Improved structure of the ribs

Abstract

To provide an improved umbrella rib structure including an umbrella pole set, a first connecting base, a first rib, a second rib, a third rib, a support rib, an interlocking shaft, and a first mounting base. [Solution] The umbrella pole assembly includes a center pole 160, a movable base 150, and a top base 170. The base base 150 is swivelably mounted on the center pole, and the top base is fixed to the top end of the center pole. One end of the first rib 110 is attached to the top base, and the other end is attached to the first connecting block C1. One end of the third rib 130 has a second pivot point T2 and a limiting groove 132, the inner ends of which define the closed and open positions of the umbrella, respectively. When the umbrella is opened, the movable base pushes the movable member upward, sliding the limiting pin 124 to the open position. When the umbrella is closed, it pulls downward, causing the limiting pin to return to the closed position. Applying this device improves linkage and stability, has a simple structure, is easy to mass-produce, and extends the lifespan of the umbrella.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of rain gear in daily life, specifically to an improved structure for the ribs of umbrellas and parasols, which improves the linkage and stability of the ribs during the opening and closing process, reduces the risk of structural wear and jamming, and extends the life of the umbrella. [Background technology]

[0002] Umbrellas are an essential item for everyday protection from the rain and sun, and their most important function is the smooth operation of the rib structure. Conventional umbrellas often have a multi-rib design (e.g., a three-rib design), where each rib is usually connected by multiple sets of pivot structures, and a movable roller drives the support ribs to open and close the entire rib structure. However, this type of conventional structure still has the following drawbacks: Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] 1. Lack of interlocking: There is no direct and stable transmission mechanism between each rib (for example, the second rib and the third rib), which makes it easy for movements to become out of sync when opening and closing, resulting in uneven unfolding of the umbrella surface and the ribs not overlapping smoothly when closing.

[0004] 2. Lack of stability: There is no special structure to restrict the trajectory of the ribs during the transmission process, and the pivot joints are prone to loosening after long-term use. This not only increases the risk of jamming, but can also lead to deformation or damage to the ribs due to structural misalignment.

[0005] 3. Inadequate positioning mechanism. In some designs, the maximum opening and closing positions of the ribs are not clearly defined, which makes it easy for parts to be damaged by excessive opening and closing, affecting the durability of the umbrella.

[0006] Therefore, there is an urgent need for an improved rib structure that can solve the above problems, and it is necessary to improve the smoothness of opening and closing and the structural stability by optimizing the design of the transmission and positioning mechanism. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This invention primarily provides an improved umbrella rib structure, comprising a first connecting base, a first rib, a second rib, a third rib, a support rib, a connecting shaft, and a first mounting base. The umbrella pole assembly includes a center rod, a movable base, and a top base. The bottom base is flexibly attached to the center rod, and the top base is fixed to the top end of the center rod. One end of the first rib is attached to the top base and the other end is attached to the first connecting base. One end of the second rib is attached to the first connecting base, and the other end has a hollow portion with a movement limiting pin disposed within the hollow portion. One end of the third rib has a second pivot and a limiting groove, the inner ends of which respectively define the closed and open positions of the umbrella. A movement limiting pin is installed through the limiting groove, allowing the third rib to be flexibly connected to the second rib. One end of the support rib is attached to the movable potter's wheel and the other end is attached to the first connecting base, and the support rib has a first pivot part. One end of the interlocking shaft is fixed to the first pivot part, the other end is fixed to the second pivot part, and the middle section is positioned along the inner groove of the second rib. The first mounting base is attached to the second rib, and the middle section of the interlocking shaft passes through the first mounting base. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] As will be seen from the following explanation, the improved umbrella rib structure disclosed in this invention can provide the following effects:

[0009] 1. Improved interlocking: By directly connecting the support rib and the third rib with the interlocking shaft, the movement of the support rib is immediately transmitted to the third rib, ensuring synchronization of the opening and closing of the first, second and third ribs and preventing operational delays and jamming.

