Umbrella and method for manufacturing an umbrella

Abstract

To provide an umbrella that can make a sufficient visual impact on the viewer. [Solution] An umbrella comprising an umbrella fabric that includes at least a portion of recycled kimono fabric. The umbrella fabric has an outer surface having a handle and an inner surface without a handle, and the umbrella fabric is composed of a plurality of constituent fabrics having a vertex, each of the constituent fabrics is connected to the other constituent fabrics such that the vertex is located in the center, and the vertex is folded inward without being connected to the other constituent fabrics. An umbrella comprising an umbrella fabric having a hole in the center through which the end of a central shaft passes, the umbrella fabric has an outer surface having a handle and an inner surface without a handle, and the umbrella fabric has an annular patch that abuts against the central edge which is the edge constituting the hole on the inner surface, and the patch has a handle facing inward.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an umbrella and a method for manufacturing an umbrella.

Background Art

[0002] As background art in this technical field, there is Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 03-039414 (Patent Document 1). This publication describes an umbrella that can also be used as a toy.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There was a possibility that it could not give sufficient visual impact to the viewers.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To solve the above problems, for example, the following configuration is adopted.

[0006] An umbrella comprising an umbrella cloth containing at least a part of the fabric of a recycled kimono.

[0007] The umbrella cloth has an outer surface having a handle and an inner surface not having a handle, and the umbrella cloth is configured by combining a plurality of constituent cloths having a vertex portion, each of the constituent cloths is connected to the other constituent cloths such that the vertex portion is located at the center, the vertex portion is folded inward without being connected to the other constituent cloths, an umbrella.

[0008] The umbrella cloth has a hole at the center, and the end of the middle rod penetrates through the hole. The umbrella fabric has an outer surface with a handle and an inner surface without a handle, and The umbrella fabric has an annular patch that contacts the central edge portion, which is the edge portion that constitutes the hole on the inner surface, The aforementioned lining has a pattern facing inward, as is the case with the umbrella.

[0009] The aforementioned umbrella fabric has a hole in the center, through which the end of the central shaft passes. An umbrella, wherein the umbrella fabric is sewn in a ring shape along the central edge, which is the edge that constitutes the hole.

[0010] An umbrella in which the outer surface of the central edge of the umbrella fabric is coated with wax.

[0011] The outer edge portion of the umbrella fabric, which is the outer edge portion, includes a bulging portion that expands outward, and connects to the dewdrop tip. The tip connected to the umbrella fabric includes an enlarged diameter end, An umbrella in which the amount of the raised portion in the umbrella fabric is greater than the amount of the diameter expansion at the widened end of the tip.

[0012] Steps to collect the kimono, The steps include cutting out multiple constituent fabrics from the recovered kimono, The steps include: manufacturing an umbrella fabric by connecting multiple constituent fabrics, The process includes the step of manufacturing an umbrella using the aforementioned umbrella fabric. Umbrella manufacturing method. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an umbrella that can give viewers a sufficient visual impact. Other issues, configurations, and effects not mentioned above will be clarified by the following description of the embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of an umbrella. [Figure 2]Figure 1 shows the inside of the umbrella cloth of an umbrella. [Figure 3] Figure 2 shows the inside of the umbrella cloth of an umbrella. [Figure 4] It is a top view of an umbrella.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] The umbrella will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The umbrella 1 includes an umbrella cloth 2, a middle rod 3, and a rib part 4.

[0016] The umbrella cloth 2 is a cloth member that is deployed by opening and closing the umbrella 1. In FIG. 1, the umbrella cloth 2 of the opened umbrella 1 is shown. When the umbrella is opened, the umbrella cloth 2呈現出a dome-shaped form that spreads radially around the middle rod 3. Hereinafter, the inner region of the dome shape may be simply referred to as "inside", and the outer region may be simply referred to as "outside".

[0017] The middle rod 3 is a support column that serves as the central axis of the umbrella 1 and is a basic structural member for supporting the umbrella cloth 2 and the rib rib part 4. One end (lower end) of the middle rod 3 has a handle that the user of the umbrella 1 holds in their hand, and the other end (upper end) is connected to the rib part 4. The middle rod 3 has a slide mechanism for opening and closing the umbrella.

