Umbrella having an anti-inversion mechanism

Abstract

An umbrella has a plurality of ribs attached to a runner by main struts. The umbrella has an anti-inversion mechanism formed of a plurality of anti-inversion struts. Each anti-inversion strut is pivotally coupled to one respective main strut and is pivotally connected to a floating joint member that is freely movable along a length of one respective rib. The anti-inversion mechanism also includes a stop that is fixedly attached to the rib and restricts the degree of travel of the floating joint member along the rib and is positioned to prevent the respective rib from inverting in response to an applied force.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An umbrella comprising:
 an elongated shaft having a first end and an opposite second end;   a runner slidably disposed about the elongated shaft and movable along a length of the shaft; and   a plurality of ribs that are attached to the runner by a plurality of main struts that move between open and closed positions in which in the open position, the ribs are in an open, extended position and in the closed position, the ribs are in a closed, collapsed position;   wherein each rib includes a distal tip that is defined by a hollow body which has a bore formed therein, the bore containing both a distal end of the rib and a spring that is disposed within the bore between the distal end of the rib and a closed end of the bore.   
     
     
         2 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated shaft is formed of a plurality of shaft sections coupled to one another by a plurality of shaft lock members. 
     
     
         3 . The umbrella of  claim 2 , wherein each shaft lock member has a first ridge and a second ridge spaced from the first ridge with a first space formed therebetween, the first and second ridges serving as stops for the shaft sections when assembled, wherein the first and second ridges extending radially outward relative to adjacent portions of the shaft lock member. 
     
     
         4 . The umbrella of  claim 3 , wherein the runner includes a resilient lock member that engages the first space of one respective shaft lock member when the runner is in a locked position along the shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of each rib is pivotally attached to a top notch that is disposed along the shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the distal tip has a delta-wing shape defined by a pair of beveled leading edges associated with two wings thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow body completely surrounds both the distal end of the rib and the spring. 
     
     
         8 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow body includes a base portion in which the bore is formed and an outwardly flared portion that extends radially outward from the base portion. 
     
     
         9 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the spring comprises a coil spring. 
     
     
         10 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the spring is fully surrounded and contained within the bore of the distal tip. 
     
     
         11 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the rib and spring are coaxially arranged. 
     
     
         12 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the spring applies an axial force to the distal tip in a direction away from the distal end of the rib. 
     
     
         13 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the spring is sized such that the distal end of the rib is restricted to a location proximal to a proximal end of the spring. 
     
     
         14 . An umbrella comprising:
 an elongated shaft with a handle at one end;   a plurality of rib assemblies that support a canopy, each rib assembly including a rib that is attached to the shaft, the rib assemblies moving between open and closed positions in which in the open position, the ribs are in an open, extended position and in the closed position, the ribs are in a closed, collapsed position; and   a runner slidably disposed about the elongated shaft and movable along a length of the shaft, wherein each rib is attached to the runner by a main strut;   a hollow distal rib tip that has an axial blind hole formed therein, wherein a spring is disposed within the blind hole and is in contact with a distal end of the rib and an end wall of the blind hole such that the distal end of the rib and the spring are fully enclosed within the distal tip.   
     
     
         15 . The umbrella of  claim 14 , wherein the spring is fully surrounded and contained within the bore of the distal tip. 
     
     
         16 . The umbrella of  claim 14 , wherein the rib and spring are coaxially arranged. 
     
     
         17 . The umbrella of  claim 14 , wherein the spring applies an axial force to the distal tip in a direction away from the distal end of the rib. 
     
     
         18 . The umbrella of  claim 14 , wherein the distal rib tip is defined by a center body portion in which the blind hole is formed and an angled wing portion that extends distal to the center body portion and extends laterally from both sides of the center body portion. 
     
     
         19 . The umbrella of  claim 18 , wherein the angled wing portion comprises a first section one side of the center body portion and a second section on the other side of the center body portion, the first and second sections lying in different planes. 
     
     
         20 . The umbrella of  claim 14 , wherein the spring is sized such that the distal end of the rib is restricted to a location proximal to a proximal end of the spring.