Opening and closing control mechanism of a folding umbrella

Abstract

Provided is an opening / closing control mechanism for a folding umbrella that effectively enhances the stability, reliability, and operational safety of the opening / closing operation of the umbrella, while simultaneously achieving a simplified structure and manufacturing convenience. 【Solution means】The opening / closing control mechanism of the folding umbrella includes an upper middle rod and a lower middle rod, which are arranged in a nested manner vertically. A control mechanism is installed outside the upper middle rod, and an upper internal filler used for fixing a position recovery spring is installed inside the control mechanism. A closing button is connected to the position recovery spring. A convex ring is installed at the upper end of the control mechanism, and a concave portion is formed below it. When the control mechanism is pushed upward, the convex ring passes over the closing button and fits into the concave portion to achieve a locked state, and the locked state is released when operated in the reverse direction. A structure without an internal filler may also be adopted. In this case, a locking structure in which the control mechanism is connected to an elastic member passing through the lower middle rod is used to push the locking structure through the elastic member and lock it in the concave portion, thereby achieving the positioning and unlocking functions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an opening and closing control mechanism for a folding umbrella, and particularly to an opening and closing structure applied to the structure of a folding umbrella and used for controlling the locking and unlocking of an upper umbrella middle rod and a lower umbrella middle rod. The structure can achieve stable control and anti-misoperation functions in the opening and closing process of the umbrella through the combined operation between an internal filling and a control mechanism, or between a spring and a lock head. The present invention relates to an opening and closing control mechanism for a folding umbrella.

Background Art

[0002] In the opening and closing control of existing folding umbrellas, generally, the opening and closing of the umbrella is achieved by operating an external latch to slide and position between an upper umbrella middle rod and a lower umbrella middle rod. However, the conventional latch-type structure often allows the user to push the upper middle rod to a specific position to produce an effect of fitting and fixing it into a concave groove or an elastic piece mechanism. This design is prone to situations where the fitting fails due to inaccurate positioning, elastic fatigue, wear during use, etc., and there is a risk of unintended opening and closing. In addition, although some structures adopt the design of a sliding ring, while the external operation can be simplified, due to the frequent friction and contact between the internal sliding members, the life of the structure is limited, and it is also difficult to achieve a stable locking effect.

[0003] Furthermore, there is also a technology that adopts the structure of a position recovery spring and an internal filling to improve the stability of the upper umbrella middle rod and the lower umbrella middle rod. However, most of its control mechanisms do not have a design for preventing misoperation. When the user accidentally touches the control member during the opening and closing of the umbrella, the umbrella may not open or the umbrella ribs may suddenly close, which is not only inconvenient but also a safety concern. In addition, since a part of the control mechanism is arranged outside, it is prone to deformation and clogging due to external force or dropping, which is disadvantageous for long-term use. In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, the industry needs to design an opening and closing control mechanism that can simultaneously achieve the simplification of the structure, the prevention of misoperation, and the extension of the service life, and there is still room for improvement.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved opening and closing control mechanism for a folding umbrella, which can effectively improve the stability, reliability of the opening and closing operation of the umbrella, and the safety of operation, while realizing the simplification of the structure and the convenience of manufacturing, due to problems such as inaccurate positioning, wear of the fitting structure, lack of anti-misoperation design, and non-intuitive operation during opening and closing control in the existing structure of the folding umbrella, which often leads to difficulties in opening and closing or inconvenient use situations.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] Therefore, the present invention mainly provides two main embodiments.

[0006] The first embodiment: Install an internal filling in the lower middle rod and combine it with a control mechanism installed outside the upper middle rod. The control mechanism is provided with an operation member that can slide up and down, and a position recovery spring and a retracting button are installed inside it. When the operation member is pushed upward, the button is inserted into the concave groove under the action of the position recovery spring to achieve a locked state. Conversely, when pulled downward, the locked state is released, positioning the middle rod of the umbrella while maintaining stability and preventing misoperation.

[0007] The second embodiment: Omit the design of the conventional internal filling, and directly connect the spring installed through the lower middle rod to the locking head at the upper end of the control mechanism, so as to form the effects of locking and unlocking during the opening and closing process through the interaction between the tension of the spring and the upper end structure. This structure has the advantages of member simplification, modular molding, etc., and is applicable to the design of a folding umbrella that is lightweight or cost-effective.