[0018] The rib part 4 is a frame member that supports the umbrella cloth 2 when it is open. The rib part 4 is rotatably attached to the upper end of the middle rod 3 and performs an operation of unfolding the umbrella cloth 2 when the umbrella 1 is opened and folding it when it is closed. When the umbrella 1 is open, the rib part 4 has a plurality of elongated rod-shaped constituent ribs 41 for spreading the umbrella cloth 2 radially to form a dome shape. The outer peripheral edge of the umbrella cloth 2 is connected and fixed to each constituent rib 41 so that a predetermined tension is applied. The tip of the constituent rib 41 has an exposed tip 4E which is a member for connecting to the umbrella cloth 2.

[0019] Incidentally, conventional umbrella fabrics are generally made using mainly synthetic fibers, which consumes new resources and poses an environmental burden during the manufacturing process. Furthermore, high-quality traditional materials such as discarded kimonos are often wasted without being fully reused, and improvements are needed from the perspective of efficient resource utilization.

[0020] Furthermore, traditional umbrellas were often designed primarily for functionality and durability, lacking in design elements that reflected Japan's unique culture and aesthetic sensibilities. In particular, modern umbrellas rarely incorporate traditional Japanese weaving and dyeing techniques, failing to visually express Japanese cultural values. As a result, traditional umbrellas were limited in their ability to provide sufficient visual impact that reflected cultural background and traditional beauty, and failed to meet the needs of consumers who value individuality and traditional beauty.

[0021] Therefore, the umbrella 1 in this disclosure is an umbrella comprising an umbrella fabric that includes at least a portion of recycled kimono fabric. In this disclosure, the umbrella 1 uses kimono fabric, a high-quality material made using traditional techniques. By reusing this fabric as umbrella material, waste can be reduced and resources can be used effectively. This is expected to reduce the amount of fiber used and lessen the environmental impact. Furthermore, by using recycled kimono fabric, it is possible to visually express a unique Japanese aesthetic and cultural value that was not seen in conventional umbrellas. By incorporating the weaving and dyeing techniques unique to kimonos into umbrellas, a distinctive and luxurious design can be achieved, enhancing the visual impact.

[0022] In this disclosure, the umbrella 1 is primarily for ornamental purposes, and the height of the umbrella 1 (length of the central pole 3) is approximately 20 cm, and the diameter of the umbrella fabric 2 when open is approximately 23 cm. The ornamental umbrella 1 in this disclosure can be used in various ways, such as by placing it on a stand as a decoration, by hanging it from the ceiling or wall as a spatial decoration, or by attaching it to a figure or doll for display.

[0023] In other embodiments, the umbrella may be used not only for decorative purposes but also to protect oneself from rain and sunlight. In this case, for example, the height of the umbrella (length of the central pole 3) may be 40 to 80 cm, and the diameter of the umbrella fabric 2 when open may be 70 to 110 cm. Alternatively, the umbrella fabric 2 may be a parasol with a diameter of 2 to 3 meters. In these cases, the umbrella fabric may be treated with a water-repellent, waterproof, or UV-cut coating.

[0024] In this disclosure, the umbrella fabric 2 is entirely composed of recycled kimono fabric.

[0025] A "kimono" is a traditional Japanese garment consisting of a long, straight piece of fabric wrapped around the body and secured with a sash. Kimono fabrics can be made from silk, linen, cotton, wool, or other natural or synthetic fibers, and these fabrics are often adorned with unique patterns and designs through dyeing, embroidery, or weaving techniques. Kimono also includes other types such as furisode, yukata, juban, hakama, and jinbei.

[0026] "Recycled kimono fabric" means fabric recovered from unused or used kimonos. The fabric may be repaired or processed to make it reusable. Unused kimonos refer to kimonos that were manufactured but collected without being used for their original purpose. Used kimonos refer to kimonos that have been used at least once and then collected.

[0027] The material of the central shaft 3 and the ribs 4 may be a synthetic resin with low strength, such as polypropylene or polystyrene, if it is an ornamental umbrella like the umbrella 1 of this disclosure, or it may be a natural material such as wood or bamboo, where aesthetics are important.

[0028] If the umbrella is used not only for decorative purposes but also to protect oneself from rain, the central shaft 3 and ribs 4 may be made of lightweight and strong materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, reinforced plastic, or carbon fiber.

[0029] The umbrella fabric 2 is made up of multiple constituent fabrics 21 joined together, and in this disclosure, the umbrella fabric 2 is made up of six constituent fabrics 21 joined together. The constituent fabric 21 has a shape with vertices, and in this disclosure, the constituent fabric 21 is approximately an isosceles triangle. Each of the constituent fabrics 21 is connected to other constituent fabrics 21 such that its vertex is located in the center.

