An inverting and externally compact umbrella

Abstract

Attempts have been made to manufacture a folding umbrella such that once folded, the wet side of the umbrella fabric folds onto itself, thereby containing any residual water on the umbrella fabric within it, to allow the user to hold the dry side when closing the umbrella fabric. This prevents any residual water droplets on the umbrella fabric from falling onto the floor or wetting the user. The design also facilitates folding the frame away from the user, thereby allowing the frame to be closed through a small space such as the closing gap of a doorway. The present invention achieves the intended purpose while maintaining the size and weight of the umbrella comparable to that of a conventional single-fold folding umbrella.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates mainly but not exclusively to umbrellas. An umbrella frame is usually made up of main ribs supporting the umbrella fabric, and the fabric itself is supported by secondary ribs forming the framework of the umbrella. Background Art

[0002] If the main ribs are continuous and not made up of parts foldable relative to each other, it is usually called a walking-stick umbrella. In this case, one end of the main rib is supported by a sliding collar moving up and down along an axis, while the other end is supported by the outer edge of the umbrella fabric. The secondary ribs are supported by a sliding collar moving up and down along an axis at one end, and they support the main shaft at the other end through a pivot mechanism.

[0003] If the main ribs are made up of more than one part, joined by a pivot-like mechanism and thus not extending from a sliding piece on the axis to the edge of the fabric, they are called foldable, pocket or collapsible umbrellas. The main aim of this design is to make the umbrella shorter in the closed configuration.

[0004] An inside-out walking-stick umbrella that turns its frame completely from the inside to the outside has been invented by Jenan Kazim, European patent application No. 13774769.7. In this case, the main ribs are made to expand telescopically like continuous ribs. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The invention by the same inventor is particularly applicable to foldable umbrellas. However, compared with the traditional pivot-like mechanisms between the main and secondary ribs, in the present invention, a sliding mechanism is used to allow the outermost section of the main rib to slide on or adjacent to the secondary rib. Thus, the closed length of the main rib is much smaller in the closed configuration than in the open configuration. The length of the main rib in the open configuration is the length of the arc from the sliding piece on the axis supporting the fabric to the edge of the fabric supported by the end of the main rib.

[0006] The advantage of this innovative mechanism is that it allows the wet side of the fabric to be closed within itself, thus allowing the outside of the fabric to be dry to the touch.

[0007] Since in the closed configuration the main rib parts are enclosed within or adjacent to the secondary ribs, the frame is more easily kept closed and protected. In traditional umbrellas where the main rib sections are pivoted and hang outside the secondary ribs, they can be easily damaged or jab someone.

[0008] The innovation presented here also has much better performance in the wind than traditional types. It responds to the wind to change the shape of the fabric exposed to the wind, since the main rib can slide towards the axis, thus allowing the fabric to change shape. The configuration presented by the present invention also facilitates the automatic gathering of the fabric around the frame and the axis in its closed configuration.

[0009] Attempts have been made to create a folding umbrella such that once folded, the wet side of the canopy folds onto itself, containing any residual water on the canopy within it, to allow the user to hold the dry side when closing the canopy. This prevents residual water on the canopy from dripping onto the floor or wetting the user. The design also facilitates folding the frame away from the user, allowing the frame to close through a small space such as the closing gap of a doorway.

[0010] The present invention achieves the desired purpose while maintaining the umbrella at a size and weight comparable to that of a traditional single-fold folding umbrella. To open this innovative umbrella, the user presses a button to release the latch and pushes the slider axially upward until the umbrella is fully opened and locked when the slider is locked, and to close it, the user presses the button and moves the slider towards the handle until the frame rotates to the closed configuration. These operations are the same as the way the user opens and closes a traditional folding umbrella. This has been achieved by innovatively coupling and decoupling the axial movement of the slider to effect the rotation of the main ribs and tension the canopy as required. It also uniquely uses a telescoping spacer between the sliders to achieve the required tension in the canopy in the open configuration and a compact closure of the frame in the closed configuration. It is important to achieve the most compact enclosure of the canopy to minimize the possibility of the enclosed water overflowing.

