Umbrella

Abstract

An umbrella includes a shaft, a cap connected to the shaft, a runner movable on the shaft, long and short ribs, a controller unit and rib-collapsing units. The runner includes recesses. Each of the long ribs includes upper, middle and lower sections. The short ribs connect the upper sections of the long ribs to the runner. The controller unit is operable to allow the long ribs to stretch and collapse. Each of the rib-collapsing units includes a cap magnet connected to the cap, a runner magnet inserted in a corresponding one of the recesses and two middle-section magnets. The first middle-section magnet is connected to the middle section of a corresponding one of the long ribs and adapted for attraction to the cap magnet. The second middle-section magnet is connected to the middle section of a corresponding one of the long ribs and adapted for attraction to the runner magnet.

1 . An umbrella comprising:
 a shaft ( 10 );   a cap ( 14 ) connected to the shaft ( 10 );   a runner ( 15 ) movable on the shaft ( 10 ) and comprising recesses ( 51 );   long ribs ( 20 ) each of which comprises an upper section ( 21 ) pivotally connected to the cap ( 14 ), a middle section ( 22 ) pivotally connected to the upper section ( 21 ), and a lower section ( 23 ) pivotally connected to the middle section ( 22 );   short ribs ( 24 ) connecting the upper sections ( 21 ) of the long ribs ( 20 ) to the runner ( 15 );   a controller unit operable to allow the long ribs ( 20 ) to stretch and collapse; and   rib-collapsing units each of which comprises:
 a cap magnet ( 52 ) connected to the cap ( 14 ); 
 a runner magnet ( 53 ) inserted in a corresponding one of the recesses ( 51 ); 
 a first middle-section magnet ( 54 ) connected to the middle section ( 22 ) of a corresponding one of the long ribs ( 20 ) and adapted for attraction to the cap magnet ( 52 ); and 
 a second middle-section magnet ( 55 ) connected to the middle section ( 22 ) of a corresponding one of the long ribs ( 20 ) and adapted for attraction to the runner magnet ( 53 ). 
   
     
     
         2 . The umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft ( 10 ) comprises an upper tube ( 11 ), a middle tube ( 12 ) telescopically connected to the upper tube ( 11 ), and a lower tube ( 13 ) telescopically connected to the middle tube ( 12 ), wherein the cap ( 14 ) is connected to the upper tube ( 11 ), wherein the runner ( 15 ) is movable on the upper tube ( 11 ). 
     
     
         3 . The umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein the cap magnet ( 52 ) is made of a material selected from the group consisting of magnetic materials and ferromagnetic materials. 
     
     
         4 . The umbrella according to  claim 3 , wherein the first middle-section magnet ( 54 ) is made of a material selected from the group consisting of magnetic materials and ferromagnetic materials. 
     
     
         5 . The umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein the runner magnet ( 53 ) is made of a material selected from the group consisting of magnetic materials and ferromagnetic materials. 
     
     
         6 . The umbrella according to  claim 5 , wherein the second middle-section magnet ( 55 ) is made of a material selected from the group consisting of magnetic materials and ferromagnetic materials. 
     
     
         7 . The umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the rib-collapsing units comprises:
 a third middle-section magnet ( 56 ) connected to the middle section ( 22 ) of the corresponding long rib ( 20 ); and   a lower-section magnet ( 58 ) connected to the lower section ( 23 ) of the corresponding long rib ( 20 ) and adapted for attraction to the third middle-section magnet ( 56 ).   
     
     
         8 . The umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the rib-collapsing units comprises an upper-section magnet ( 57 ) connected to the upper section ( 21 ) of the corresponding long rib ( 20 ) and adapted for attraction to the cap magnets ( 52 ).