Cantilever Umbrella with a Duo-Arc-In-Sliding-Sleeve Configuration

Abstract

This invention discloses a cantilever umbrella with duo-arc tubes in a sliding-sleeve configuration, which includes: a base support for the arched tubes, a lower arched tube, an upper arched tube, a main canopy frame and a handle assembly. The upper arched tube is slidably connected with the lower arched tube through the handle assembly; the umbrella's main canopy frame is installed at the distal end of the upper arched tube through a canopy base junction; a mounting channel cooperating with the upper arched tube is provided on the inner surface of said lower arched tube-said mounting channel, once mated with the upper arched tube, leads to a semi-covered structure over the upper arched tube; and a winding wheel is provided to control the open and close of the main canopy frame.

Claims

1. A cantilever umbrella, comprising an arched spine, said arched spine comprising a lower arched tube and an upper arched tube connected through a handle assembly with said upper arched tube situated at a distal end of said arched spine and connected through a canopy base junction to a main canopy frame, wherein one of said lower arched tube and upper arched tube is arranged to provide an open mounting channel that receives and only partly houses wraps around the other arched tube in partial but not full coverage of its outer surface, such that the upper arched tube slides along the lower arched tube when driven by said handle assembly; and wherein said handle assembly comprises a handle shell main body, a winding wheel set, and a locking mechanism assembled in cooperation with the handle shell main body; said handle shell main body is slidably connected to said lower arched tube, said locking mechanism is configured to be capable of locking positions between said handle shell main body and said lower arched tube, thereby effectively locking the connected upper arched tube at any desired position along the lower arched tube; and said winding wheel set is configured to control the open and close of the main canopy frame.

2. The cantilever umbrella of claim 1, wherein the entire arc of the upper arched tube can be collapsed into the arc of the lower arched tube, forming partial coverage by the latter.

3. The cantilever umbrella of claim 1, wherein said upper arched tube has a circular or oval cross-section, and said lower arched tube has a kidney-shaped cross-section having a concave side that forms said mounting channel to receive the upper arched tube.

4. The cantilever umbrella of claim 1, wherein: said handle shell main body comprises a first shell body and a second shell body; said first and second shell bodies are coupled and clamped over said lower arched tube; a winding wheel mounting cavity and a lock mounting cavity are provided in said handle shell main body, wherein said winding wheel set is disposed in said winding wheel mounting cavity, and a locking mechanism is disposed in said lock mounting cavity; and wherein said locking mechanism comprises a control member and a locking assembly, said locking assembly slidably connected to said handle shell main body and configured to move towards the side of said lower arched tube through a push of said control member; and when said locking assembly abuts said lower arched tube, the position between the handle shell main body and said lower arched tube is locked.

5. The cantilever umbrella of claim 4, further characterized as: said locking assembly comprises a sliding block and a pressing block wherein said pressing block is affixed to the sliding block; said control member is configured to contain a locking trigger; the locking trigger is rotatably connected to a mounting seat; when said locking trigger rotates clockwise, said sliding block is pushed towards the side of said lower arched tube; when said locking trigger rotates counterclockwise, its end moves away from said sliding block, and said sliding block naturally slides down under the influence of gravity, moving the pressing block away from said lower arched tube, thereby unlocking said lower arched tube from said handle shell body.

6. The cantilever umbrella of claim 5, further characterized as: said locking trigger comprises a locking part on the inside and a holding part on the outside for a user to hold; said locking part comprises a protruding section at one end and an unlocking section off to the side thereof; when said protruding section abuts against said sliding block, the relative positions between said handle shell main body and said lower arched tube are locked; and when said unlocking section abuts against said sliding block, the relative positions between said handle shell main body and said lower arched tube are unlocked; and wherein said lower arched tube has a cross-section in a semi-elliptical shape, while said locking part is of an oval-shaped structure.

7. The cantilever umbrella of claim 1, further characterized as: said winding wheel set comprises a winding wheel, a crank axle and a first torsion spring, which are all sequentially arranged in series in a sleeving manner, wherein said crank axle is rotatably connected to said handle shell main body, and connected, on an outer end, to a crank handle; and a rope is wound on the winding wheel, a distal end of said rope connected to said main canopy frame.

8. The cantilever umbrella of claim 1, further characterized as: a top of the umbrella's main canopy frame is rotatably connected to said canopy base junction, wherein said canopy base junction comprises a position-stopping edge that cooperates with and limits the movement of the top of said main canopy frame.

9. The cantilever umbrella of claim 4, wherein pulleys are arranged on the edges of both sides of a clamping notch where said first and second shell bodies mate with said lower arched tube.