[0011] Traditional umbrellas have the ends of the canopy at the bottom near the handle in the closed configuration, and the wet part of the canopy is on the outside. To open a traditional umbrella, the frame unfolds, causing the ends of the main ribs supporting the edge of the canopy to rotate upward away from the shaft until the diagonal ends of the canopy attached to the main ribs are the diameter of the canopy edge apart. This limits the movement of the canopy, and further movement of the frame tensions the canopy.

[0012] This is clearly impossible for a reverse folding umbrella that inverts the canopy inside out in the closed structure. In this case, the ends of the main ribs supporting the edge of the canopy are at the upper end of the shaft away from the handle. In this case, when opening from the closed structure, the ends of the main ribs supporting the edge of the canopy rotate away from the shaft from a remote position at the end of the shaft away from the handle until the ends of the main ribs are the diameter of the canopy edge apart. In this case, the canopy edge restricts the main ribs, and they cannot rotate further, thus restricting further opening of the frame. The canopy is then restricted to an inverted cone structure. This is a fundamental problem that requires coupling and decoupling the rotation of the main ribs with the tensioning of the canopy at the appropriate position of the ends of the main ribs attached to the canopy.

[0013] This feature is important for the operation of any reverse folding umbrella that maintains the traditional appearance and size of a traditional umbrella. Although there have been many attempts to innovate reverse folding umbrellas, they have all failed to achieve the objectives outlined in this innovation because they have failed to recognize that controlling the tension in the umbrella surface and controlling the diameter of the umbrella surface during the opening and closing sequence are fundamental. The present invention provides an objective, highlights the basic problem, provides a solution, and provides a method of how to actually solve these problems of a compact reverse folding umbrella.

[0014] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inside-out folding umbrella, comprising:

[0015] a. a shaft;

[0016] b. an umbrella surface;

[0017] c. a first or top slider, a second slider, and a third slider, each slider being placed along the shaft, each of the first or top slider, the second slider, and the third slider being provided with coupling and decoupling features, wherein each of the first or top slider, the second slider, and the third slider is configured to control a tensioning

[0018] coupling and decoupling mechanism;

[0019] d. a frame, which includes a plurality of main umbrella ribs, a plurality of secondary umbrella ribs, a plurality of tensioning umbrella ribs, and a plurality of

[0020] top support umbrella ribs;

[0021] e. each of the plurality of main umbrella ribs and the plurality of secondary umbrella ribs is configured to be connected together by a first sliding connection member, wherein the plurality of main umbrella ribs are configured to support the umbrella surface, and the plurality of secondary umbrella ribs are configured to support corresponding main umbrella ribs, wherein the first sliding connection member is configured to allow the main umbrella ribs to extend through the first

[0022] sliding connection member;

[0023] f. a second sliding connection member, which is located on the secondary umbrella rib, the second sliding connection member being connected to a corresponding top support umbrella rib, the top support umbrella rib being supported by the first or top slider on the shaft and connected to a link mechanism, wherein the link mechanism is configured to actuated the movement of a corresponding tensioning umbrella rib, the corresponding tensioning umbrella rib being configured

[0024] to control the position of a corresponding main umbrella rib; and

[0025] g. An actuating mechanism configured to be actuated by rotation of the secondary rib and the second sliding connection member located on the secondary rib relative to the corresponding top support rib, the corresponding top support rib being supported at one end by the first or top sliding member on the shaft and connected at its other end to the second sliding connection member located on the secondary rib.

[0026] In an alternative, the shaft is telescopic.

[0027] In another alternative, the shaft is formed of a single piece.

[0028] Optionally, a fourth or bottom sliding member is provided, and wherein the fourth or bottom sliding member is configured to control the movement of the first or top sliding member. If the movement of the first or top sliding member is controlled by the fourth or bottom sliding member, only the fourth or bottom sliding member is required. Otherwise, only 3 sliding members are required to control the tension coupling and detachment mechanism.

[0029] Optionally, the inside-out folding umbrella further includes a frame closing mechanism including a rotating member configured to rotate upwardly towards the shaft to close the frame and the umbrella surface, thereby accommodating and locking the frame in place.

