A portable inflatable umbrella without metal support

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of umbrella technology, specifically referring to a portable inflatable umbrella without a metal frame. It includes a canopy body, an air pressure support frame, supporting air columns, and an inflatable handle. A top-centralized air chamber is fixedly mounted at the center of the inner side of the canopy body. Fitting grooves matching the air pressure support frame are formed on the inner side of the canopy body, arranged radially at equal angles with the top-centralized air chamber as the center. An annular inflatable rim is sewn and fixed to the outer edge of the canopy body, and the annular inflatable rim is sealed and connected to the ends of the air pressure support frame, forming a closed-loop outer support structure. The air pressure support frame includes multiple sets of radially distributed inflatable ribs. By abandoning all metal support components and optimizing the assembly and connection structure of the canopy body, air pressure support frame, supporting air columns, and inflatable handle, the overall airtightness and structural stability are improved, while also considering lightweight, safety, and wind resistance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of umbrella technology, specifically referring to a portable inflatable umbrella without a metal frame. Background Technology

[0002] Existing conventional umbrellas generally use metal ribs and handles as the supporting frame. The rigid metal components are not only heavy and bulky, but also have sharp ends, posing a safety hazard of scratching users. At the same time, metal components cannot pass through security checks on airplanes, high-speed trains, and campuses, limiting their carrying and use scenarios.

[0003] A small number of inflatable umbrellas on the market have defects such as unreasonable air circuit layout, weak support strength, poor sealing of various parts, easy leakage and detachment, and insufficient wind resistance, which cannot meet the needs of daily use in sunny and rainy weather and portable travel. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the technical problems of existing inflatable umbrellas, such as low support strength, weak wind resistance, poor air circuit sealing, and limited functionality, this invention provides a portable inflatable umbrella without a metal frame. It eliminates all metal support components, optimizes the assembly and connection structure of the umbrella body, air pressure support frame, support air column, and inflatable handle, improves overall air tightness and structural stability, and balances lightweight, safety, and wind resistance, making it suitable for use in various travel scenarios.

[0005] To achieve the above functions, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: A portable inflatable umbrella without a metal frame includes an umbrella body, a pneumatic support frame, a support air column, and an inflatable handle. A top centralized air chamber is fixedly installed at the center of the inner side of the umbrella body. A fitting groove matching the pneumatic support frame is opened on the inner side of the umbrella body. The fitting groove is arranged radially at equal angles with the top centralized air chamber as the center. An annular inflatable rim is sewn and fixed to the outer edge of the umbrella body. The annular inflatable rim is sealed and connected to the ends of the pneumatic support frame to form a closed-loop outer support structure. The pneumatic support frame includes multiple sets of radially distributed inflatable ribs. The support air column, the top centralized air chamber, the multiple sets of radially distributed inflatable ribs, and the annular inflatable rim together form an integrated sealed air passage structure.

[0006] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the supporting air column is a vertically arranged hollow columnar structure. The bottom end of the supporting air column is directly and fixedly connected to the inflation handle, and the top end of the supporting air column is integrally and sealed to the top centralized air chamber. The top centralized air chamber integrates a diversion air channel, and the outer wall of the top centralized air chamber has diversion interfaces equidistantly opened along the circumferential direction with the same number of fitting slots. The diversion interfaces are respectively connected to the inner ends of each group of inflation air ribs, so as to realize the centralized distribution of air source from the central supporting air column to each inflation air rib.

[0007] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inflatable ribs are embedded in the fitting grooves on the inner side of the umbrella body, and the outer wall of the inflatable ribs is tightly solidified and connected to the inner wall of the groove of the umbrella body by high-frequency hot pressing and hot melting composite method.

[0008] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inner end of the inflatable air rib is sealed and fixed to the diversion interface of the top centralized air chamber and sealed. The outer end of the inflatable air rib extends outward and is integrally connected with the inner cavity of the annular inflatable rim. The supporting air column, the top centralized air chamber, the inflatable air rib, and the internal air passage of the annular inflatable rim are interconnected and together form a complete closed air pressure bearing cavity. After inflation, the central supporting air column bears the vertical load, and the radial inflatable air ribs support the umbrella surface, working together to complete the overall support of the umbrella.

[0009] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inflatable handle integrates a miniature hand-operated air pump, a self-locking airtight valve, and a linked pressure relief button. The air inlet of the miniature hand-operated air pump is exposed, and the air outlet is directly connected to the inner cavity of the central support air column. During inflation, the airflow passes sequentially through the support air column, the top centralized air chamber, the inflation ribs, and finally to the annular inflation rim. Under pressure-holding conditions, the umbrella can be stably opened. After depressurization, the central support air column and the radial inflation ribs soften and bend synchronously, allowing the umbrella to be rolled up and stored with the main body of the umbrella. The air paths of the inflatable handle, the support air column, the top centralized air chamber, and the inflation ribs are interconnected and structurally linked.

