The structure of the tip of an umbrella

Abstract

Regarding the tip structure of an umbrella, the present invention provides a configuration in which the tip attachment, which is fixed to the tip of the main rib, does not protrude from the periphery of the umbrella sheet. [Solution] The tip of the umbrella sheet is connected and fixed to the tip of the main rib by a tip device, and the fixing part of the periphery of the umbrella sheet near the tip is connected and fixed to the tip of the main rib. The tip device (10) integrally includes a sewn part (12) extending from the tip of a cylindrical part (11) with an open tail end. The sewn part (12) has an insertion space (15) that is open towards the tip by a first plate part (13) and a second plate part (14) arranged vertically. The fixing part (9) of the umbrella sheet is inserted into the insertion space (15) of the sewn part (12), and with the fixing part (9) sewn to at least one of the plate parts, the fixing part (9) together with the sewn part (12) is folded back toward the lower surface (S1) of the umbrella sheet to form a folded part (9a), and the tip (4a) of the main rib (4) is inserted and fixed into the cylindrical part (11).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tip structure for an umbrella, and more particularly to a structure configured such that the tip fitting mounted and fixed to the tip of the main rib does not protrude from the peripheral edge of the umbrella canopy.

Background Art

[0002] The umbrella is provided with main ribs extending radially from an upper runner fixed to the shaft, and the umbrella canopy is stretched over the main ribs. A lower runner is slidably provided on the shaft below the upper runner, and support ribs extending radially from the lower runner are each pivotally connected to the main rib.

[0003] Accordingly, when the lower runner is slid downward, the main ribs converge to close the umbrella. Conversely, when the lower runner is slid upward, the main ribs are deployed to open the umbrella. At this time, the umbrella canopy is spread with its lower surface supported by the main ribs.

[0004] In this case, the tip of the main rib and the fixing portion adjacent to the tip of the main rib on the peripheral edge of the umbrella canopy are connected and fixed via the tip fitting, whereby the tip structure is formed.

[0005] Conventionally, the tip fitting is formed of an elongated bottomed cylindrical cap body, and with the tip of the main rib inserted into the cylindrical portion, the tip fitting is sewn to the fixing portion of the umbrella canopy with sewing thread, and is caused to protrude outward from the peripheral edge of the umbrella canopy.

[0006] Therefore, in the umbrella open state, since the tip fitting protrudes outward from the peripheral edge of the umbrella canopy, there is a risk of touching the face or eyes of a nearby person, which is dangerous. In particular, the degree of danger increases when children or the like use an umbrella.

[0007] For this reason, as shown in the following patent documents, a tip structure configured such that the tip fitting does not protrude outward from the peripheral edge of the umbrella canopy has been proposed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6389809 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 5804570 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] The tip structure proposed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 has a flat plate portion extending from a cylindrical portion into which the tip of the main rib is inserted, and by sewing the flat plate portion to the fixing part of the umbrella sheet, the tip edge of the flat plate portion is aligned with the periphery of the umbrella sheet and is configured not to protrude outward.

[0010] Therefore, since there are no dangerous protrusions around the edge of the umbrella sheet that could come into contact with the face or eyes of nearby people, safety can be ensured.

[0011] However, the process of sewing the tip attachment to the fixing part of the umbrella sheet is difficult, making it unsuitable for mass production, and furthermore, there is a problem in that the appearance of the edges of the umbrella sheet cannot be neatly finished.

[0012] The objective of this invention is to provide a tip structure for an umbrella that solves these problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] Therefore, the means configured by the present invention is a Western-style umbrella in which an umbrella sheet is stretched over main ribs extending radially from a ferrule supported on a shaft, and the lower surface of the umbrella sheet is supported by the main ribs when the umbrella is opened, and the tip of the main rib is connected and fixed to the tip of the main rib by a tip fitting, the tip fitting integrally comprises a cylindrical part with an open tail end and a sewn part extending from the tip of the cylindrical part, the sewn part is a first arranged vertically The first and second plates form an insertion space that is open towards the tip, and with respect to the lower and upper surfaces of the umbrella sheet, the fixing portion of the umbrella sheet is inserted into the insertion space of the stitched portion, the first plate is attached to the lower surface of the fixing portion and the second plate is attached to the upper surface of the fixing portion, and with the fixing portion sewn to at least one of the plates, the fixing portion is folded back toward the lower surface of the umbrella sheet together with the stitched portion to form a folded portion, and the tip of the main rib is inserted and fixed into the cylindrical portion.