[0030] Optionally, the inside-out folding umbrella further includes an umbrella surface gathering mechanism including a circumferential member attached to the rotating member, the circumferential member being configured such that when the rotating member rotates and closes onto the shaft, the umbrella surface gathers around the frame and the shaft.

[0031] Optionally, the inside-out folding umbrella further includes: a spring latch mechanism including a two-piece elastic spacer and a spring, wherein the first piece of the two-piece elastic spacer is connected to the first or top sliding member located on the shaft and supports one end of the spring, and the second piece of the two-piece elastic spacer includes a latch at one end and supports the other end of the spring, wherein the spring latch mechanism is configured to generate a return spring force that allows the frame to move from its open configuration to minimize the wind force and return to its equilibrium position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] Figure 1 One of the options for the construction of the sliding member along the shaft is shown. Although in these drawings the shaft is shown as one piece, it can also be telescopic.

[0034] Figure 2 Shows in relation toFigure 1 The same shaft and slider are shown, but the main ribs, secondary ribs, ribs, and connecting rods involved in the tensioning and flipping mechanisms are also shown.

[0035] Figure 3 The link mechanism involved in the tensioning and flipping mechanisms is shown in detail.

[0036] Figure 4 and 5 The main ribs, secondary ribs, flipping, and tensioning mechanisms in two open stages are shown. Figure 4 This is the intermediate stage, Figure 5 The frame approaching the final stage of opening and tensioning is shown.

[0037] Figure 6 and Figure 5 is the same and only shown for comparison with Figure 7 and Figure 8 on this page.

[0038] Figure 7 and Figure 8 show Figure 5 and Figure 6 Two other alternative tensioning mechanisms are shown. These are some examples of tensioning mechanisms, but there are other tensioning mechanisms.

[0039] Figure 9 and Figure 10 show one of the mechanisms that can be used to achieve the basic closing of the frame and the winding of the umbrella surface in the closed configuration.

[0040] Figure 11 and 12 show alternative methods for achieving the basic closing of the frame and the winding of the umbrella surface in the closed configuration.

[0041] Figure 13 The typical shape of the umbrella surface during the closing process and the mechanism that basically facilitates the winding of the fins of the umbrella surface on the shaft are shown.

[0042] Figure 14 A spring mechanism is shown that allows the main support slider to move along the shaft, thereby retracting the main ribs that support the umbrella surface.

[0043] Figure 15 Another alternative tensioning mechanism is shown.

[0044] Figure 16 Another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0045] Figure 17 Another embodiment of this innovation is shown.

[0046] Figure 18Shows the arrangement of the umbrella surface on the frame in the open configuration. Detailed Description

[0047] Aspects and embodiments of the present invention represent the currently best mode known to the applicant for carrying out the present invention. However, these are not the only ways to achieve this. They are illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings and will now be described only by way of example.

