Foldable Umbrella

Abstract

A foldable umbrella includes a cover support unit having a movable block disposed directly above a top end of a pole, and a plurality of cover support ribs having inner ends connected pivotally to the movable block. A stretcher rib unit interconnects the cover support unit and the pole. The movable block is movable relative to the top end of the pole between an upper limit position, where the umbrella is folded, and a lower limit position, where the umbrella is unfolded. The lower limit position is located under the upper limit position.

1 . A foldable umbrella comprising:
 a pole having a top end;   a cover support unit including a movable block disposed directly above said top end of said pole, and a plurality of cover support ribs having inner ends connected pivotally to said movable block; and   a stretcher rib unit interconnecting said cover support unit and said pole;   wherein said movable block of said cover support unit is movable relative to said top end of said pole between an upper limit position, where said foldable umbrella is folded, and a lower limit position, where said foldable umbrella is unfolded, the lower limit position being located under the upper limit position.   
   
   
       2 . The foldable umbrella as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said stretcher rib unit includes:
 a runner sleeved movably on said pole;   a plurality of radially extending first stretcher ribs having radial inner ends connected pivotally to said runner, and radial outer ends connected respectively and pivotally to said cover support ribs of said cover support unit; and   a plurality of radially extending second stretcher ribs having radial inner ends connected pivotally to said pole and disposed above said runner, and radial outer ends connected respectively and pivotally to said first stretcher ribs, said runner being movable on said pole to fold and unfold said foldable umbrella.   
   
   
       3 . The foldable umbrella as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a stop block fixed on said top end of said pole, said radial inner ends of said second stretcher ribs being connected pivotally to said stop block. 
   
   
       4 . The foldable umbrella as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising a positioning unit for positioning said movable block of said cover support unit relative to said pole when said foldable umbrella is unfolded. 
   
   
       5 . The foldable umbrella as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein:
 said stop block has a top face, and said movable block has a bottom face confronting said top face of said stop block; and   said positioning unit includes
 a positioning groove formed in one of said bottom face of said movable block and said top face of said stop block, and 
 a positioning tongue formed on the other one of said bottom face of said movable block and said top face of said stop block and engaging said positioning groove when said foldable umbrella is unfolded. 
   
   
   
       6 . The foldable umbrella as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said positioning tongue has an engaging portion disposed at a top end thereof and having a non-circular cross section that engages fittingly said positioning groove so as to prevent relative rotation between said movable block and said stop block. 
   
   
       7 . The foldable umbrella as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said engaging portion of said positioning tongue is in the form of a pyramid. 
   
   
       8 . The foldable umbrella as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said pole is made of wood. 
   
   
       9 . The foldable umbrella as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said pole is made of metal.