10. The cantilever umbrella of claim 1, further comprising a tube support to which said lower arched tube is affixed, said tube support comprising: a mounting base, an inner vertical pipe, an outer vertical pipe and a locking structure, wherein said inner vertical pipe is fixedly attached to a top of said mounting base, said outer vertical pipe sleeving over an outer surface of said inner vertical pipe and forms rotational cooperation with said inner vertical pipe, and said locking structure disposed between said inner vertical pipe and said outer vertical pipe.

11. The cantilever umbrella of claim 10, further characterized as: said locking structure comprises a fluted disk comprising toothed grooves, a rotating sleeve piece and a locking assembly, wherein said fluted disk is affixed to a top of said inner vertical pipe, said rotating sleeve piece is affixed to said outer vertical pipe and rotates in cooperation with said fluted disk, and said locking assembly is disposed on said outer vertical pipe and capable of locking and unlocking said outer vertical pipe as parts of said locking assembly insert into or disengage from toothed grooves of said fluted disk, thereby effecting 360 degrees of rotation and locking at any of those degrees of said outer vertical pipe therefore said canopy relative to said inner vertical pipe.

12. A cantilever umbrella, comprising a lower arched tube, an upper arched tube, a main canopy frame and a handle assembly, wherein said upper arched tube is slidably connected with said lower arched tube through said handle assembly, and said main canopy frame is installed at a distal end of said upper arched tube through a canopy base junction, wherein one of said lower arched tube and upper arched tube is arranged to provide an open mounting channel that receives and only partly wraps around the outer surface of the other arched tube, forming partial but not full coverage by the former over the latter tube when the two are collapsed together.

13. The cantilever umbrella of claim 12 wherein the entire arc of said upper arched tube overlaps with the arc of said lower arched tube when said umbrella is fully folded together, forming partial coverage of said upper arched tube by said lower arched tube.

14. The cantilever umbrella of claim 12, wherein said upper arched tube has a circular or oval cross-section and said lower arched tube has a kidney-shaped cross-section having a concave side that forms said mounting channel to receive said upper arched tube.

15. The cantilever umbrella of claim 12, wherein said upper arched tube has a kidney-shaped cross-section having a concave side and said lower arched tube has a circular or oval cross-section where the concave side in said upper arched tube forms said mounting channel to receive said lower arched tube.

16. The cantilever umbrella of claim 12, further comprising a support clamp that connects both arched tubes.

17. The cantilever umbrella of claim 12, wherein one of the arched tubes provides coverage for about 20%-80% over the outside of the other arched tube, and any clearance between the two tubes is no more than about 4 mm.

18. (canceled)

19. The outdoor umbrella of claim 22, wherein said spine comprises a lower arched tube and an upper arched tube connected through a handle assembly.

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. An outdoor umbrella, comprising a spine connected at its distal end to a canopy frame and at its proximal end to a tube support, said tube support comprising a mounting base, an inner vertical pipe, an outer vertical pipe and a locking structure, wherein said inner vertical pipe is fixedly attached to a top of said mounting base, said outer vertical pipe is fixedly attached to said spine and sleeving over an outer surface of said inner vertical pipe, and said locking structure disposed between said inner vertical pipe and said outer vertical pipe, said spine comprising a straight column affixed at its proximal end to said outer vertical pipe and said outdoor umbrella is a Roman umbrella; wherein said locking structure comprises a fluted disk comprising toothed grooves, a rotating sleeve piece and a locking assembly, said fluted disk affixed to a top of said inner vertical pipe, said rotating sleeve piece affixed to said outer vertical pipe and rotating in cooperation with said fluted disk, and said locking assembly disposed on said outer vertical pipe and capable of locking and unlocking said outer vertical pipe as parts of said locking assembly insert into or disengage from toothed grooves of said fluted disk, thereby effecting 360 degrees of rotation and locking at any of those degrees of said outer vertical pipe therefore said spine and said canopy relative to said inner vertical pipe; and wherein said mounting base comprises a counterweight seat and two elongated pieces installed therein, said counterweight seat comprises at least two counterweight blocks configured to have, in opposing side faces, accommodating housing grooves such that when said two counterweight blocks are closed together, a housing cavity is formed between said two counterweight blocks, wherein said two elongated pieces are arranged in the housing cavity in an intersecting fashion.