[0048] Figure 1 and 2 Should be observed together. For clarity, markings are made on both figures. Figure 1 A slider is shown that is movable along an axis marked 10, which may be telescopic or non - telescopic. In this example, slider 14 and slider 11 are connected to an outer axis marked 15. Such a connection may be required if the position of the top slider marked 11 is not fixed. In this example, sliders 13 and 14 have a coupling mechanism that allows them to couple and decouple according to their relative positions along the axis. To open the umbrella surface, sliders 13 and 14 are pushed upward along the axis from their starting positions until the slider marked 11 reaches an end stop at the top of the axis. The sliders marked 12 and 13 are also coupled or decoupled to connect and disconnect, facilitating turning the umbrella surface from the inside out, tensioning the umbrella surface, closing the folded frame, and gathering the umbrella surface around the frame and axis. The secondary rib 19 supports the primary rib 18 through a sliding pivot support 23 that allows the primary rib 18 to slide through it. The secondary rib 19 is also connected to the rest of the frame through a sliding connection 24 that slides freely along the rib 19. This unique arrangement allows the frame to unfold and tension the umbrella surface and contract the primary rib 18 sliding along the secondary rib 19, thereby closing the frame in a compact configuration where the pivot connecting the ribs 20 and 18, which also support the umbrella surface, contracts to the bottom of the rib 19 near the slider 13. This facilitates the best way to compress the frame, minimizing the size of its closed configuration so that the frame can be pulled through a limited space such as closing a car door. The compactness of the frame keeps the umbrella surface substantially firm, minimizing the risk of water spilling from the umbrella surface. The relative movement of slider 13 with respect to slider 12 facilitates the rotation of ribs 18 and 19, while the relative movement of 12 and 11 facilitates tensioning or releasing the tension in the umbrella surface. There are many different ways in which the internal frame structure can be arranged to move the rib 20 pivotally connected to the primary rib 18 and the rib 21 pivotally connected to the rib 18 supporting the primary rib 21 through a sliding support 24. These will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0049] Figure 2Shows the main ribs of the frame. The main ribs that support and tension the umbrella surface are marked as 18 and 20. The secondary ribs that support the main ribs are marked as 19. The rib marked as 21 facilitates the rotation of the secondary rib 19 to the open and closed configurations. The rib marked as 22 rotates the rib marked as 21 to the open and closed configurations. The relative movement of the sliders 11, 12, and 13 with respect to each other facilitates turning the umbrella surface from the inside to the outside, opening the frame, tensioning the umbrella surface, releasing the umbrella surface tension, turning the umbrella surface, which is the wet side of the umbrella surface, from the outside inward so that the dry side of the umbrella surface is on the outside, in preparation for collapsing around the frame and the shaft.

[0050] Figure 3 and 4 5 should be observed together. For clarity, markings are made on three figures. Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the components shown in Figure 4 The unique feature of the present invention is that the main rib 118 can slide through the connecting member 123 attached to the secondary rib 119. The connecting member 123 can rotate within the plane of movement of the ribs 118 and 119. The present invention also uniquely has a sliding connecting member marked as 124, which can move along the secondary rib 119. This sliding connecting member connects the rib 119 and 121 and the rib 119 and 127. When the frame is in the closed configuration, the slider 113 is locked to the shaft at a position near the handle. When the lock is released and the slider 113 is pushed along the shaft away from the handle, since the sliders 14 and 113 are coupled together, Figure 1 the slider 14 shown in

[0051] is pulled. Since 111 and 14 are attached to the connecting member 15, the movement of 14 pushes the top slider 111 upward along the shaft. When the slider 111 reaches the stopper near the top of the shaft, the coupling between 14 and 113 is released, and 113 moves upward along the shaft toward the slider 112. This movement facilitates the rotation of the secondary rib 119 relative to the rib 121, which also rotates the main rib 118 so that the ends of the ribs approach or exceed the horizontal plane with respect to the shaft. The ends of the main ribs are connected to the circumference of the umbrella surface marked as 125.

[0052] At this stage, the movement of the slider 113 connected to 112, and they are pushed together towards the slider 111, thus tensioning the umbrella surface in the open configuration. The spring 129 facilitates the automatic rotation of the umbrella rib 121 towards 122, thus pulling the sliding connecting piece 124 along the secondary umbrella rib 119 towards the shaft, facilitating the automatic closing mechanism. To close the frame, pull the sliders 112 and 113 downwards along the shaft towards the handle. This movement activates the closing mechanism of the frame, pulling the main umbrella rib inwards towards the axis, so that the main umbrella rib can flip through the horizontal configuration of the frame, turning the dry side of the umbrella surface to the outside, which is also known as inverting outwards. When the frame and the umbrella surface exceed this stage, the sliders 112 and 113 become disengaged. Further movement of the slider 113 towards the slider 14, at which stage the slider is locked to the shaft. This movement causes the secondary umbrella rib 119 and the main umbrella rib 118 to rotate upwards towards the shaft, thus closing the frame. Further movement of the slider 113 engages with the slider 14 and disengages it from the shaft and moves towards the closed configuration of the frame and the umbrella surface, which positions the dry side of the umbrella surface on the outside and the wet side is enclosed on the inside.

[0053] There are several ways to implement a linkage system, and further alternatives are illustrated by way of example in Figure 6 , 7 , 8 and 15.

