Connecting Mechanism and an Umbrella Thereof

Abstract

A connecting mechanism for connecting a long rod and a short rod of an umbrella comprises a rod connector and two detachable decorating parts. The rod connector has a long groove at a top of the rod connector for receiving the long rod. The rod connector is connected to a middle portion of the long rod. The rod connector has a U-shaped groove at a bottom of the rod connector for receiving an end of the short rod. The end of the short rod is rotatably connected to the rod connector through a connecting pin. The two decorating parts are respectively disposed at a front side and a back side of the rod connector to shelter the connecting pieces such as bolts, so that the overall appearance is improved. Moreover, the rod connector is easy to mount, and the decorating parts are detachable and easy to replace.

1 . A connecting mechanism for connecting a long rod and a short rod of an umbrella, comprising:
 a rod connector having a top, a bottom, a front side and a back side;   two detachable decorating parts;   wherein,   the rod connector has a long groove at the top of the rod connector for receiving the long rod, the rod connector is connected to a middle portion of the long rod;   the rod connector has a U-shaped groove at the bottom of the rod connector for receiving an end of the short rod, the end of the short rod is rotatably connected to the rod connector through a connecting pin;   the two detachable decorating parts are respectively disposed at the front side and the back side of the rod connector.   
     
     
         2 . The connecting mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the rod connector comprises two side plates vertically disposed and a transverse plate transversely disposed between the two side plates which connects middle portions of the two side plates;
 the long groove is defined above the transverse plate and between the two side plates, the U-shaped groove is defined beneath the transverse plate and between the two side plates.   
     
     
         3 . The connecting mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the rod connector is manufactured into an integral part by injection molding, die casting or stamping. 
     
     
         4 . The connecting mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein each side plate has a protruding edge and a recess enclosed by the protruding edge at an outer surface of each side plate;
 each decorating part has a periphery which is fitted to the corresponding side plate, each decorating part has a convex surface protruding into the recess of the corresponding side plate, each decorating part has one or more elastic buckles protruding from the convex surface, and each side plate has one or more corresponding positioning holes at the recess each for receiving one elastic buckle of each decorating part;   each decorating part is positioned on one corresponding side plate by pressing the one or more elastic buckles into the corresponding positioning holes of each side plate.   
     
     
         5 . The connecting mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein each side plate has one or more connecting counterbores at an upper portion of the outer surface of each side plate for receiving one or more connecting pieces, and has a pin hole at a lower portion of the outer surface of each side plate for receiving the connecting pin;
 each decorating part has a plurality of evading notches on the convex surface corresponding to the one or more connecting counterbores and the pin hole.   
     
     
         6 . The connecting mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein the number of the positioning holes is three and the three positioning holes are distributed symmetrically, one of the positioning holes is located in a middle of the upper portion of the outer surface of each side plate, and the other two positioning holes are located on the left and right sides of the lower portion of the outer surface of each side plate, and correspondingly, the number of the elastic buckles on the decorating parts is three. 
     
     
         7 . The connecting mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of each decorating part has leather texture, or the outer surface of each decorating part is covered with leather. 
     
     
         8 . An umbrella, comprising:
 a column;   an umbrella frame having a plurality of long rods, a plurality of short rods, an upper nest and a lower nest;   wherein,   each long rod is connected to the corresponding short rod through the connecting mechanism of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         9 . The umbrella of  claim 8 , wherein the umbrella frame is a frame of a cantilever umbrella, detachable decorating parts are disposed on surfaces of hinges, inclined connecting blocks and/or sliders of the cantilever umbrella, the hinges, inclined connecting blocks and/or sliders have a plurality of positioning holes at peripheral edges of hardware fittings exposed on the surfaces of the hinges, inclined connecting blocks and/or sliders of the cantilever umbrella, a plurality of corresponding elastic buckles matched with the positioning holes are protruded from surfaces of the decorating parts, the decorating parts are disposed and positioned on the surfaces of the hinges, inclined connecting blocks and/or sliders of the cantilever umbrella by pressing the plurality of elastic buckles into the positioning holes. 
     
     
         10 . The umbrella of  claim 9 , wherein the decorating parts on the surfaces of the hinges, inclined connecting blocks and/or sliders of the cantilever umbrella are of a circular, oval or strip shape, respectively.