23. An outdoor umbrella, comprising a spine connected at its distal end to a canopy frame and at its proximal end to a tube support, said tube support comprising a mounting base, an inner vertical pipe, an outer vertical pipe and a locking structure, wherein said inner vertical pipe is fixedly attached to a top of said mounting base, said outer vertical pipe is fixedly attached to said spine and sleeving over an outer surface of said inner vertical pipe, and said locking structure disposed between said inner vertical pipe and said outer vertical pipe, said spine comprising a straight column affixed at its proximal end to said outer vertical pipe and said outdoor umbrella is a Roman umbrella; wherein said locking structure comprises a fluted disk comprising toothed grooves, a rotating sleeve piece and a locking assembly, said fluted disk affixed to a top of said inner vertical pipe, said rotating sleeve piece affixed to said outer vertical pipe and rotating in cooperation with said fluted disk, and said locking assembly disposed on said outer vertical pipe and capable of locking and unlocking said outer vertical pipe as parts of said locking assembly insert into or disengage from toothed grooves of said fluted disk, thereby effecting 360 degrees of rotation and locking at any of those degrees of said outer vertical pipe therefore said spine and said canopy relative to said inner vertical pipe; further characterized as: said locking assembly comprises a fixed sleeve seat and a wrench, wherein: said fixed sleeve seat is affixed to said outer vertical pipe, a first receding groove and a second receding groove which are in communication with each other are provided in said fixed sleeve seat and said outer vertical pipe, respectively; said wrench is rotatably connected to said fixed sleeve seat, and a locking piece is arranged at an inner end of said wrench, said locking piece passing through said first receding groove and said second receding groove, and extending into an inner cavity of said outer vertical pipe; and a locking groove that mates with the grooved teeth of said fluted disk is provided in an outer end of said locking piece; and wherein said wrench is configured with, in its rotating end, a mounting groove, a second torsion spring is embedded in an inner wall of said mounting groove with an inner end of the second torsion spring affixed to said inner wall of said mounting groove, and an outer end of said second torsion spring abutting against an outer vertical face of said fixed sleeve seat.

24. The cantilever umbrella of claim 1, wherein said lower arched tube has a circular or oval cross-section, and said upper arched tube has a kidney-shaped cross-section having a concave side that forms said mounting channel to receive the lower arched tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] FIG. 1A is a prospective illustration of an overall structure of an embodiment of the present utility invention. FIG. 1B is vertical cross-section view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A.

[0035] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural illustration of a vertical cross-section view of the handle assembly embodiment in the present utility invention (enlarged view of Section A in FIG. 1B).

[0036] FIG. 3A is a schematic structural illustration of the vertical cross-section view of FIG. 2 when the locking mechanism embodiment is in an unlocked state, according to the present utility invention. FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of part of the locking mechanism shown in FIG. 3A.

[0037] FIG. 4A is an illustrative, exploded view of parts of an embodiment in the present utility invention. FIG. 4B is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the two arched tubes where they overlap in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A. FIG. 4C is an illustrative, exploded view of parts of an alternative embodiment in the present utility invention. FIG. 4D is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the two arched tubes where they overlap in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4C.

[0038] FIG. 5 is an illustrative, exploded view of parts of a winding wheel set in an embodiment of the present utility invention (enlarged view of Section B in FIG. 4A).

[0039] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an umbrella embodiment with its main canopy frame and arched spine in a fully folded state, according to the present utility invention. The entire arc of the upper arched tube is shown to overlap with the arc of the lower arched tube as the umbrella is fully folded or collapsed together.

[0040] FIG. 7A is a schematic structural illustration of an umbrella's canopy base junction embodiment according to the present utility invention (enlarged view of Section C in FIG. 6) with the umbrella canopy frame in a folded state. FIG. 7B illustrates the same embodiment as in FIG. 7A but with the umbrella canopy frame in an open/unfolded state.

[0041] FIG. 8 is a schematic structural illustration of an overall structure of Example 2 of the present utility invention.

[0042] FIG. 9 is a schematic vertical cross-section view of a locking structure in Example 2 of the present utility invention with a section enlarged for a clearer view.

[0043] FIG. 10 is an illustrative, exploded view of parts in Example 2 of the present utility invention.

[0044] FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of relative positions between a fluted disk and a wrench under a locked state in Example 2 of the present utility invention.

[0045] FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of relative positions between a fluted disk and a wrench under an unlocked state in Example 2 of the present utility invention.

[0046] FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration of the outer vertical pipe's movements as effected by movements of the wrench in Example 2 of the present utility invention.

[0047] FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of an overall structure of Example 3 of the present utility invention.

[0048] FIG. 15 is a schematic illustration of the embodiment shown in FIG. 14 showing the connection between the mounting base and the support column.

[0049] FIG. 16 is a schematic illustration of an alternative embodiment where the mounting base of the present invention is employed in a Roman umbrella.

[0050] FIG. 17 is a schematic illustration of an alternative embodiment where the mounting base of the present invention is employed in a banana umbrella.