[0054] Figure 6 Same as Figure 5 and it is only shown for comparison with Figure 7 and Figure 8 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 show two other ways of organizing the linkage system. In Figure 7 , the umbrella rib 220 is divided into two parts 220 and 220a. The two parts are connected such that they can rotate relative to each other following the plane of the frame. The connecting piece 232 does not allow the umbrella rib 220 to slide through it, but it allows the link 128 to rotate relative to 220. At the other end, the link 128 is the same as that explained in Figure 3 . It is attached to the umbrella rib 121 and rotates relative to it, thus lifting the umbrella ribs 220 and 220a upwards and forwards. In this option, the length of 220a expands as it rotates from the closed configuration to the open configuration, thus further lifting and pushing the connection between 220 and 218. In Figure 8 another option is shown, which achieves the same configuration as in Figure 7 by keeping the umbrella rib 220 as one piece and making the connecting piece 231 a sliding type that allows the umbrella rib 121 to slide through it.

[0055] Figure 9Shows a mechanism that helps fully close the frame and helps gather the umbrella surface around the frame and the shaft. In this option, when the sliders 312 and 313 disengage, the slider 312 is restricted by an obstacle on the frame or the shaft so that it cannot slide downward toward the handle, and the slider 313 pulled by the user moves along the shaft. Closing and gathering the frame is done by the rotating member 332, which is supported by 331 having a connecting member 333 that allows the rotating member 332 to slide through it. When the slider 313 moves downward away from the slider 312, the rotating member 332 rotates upward and is pulled inward toward the axis by 331. The rotating member 332 may have an arcuate portion, which is shown as 538 in Figure 13 When the 332 rotates upward toward the axis, the secondary ribs and the primary ribs and all other linkages that make up the umbrella frame are enclosed within the range of being pushed toward the axis. The hook 538 also facilitates the gathering of the umbrella surface around the frame and the shaft. Once the slider 313 is pulled as far as possible and locked onto the shaft, the closed configuration will be maintained.

[0056] Figure 10 Shows the closing and gathering mechanism in a partially closed configuration. It also shows a spring 334, which can automate the process of the closing mechanism. This is achieved because when the slider 313 is pushed upward toward the fixed slider 312 attached to the shaft in a certain way, the spring is activated. When 313 and 312 are joined together, the activated spring energy is locked in the joined sliders 312 and 313 until when the sliders disengage, the spring energy is released again on the way down. This is a novel process for closing the frame and gathering the umbrella surface and holding it in the closed configuration without using the industrial standard methods of manually holding the frame and manually gathering the umbrella surface and using straps wrapped around the umbrella surface to hold it in the closed configuration.

[0057] Figure 11 and 12 Shows different options for achieving the same purpose as shown in Figure 9 and 10 In this case, the slider 412 extends through the slider

[0058] 413 and is formed to extend outward as marked 436. The rotating member 432 having an arcuate portion marked 435 is connected to the slider 413. When 413 and 412 disengage and 413 moves downward toward the handle, the rotating member 432 presses against the member 436 that is part of the slider 412. This causes 432 to rotate upward toward the axis, thereby rotating and pushing the secondary rib 419, the primary rib 418, and all other related frame components toward their closed configuration. The rotation of the member 432 and the connecting portion 435 includes the frame in its closed configuration and the arcuate 538 for gathering the umbrella surface around the frame and the shaft, and the connecting portion may also have, asFigure 13 The arcuate portion in the circumferential direction marked as 538. In the closed configuration, the slider 413 is also locked to the shaft, which ensures that the frame remains closed and the umbrella surface is retracted.

[0059] Figure 13 The closed umbrella surface marked as 537 and the retracted component 538 are shown.