[0010] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the umbrella body is made of high-elastic and wear-resistant Oxford cloth and a thin TPU airtight composite layer, which is waterproof, sun-proof, soft and bendable.

[0011] Compared with the prior art, the present invention achieves the following beneficial effects by adopting the above structure: 1. The overall support structure consists of a support air column, a top centralized air chamber, inflatable air ribs, and annular inflatable edging. All components are made of high-polymer airtight composite materials, which eliminates the problems of metal corrosion and sharp parts scratching the human body from the source. At the same time, there are no metal hinges or vulnerable parts, which reduces the probability of component damage. It is suitable for use by adults and children. It will not oxidize or age in humid and rainy environments, effectively extending the service life of the umbrella. 2. The integrated, interconnected, sealed air passage structure uses the top centralized air chamber as the air source distribution center, the central support air column vertically bears the load, and the radial inflation ribs match the umbrella surface fitting slots and are sealed and connected with the annular inflation edge, forming an overall load-bearing structure with central air supply, radial support, and outer closed-loop reinforcement. Compared with split-type inflatable umbrellas, the air passage of this invention has no extra connecting gaps, better pressure holding effect, and the umbrella surface is evenly stressed after inflation, without local collapse, air leakage, or pressure loss. The structural stability is greatly improved when the umbrella is open. 3. The inflatable handle integrates a miniature hand-operated air pump, a self-locking airtight valve, and a linked pressure relief button. This integrated design simplifies the operation process. Users only need to press the air pump to inflate the entire umbrella simultaneously, and press the pressure relief button to deflate the entire umbrella simultaneously. After deflation, all inflatable structures soften and bend simultaneously, allowing them to be rolled up and stored directly along with the main body of the umbrella. The storage volume is much smaller than traditional umbrellas and ordinary inflatable umbrellas. It is lightweight and can be easily put into a backpack or pocket, making it suitable for various travel scenarios such as commuting, outdoor camping, and short trips. At the same time, the umbrella surface is made of a high-elasticity and wear-resistant composite fabric that is soft and can be repeatedly bent without damaging the umbrella surface during storage. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a portable inflatable umbrella without a metal frame proposed in this invention.

[0013] The components include: 1. Main umbrella canopy; 2. Air pressure support frame; 21. Inflatable air ribs; 3. Supporting air columns; 4. Inflatable handle; 41. Linked pressure relief button; 5. Top centralized air chamber; and 6. Circular inflatable edging. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0015] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. The invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0016] like Figure 1As shown, the present invention provides a portable inflatable umbrella without a metal frame, comprising an umbrella body 1, an air pressure support frame 2, support air columns 3, and an inflatable handle 4; a top centralized air chamber 5 is fixedly mounted at the center of the inner side of the umbrella body 1, and fitting grooves matching the air pressure support frame 2 are opened on the inner side of the umbrella body 1, the fitting grooves being arranged radially at equal angles with the top centralized air chamber 5 as the center; an annular inflatable rim 6 is sewn and fixed to the outer edge of the umbrella body 1, the annular inflatable rim 6 being sealed and connected to the ends of the air pressure support frame 2 to form a closed-loop outer support structure; the air pressure support frame 2 includes multiple sets of radially distributed inflatable air ribs 21. The support air column 3 is a vertically arranged hollow columnar structure, with its bottom end fixedly connected to the inflatable handle 4, and its top end integrally sealed and connected to the top centralized air chamber 5; the top centralized air chamber 5 integrates a diversion air channel, and diversion interfaces are opened at equal intervals along the circumference of the outer wall and connect to the inner ends of each set of inflatable air ribs 21. The inflatable ribs 21 are embedded inside the fitting grooves, and their outer walls are bonded to the umbrella surface via high-frequency hot pressing. The inner ends are inserted and fixed to the distribution interface, while the outer ends communicate with the inner cavity of the annular inflatable rim 6. The inflatable handle 4 integrates a miniature hand-operated air pump, a self-locking airtight valve, and a linked pressure relief button 41. The umbrella surface body 1 is made of high-elasticity, wear-resistant Oxford cloth and a thin, airtight TPU composite layer. The supporting air column 3, the top centralized air chamber 5, multiple sets of inflatable ribs 21, and the annular inflatable rim 6 together form an integrated, sealed airway structure. Example 1:

[0017] This embodiment is a basic pure gas-driven inflatable umbrella. It adopts the above-mentioned basic structure. The internal sealed cavity is filled only with air as the pressure-bearing medium. No liquid medium is added throughout the process, making it suitable for daily use in normal weather.