[0014] In this embodiment of the present invention, the first and second plate portions of the sewn portion have an arc-shaped edge formed at least at the tip of the first plate portion, and the folded portion of the fixing portion is formed by being aligned with the arc-shaped edge of the first plate portion.

[0015] Preferably, the first and second plates of the stitched portion are inclined to move away from each other toward the tip, and the insertion space is formed to widen from the bottom toward the open portion at the tip.

[0016] In this case, it is preferable that the tip of the umbrella forms a flat surface extending from the outer surface of the first plate portion of the sewn portion to the outer surface of the cylindrical portion, and that this flat surface is attached to the lower surface of the umbrella sheet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the ferrule structure of the present invention, since the ferrule member does not have dangerous protrusions that may come into contact with the face or eyes of nearby people at the peripheral edge of the umbrella sheet, safety is ensured. In addition, the operation of sewing the ferrule member to the fixing portion of the umbrella sheet can be performed accurately and easily, making it suitable for mass production. Furthermore, since the fixing portion of the umbrella sheet is connected to the peripheral edge of the umbrella sheet, the appearance can be finished neatly. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] This shows the open state of a Western-style umbrella, where (A) is a perspective view of a conventional Western-style umbrella having a conventional ferrule structure viewed from below, and (B) is an enlarged perspective view showing the ferrule structure according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Regarding the embodiment of the present invention, (A) is a perspective view showing a state where the first plate portion of the ferrule member faces upward, (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A, and (C) is a perspective view showing a state where the second plate portion of the ferrule member faces upward. [Figure 3] This shows the state before the sewn portion of the ferrule member is sewn to the fixing portion of the umbrella sheet, where (A) is a perspective view and (B) is a cross-sectional view. [Figure 4] This shows the state where the sewn portion of the ferrule member is sewn to the fixing portion of the umbrella sheet, where (A) is a perspective view and (B) is a cross-sectional view. [Figure 5] This shows the state where the sewn portion of the ferrule member is sewn to the fixing portion of the umbrella sheet, folded back toward the lower surface of the umbrella sheet, and the tip portion of the main rib is inserted into the cylindrical portion, where (A) is a perspective view and (B) is a cross-sectional view. [Modes for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0019] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0020] Figure 1(A) shows a conventional umbrella with a conventional tip structure in an open state. The umbrella 1 is provided with main ribs 4 extending radially from an upper runner 3 fixed to a shaft 2 (commonly referred to as a central rod), and an umbrella sheet 5 is stretched over the main ribs 4. A lower runner 6 is slidably provided on the shaft 2 below the upper runner 3, and support ribs 7 extending radially from the lower runner 6 are each pivotally connected to the main ribs 4.

[0021] When the lower runner 6 of the umbrella 1 is slid downward, the main ribs 4 are converged to close the umbrella. Conversely, when the lower runner 6 is slid upward, the main ribs 4 are deployed to open the umbrella as illustrated, and the umbrella sheet 5 is spread with its lower surface supported by the main ribs 4.

[0022] The tip of each main rib 4 and the fixing portion 5a adjacent to the tip of the main rib 4 on the peripheral edge of the umbrella sheet 5 are connected and fixed to each other via a tip member 8, thereby forming a tip structure as indicated by reference sign E.

[0023] The conventional tip member 8 is formed of an elongated bottomed cylindrical cap body, and is sewn to the fixing portion 5a of the umbrella sheet 5 with a sewing thread in a state where the tip of the main rib 4 is inserted into the cylindrical portion, so that a protruding part p protrudes outward from the peripheral edge of the umbrella sheet 5.

