 ) is fitted in the recess ( 322 ) of the U-shaped third connecting member ( 32 );    the seat ( 431 ) of the Y-shaped fourth pivotal member ( 43 ) is fitted in the recess ( 332 ) of the U-shaped fourth connecting member ( 33 );    each of the struts ( 15 ) passes through the tubelike second extension ( 301 ), the recess ( 302 ), and the tubelike first extension ( 300 ) of the U-shaped first connecting member ( 30 ) to have one end thereof connected to the lower connecting rod ( 21 ) and the other end thereof connected to one end of the second pivotal member ( 41 ) with the U-shaped first connecting member ( 30 ) put thereon;    the first rib segment ( 14 ) has one end connected to the other end of the upper connecting rod ( 20 ) and the other end thereof connected to one end of the Y-shaped first pivotal member ( 40 );    the second rib segment ( 16 ) has one end connected to one end of the U-shaped second connecting member ( 31 ) by passing through the second extension ( 311 ), the recess ( 312 ) and the first extension ( 310 ) of the U-shaped second connecting member ( 31 ), and the other end thereof connected to one end of the Y-shaped third pivotal member ( 42 );    the third rib segment ( 17 ) has one end connected to one end of the U-shaped third connecting member ( 32 ) by passing through the second extension ( 321 ), the recess ( 322 ) and the first extension of the U-shaped third connecting member ( 32 ), and the other end thereof connected to one end of the Y-shaped fourth pivotal member ( 43 );    the fourth rib segment ( 18 ) has one end connected to one end of the U-shaped fourth connecting member ( 33 ) by passing through the second extension ( 331 ), the recess ( 332 ) and the first extension of the U-shaped fourth connecting member ( 33 ), and the other end thereof secured to a peripheral edge of a canopy fitted over the frame ( 10 );    each of the first links ( 50 ) interconnects a first U-shaped element ( 405 ) of the Y-shaped first pivotal member ( 40 ) and the U-shaped second connecting member ( 31 );    each of the second links ( 60 ) interconnects a second U-shaped element ( 415 ) of the Y-shaped second pivotal member ( 41 ) and the U-shaped third connecting member ( 32 ); and    each of the third links ( 70 ) interconnects a third U-shaped element ( 425 ) of the Y-shaped third pivotal member ( 42 ) and the U-shaped fourth connecting member ( 33 ).    
   
   
       2 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein each of the U-shaped first, second, third, and fourth connecting members ( 30 - 33 ) further comprises a slope ( 303 ,  313 ,  323 ,  333 ) formed on an inner wall of the recess ( 302 ,  312 ,  322 ,  332 ) thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein each of the Y-shaped first, second, third, and fourth pivotal members ( 40 - 43 ) further comprises an indentation ( 407 ,  417 ,  427 ,  437 ) across the bifurcation ( 408 ,  418 ,  428 ,  438 ) thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The umbrella of  claim 3 , wherein each of the Y-shaped first, second, and third pivotal members ( 40 - 42 ) further comprises a second opening ( 403 ,  413 ,  423 ) defined by a joining portion of the bifurcation ( 408   418 ,  428 ) and the indentation ( 407 ,  417 ,  427 ) thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The umbrella of  claim 4 , wherein each of the Y-shaped first, second, and third pivotal members ( 40 - 42 ) further comprises a cavity ( 404 ,  414 ,  424 ) formed at the second opening ( 403 ,  413 ,  423 ) for nesting the U-shaped element ( 405 ,  415 ,  425 ) therein.  
   
   
       6 . The umbrella of claim  54 , wherein both ends of the U-shaped element ( 405 ,  415 ,  425 ) are fitted in two opposite portions of the cavity ( 404 ,  414 ,  424 ).  
   
   
       7 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein each of the Y-shaped first, second, third, and fourth pivotal members ( 40 - 43 ) further comprises an arc member ( 406 ,  416 ,  426 ,  436 ) at either side thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein each of the tubelike first extension of the U-shaped second, third, and fourth connecting members ( 31 - 33 ) further comprises an arc flat element ( 3101 ,  3201 ,  3301 ) extended from one end thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The umbrella of  claim 8 , wherein the arc flat element ( 3101 ,  3201 ,  3301 ) includes a hole through its free end.  
   
   
       10 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of sliding sleeve members ( 160 ,  170 ) each put on the second and the third rib segments ( 16 ,  17 ), respectively.  
   
   
       11 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein either end of each of the first, the second, and the third links ( 50 ,  60 ,  70 ) is shaped as a hook.  
   
   
       12 . The umbrella of  claim 10 , wherein the second link ( 60 ) comprises a U-shaped intermediate member ( 63 ) fitted between the sleeve member ( 160 ) and the second rib segment ( 16 ), and the third link ( 70 ) comprises a U-shaped intermediate member ( 73 ) fitted between the sleeve member ( 170 ) and the third rib segment ( 17 ).