[0018] Specific assembly and working principle: In this embodiment, all inflatable cavities (supporting air columns 3, top centralized air chamber 5, inflatable air ribs 21, and annular inflatable rim 6) are single sealed air chambers, with interconnected air passages and seamless overall sealing. In the initial storage state, there is no high-pressure gas inside the cavity, and the supporting air columns 3 and inflatable air ribs 21 are in a softened and bent state. The whole structure is rolled up and stored along with the umbrella body 1, forming a cylindrical shape with a diameter of 3-5cm, a length of 20-25cm, and a weight of only 180-220g, making it easy to carry.

[0019] In actual inflation, the user holds the inflation handle 4 and repeatedly presses the integrated miniature hand-operated air pump. External air is drawn in through the pump's inlet and introduced into the inner cavity of the support column 3 through the outlet. The airflow is then transported upwards along the support column 3 to the top centralized air chamber 5, and evenly distributed to the various outer distribution ports via the internal air distribution channels. Simultaneously, the airflow is delivered into the multiple radially distributed inflation ribs 21, and finally converges into the annular inflation rim 6, completing the full-cavity inflation operation. When the internal air pressure reaches the preset threshold of 0.25-0.35 MPa, pressing the inflation pump stops, and the self-locking airtight stop valve automatically closes, blocking the gas backflow channel and maintaining a constant internal air pressure.

[0020] After inflation, the vertically set support air column 3 hardens and takes shape, bearing the overall vertical load of the umbrella and replacing the traditional umbrella center bar; multiple sets of inflatable air ribs 21 expand and harden simultaneously, fitting into the inner groove of the umbrella surface to provide radial support for the umbrella surface; the annular inflatable rim 6 connected at the end forms an outer closed-loop reinforcement structure, constraining the deformation of the outer end of the inflatable air ribs 21, preventing the edge of the umbrella surface from collapsing, and enabling the umbrella to be fully opened, so that it can normally perform sun protection and rain protection operations, and can stably resist normal wind and rain weather of level 3-4.

[0021] When the umbrella is finished and needs to be stored, simply press the linked pressure relief button 41 on the outside of the inflation handle 4 to trigger the self-locking airtight valve to open the pressure relief channel. The high-pressure gas inside the sealed cavity flows back to the inflation handle 4 and is discharged outward. After the cavity pressure reaches zero, the supporting air column 3, the inflation ribs 21, and the annular inflation rim 6 soften simultaneously and lose their supporting rigidity. The user can simply roll up the umbrella from the outside to the inside for storage. The entire deflation and storage process takes no more than 10 seconds, making it simple and efficient to operate. Example 2:

[0022] This embodiment is an upgraded and enhanced version, which is based on the basic structure of embodiment 1 and optimized and improved. The whole still has no metal components, retains the pure gas inflation and deflation operation logic, and adopts a dual-medium collaborative drive mode of gas and environmentally friendly low-pressure hydraulic oil. It is specially adapted to complex outdoor weather such as strong winds and effectively solves the defects of conventional inflatable umbrellas that are weak in wind resistance and easy to deform and turn outward.

[0023] Structural optimization and improvement points: In this embodiment, a miniature built-in sealed liquid storage chamber is added inside the inflatable handle 4. The liquid storage chamber is sealed and connected to the bottom of the inner cavity of the supporting air column 3 through a one-way liquid guide valve. The one-way liquid guide valve only allows hydraulic oil to be transported from the liquid storage chamber to the inside of the supporting air column 3, and prohibits gas from flowing back into the liquid storage chamber. The liquid storage chamber is pre-packaged with a quantitative amount of environmentally friendly low-pressure hydraulic oil. This hydraulic oil has the characteristics of low viscosity, non-corrosiveness, cold and heat resistance, and non-volatile properties, and is harmless to the human body and the environment. It is suitable for long-term storage and use in TPU airtight composite cavity. At the same time, the wall thickness of the supporting air column 3 cavity is increased to improve the pressure bearing and liquid storage capacity. The structure and material of the inflatable air rib 21 and the annular inflatable rim 6 remain unchanged.

[0024] Specific working principle: In the initial storage state, all hydraulic oil is stored in the built-in reservoir of the air handle 4, the one-way fluid guide valve is in the closed state, the oil is isolated from the upper air passage cavity, the overall storage shape, size and weight are the same as in Example 1, and it does not affect the portable storage performance.

