USOO6196243B1

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 6,196,243 B1

Chen (45) Date of Patent: Mar. 6, 2001

(54) AUTOMATIC UMBRELLA CONTROL 5,390,686 2/1995 Lin et al. ............................ 135/20.3
MECHANISM 5,617,889 * 4/1997 Wu ....... ... 135/24
5,823,215 * 10/1998 Chou et al. ............. ... 135/22
(75) Inventor: Tien-Cheng Chen, Changhua Hsien 5.992,433 * 11/1999 Chung-Kuang et al. ........... 135/20.3
(TW) * cited by examiner
(73) Assignee: Ming Ho Umbrella Industry Co.,
Ltd., Chunghua Hsien (TW) Primary Examiner Anthony D. Barfield
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bacon & Thomas, PLLC
(*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
patent is extended or adjusted under 35 (57) ABSTRACT
U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. An automatic umbrella control mechanism, which includes
a Socket defining a receiving chamber, a receptacle Sup
(21) Appl. No.: 09/419,286 ported on a compression Spring in the receiving chamber
(22) Filed: Oct. 15, 1999 inside the Socket, a hook turned about a pivot in the Socket
a lays and Supported on a torsional Spring at the pivot, a button
(51) Int. Cl." ................................................. A45B 25/14 controlled to turn the hook for enabling the folding collaps
(52) U.S. Cl. ............................... 135/22; 135/20.3; 135/24 ible umbrella frame to be opened
p byy a return Spring,
pring and a
(58) Field of Search ............................... 135/22, 20.3, 24, retainer bit to be retained to secured in position by a pressure
135/25.4 spring to hold the umbrella in the open position. When the
button is depressed again, the retainer bit is released from
(56) References Cited the constraint, enabling the umbrella to be collapsed by
means of the operation of the return Spring.
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,989,625 2/1991 Wu ......................................... 135/22 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
U.S. Patent Mar. 6, 2001 Sheet 1 of 5 US 6,196,243 B1
U.S. Patent Mar. 6, 2001 Sheet 2 of 5 US 6,196,243 B1
U.S. Patent Mar. 6, 2001 Sheet 3 of 5 US 6,196,243 B1