[0008] The opening and closing control mechanism of the folding umbrella described in claim 1 will be described below. It includes the upper middle rod and the lower middle rod which are arranged in a nested manner up and down. The control mechanism is installed outside the upper middle rod. An upper internal filling used for fixing the position recovery spring is installed inside the control mechanism. The position recovery spring is connected to the umbrella closing button. A convex ring is installed at the upper end of the control mechanism, and a concave portion is formed below it. When the control mechanism is pushed upward and the convex ring exceeds the umbrella closing button, the umbrella closing button is inserted into the concave portion under the action of the position recovery spring, forming a locked state between the upper middle rod and the lower middle rod. When the control mechanism is pulled downward, the convex ring presses down the umbrella closing button, retracts and disengages from the concave portion, and the locked state is released.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] Through the above description, the features and effects of the present invention can be summarized as follows.

[0010] By providing an operation structure with the following locking and unlocking functions, the stability in the opening and closing process of the folding umbrella can be enhanced.

[0011] By combining the position recovery spring and the concave groove mechanism in the internal filling, misoperation can be prevented, and the function of quickly folding the umbrella can be achieved.

[0012] Selecting a simplified structure without internal filling, equivalent positioning and control functions can be achieved through the combination of the spring and the locking head.

[0013] Due to the modularization of the structure, the assembly of components is simple and it can be applied to the manufacture of general manual folding umbrellas.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Example

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the opening and closing control mechanism of Example 1 of the present invention includes an upper middle rod 1 and a lower middle rod 2, and the upper middle rod 1 and the lower middle rod 2 are arranged in a nested manner. An internal filling 21 is installed at a predetermined position inside the lower middle rod 2 and is used to stabilize the positional relationship between the upper umbrella middle rod 1 and the lower umbrella middle rod 2.

[0016] A control mechanism 3 is installed outside the upper middle rod 1. The control mechanism 3 includes an upper internal filling 31, a position recovery spring 32 is installed inside the upper internal filling 31, and an umbrella closing button 33 is connected to the position recovery spring 32.

[0017] A convex ring 34 is installed at the upper end of the control mechanism 3, and a concave portion 35 is formed below it. As shown in FIG. 1, when the user pushes and moves the control mechanism 3 upward and the convex ring 34 exceeds the position of the umbrella closing button 33, the umbrella closing button 33 is pushed down by the convex ring 34 and then elastically rebounds and fits into the concave portion 35, locking the space between the upper middle rod 1 and the lower middle rod 2.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, when the user pulls and moves the control mechanism 3 downward, the convex ring 34 pushes down the umbrella closing button 33, retracts it inside the control mechanism 3 and disengages it from the concave portion 35, releasing the locked state and enabling the operation of folding the umbrella.

[0019] The opening and closing control structure of this embodiment forms a mechanical positioning mechanism with a convex ring and a button that elastically restores its position, and has the effects of preventing misoperation, accurate positioning, simplification of the structure, and the advantage of intuitive operation.

Embodiment

[0020] Figures 3 and 4 show the opening and closing control mechanism of Embodiment 2 of the present invention. This embodiment is a derivative of the structure of Embodiment 1, and includes an upper middle rod 1 and a lower middle rod 2. The two are arranged coaxially up and down, and an internal filling 21 is provided as a positioning member inside the lower middle rod 2.

[0021] A control mechanism 3 is installed outside the upper middle rod 1, and an umbrella closing button 33 is installed on the control mechanism. An elastic arcuate piece 36 is connected to the inside of the button 33. One end of the elastic arcuate piece 36 is fixed to the housing of the control mechanism 3, and the other end biases the button 33 to maintain a state of protruding outward, providing a position restoration function.

[0022] A convex ring 34 is installed at the upper end of the control mechanism 3, and a concave portion 35 is provided below it. As shown in Figure 3, when the user pushes and moves the control mechanism 3 upward and the convex ring 34 exceeds the position of the button 33, the button 33 elastically rebounds under the biasing action of the elastic arcuate piece 36 and fits into the concave portion 35, locking the upper umbrella middle rod and the lower umbrella middle rod.

[0023] As shown in Figure 4, when the user pulls and moves the control mechanism 3 downward, the convex ring 34 pushes down the button 33, retracts it into the control mechanism 3, and disengages it from the concave portion 35, releasing the locked state and allowing the umbrella to be folded. This structure can be operated intuitively, can reliably restore the position, has stability, and can ensure the service life.

Embodiment

[0024] Based on Figures 1 to 4, Embodiment 3 can be derived. In this embodiment, an elastic member is installed inside the lower middle rod 2, and the elastic member penetrates the lower middle rod 2 and is connected to the locking structure inside the control mechanism 3.

[0025] The control mechanism 3 can have a structure similar to the aforementioned structure. Without installing an internal filler inside, the elastic member extends directly to the upper end of the control mechanism 3 and is connected to the lock head structure. When the umbrella is deployed, the lock head is pushed and positioned by the elastic member to form a locked state between the umbrella middle rods.