[0024] In contrast, Figure 1(B) shows a tip structure E according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the tip of the main rib 4 and the fixing portion 9 of the umbrella sheet 5 adjacent to the tip are connected and fixed by a tip member 10. The fixing portion 9 is constituted by a folded portion 9a folded back on the lower surface of the umbrella sheet 5, and the folded edge of the folded portion 9a forms an arc edge continuously connected to the peripheral edge of the umbrella sheet 5. Further, the protruding part p as in the conventional tip structure shown in Figure 1(A) is not formed.

[0025] Although Figure 1 illustrates a manually opened and closed long umbrella as an example, the present invention can also be implemented in automatically opened and closed umbrellas and folding umbrellas. It is not limited to either rain umbrellas or sun umbrellas.

[0026] In this embodiment of the present invention, the tip 10, as shown in Figure 2, integrally comprises a cylindrical tube portion 11 having an opening 11a at its tail end and a stitched portion 12 extending from the tip of the tube portion 11. For example, it can be integrally molded by plastic injection molding, but the material and molding method are not limited.

[0027] The stitched portion 12 has a first plate portion 13 and a second plate portion 14 arranged vertically, forming an insertion space 15 that is open towards the tip between the two plate portions 13 and 14, and a stitching hole 16 is provided that penetrates both plate portions 13 and 14 vertically. The stitching hole 16 is preferably composed of multiple holes, and in the illustrated example, three holes are arranged in a row.

[0028] As shown in the figure, the stitched portion 12 has arc-shaped edges 13a and 14a at the tips of the first plate portion 13 and the second plate portion 14, respectively. These arc-shaped edges are there to make the folded edge arc-shaped when the fixed portion 9 of the umbrella sheet 5 is folded to form the folded portion 9a, as shown in Figure 1(B). Therefore, it is sufficient to have an arc-shaped edge 13a on the first plate portion 13, and the tip of the second plate portion 14 does not have to be arc-shaped.

[0029] The first plate portion 13 and the second plate portion 14 of the stitched portion 12 are inclined to move away from each other toward the tip, as indicated by the symbol θ in Figure 2(B), and it is preferable that the insertion space 15 is formed to widen from the bottom toward the open portion at the tip. This makes it easier to insert the fixing portion 9 of the umbrella sheet 5 into the insertion space 15, as will be described later.

[0030] In this case, as shown in Figure 2(A), the tip holder 10 has a flat surface 17 that extends from the outer surface of the first plate portion 13 of the sewn portion 12 to the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 11. As a result, as will be described later, when the tip structure E is formed, the flat surface 17 is attached to the lower surface of the umbrella sheet 5, making it possible to support the umbrella sheet 5 on the tip holder 10 in a wrinkle-free, flat state.

[0031] The cylindrical portion 11 forms a cylindrical hole extending from the opening 11a to the bottom portion 11b near the base of the plate portions 13 and 14, and a projection 18 with a sharp tip is provided protruding from the bottom portion b. The projection 18 is positioned offset from the axis of the cylindrical hole.

[0032] (action) Figures 3 to 5 show the lower surface S1 and upper surface S2 of the umbrella sheet 5 (the lower and upper surfaces when the umbrella is open, as shown in Figure 1(A)), with the lower surface S1 facing upwards.

[0033] First, as shown in Figure 3, the tip attachment 10 is positioned facing the fixing portion 9 of the umbrella sheet 5 from the outside of the periphery of the umbrella sheet 5. At this time, the tip attachment 10 is positioned such that the sewn portion 12 faces the fixing portion 9, and the second plate portion 14 faces the lower surface of the umbrella sheet 5 (therefore, the first plate portion 13 is located above the second plate portion 14).

[0034] Next, as shown in Figure 4, the tip 10 is moved toward the fixing part 9, thereby inserting the fixing part 9 into the insertion space 15 of the sewing part 12. In this state, the sewing thread 19 is passed through the sewing hole 16, fixing the fixing part 9 and the sewing part 12 in a sewn state. As described above, the insertion space 15 is formed to widen from the bottom toward the opening at the tip, so the fixing part 9 of the umbrella sheet 5 can be positioned accurately in relation to the insertion space 15 and easily inserted.

