Umbrella with anti-inversion assembly

Abstract

An umbrella includes a shaft, a rib assembly comprising a plurality of ribs that are pivotally coupled to the shaft, and a plurality of struts that are pivotally coupled to the plurality of ribs and the shaft. The umbrella also includes an anti-inversion assembly to counter inversion of the canopy and rib assembly. The anti-inversion assembly includes a biasing mechanism that is coupled to the shaft and is configured to store energy when a force is applied thereto. The anti-inversion assembly further includes a plurality of elongated bendable members. Each elongated bendable member is coupled at a first end to the biasing mechanism and at a second end to one rib or to a tip of one rib. The elongated bendable member is held taut by the biasing mechanism when the umbrella is in an open position, a closed position and intermediate positions between the open and closed positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An umbrella comprising:
 a shaft;   a rib assembly comprising a plurality of ribs that are pivotally coupled to the shaft;   a plurality of struts that are pivotally coupled to the plurality of ribs and the shaft; and   an anti-inversion assembly comprising:
 a biasing mechanism that is coupled to the shaft and is configured to store energy when a force is applied thereto and release energy when the force is removed; and 
 a plurality of elongated bendable members, each elongated bendable member being coupled at a first end to the biasing mechanism and at a second end to one rib or to a tip of one rib, wherein the elongated bendable member is held taut by the biasing mechanism when the umbrella is in an open position, a closed position and intermediate positions between the open and closed positions. 
   
     
     
         2 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein each strut has a through associated therewith at a location between first and second ends thereof and one corresponding elongated bendable member passes through the through hole. 
     
     
         3 . The umbrella of  claim 2 , wherein the through hole comprises an elongated opening formed through the strut or an opening formed in a part that is coupled about and surrounds the strut to position the opening adjacent the strut. 
     
     
         4 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , further including a runner that moves along the shaft, the plurality of struts being coupled to the runner. 
     
     
         5 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a fixed stop that is fixedly attached to the shaft at a fixed location; a biasing member disposed above the fixed stop and about the shaft and a sliding ring disposed about the shaft above the biasing member, the sliding ring being slidable along the shaft and the biasing member being disposed between the sliding ring and the fixed stop. 
     
     
         6 . The umbrella of  claim 5 , wherein the biasing member comprises a coiled tension spring through which the shaft passes. 
     
     
         7 . The umbrella of  claim 5 , wherein first ends of the elongated bendable members are coupled to the sliding ring. 
     
     
         8 . The umbrella of  claim 6 , wherein in a fully open position of the umbrella, the coiled tension spring is in a semi relaxed position; wherein in a fully closed position of the umbrella, the coiled tension spring is in a fully extended position; and wherein in a partially open position of the umbrella, the coiled tension spring is in a fully compressed position. 
     
     
         9 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated bendable member comprises a string. 
     
     
         10 . The umbrella of  claim 5 , wherein the fixed stop comprises a ring fixedly attached to the shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The umbrella of  claim 5 , wherein each of the elongated bendable members is attached to the sliding ring by being wrapped therearound, by being integrally molded therewith, or by being bonded thereto. 
     
     
         12 . The umbrella of  claim 5 , wherein one elongated bendable member is looped through the sliding ring such a first length of the one elongated bendable member extends from the sliding ring to one rib and a second length of the one elongated bendable member extends from the sliding ring to one rib. 
     
     
         13 . The umbrella of  claim 12 , wherein the sliding ring has a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, wherein along the top surface there are a plurality of recessed channels that are open along the top surface and along the bottom surface there are a plurality of corresponding notches, wherein a looped end of the one elongated bendable member is received within one recessed channel and the first length of the one elongated bendable member passes through one notch and the second length of the one elongated bendable member passes through another notch. 
     
     
         14 . The umbrella of  claim 13 , wherein the sliding ring has a plurality of inner tabs that are circumferentially spaced apart, each inner tab being inward and adjacent one corresponding recessed channel. 
     
     
         15 . The umbrella of  claim 13 , wherein there are three recessed channels with each recessed channel has an arcuate shape and there are three elongated bendable members that connect to six ribs. 
     
     
         16 . The umbrella of  claim 2 , wherein the through hole is located approximately at a midpoint of the strut. 
     
     
         17 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein each rib assembly includes a single rib that is coupled to the shaft and extends to a distal end or distal tip to which the elongated bendable member is attached, wherein one corresponding strut is attached to the corresponding single rib. 
     
     
         18 . An umbrella comprising:
 a shaft;   a rib assembly comprising a plurality of ribs that are pivotally coupled to the shaft;   a plurality of struts that are pivotally coupled to the plurality of ribs and the shaft; and   an anti-inversion assembly comprising:
 a fixed stop that is fixedly attached to the shaft at a fixed location; 
 a tension spring that surrounds the shaft and is configured to store energy when a compressive force is applied thereto, the tension spring being disposed above the fixed stop; 
 a sliding ring disposed about the shaft above the tension spring, the sliding ring being acted on by the tension spring; and 
 a plurality of strings, each string being coupled at a first end to the sliding ring and at a second end to one rib or to a tip of one rib, wherein the string is held taut by the tension spring when the umbrella is in an open position, a closed position and intermediate positions between the open and closed positions. 
   
     
     
         19 . The umbrella of  claim 18 , wherein one string is looped through the sliding ring such a first length of the string extends from the sliding ring to one rib and a second length of the one string extends from the sliding ring to one rib. 
     
     
         20 . The umbrella of  claim 19 , wherein the sliding ring has a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, wherein along the top surface there are a plurality of recessed channels that are open along the top surface and along the bottom surface there are a plurality of corresponding notches, wherein a looped end of the one string is received within one recessed channel and the first length of the string passes through one notch and the second length of the string passes through another notch. 
     
     
         21 . The umbrella of  claim 20 , wherein the sliding ring has a plurality of inner tabs that are circumferentially spaced apart, each inner tab being inward and adjacent one corresponding recessed channel. 
     
     
         22 . The umbrella of  claim 20 , wherein there are three recessed channels with each recessed channel has an arcuate shape and there are three elongated bendable members that connect to six ribs.