[0025] Inflation and expansion stage: The user presses the miniature hand-operated air pump to inflate the air, and the airflow fills the fully sealed air passage cavity according to the same path as in Example 1; as the air pressure inside the support air column 3 gradually increases, the high-pressure air acts on the one-way liquid guide valve of the liquid storage tank, breaking through the valve closing threshold and triggering the one-way liquid guide valve to open. The environmentally friendly low-pressure hydraulic oil inside the liquid storage tank is transported upward under the action of air pressure thrust, gradually filling all the hollow cavities of the support air column 3; after the inflation operation is completed, the airtight lock valve closes, the cavity air pressure is constant, and the hydraulic oil is stably retained inside the support air column 3.

[0026] Compared to pure gas media, hydraulic oil media has stronger pressure resistance and smaller deformation, which can significantly improve the vertical pressure resistance and bending resistance of the supporting air column 3. Combined with the synergistic support of the top centralized air chamber 5 and the radial inflatable air ribs 21, the overall umbrella structure rigidity is significantly improved. When opened, it can stably withstand winds of level 6-7, with no outward flipping of the umbrella surface and no bending or deformation of the air column, making it perfectly suitable for harsh outdoor scenarios such as strong winds and heavy rain.

[0027] Pressure relief and storage phase: The user presses the linked pressure relief button 41, and the high-pressure gas inside the cavity is quickly discharged, restoring the air pressure inside the air circuit from a high-pressure state to normal pressure. At this time, the air pressure inside the support air column 3 is lower than the preset pressure value of the liquid storage tank. The one-way liquid guide valve automatically resets and closes. Under the combined action of gravity and negative pressure, the hydraulic oil inside the support air column 3 automatically flows downward and is completely recycled into the built-in liquid storage tank for sealed storage. There is no oil retention in the upper air circuit cavity throughout the process, completely avoiding the problem of oil leakage and staining of the umbrella surface or the user's clothing. After the oil is recycled, all inflation structures soften simultaneously, and the umbrella can be rolled up and stored. The oil can be recycled and reused without additional replenishment.

[0028] The present invention and its embodiments have been described above. This description is not restrictive, and the accompanying drawings are only one embodiment of the present invention; the actual structure is not limited thereto. In conclusion, if those skilled in the art are inspired by this description and design similar structures and embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention, such designs should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A portable inflatable umbrella without a metal frame, comprising an umbrella canopy body (1), an air pressure support frame (2), a support air column (3), and an inflatable handle (4), characterized in that: The umbrella body (1) is fixedly equipped with a top centralized air chamber (5) at the center of the inner side. The inner side of the umbrella body (1) is provided with a fitting groove that matches the air pressure support frame (2). The fitting groove is arranged radially at equal angles with the top centralized air chamber (5) as the center. The outer edge of the umbrella body (1) is sewn and fixed with an annular inflatable rim (6). The annular inflatable rim (6) is sealed and connected to the end of the air pressure support frame (2) to form a closed-loop outer support structure. The air pressure support frame (2) includes multiple sets of radially distributed inflatable air ribs (21). The support air column (3), the top centralized air chamber (5), the multiple sets of radially distributed inflatable air ribs (21) and the annular inflatable rim (6) together form an integrated sealed air passage structure.

2. The portable inflatable umbrella without a metal frame according to claim 1, characterized in that: The supporting air column (3) is a vertically arranged hollow column structure. The bottom end of the supporting air column (3) is directly connected to the inflation handle (4). The top end of the supporting air column (3) is integrally sealed and connected to the top centralized air chamber (5). The top centralized air chamber (5) integrates a diversion air channel. The outer wall of the top centralized air chamber (5) is provided with diversion interfaces at equal intervals along the circumferential direction, which are the same number as the fitting slots. The diversion interfaces are respectively connected to the inner ends of each set of inflation air ribs (21).

3. The portable inflatable umbrella without a metal frame according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inflatable air ribs (21) are embedded in the fitting grooves on the inner side of the umbrella body (1) in a one-to-one correspondence.

4. A portable inflatable umbrella without a metal frame according to claim 3, characterized in that: The inner end of the inflatable air rib (21) is sealed and fixed at the diversion interface of the top centralized air chamber (5) and sealed. The outer end of the inflatable air rib (21) extends outward and is integrally connected with the inner cavity of the annular inflatable rim (6). The internal air passages of the supporting air column (3), the top centralized air chamber (5), the inflatable air rib (21), and the annular inflatable rim (6) are interconnected.

5. A portable inflatable umbrella without a metal frame according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inflatable handle (4) integrates a miniature hand-operated air pump, a self-locking airtight valve, and a linkage pressure relief button (41). The air inlet of the miniature hand-operated air pump is exposed, and the air outlet is directly connected to the inner cavity of the central support air column (3).

6. A portable inflatable umbrella without a metal frame according to claim 1, characterized in that: The umbrella body (1) is made of high-elasticity and wear-resistant Oxford cloth and a thin TPU airtight composite layer.

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