[0035] Subsequently, as shown in Figure 5, when the fixing portion 9 is folded back toward the lower surface S1 of the umbrella sheet 5 together with the sewing portion 12, the fixing portion 9 forms a folded portion 9a. At this time, the fixing portion 9 is folded back along the arc-shaped edge portion 13a of the first plate portion 13, so that a folded edge along the arc is formed, and this folded edge presents a clean appearance that is continuous with the periphery of the umbrella sheet 5 located on both sides.

[0036] Then, by folding, the tip 10 is positioned so that the opening 11a of the cylindrical part 11 faces the lower surface S1 of the umbrella sheet 5. The work is completed by inserting the tip of the main rib 4 into the cylindrical part 11, thereby completing the tip structure E.

[0037] When the tip 4a of the main rib 4 is inserted up to the bottom 11b of the cylindrical part 11, the projection 18 is pierced into the tip surface. As a result, the main rib 4 and the tip attachment 10 are fixed in a state where they cannot rotate around the axis of the main rib 4.

[0038] In this configuration, the tip 10 is sandwiched between the umbrella sheet 5 and the folded-over portion 9a, with the flat surface 17 of the first plate portion 13 in contact with the lower surface of the umbrella sheet 5. As a result, when the umbrella is open, the umbrella sheet 5 is supported from above the ribs 4 to the flat surface 17, in a smooth and wrinkle-free state. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0039] 1 Western umbrella 2 shafts 3. Upper potter's wheel 4 Main bone 4a Tip 5 Umbrella sheet 5a Fixing part (conventional technology) 6. Lower potter's wheel 7 bursa E tip structure S1 Underside of the umbrella sheet when the umbrella is open S2 Umbrella sheet, top view when open 8. Dew tip device (conventional technology) p. Protrusion (conventional technology) 9. Fixing part (this invention) 9a Folded section 10. Dew tip device (this invention) 11 Cylinder part 11a opening 11b Bottom 12 Sewing section 13 1st plate part 13a Arc edge 14 2nd plate part 14a Arc edge 15 Insertion space 16 Sewing hole 17 Flat surface 18 protrusions 19 Sewing thread

Claims

1. In a Western-style umbrella, the umbrella sheet is stretched over ribs that extend radially from a ferrule supported by a shaft, and the lower surface of the umbrella sheet is supported by the ribs when the umbrella is opened, and the tip of the umbrella sheet is connected and fixed to the tip of the rib by a tip fitting, The aforementioned tipping device (10) integrally comprises a cylindrical portion (11) with an open tail end and a stitched portion (12) extending from the tip of the cylindrical portion, and the stitched portion (12) forms an insertion space (15) that is open towards the tip by a first plate portion (13) and a second plate portion (14) arranged vertically. With respect to the lower surface (S1) and upper surface (S2) of the umbrella sheet (5) in the open state, by inserting the fixing part (9) of the umbrella sheet into the insertion space (15) of the sewing part (12), the first plate part (13) is attached to the lower surface (S1) of the fixing part (9), and the second plate part (14) is attached to the upper surface (S2) of the fixing part (9), and with the fixing part (9) sewn to at least one of the plate parts, the fixing part (9) together with the sewing part (12) is folded back toward the lower surface (S1) of the umbrella sheet (5) to form a folded part (9a). The tip structure of an umbrella is characterized in that the tip portion (4a) of the main rib (4) is inserted and fixed into the cylindrical portion (11).

2. The first plate portion (13) and the second plate portion (14) of the stitched portion (12) have an arc-shaped edge portion (13a) formed at least at the tip of the first plate portion (13). The tip structure of an umbrella according to claim 1, characterized in that the folded portion (9a) of the fixing portion (9) is formed along the arc-shaped edge (13a) of the first plate portion (13).

3. The tip structure of an umbrella according to claim 1, characterized in that the first plate portion (13) and the second plate portion (14) of the sewn portion (12) are inclined to move away from each other toward the tip, and the insertion space (15) is formed to widen from the bottom toward the open portion at the tip.

4. The tip of the umbrella according to claim 1, 2, or 3, characterized in that the tip of the umbrella (10) has a flat surface (17) that extends from the outer surface of the first plate portion (13) of the sewn portion (12) to the outer surface of the cylindrical portion (11), and the flat surface (17) is attached to the lower surface (S1) of the umbrella sheet (5).

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