[0030] The umbrella fabric 2 has a hole 2H in the center. The hole 2H is a space formed when the vertices of each constituent fabric 21 are not connected to other constituent fabrics 21. As shown in Figure 4, the other end (upper end) of the central rod 3 passes through hole 2H. The central rod 3 is located below the upper end through which it passes through hole 2H, and has a locking portion with a diameter larger than the diameter of hole 2H so as not to penetrate hole 2H. Needless to say, the locking portion is located on the inside of the umbrella fabric 2.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, the upper end of the central rod 3 has a cap-shaped tip 3C. The tip 3C is shown in Figure 1, but it is not shown in Figure 4. In the central rod 3 of this disclosure, the upper end 3E (shown in Figure 4), which is penetrated through the hole 2H, has a male thread structure, the inside of the tip 3C has a female thread structure, and the tip 3C is configured to be screwable with the upper end 3E. In other words, the edge portion (which may be referred to as the central edge portion hereafter) that constitutes the hole 2H of the umbrella fabric 2 is held between the ferrule 3C (located on the outside) and the locking portion (located on the inside) of the central shaft 3.

[0032] The umbrella fabric 2 has an outer surface with a handle and an inner surface without a handle. Even when viewing the umbrella fabric 2 from the inside, the handle on the outer surface may be visible through the fabric. As shown in Figure 2, the vertex is folded inward without being connected to the other constituent fabrics 21. The outer surface with the folded pattern faces inward. In other words, the outer surface of the folded vertex is visible from the inside. This configuration allows for the creation of a roughly star-shaped structure 2S with a handle, composed of multiple folded, pointed vertices, in the center of the inside of the umbrella fabric 2, as shown in Figure 2. This, in turn, improves the visual impact of the umbrella 1.

[0033] As shown in Figure 3, the umbrella fabric 2 may have an annular patch 2P that contacts the central edge on the inner surface. The 2P patch has a pattern that faces inwards. This configuration enhances the visual impact of umbrella 1.

[0034] As shown in Figure 4, the umbrella fabric 2 may have an annular seam 2C that is sewn in a ring shape along the central edge. As described above, the central edge of the umbrella fabric 2 is held between the ferrule 3C and the locking portion of the central shaft 3, and at least a portion of the upper surface of the central edge is in contact with the ferrule 3C. In the umbrella 1 of this disclosure, the annular stitching portion 2C of the central edge is in contact with the lower surface of the ferrule 3C. In Figure 1, the annular stitching portion 2C is not shown because it is in contact with the lower surface of the ferrule 3C.

[0035] A user of the umbrella 1 can fix the umbrella 1 to the predetermined member by, for example, sandwiching a predetermined member between the upper surface including the annular stitching portion 2C of the central edge and the ferrule 3C, and screwing the ferrule 3C onto the upper end (male screw portion) 3E of the central shaft 3. In this case, there is a risk that the durability of the upper surface of the central edge may decrease due to friction of the predetermined member, but durability can be improved by having an annular stitching portion 2C that is stitched in a ring shape along the central edge.

[0036] The outer surface of the central edge of the umbrella fabric 2 may be coated with wax. The wax is selected from naturally derived or synthetic wax components. Specifically, it includes beeswax, paraffin wax, carnauba wax, soy wax, and other plant-based or petroleum-derived waxes, which may be used alone or in combination depending on the purpose. These waxes impart water repellency, abrasion resistance, and slipperiness to the surface of the umbrella fabric 2, improving its durability.

[0037] As shown in Figure 1, the tip 4E of the rib portion 4 that connects to the umbrella fabric 2 includes an enlarged diameter end portion 4EA. The umbrella fabric 2 includes a tip connecting portion 2E, which is the portion that connects to the tip 4E of the rib portion 4 at the outer edge (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the outer edge). The tip connecting section 2E is secured to the tip 4E by being tied with a string-like member. The tip connecting portion 2E includes a raised portion 2E that bulges outward.

[0038] The amount of elevation of the raised portion 2E in the umbrella fabric 2 may be greater than the amount of expansion of the widened end portion 4EA in the tip 4E. The amount of diameter expansion of the expanded end portion 4EA refers to the width (thickness) obtained by expanding the diameter from the smallest diameter portion (hereinafter referred to as the minimum diameter portion 4EB) of the tip 4E located on the end side of the tip connecting portion 2E of the umbrella fabric 2. In this disclosure, the diameter of the minimum diameter portion 4EB is approximately 4 mm, and the diameter of the enlarged diameter end portion 4EA is approximately 6 mm. In other words, the amount of enlargement of the enlarged diameter end portion 4EA is approximately 1 mm (millimeter).

