Crank handle positioning assembly for an umbrella

Abstract

A crank handle positioning assembly structured to selectively position a mast mounted canopy of an umbrella into and between open and closed orientations. A gear housing is disposed within the interior of the mast in at least partially enclosing relation to a gear assembly and in driving relation to at least one elongated drive gear. A crank handle is disposed on an exterior of the mast and extends there-through into rotationally driving relation to the gear assembly. A rider member is interconnected in driving relation to the canopy assembly and is reciprocally movable along the length of the drive gear upon rotational, driving engagement of the crank handle with the gear assembly. Concurrent, cooperative directions of linear movement of the rider member and a rotational movement of the crank handle is determinative of the positioning of the canopy assembly in either the open or closed orientations.

Claims

1. An assembly structured to position a mast mounted canopy assembly of an umbrella between open and closed orientations, said assembly comprising: a gear housing disposed within an interior of the mast; a gear assembly at least partially disposed within said gear housing on the interior of the mast, at least one elongated drive gear rotationally connected in driven relation to said gear assembly, a crank handle disposed exteriorly of the mast and extending at least partially there through into a driving connection with said gear assembly, at least one rider member connected in driving relation to the canopy assembly and in driven in engagement with said one drive gear, at least one cord connected to said rider member, and interconnecting said rider member to the canopy assembly, said at least one cord disposed in spaced relation relative to said drive gear, said one rider member linearly movable in opposite directions along the length of said one drive gear dependent on a direction of rotation of said crank handle relative to said gear assembly, said at least one cord linearly movable in opposite directions along the length of said one drive gear dependent on a direction of movement of said rider member, said at least one cord also being linearly movable in opposite directions independent of engagement and in non-winding relation with said drive gear, and concurrent, cooperative directions of linear movement of said rider member and said at least one cord and rotational movement of said crank handle being determinative of the positioning of the canopy assembly in the open orientation or the closed orientation.

2. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said gear housing includes at least two housing segments connected to one another within the interior of the mast in at least partially enclosing relation to said gear assembly.

3. The assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein at least one of said housing segments includes an access opening disposed and dimensioned to movably receive a portion of said crank handle there through in driving connection with said gear assembly.

4. The assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein said crank handle comprises a driveshaft disposed through said access opening into rotationally driving connection with said gear assembly.

5. The assembly as recited in claim 4 further comprising a support mounted on said driveshaft and including a convex surface having a predetermined configuration facilitating fixed mounting engagement of said support with an exterior surface of the mast.

6. The assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein said predetermined configuration comprises a substantially concave configuration.

7. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said gear assembly comprises a first pair of bevel gears, at least one of said first pair of bevel gears interconnected in rotationally driven relation to said crank handle.

8. The assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said gear assembly comprises a second pair of bevel gears each connected in intermeshing, driven relation with said one bevel gear of said first pair of bevel gears.

9. The assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein said each of said first pair of bevel gears is disposed in opposing relation to one another and in intermeshing engagement with each of said second pair of bevel gears.

10. The assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said bevel gears of said second pair of bevel gears are disposed in opposing relation to one another.

11. The assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein at least one of said second pair of bevel gears is connected in driving relation to said one drive gear.

12. The assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein either of said first pair of bevel gears is connected to and rotationally driven by said crank handle.

13. The assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein said gear housing includes at least two housing segments connected to one another in at least partially enclosing relation to said gear assembly.

14. The assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein each of said two housing segments includes an access opening disposed and dimensioned to rotationally receive a portion of said crank handle there through in driving connection with a different one of said first pair of bevel gears.

15. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said one drive gear comprises a worm gear including a proximal end interconnected in driven relation to said gear assembly.

16. The assembly as recited in claim 15 further comprising an anchor member rotationally connected to a distal end of said one drive gear, said anchor member interconnecting said distal end within a corresponding interior portion of the mast.

17. An assembly structured to position a mast mounted canopy assembly of an umbrella between open and closed orientations, said assembly comprising: a gear housing disposed within an interior of the mast; a gear assembly at least partially disposed within said gear housing on the interior of the mast, at least one elongated drive gear disposed within the mast and connected in rotationally driven relation to said gear assembly, a crank handle disposed exteriorly of the mast and extending at least partially through the mast and said gear housing into a rotationally driving connection with said gear assembly, a rider member connected in driving relation to the canopy assembly; said rider member mounted on an exterior surface of said one drive gear in driven in engagement there with, at least one cord connected to said rider member, and interconnecting said rider member to the canopy assembly, said one cord disposed in spaced relation relative to said drive gear, said one rider member linearly movable in opposite directions along the length of said one drive gear, dependent on a direction of rotation of said drive gear and crank handle relative to said gear assembly, said at least one cord linearly movable in opposite directions along the length of said one drive gear dependent on a direction of movement of said rider member, said at least one cord also being linearly movable in opposite directions independent of engagement and in non-winding relation with said one drive gear, and concurrent, cooperative directions of linear movement of said rider member and said at least one cord and rotational movement of said drive gear and said crank handle being determinative of the positioning of the canopy assembly in the open orientation or the closed orientation.