[0010] 2. Enhanced structural stability: The first mounting base and the second rib are fitted with inner grooves, doubling the movement trajectory of the interlocking shaft to prevent deviation and shaking of the interlocking shaft. At the same time, the interlocking pin and the interlocking groove prevent excessive rotation of the third rib, reducing the risk of structural wear and deformation.

[0011] 3. Positioning accuracy: The limiting groove clearly defines the closed and open positions of the umbrella, ensuring that the movement limiting pin moves to the corresponding position every time the umbrella is opened or closed, preventing damage to parts caused by excessive opening or folding and extending the life of the umbrella.

[0012] 4. Simple and easy to manufacture: All parts are of general mechanical structure (such as rods, pivots, and grooves), which does not require complex processing techniques, is suitable for mass production, and reduces manufacturing costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the improved umbrella rib of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is another overall schematic diagram of the improved umbrella rib structure of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the local structure of the improved rib structure of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of another local structure of the improved rib structure of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the opening of an umbrella with an improved umbrella rib structure according to the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram showing another improved umbrella rib structure of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic view showing the fully opened umbrella with the improved umbrella rib structure of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Example]

[0014] The main purpose of this device is to solve the problems of poor interlocking, lack of stability, and unclear positioning in the conventional ribs by installing a combination mechanism of the interlocking shaft, limiting groove, movement limiting pin, and movement limiting pin, and by positioning the first mounting base, to achieve smooth opening and closing of the umbrella and structural durability.

[0015] Please refer to Figures 1 to 7. Figure 1 is an overall schematic diagram of the improved umbrella bone structure of the present invention. Figure 2 is an overall schematic diagram of another improved umbrella bone structure of the present invention. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a local structure of the improved rib structure of the present invention. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of another local structure of the improved rib structure of the present invention. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing an umbrella opened using the improved umbrella bone structure of the present invention. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing another umbrella opened using the improved umbrella bone structure of the present invention. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing an umbrella fully opened using the improved umbrella bone structure of the present invention. As shown in the figures, the improved umbrella bone structure 100 of the present invention includes an umbrella pole set 180, a first connecting base C1, a first rib 110, a second rib 120, a third rib 130, a support rib 140, an interlocking shaft 190, and a first mounting base F1. The umbrella pole set 180 includes a center pole 160, a movable wheel 150, and an upper wheel 170, of which the lower wheel 150 is flexibly mounted on the center pole 160 and the upper wheel 170 is fixed to the upper end of the center pole 160. One end of the first rib 110 is mounted on the upper wheel 170 and the other end is mounted on the first connecting base C1. One end of the second rib 120 is mounted on the first connecting base C1 and the other end has a hollow portion 122 in which a movement limiting pin 124 is mounted. One end of the third rib 130 is provided with a second pivot T2 and a limiting groove 132, with the inner ends of the limiting groove 132 defining a closed position and an open position, respectively. A movement limiting pin 124 is inserted through the limiting groove 132, allowing the third rib 130 to be flexibly connected to the second rib 120. The limiting groove 132 is a rectangular groove. One end of the support rib 140 is attached to the movable pot 150, and the other end is attached to the first connecting base C1. The support rib 140 has a first pivot T1. One end of the interlocking shaft 190 is fixed to the first pivot T1, and the other end is fixed to the second pivot T2, with the middle section of the interlocking shaft 190 aligned with the inner groove of the second rib 120. The first mounting base F1 is mounted on the second rib 120, and the middle section of the linking shaft 190 passes through the first mounting base F1.

[0016] To open the umbrella, the movable roller 150 is moved upward to push up the support rib 140, which pushes the first rib 110, the second rib 120, and the interlocking shaft 190 outward. The interlocking shaft 190 then pushes the third rib 130, opening the umbrella. At this time, the movement limiting pin 124 gradually moves relative to the limiting groove 132 from the umbrella's closed position to its open position. To close the umbrella, the movable roller 150 is moved downward to pull the support rib 140 inward. The support rib 140 further pulls the first rib 110, the second rib 120, and the interlocking shaft 190 inward. The interlocking shaft 190 then further pulls the third rib 130 inward, closing the umbrella. At this time, the movement limiting pin 124 gradually moves relative to the limiting groove 132 from the umbrella's open position to its closed position.