[0060] Figure 14 The spring latch mechanism is shown. This is an innovation to lock the slider 612 in the fully open configuration when the umbrella surface is tensioned. In this innovation, the latch is not connected to the shaft, but it can move downward along the shaft against the spring 639. When the umbrella surface and the frame are pushed upward by the wind, the frame pushes the sliders 612 and 613 that are coupled at this stage downward. The downward movement of the sliders 612 and 613 causes the frame and the umbrella surface to retract inward, thereby reducing the size of the umbrella surface exposed to the wind, which in turn reduces the wind force. The shape of the umbrella surface also changes, thereby reducing the wind force. The slider moves downward against the spring force that pulls the slider back to its equilibrium position, thereby pulling the umbrella surface back to its open configuration. The spacer between 612 and 611 is in two parts. Part 640 contains the latch 642 and is connected to one end of the spring, while part 641 can be a part of 611, which also supports the other end of the spring.

[0061] Figure 15 is another alternative in the frame mechanism. It shows the same frame as Figure 5 shown, but in this case, the connecting member 726 does not allow the umbrella rib 720 to slide through it. However, the connecting member 726a that connects 728 and 721 allows 721 to slide through it. When 727 moves the slider 726a, the connecting rod between 720 and 721 changes the position of 726, thereby either lifting it up to the open configuration or lowering it to the closed configuration.

[0062] Figure 16It is another alternative in the framework mechanism. In this figure, another framework structure is shown, which achieves the same purpose by using a simple framework arrangement. In this case, the rib 1822 rotates the rib 2821 to tension the umbrella surface in its open configuration, and rotates the rib 1821 towards the shaft to close the framework, so that the sliding connector 1824 slides along the rib 1819 towards the shaft. When the framework is in the closed configuration, the sliding support 1824 is located at the bottom end of the rib 1819 and close to the slider 1813. The rib 1822 is pivotally supported by the rib 1821 and the slider 1812, but uniquely extends beyond the pivot connector on 1821 to the pivot connector connecting 1822 to 1820. The portion of the rib 1822 that extends beyond the pivot connection with 1821 is marked as 1822a. This configuration actuates the movement in the rib 1820 according to the angular movement of 1822 relative to 1821. The spacer connector 1827 pivotally connected to 1821 and 1820 ensures that the rib 1820 is in the correct orientation to tension and give the umbrella surface the required shape. 1827 also ensures that the rib 1820 is pulled back towards 1821, which in turn pulls back the main slider 1818, folding the framework into the closed configuration, where the inner ends of the main ribs attached to the umbrella surface are pulled to a position close to the slider 1813. In the closed configuration, all the framework ribs are pressed close to the shaft. When the slider 1813 is pushed towards 1812, the secondary support rib 1819 rotates away from the shaft, thus opening the framework, where the ends of the main ribs and the attached umbrella surface edge rotate away from the shaft. The initial distance between 1813 and 1812 is important to ensure that when 1813 and 1812 are coupled and move upward along the shaft together, the ends of the main ribs and the edge of the umbrella surface have rotated more than 90 degrees from the shaft so that the umbrella surface edge does not limit further movement. When the two sliders 1813 and 1812 continue to move upward along the shaft, 1822 rotates, moving 1820 which extends the main rib, and the slider 1824 is pushed upward towards 1823, thus fully tensioning the umbrella surface. The spring 1811a or 1819a or both prevent further upward movement. The spacers 1813a and 1813b are telescopically connected to the slider 1813. When the slider 1813 is pulled downward along the shaft to close the framework and the umbrella surface, the slider 1812 also moves downward, and the spacing between the sliders 1813 and 1812 when the framework is in the closed configuration is defined by the length of the telescopic spacers 1813a and 1813b. The slider 1812 is designed to be movable along the spacer, but is restricted by the spacer 1813b near the top end of the spacer in the closed configuration. The stiffness of the spring 1811a and the spring 1819a when used in combination or 1811a or 1819a used alone defines the stiffness of the framework against the lifting force in the open configuration. This feature can be used to minimize the possibility of the main ribs and the umbrella surface flipping inside-out due to wind when the umbrella is used in the open configuration.

[0063] Figure 17 is another alternative in the framework mechanism. In this figure, another framework structure is shown, which achieves the same purpose with a simple framework arrangement. This configuration is similar to Figure 16 the framework shown in, which accepts that the rib 822 is only pivotally connected between the slider 812 and the rib 821 and does not extend beyond 821. The connecting member 827 also pivotally connects the rib 820 and the slider 824 that can slide along the rib 819. This arrangement creates a further connection between the main rib 818 and the secondary rib 819. This arrangement changes the way the framework responds to wind force.