[0026] When the user operates the control mechanism 3, the lock head can be moved through the structure of the guide member or the position regulating ring inside the mechanism, releasing the original positioning state and completing the operation of closing the umbrella.

[0027] In this embodiment, there is no need to separately install a member for the internal filler. The structure is more simplified, which can not only suppress the manufacturing cost but also improve the assembly efficiency, making it suitable for the application to folding umbrella products with small size, light weight, or low cost.

Embodiment

[0028] Fig. 5 shows the opening and closing control mechanism of Embodiment 4 of the present invention. Its main structure still includes the upper middle rod 1 and the lower middle rod 2, and an internal filler 21 is installed as a positioning member.

[0029] The feature of this embodiment is that the shape and internal structure of the control mechanism 3 are slightly simplified. The arrangement positions of the button 33 and its elastic member 36 are closer to the upper end than in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, forming a lock operation with a shorter stroke. When the user presses the control mechanism 3 to a predetermined position, the convex ring 34 passes over the umbrella closing button 33, and the umbrella closing button 33 restores its position under the action of the elastic bow-shaped piece 36 and fits into the recess 35 to complete the locked state.

[0030] When the user wants to fold the umbrella, if the control mechanism 3 is pulled downward, the convex ring 34 presses the button 33 to retract and separate from the recess 35, and then the positioning state of the umbrella middle rod can be released. This structure can achieve the purpose of further simplifying the operation and the structure without sacrificing the function of preventing misoperation.

Embodiment

[0031] Figure 6 shows the opening and closing control mechanism of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is similar to the third embodiment and has a structure without internal filling. Structurally, it emphasizes more on the integral molding of the module and the assembly with reduced number of parts.

[0032] A slender elastic member is installed inside the lower middle rod 2. One end of the elastic member is fixed to the bottom of the lower middle rod 2, and the other end penetrates and is connected to the locking structure above the control mechanism 3. When the umbrella is deployed, the elastic member provides an upward pushing force to fit the locking structure into a predetermined groove in the control mechanism 3.

[0033] When the user needs to fold the umbrella, by pressing or pulling the control mechanism 3, the locking structure can be disengaged from the groove, completing the release of the locked state, and the structure of the umbrella ribs can be combined to smoothly fold the umbrella. The advantage of this structure is that it eliminates the conventional internal filling and screw members, achieving rapid assembly and weight reduction of the structure.

[0034] As can be seen from the comprehensive description of the above-mentioned Embodiments 1 to 5, based on the actual usage needs, the opening and closing control mechanism of the present invention can adopt a structure with positioning of the internal filling and the locking structure of the control mechanism, or a simplified structure without internal filling, relying on the interaction between the elastic member and the locking head. In each embodiment, the control mechanism 3 is provided with a button 33 that can be pushed or actuated by applying force, and combines the structure of the elastic member 36 and the convex ring 34 / concave portion 35 to form a stable locking and unlocking effect, with practical features such as prevention of misoperation, intuitive use, and smooth operation.

[0035] Among them, the structure with internal filling provides clear positioning criteria and higher stability, and can be applied to general medium-sized or high-strength umbrellas. The structure without internal filling can reduce the number of parts, suppress the manufacturing cost and assembly cost, and can be applied to lightweight, portable, cost-oriented umbrellas, etc. Both types of structures can adjust the modules according to the product design, and have high flexibility and adaptability.

Explanation of Symbols

[0036] 1 Upper middle bar 2 Lower middle bar 21 Internal filling 3 Control mechanism 31 Upper internal filling 32 Position recovery spring 33 Umbrella retraction button 34 Convex ring 35 Concave part 36 Elastic bow-shaped piece

Claims

【Claim 1】 An opening and closing control mechanism for a folding umbrella, including the upper middle rod and the lower middle rod which are arranged in a nested manner vertically, wherein the control mechanism is installed outside the upper middle rod, an upper internal filler used for fixing a position recovery spring is installed inside the control mechanism, and the position recovery spring is connected to the umbrella closing button, a convex ring is installed at the upper end of the control mechanism, and a concave portion is formed below it, when the control mechanism is pushed upward and the convex ring exceeds the umbrella closing button, the umbrella closing button is inserted into the concave portion under the action of the position recovery spring, and a locked state is formed between the upper middle rod and the lower middle rod, when the control mechanism is pulled downward, the convex ring presses down the umbrella closing button, retracts and disengages from the concave portion, and the locked state is released, characterized in that it is an opening and closing control mechanism for a folding umbrella.

Images