[0017] The following provides a detailed explanation of the part specifications, assembly process, opening and closing operation details, and actual application scenarios of the improved rib structure of the present invention, ensuring that the technical solution of the present invention can be clearly understood and reproduced. However, the present invention is not limited to the data and specific components mentioned in the following examples.

[0018] Before implementing this invention, it is necessary to confirm the specifications and material selection of each component to ensure structural strength, durability, and smooth operation. The specific parameters of each core component are as follows:

[0019] Umbrella Pole Set 180: The center pole 180 is made of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy tubing with a diameter of 8-10mm, and its length can be adjusted depending on the type of umbrella (for example, the center pole of a folding umbrella is 60-70cm when open, while that of a long-pole umbrella is 80-90cm). The movable base 150 is an injection-molded nylon 66 (PA66) part that fits the inner diameter of the center pole, and a 1mm-thick polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) wear-resistant washer is fitted to the inner wall to reduce wear when the center pole slides. The upper base (170) is an aluminum alloy die-cast part whose inner diameter overfits the center pole, and secondary fixation with epoxy resin adhesive prevents the risk of loosening after assembly.

[0020] Rib components: The first rib 110, second rib 120, third rib 130, and support rib 140 are all made of extruded glass fiber reinforced nylon (GF30-PA66), with a cross-sectional shape of "U" or "U" (for improved bending strength). The length of the first rib is 25-30 cm, the second rib is 20-25 cm, the third rib is 18-22 cm, and the support rib is 15-18 cm. The "internal groove" of the second rib (120) is a rectangular groove running along its length, with a groove width of 4-5 mm and a groove depth of 3-4 mm, and is used to accommodate the interlocking shaft 190.

[0021] Connection and Travel Limiting Components: The first connecting block C1 is made of nylon injection molding and has three pivot holes (corresponding to the first rib 110, second rib 120, and support rib 140, respectively) with a diameter of 3-3.5 mm. The travel limiting pin 124 is made of polyoxymethylene (POM) injection molding and is 2.5-3 mm in diameter and 6-8 mm in length. One end is fixed to the inner wall of the hollow portion 122 of the second rib 120 by ultrasonic welding. The travel limiting groove 132 is a rectangular groove with a length of 5-8 mm and a width of 3-3.2 mm (0.2-0.5 mm larger than the diameter of the travel limiting pin 124, allowing for smooth sliding and preventing excessive shaking). A small recess 0.3-0.5 mm deep is provided at the "closed position" and "open position" to temporarily position the travel limiting pin 124 and prevent unexpected sliding.

[0022] Transmission Components: The interlocking shaft 190 is a 3-3.5mm diameter stainless steel 304 round bar, approximately 15-20cm long, roughly matching the length of the inner groove of the second rib 120. The first fixing base F1 is a two-piece nylon structure that is fastened to the outside of the second rib 120 with screws. A 3.2-3.8mm diameter through-hole (0.1-0.3mm larger than the diameter of the interlocking shaft) is provided in the center to restrict radial movement of the interlocking shaft. Both the first pivot joint T1 and the second pivot joint have an aluminum alloy lug structure with a shaft hole that fits the interlocking shaft 190. After inserting both ends of the interlocking shaft 190 into the shaft holes, they are fixed by laser welding or locked with elastic pins to prevent them from falling off.

[0023] The process of opening the umbrella in this invention requires that all components are synchronized and linked together to ensure that the umbrella surface is ultimately unfolded flat. The specific steps and operation details are as follows:

[0024] Step for driving the movable wheel 150: The user grasps the lower part of the center rod (160) and pushes the movable wheel 150 up (see Figure 7. In the open position, the movable wheel 150 is located at the top of the center rod 160, approximately 8-12 cm away from the top wheel 170). During this step, the movable wheel 150 slides upward along the center rod 160, and the coefficient of friction of the PTFE washers on its inner wall is reduced to less than 0.1, preventing it from getting caught during the pushing up process. The distance traveled by the movable wheel 150 is approximately 30-40 cm (adjusted depending on the length of the center rod 160), moving from the "low position" (10-15 cm from the bottom end of the center rod 160) for closing the umbrella to the "high position" (8-12 cm from the top end of the center rod 160) for opening the umbrella.