18. The assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said gear housing includes at least two housing segments connected to one another within the interior of the mast in at least partially enclosing relation to said gear assembly.

19. The assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said gear assembly comprises a first pair of bevel gears, at least one of said first pair of bevel gears interconnected in rotationally driven relation to said crank handle.

20. The assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said gear assembly comprises a second pair of bevel gears each connected in intermeshing, driven relation with said one bevel gear of said first pair of bevel gears.

21. The assembly as recited in claim 20 wherein said each of said first pair of bevel gears is disposed in opposing relation to one another and in intermeshing engagement with each of said second pair of bevel gears.

22. The assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein said bevel gears of said second pair of bevel gears are disposed in opposing relation to one another.

23. The assembly as recited in claim 20 wherein at least one of said second pair of bevel gears is connected in driving relation to said one drive gear.

24. An assembly structured to position a mast mounted canopy assembly of an umbrella between open and closed orientations, said assembly comprising: a gear housing disposed within an interior of the mast; a gear assembly at least partially disposed within said gear housing on the interior of the mast, at least one elongated drive gear disposed within the mast and connected in rotationally driven relation to said gear assembly, a crank handle comprising a driveshaft, said crank handle disposed exteriorly of the mast and extending at least partially through the mast and said gear housing into a rotationally driving connection with said gear assembly, a rider member connected in driving relation to the canopy assembly; said rider member mounted on an exterior surface of said one drive gear in driven in engagement there with, at least one cord connected to said rider member, and interconnecting said rider member to the canopy assembly, said one cord disposed in spaced relation relative to said drive gear, said one rider member linearly movable in opposite directions along the length of said one drive gear, dependent on a direction of rotation of said drive gear and crank handle relative to said gear assembly, said at least one cord linearly movable in opposite directions along the length of said one drive gear dependent on a direction of movement of said rider member, and in non-winding relation with said one drive gear, concurrent, cooperative directions of linear movement of said rider member and said at least one cord and rotational movement of said drive gear and said crank handle being determinative of the positioning of the canopy assembly in the open orientation or the closed orientation, said gear housing including two housing segments connected to one another within the interior of the mast in at least partially enclosing relation to said gear assembly, each of said housing segments including an access opening disposed and dimensioned to movably receive a portion of said crank handle there through in driving connection with said gear assembly, said gear assembly comprising a first pair of bevel gears, wherein at least one of said first pair of bevel gears is interconnected in rotationally driven relation to said crank handle, and said gear assembly comprising a second pair of bevel gears each connected in intermeshing, driven relation with said one bevel gear of said first pair of bevel gears.

25. The assembly as recited in claim 24 wherein either of said first pair of bevel gears is connected to and rotationally driven by said crank handle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an umbrella with the crank handle positioning assembly of the present invention operatively connected thereto.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view in assembled form of a gear housing of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3A is a rear perspective view of a crank handle operatively associated with the gear housing of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

(5) FIG. 3B is a front perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 3A.

(6) FIG. 4 is a perspective, exploded view of the gear housing of the embodiment of FIG. 2 and one embodiment of a gear assembly enclosed within the gear housing.

(7) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of an elongated drive gear including operative components connected thereto.

(8) FIGS. 5A and 5B are detailed views in partial cutaway of designated portions of the embodiment of FIG. 7.

(9) FIG. 6A is a front perspective view of a pulley structure associated with the present invention.

(10) FIG. 6B is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 6A.

(11) Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(12) As represented in the accompanying Figures, the present invention is directed to a crank handle positioning assembly of the type to be used with an umbrella, such as but not limited to, a comparatively large outdoor umbrella. The versatility of the structural and operative features of the various preferred embodiments of the present invention facilitate its use with umbrellas of different structures, designs, dimensions and configurations.