[0064] Figure 18 is shown Figure 16 the umbrella surface 1841 above the framework structure shown in, but it can also be applied to other framework arrangements shown.

Claims

1. An inverting and outward folding umbrella, comprising: a. A shaft (10, 110, 410, 610, 810, 1810); b. A canopy (125, 1841); c. A first or top slider (11, 111, 311, 411, 611, 811, 1811), a second slider (12, 112, 312, 412, 612, 812, 1812) and a third slider (13, 113, 313, 413, 613, 813, 1813), each slider being placed along the shaft, and each of the first or top slider, the second slider and the third slider being provided with coupling and decoupling features, wherein each of the first or top slider, the second slider and the third slider is configured to control a tensioning coupling and decoupling mechanism; d. A frame, which includes a plurality of main umbrella ribs (18, 118, 218, 718, 818, 1818), a plurality of secondary umbrella ribs (19, 119, 219, 419, 719, 819, 1819), a plurality of tensioning umbrella ribs (20, 120, 220, 720, 820, 1820) and a plurality of top supporting umbrella ribs (21, 121, 721, 821, 1821); e. Each of the plurality of main umbrella ribs and the plurality of secondary umbrella ribs is configured to be connected together by a first sliding connecting member (23, 123, 823, 1823), wherein the plurality of main umbrella ribs are configured to support the canopy, and the plurality of secondary umbrella ribs are configured to support the corresponding main umbrella ribs. When closed, the secondary umbrella ribs extend outermost from the slider on the shaft, wherein the first sliding connecting member is configured to allow the main umbrella ribs to extend through the first sliding connecting member; f. A second sliding connecting member (24, 124, 724, 824, 1824), which is located on the secondary umbrella rib, the second sliding connecting member being connected to the corresponding top supporting umbrella rib (21, 121, 721, 821, 1821), the top supporting umbrella rib being supported by the first or top slider on the shaft and connected to a link mechanism, wherein the link mechanism is configured to actuating the movement of the corresponding tensioning umbrella rib (20, 120, 220, 720, 820, 1820), and the corresponding tensioning umbrella rib is configured to control the position of the corresponding main umbrella rib; And g. An actuating mechanism, which is configured to be actuated by the rotation of the secondary umbrella rib and the second sliding connecting member (24, 124, 724, 824, 1824) located on the secondary umbrella rib relative to the corresponding top supporting umbrella rib (21, 121, 721, 821, 1821), the corresponding top supporting umbrella rib being supported by the first or top slider on the shaft at one end and connected to the second sliding connecting member (24, 124, 724, 824, 1824) located on the secondary umbrella rib at the other end.

2. The inside-out folding umbrella according to claim 1, wherein, The shaft is telescopic.

3. The inside-out folding umbrella according to claim 1, wherein, The shaft is formed of a single component.

4. The inside-out folding umbrella according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, A fourth or bottom slider is provided, and wherein the fourth or bottom slider is configured to control the movement of the first or top slider.

5. The inside-out folding umbrella according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: A frame closing mechanism, the frame closing mechanism including rotating members (332, 432) configured to rotate axially towards to close the frame and the canopy, thereby receiving and locking the frame in place.

6. The inside-out folding umbrella according to claim 5, further comprising: A canopy collapsing mechanism, the canopy collapsing mechanism including a circumferential member attached to the rotating member, the circumferential member configured such that when the rotating member rotates and closes onto the shaft, the canopy collapses about the frame and the shaft.

7. The inside-out folding umbrella according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, Further comprising: a spring latch mechanism including a two-piece resilient spacer and a spring, wherein a first piece of the two-piece resilient spacer is connected to the first or top slider located on the shaft and supports one end of the spring, a second piece of the two-piece resilient spacer includes a latch at one end and supports the other end of the spring at the other end, wherein the spring latch mechanism is configured to generate a return spring force that allows the frame to move from its open configuration to minimize wind force and return to its equilibrium position.

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