CD
(NJ LO

Fig3A
U.S. Patent Mar. 6, 2001 Sheet 4 of 5 US 6,196,243 B1

Fig3B
U.S. Patent Mar. 6, 2001 Sheet 5 of 5 US 6,196,243 B1
 US 6,196,243 B1
1 2
AUTOMATIC UMBRELLA CONTROL generally comprised of a hollow handle 10, a socket 20, a
MECHANISM receptacle 30, a tube 40, an umbrella shaft 50, and a button
60.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The handle 10 comprises a round hole 11 through the
peripheral wall near the top, and a pinhole 12 through the
The present invention relates to an automatic umbrella, peripheral wall near the bottom. The socket 20 is mounted
and more Specifically to an automatic umbrella control inside the handle 10, comprising a receiving chamber 21, a
mechanism for controlling opening/closing of the umbrella longitudinal sliding groove 22 inside the receiving chamber
by a common button. 21, a transverse pivot S disposed inside the receiving cham
A conventional umbrella must be opened manually with ber 21 at the top, a hook 23 turned about the transverse pivot
both hands. Recently, a variety of Semi-automatic umbrellas S, a torsional Spring 24 mounted on the transverse pivot S
have been disclosed, and have appeared on the market. and connected to the hook 23 to force the hook 23 in one
These Semi-automatic umbrellas commonly use Spring direction, a first transverse pin hole 25 at the bottom end
means controlled by a button to release the folding collaps thereof, a Side block 26 near the bottom end, and a Second
ible umbrella frame from the constraint. However, these 15 transverse pin hole 25 through the side block 26. The
Semi-automatic umbrellas must be closed manually with receptacle 30 is Supported on a Spring 32 inside the Socket
both hands when not in use. 20, comprising a tubular bottom flange 31 coupled to the
compression Spring 32, a rib 33 and a pressure Strip 34
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION disposed at two opposite Sides, and a rectangular top notch
It is the main object of the present invention to provide an 35 corresponding to the pressure strip 34. The tube 40 is
automatic umbrella control mechanism, which enables the inserted through the receptacle 30 and the compression
user to open and close the umbrella automatically by means Spring 32 inside the Socket 20, comprising a Side hole 41
of operating a common button. According to the present near the top end thereof, two vertically spaced elongated
invention, the automatic umbrella control mechanism com holes 42 and 43 of different lengths disposed through the
prises a Socket, the Socket comprising a receiving chamber, 25 peripheral wall at one side opposite to the transverse side
a longitudinal sliding groove inside the receiving chamber, hole 41, a pressure Spring 44 fastened to the elongated holes
a transverse pivot disposed inside the receiving chamber at 42 and 43, and a transverse pin hole 45 near the bottom end
a top Side, a hook turned about the transverse pivot, a thereof. The umbrella shaft 50 is inserted into the receptacle
torsional Spring mounted on the transverse pivot and con 20 and sleeved onto the tube 40 and fastened to the first pin
nected to the hook to force the hook in one direction, a hole 25 at the socket 20, comprised of an inner metal tube
compression Spring mounted in the receiving chamber inside 53, and outer metal tube 52 sleeved onto the inner metal tube
the Socket, a receptacle Supported on the compression Spring 53, a return spring 51 mounted inside the outer metal tube
inside the socket, the receptacle comprising a tubular bottom 52 and stopped above the inner metal tube 53, a pulley 521
flange coupled to the compression Spring, a rib coupled to mounted inside the outer metal tube 52, a pull cord 522
the longitudinal sliding groove inside the Socket to guide 35 wound round the pulley 521, the pull cord 522 having a top
Vertical movement of the receptacle in the Socket, a pressure end fixedly connected to the top end of the umbrella shaft 50
Strip disposed at one side opposite to the rib, and a rectan and a bottom end suspended in the umbrella shaft 50, and a
gular top notch corresponding to the pressure Strip, and a retainer bit 523 suspended from the bottom end of the pull
button controlled to open/close the folding collapsible cord 522. The inner metal tube 53 comprises a transverse pin
umbrella frame of the umbrella. When the button is 40 hole 533 near the bottom end thereof, a hook hole 531
depressed, the hook is tilted and released from the umbrella Spaced above the transverse pin hole 533 at one Side, and an
shaft for enabling the folding collapsible umbrella frame opening 532 spaced between the hook hole 531 and the
assembly to be opened by spring means. When the button is transverse pin hole 533. The button 60 is mounted in the
depressed again, a retainer bit is released, enabling the round hole 11 at the handle 10, comprising a groove 61 at an
opened umbrella frame assembly to be collapsed by means 45 inner side corresponding to the hook 23 in the socket 20.
of the operation of Spring means in the umbrella Shaft of the The assembly process of the present invention is outlined
folding collapsible umbrella frame assembly. hereinafter with reference to FIG. 2. The receptacle 30 is
supported on the spring 32 inside the socket 20 with the rib
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 33 coupled to the longitudinal sliding groove 22 inside the
50 Socket 20, then the sleeve 40 is inserted into the umbrella
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the present invention. shaft 50, and then inserted with the umbrella shaft 50
FIG. 2 is a perspective assembly view of the present through the receptacle 30 into the socket 20, and then a pivot
invention. S is fastened to the pin hole 45 at the tube 40, the pin hole
FIG. 3A is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 533 at the inner metal tube 53 and the pin hole 25 at the
2 55 Socket 20 to secure the tube 40, the umbrella shaft 50 and the
FIG. 3B is similar to FIG. 3A but showing the button socket 20 together, and then the Socket 20 is inserted into the
depressed, the hook released from the umbrella shaft, the handle 10, and then a pivot S is fastened to the pin hole 12
compression Spring compressed, the retainer bit retained to at the handle 10 and the second pin hole 261 at the socket
the side hole at the tube. 20 to secure the socket 20 and the handle 10 together, and
60 then the button 60 is mounted in the round hole 11 at the
FIG. 3C is similar to FIG. 3B but showing the compres handle 10 with its groove 61 forced into engagement with
Sion Spring and the retainer bit released. the hook 23.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE Referring to Figures from 3 through 5, when opening the
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT umbrella, the button 60 is depressed to tilt the hook 23,
65 causing the hook 23 to be disengaged from the hook hole
Referring to FIG. 1, an automatic umbrella control 531 at the inner metal tube 53, and therefore the outer metal
mechanism in accordance with the present invention is tube 52 is immediately pushed upwards by the return Spring
 US 6,196,243 B1
3 4
52 to open the folding collapsible stretcher and rib assembly ing chamber at a top Side, a hook turned about Said
and the cover on the folding collapsible stretcher and rib transverse pivot, a torsional Spring mounted on Said
assembly (not shown). When the outer metal tube 52 is transverse pivot and connected to Said hook to force
pushed to the upper limit position, the retainer bit 523 is Said hook in one direction;
forced into the side hole 41 at the tube 40 and retained in 5 a compression Spring mounted in the receiving chamber
place by the pressure Spring 44, enabling the umbrella to be inside Said Socket;
maintained in the open position, and at the same time the a receptacle Supported on Said compression Spring inside
receptacle 30 is pushed upwards to its former position by the Said Socket, Said receptacle comprising a tubular bot
Spring 32, keeping the pressure Strip 34 in between the hook tom flange coupled to Said compression Spring, and
24 in the Socket 20 and the retainer bit 523 in the side hole a tube inserted through Said receptacle and Said compres
41 at the tube 40. When collapsing the umbrella, the button Sion Spring inside Said Socket, Said tube comprising a
60 is depressed again to force the hook 23 at the pressure transverse Side hole near a top end thereof, two verti
Strip 34 against the pressure Spring 44, causing the preSSure cally Spaced elongated holes of different lengths dis
spring 523 to release the retainer bit 523, and therefore the posed opposite to Said transverse side hole, a preSSure
umbrella shaft 50 is retracted by the return spring 51. When 15 Spring fastened to Said elongated holes.
collapsed, the umbrella shaft 50 is forced downwards with 2. The automatic umbrella control mechanism of claim 1
hand, enabling the hook 23 to hook in the hook hole 513 at wherein Said receptacle comprises a rib coupled to the
the inner metal tube 53 again. longitudinal sliding groove inside Said Socket to guide
What the invention claimed is: Vertical movement of Said receptacle in Said Socket, a
1. An automatic umbrella control mechanism comprising: preSSure Strip disposed at one side opposite to Said rib, and
a Socket, Said Socket comprising a receiving chamber, a a rectangular top notch corresponding to Said pressure Strip.
longitudinal sliding groove inside Said receiving
chamber, a transverse pivot disposed inside Said receiv k k k k k