[0025] Interlocking step between the support rib 140 and the first connecting base C1: When the movable base 150 rises, it pushes up the pivotally connected support rib 140, causing the support rib 140 to rotate outward (away from the center rod 160) around the pivot point of the movable base 150. The rotation angle gradually increases from a "small angle" (angle with the center rod 160 ≦ 30°) when the umbrella is closed to a "large angle" (angle with the center rod 160 60-75°) when the umbrella is opened. At the same time, the other end of the support rib 140 pushes against the first connecting base C1 (see Figure 2; the first connecting base C1 aggregates three sets of ribs), moving the first connecting base C1 away from the center rod 160. The movement path is arch-shaped (the radius is approximately equal to the length of the first rib 110).

[0026] First and second rib deployment step: As the first connecting block C1 moves, it drives the first rib 110 and second rib 120, which are pivotally connected to it. The first rib (110) rotates outward around the pivot point of the handle (170), transitioning from a "close contact with the center rod 160" state (angle with the center rod 160 ≦ 10°) when the umbrella is closed to a "slightly tilted horizontal" state (angle with the horizontal 10-15°, ensuring smooth drainage of the umbrella surface) when the umbrella is opened. The second rib 120 rotates outward around the pivot point of the first connecting block C1, and its rotation angle is coordinated with the first rib 110 (final angle with the first rib 110 ≦ 15°). This ensures uniform stress distribution throughout the ribs.

[0027] Step of driving the third rib 130 by the interlocking shaft 190: As the support rib 140 rotates, its first pivot part T1 moves the interlocking shaft 190 outward (toward the third rib 130) along the inner groove of the second rib 120 (see FIG. 2, the middle section of the interlocking shaft 190 passes through the first mounting block F1). In this step, the first mounting block F1 restricts the interlocking shaft 190 from moving in the radial direction (amount of movement ≦0.2 mm), ensuring that the interlocking shaft 190 moves only linearly along the inner groove. The movement speed of the interlocking shaft 190 is proportional to the rotation speed of the support rib 140, and eventually the third rib 130, which is fixed to it, moves around the movement limiting pin 124 and expands outward.

[0028] Movement restriction and umbrella opening completion step: During the unfolding process of the third rib 130, the movement restriction pin 124 of the second rib 120 gradually slides along the restriction groove 132 of the third rib 130 from the "umbrella closed position" (closer to the second rib 120, the left end of the groove in Figure 5) to the "umbrella open position" (farther from the second rib 120, the right end of the groove in Figure 5). When the movement restriction pin 124 slides into the recess in the umbrella open position, the user can hear a slight "click" or "latch." At this point, the third rib 130 unfolds to its maximum angle (160-170° with respect to the second rib 120), and the umbrella opens completely flat. This completes the umbrella opening process (corresponding to the fully opened umbrella state in Figure 1).

[0029] During the closing process, it is necessary to ensure that each part folds smoothly and reduce the collision and wear between parts. The specific steps and operation details are as follows:

[0030] Step of pulling out the movable wheel 150: The user presses the unlock button (usually designed for umbrellas, not shown) on the movable wheel 150 to release the movable wheel 150 from its high position, and then pulls the movable wheel 150 downward along the center rod 160. In this step, the sliding speed of the movable wheel 150 can be controlled by hand, and the wear-resistant washer on the inner wall prevents damage to the center rod 160 due to excessive friction even when pulled out at high speeds. The movable wheel 150 moves from the "high position" to the "low position," and the movement distance is the same as when opening an umbrella (30-40 cm).

[0031] Pulling back the support rib 140 and the first connecting base C1: When the movable wheel 150 descends, it pulls the support rib 140 pivotally attached to it, causing the support rib 140 to rotate inward (away from the center rod 160) around the connecting point of the movable wheel 150. The rotation angle decreases from 60-75° when the umbrella is open to ≦30° when the umbrella is closed. At the same time, the other end of the support rib 140 pulls the first connecting base C1 toward the center rod 160, and its movement trajectory is in the opposite direction (arc-shaped return) to when the umbrella is open. In this step, it is necessary to ensure that the movement of the first connecting base C1 is not obstructed and does not cause deformation of the ribs.