(13) However, and for purposes of illustration, the crank handle positioning assembly of the present invention will be described as being used in combination with an umbrella 100 of the type schematically represented in FIG. 1. As such, the umbrella 100 comprises a central mast, stanchion and/or center post 102, having an at least partially hollow interior 102. The mast 102 is disposed in supporting relation to a canopy assembly generally represented as 104. Further, the canopy assembly 104 includes a flexible or foldable material canopy 106 being supported by a plurality of ribs 108. In addition to, the canopy assembly 104 also includes a plurality of struts 110 each of which have an outermost or distal end 110 movably connected to a different one of the plurality of ribs 108. Also, each of the struts 110 may have a proximal end 110 movably connected to a central hub 112. The hub 112 is movably connected to the exterior of the mast 102 and is reciprocally movable along the length thereof. Therefore, forced or selective movement of the central hub member 112 along the length of the exterior surface of the mast 102 will result in a relative movement of the plurality of struts 110 and corresponding ones of the plurality of ribs 108 such that the canopy 106 is selectively disposed between open and closed orientations, as will be explained in greater detail hereinafter. An additional feature of the one or more preferred embodiments of the crank handle positioning assembly of the present invention is it being used with an at least partially hollow and/or open interior 102 of the mast or center post 102.

(14) More specifically, and with primary reference to FIGS. 2-4, at least one preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a gear housing generally indicated as 20, including a plurality of at least two housing segments 22 and 24. The gear housing 20 is dimensioned and configured to fit within a hollow interior portion of the mast as generally and schematically represented in FIG. 1. In operation and use, a crank handle generally indicated as 26 is fixedly or removably connected to the gear housing 20 such as by extending through at least one access opening 28. However, in contrast to the gear housing 20, the crank handle 26 is mounted exteriorly of the mast in alignment and or operative connection with the gear housing 20 and through at least one access opening 28.

(15) Accordingly, the crank handle 26 includes a drive shaft or drive link 27 having a support connector 29 secured thereto. The support connector 29 is intended to facilitate operative positioning and mounting of the crank handle 26 on the exterior surface of the mast. As such, an interior surface portion as at 31 of the crank handle 26 may have a correspondingly or cooperatively curved configuration, such as being at least partially concave so as to effectively make with the outer, cylindrical surface of the mast. The remainder of the crank handle 26 includes a base portion 33 and a knob or like gripping member 35 the connecting shaft or connecting link 27 is fixedly or connected to the base 33 such that manual rotation of the crank handle, such as by gripping of the knob member 35, will result in a rotation or turning of the drive shaft or drive link 27 and a forced rotation and driving of a gear assembly generally indicated as 40 and as explained in greater detail hereinafter.

(16) With primary reference to FIG. 4, the gear assembly 40 is disposed and/or at least partially enclosed within the interior of the gear housing 20 when the gear housing segments 22 and 24 are connected to one another in the manner represented in FIG. 2. Such interconnection or attachment of the gear housing segments 22 and 24 is accomplished by one or more connectors 37 such as screws or the like. In the at least one preferred embodiment represented in FIG. 4, the gear assembly 40 includes a first pair of bevel gears 43 and 44 which may be disposed in facing, opposing relation to one another. In addition, gear assembly 40 includes a second pair of bevel gears 47 and 48. The bevel gears 47 and 48 of the second pair of bevel gears are also disposed in facing, opposing relation to one another as represented. Appropriate, cooperative components may also be included within the gear assembly 40 such as a driveshaft member 49, through which the drive shaft or drive link 27 of the crank handle 26 may pass, as well as appropriate bearing assemblies as at 50. Therefore, as should be apparent, the disposition of the gear housing 20 within the hollow interior of the mast also results in the placement and maintenance of the gear assembly 40, being enclosed by the gear housing 20, within the interior of the mast in an out-of-the-way, unobtrusive location.

(17) In use, when the gear housing 20 and the gear assembly 40 are assembled and operatively disposed within the interior of the mast, the crank handle 26 is disposed in connecting, rotationally driving relation to the gear assembly 40. This is accomplished by inserting an outermost end of the drive shaft or drive link 27 of the crank handle 26 through the aforementioned access opening 28, and into driving engagement with at least one of the gears 43 of the first pair of bevel gears. When so positioned, the crank handle 26 and more specifically, the drive link or driveshaft 27 will be disposed in driving engagement with the at least one bevel gear 43. As a result, rotation of the crank handle 26 will result in a forced, driving rotation of the gear assembly 40. As should also be apparent, the first pair of bevel gears 43 and 44 is disposed in intermeshing engagement with the second pair of bevel gears 47 and 48. Accordingly, the rotation of the crank handle 26 will result in the at least one bevel gear 43 concurrently driving both the second bevel gears 47 and 48.