[0039] The amount of elevation of the raised portion 2E refers to the width (thickness) of the elevation from the minimum diameter portion 4EB. In this disclosure, the thickness of the umbrella fabric 2 is approximately 0.3 mm, and the raised portion 2E can be constructed by folding the umbrella fabric 2 multiple times, with the amount of raised portion 2E being approximately 2 mm.

[0040] Users of the umbrella 1 can suspend and secure the umbrella 1 by tying, for example, a string-like member to the smallest diameter portion 4EB between the enlarged end portion 4EA and the raised portion 2E. In this case, the raised portion 2E has a configuration in which the amount of elevation is greater than the amount of expansion of the enlarged end portion 4EA, thereby preventing the string-like member from slipping and moving.

[0041] The tip connecting portion 2E (raised portion 2E) of the umbrella fabric 2 may be coated with wax. The waxes are selected from naturally derived or synthetic wax components. Specifically, these include beeswax, paraffin wax, carnauba wax, soy wax, and other plant-derived or petroleum-derived waxes, which may be used alone or in combination depending on the purpose.

[0042] An example of a method for manufacturing the umbrella 1 in this disclosure is described below. The manufacturer of Umbrella 1 first retrieves the kimono. The manufacturer of Umbrella 1 may collect kimonos from individuals who own unwanted kimonos, or from recycling companies that own kimonos collected from individuals, or from kimono shops that own kimonos scheduled for disposal.

[0043] The manufacturer of umbrella 1 then cuts out multiple pieces of fabric 21 from the recovered kimono. The manufacturer of umbrella 1 then manufactures umbrella fabric 2 by connecting multiple constituent fabrics 21. In this case, one umbrella fabric 2 may be manufactured using multiple constituent fabrics 21 cut from one kimono, or one umbrella fabric 2 may be manufactured by combining multiple constituent fabrics 21 cut from multiple kimonos. The manufacturer of umbrella 1 finally manufactures the umbrella 1 having the above-described configuration using the umbrella fabric 2.

[0044] Although the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and improvements are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1: Umbrella 2: Umbrella fabric 21: Composition of cloth 2H: Hole 2C: Circular suture 2S: Star 2P: Toubu 2E: Outer connecting part (raised part) 3: medium bat 3C: Shitu 3E: Top 4: Bones 41: Constituting bone 4E: Lu Xian 4EA: End of diameter 4EB: Minimum diameter

Claims

1. An umbrella with a fabric that includes at least a portion of recycled kimono material.

2. The umbrella fabric has an outer surface with a handle and an inner surface without a handle, and The umbrella fabric is constructed by joining together a plurality of constituent fabrics, each having a vertex. Each of the aforementioned constituent fabrics is connected to another constituent fabric such that its vertex is located in the center. The aforementioned vertex portion is folded inward without being connected to the other constituent fabrics. The umbrella according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned umbrella fabric has a hole in the center, through which the end of the central shaft passes. The umbrella fabric has an outer surface with a handle and an inner surface without a handle, and The umbrella fabric has an annular patch that contacts the central edge portion, which is the edge portion that constitutes the hole on the inner surface, The aforementioned patch has a pattern facing inwards. The umbrella according to claim 1.

4. The aforementioned umbrella fabric has a hole in the center, through which the end of the central shaft passes. The umbrella fabric is sewn in a ring shape along the central edge, which is the edge that constitutes the hole. The umbrella according to claim 1.

5. The outer surface of the central edge of the umbrella fabric is coated with wax. The umbrella according to claim 4.

6. The outer edge portion of the umbrella fabric, which is the outer edge portion, includes a bulging portion that expands outward, and connects to the dewdrop tip. The tip connected to the umbrella fabric includes an enlarged diameter end, The amount of protrusion in the raised portion of the umbrella fabric is greater than the amount of expansion at the widened end of the tip. The umbrella according to claim 1.

7. Steps to collect the kimono, The steps include cutting out multiple constituent fabrics from the recovered kimono, The steps include: manufacturing an umbrella fabric by connecting multiple constituent fabrics, The process includes the step of manufacturing an umbrella using the aforementioned umbrella fabric. Umbrella manufacturing method.

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