[0032] The second rib 120 rotates inward around the pivot point of the first connecting block C1, and finally overlaps with the first rib 110 (angle ≦ 10°), ensuring that there is no obvious misalignment between them.

[0033] Step in which the interlocking shaft 190 pulls the third rib 130: When the support rib 140 rotates inward, its first pivot part T1 drives the interlocking shaft 190 to move inward (toward the first connecting block C1) along the inner groove of the second rib 120 (see FIG. 4. The interlocking shaft 190 passes through the first mounting block F1, and in this step, the interlocking shaft is located inside the inner groove). During this process, the first mounting block F1 continues to restrict the radial movement of the interlocking shaft 190, preventing it from coming out of the inner groove due to uneven force. The interlocking shaft 190 pulls the third rib 130, closing it inward around the movement limiting pin 124. The folding speed is coordinated with the downward movement speed of the movable potter's wheel 150.

[0034] Position restriction and umbrella folding completion step: During the folding process of the third rib 130, the travel restriction pin 124 gradually slides along the restriction groove 132 from the "umbrella open position" to the "umbrella closed position." When the travel restriction pin 124 slides into the recess in the umbrella closed position, the third rib 130 is fully folded, and the angle with the second rib 120 is ≦15°. At this time, the entire rib is overlapped with the side of the center rod 160, and the overlapping diameter is ≦8 cm (convenient for carrying), and the folding process is completed (corresponding to the fully folded state in Figure 6). [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 100 Improved structure of the ribs 110 First rib 120 Second rib 122 Hollow part 124 Travel limit pin 130 Third rib 132 Restriction groove 140 Support bone C1 First connection stand T1 1st pivot part T2 Second pivot joint F1 1st Mounting Stand 150 Movable potter's wheel 160 Middle pole 170 Potter's Wheel 180 Umbrella stick group 190 Interlocking shaft

Claims

1. A center pole, a movable potter's wheel, and an umbrella pole assembly in which the lower potter's wheel, including the upper potter's wheel, is freely installed on the center pole and the upper potter's wheel is fixed to the upper end of the center pole; a first connection base; a first rib having one end attached to the upper wheel and the other end attached to the first connecting base; a second rib having one end attached to the first connecting base and the other end provided with a hollow portion, and having a movement limiting pin provided inside the hollow portion; a third rib, which has a second pivot part at one end and a limiting groove, and defines a closed position and an open position at both ends of the limiting groove, and a movement limiting pin is inserted through the limiting groove, so that the second rib can be freely connected to the third rib; a support rib having one end attached to the movable potter's wheel and the other end attached to the first connecting base, the support rib having a first pivot portion; an interlocking shaft having one end fixed to the first pivot portion, the other end fixed to the second pivot portion, and a middle section disposed along the inner groove of the second rib; and a first mounting base that is installed on the second rib and penetrates the middle section of the linking shaft.

2. The improved umbrella rib structure according to claim 1 is characterized in that, when unfolding the umbrella, the movable wheel is pushed upward to move the support rib, and the support rib pushes the first rib, the second rib, and the interlocking shaft outward, and then the interlocking shaft pushes the third rib, unfolding the umbrella.

3. The improved umbrella rib structure according to claim 2, characterized in that the position change of the movement limiting pin in the limiting groove is gradual movement from the umbrella closed position to the open position.

4. The improved umbrella rib structure according to claim 1, characterized in that when closing the umbrella, the movable wheel moves the support rib downward, and the support rib pulls the first rib, the second rib, and the interlocking shaft inward, and then the interlocking shaft pulls the third rib inward, thereby closing the umbrella.

5. The improved umbrella rib structure according to claim 4, characterized in that the position change of the movement limiting pin in the limiting groove is such that the umbrella gradually moves from the open position to the closed position.

6. The improved structure of the umbrella bone according to claim 4, wherein the limiting groove forms a rectangular groove.

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