(18) With primary reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5-5B, one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention also include at least one elongated drive gear generally indicated as 60. The drive gear 60 may be in the form of a worm gear or screw gear having one end 62 connected in driven relation to the gear assembly 40 and more specifically to the at least one bevel gear of the second bevel gear pair 47 and 48. Such interconnection may be by way of an adapter coupling 58 connected to or at least partially enclosing a corresponding end 62 of the elongated drive gear 60, as schematically represented by directional arrow 62 in the exploded view of FIG. 4. Accordingly, it should be apparent that a forced rotation of the crank handle 26 will result in a driving, rotation of the gear assembly 40 and the resultant driving rotation of the at least one elongated drive gear 60 by virtue of the interconnection of the drive gear 60 to the gear assembly 40 by adapter coupling 58.

(19) Also, it should be apparent that the length of the at least one elongated drive gear 60 may vary and be increased or decreased based on the length or size of the mast and the overall size, dimension and configuration of the umbrella, with which the present invention is used.

(20) Therefore, one embodiment of the elongated drive gear is represented as 60 in FIGS. 5, 5A and 5B and includes an elongated externally threaded surface. In addition, a bottom cap member 70 and a top cap member 72 are secured to opposite ends of the drive gear 60. Also, in order to facilitate the selective disposition of the canopy assembly between the aforementioned open and closed orientations, one or more embodiments of the present invention include a rider member 80 disposed in driven, mating connection to the exterior threaded surface of the elongated drive gear 60. More specifically, an interior surface or other structural portions of the rider 80 may include a threaded surface or the substantially equivalent structure (not shown) disposed in meshing engagement with the externally threaded surface of the corresponding drive gear 60. Therefore, upon a forced rotation of the drive gear 60, the rider 80 will be forced to move or travel linearly along the length of the drive gear 60. Further, the linear direction of travel of the rider 80 will depend upon the rotational direction of the crank handle 26 when connected in driving relation to the drive assembly 40, as explained in detail above. Yet additional features represented in FIGS. 5A and 5B include positioning, mounting or stabilizing rods 74 disposed on opposite sides of the elongated drive gear 60 and connected to or extending at least partially through the rider 80. The rods 74 provides stability and facilitate linear, reciprocal travel of the rider 80 along the length of the drive gear 60 as the drive gear 60 rotates.

(21) As also represented in FIG. 1, the rider 80 is connected by an appropriate cord, wire, etc. 18 to the central hub. As also explained herein the central hub is movably connected to the plurality of struts and plurality of ribs of the canopy assembly. Therefore forced movement of the rider 80 due to a rotation of the drive gear 60 and a concurrent rotation of the crank handle 26 in the proper direction will result in a positioning of the canopy assembly in an open orientation. While the canopy assembly is being opened, the central hub member will move upwardly along the length of the exterior of the mast. In contrast, rotation of the crank handle 26 in an opposite direction will result in the rider 80 traveling along the length of the drive gear 60 in a direction which will allow the exterior hub to move downwardly along the exterior surface of the mast. As also indicated, the movement of the canopy assembly into a closed orientation may be due at least in part to the weight of the canopy assembly and the influence of gravity thereon. However, movement of the rider 80 in the appropriate direction will reduce any frictional resistance which may normally occur between the interior surface of the rider 80 and the exterior threaded surface of the drive gear 60. However, when the canopy assembly is intended to be maintained in the open orientation frictional resistance between the rider 80 and the exterior surface of the drive gear 60 will facilitate a maintenance of the canopy assembly in the open orientation.

(22) Therefore, dependent upon the direction of rotation of the crank handle 26. reciprocal, linear movement of the rider 80 along the exterior surface of the drive gear 60 and a concurrent linear movement of the central hub along the exterior surface of the mast will result in a relative movement of the struts and ribs of the canopy assembly and in turn result in an the disposition of the canopy and the remainder of the canopy assembly into and between the open and closed orientations. As represented in 6A and 6B interconnection of the aforementioned cord or wire 18 between the rider 80 and the central hub member will be facilitated by the cord or wire 18 passing through and along a pulley structure generally indicated as 81 including a pulley base 82 and a pulley member 84 rotationally mounted on the base 82. Appropriate apertures or connecting structure, as at 86, may be included in the base 82 to facilitate mounting or attachment of the pulley assembly 81 to the mast or other appropriate portion which facilitates guidance of the cord or wire 18 between the rider 80 and the hub member.

(23) Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

(24) Now that the invention has been described,