[0051] Reference numbers: 100: tube support; 200: lower arched tube; 300: upper arched tube; 400: canopy base junction; 410: stopping edge or edge stop; 500: main canopy frame; 600: handle assembly; 610: handle shell (main) body; 611: first shell body; 612: second shell body; 620: winding wheel set; 621: winding wheel; 622: crank axle; 623: first torsion spring; 630: locking mechanism; 631: mounting seat; 632: control member; 6321: protruding section; 6322: unlocking section; 633: sliding block; 634: pressing block; 1: mounting base; 1-1: counterweight seat; 1-2: elongated piece; 2: inner vertical pipe; 3: outer vertical pipe; 4: locking structure; 5: fluted disk; 6: first gasket bearing; 7: rotating sleeve piece; 8: locking assembly; 8-1: fixing sleeve seat; 8-2: wrench; 8-3: locking piece; 8-4: second torsion spring; 9: vertical-pipe-positioning sleeve; and 10: vertical pipe cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0052] In order to enable easy understanding of the technical means, the inventive characteristics, and the goals achieved and effects realized with respect to the present disclosure, the invention is further described in combination with specific illustrated examples below.

[0053] As used in the specification and claims, the singular form a, an, or the includes plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term a screw includes a plurality of screws including mixtures thereof. It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as support for the recitation in the claims of such exclusive terminology as solely, only and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or use of a negative limitations, such as wherein [a particular feature or element] is absent, or except for [a particular feature or element], or wherein [a particular feature or element] is not present (included, etc.)..

[0054] In the description of the present invention, it is to be understood that the terms one end, other end, outside, upper, inside, horizontal, coaxial, center, end, length, outer end, etc., indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings and are for convenience and simplification of the present disclosure, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, or be constructed and operated in a particular orientation. Therefore, such terms are not to be construed as limiting the present invention whatsoever.

[0055] When a dimensional measurement is given for a part herein, the value is, unless explicitly stated or clear from the context, meant to describe an average for a necessary portion of the part, i.e., an average for the portion of the part that is needed for the stated purpose. Any accessory or excessive portion is not meant to be included in the calculation of the value.

[0056] As used herein, the recitation of a numerical range for a variable is intended to convey that the invention may be practiced with the variable equal to any of the values within that range. Thus, for a variable which is inherently discrete, the variable can be equal to any integer value within the numerical range, including the endpoints of the range. Similarly, for a variable which is inherently continuous, the variable can be equal to any real value within the numerical range, including the endpoints of the range. As an example, and without limitation, a variable which is described as having values between 0 and 2 can take the values 0, 1 or 2 if the variable is inherently discrete, and can take the values 0.0, 0.1, 0.01, 0.001, or any other real values >0 and <2 if the variable is inherently continuous.

[0057] As used herein, about means within plus or minus 10%. For example, about 1 means 0.9 to 1.1, about 2% means 1.8% to 2.2%, about 2% to 3% means 1.8% to 3.3%, and about 3% to about 4% means 2.7% to 4.4%.

EXAMPLE 1

[0058] Referring to FIG. 1 (open state) and FIG. 6 (closed state), the present invention discloses a double-arc tube (or spine) cantilever umbrella in a sliding-sleeve configuration. The disclosed umbrella includes, in terms of major structures, an tube base support 100 for supporting the tubes and the umbrella in general, a lower arched tube 200, an upper arched tube 300, a main umbrella canopy frame 500 connected to the upper arched tube through a canopy base junction 400, and a handle assembly 600. Of these, in a preferred embodiment, the lower arched tube 200 is affixed to the tube support 100 and of a semi-elliptical or kidney shape, and a mounting channel 205 matching the upper arched tube 300 is provided in the inner surface of the lower arched tube 200. The upper arched tube 300 is slidably fitted inside the mounting channel 205 with two structures to hold it from falling out: at the proximal end of the upper arched tube 300, the handle assembly 600; and at the distal end of the lower arched tube 200, a support clamp 220 in the shape of two shell-like structures. The outside of the upper arched tube 300 passes through the support clamp 220 and its weight is partly supported by said support clamp 220. Accordingly, the mounting channel and other structures enable the provision of semi-coverage or housing for the upper arched tube 300. The upper arched tube 300 can, under the control of the handle assembly 600, slide along the curvature/arc of the lower arched tube 200 inwards/downwards or outwards/upwards, and can be stopped and locked at any desired position along the lower arched tube. As an operator moves the handle assembly 600 towards the tube support 100, eventually the entire arc of the upper arched tube 300 will be collapsed or otherwise fitted into the mounting channel 205 in the lower arched tube 200 (FIG. 6), which minimizes transportation and storage space as the upper arched tube 300 partly nestles inside the lower arched tube 200. The umbrella's main canopy frame 500 is installed at the distal end of the upper arched tube 300 through the canopy base junction 400, and the angle of the canopy surface of the main canopy frame 500 can be adjusted through up-and-down movements of the upper arched tube 300 (details explained below).

[0059] Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the lower arched tube 200, with a cross-section resembling an arched bridge, crescent moon, kidney or fan shape, would cover about half of the outer surface of the upper arched tube 300 which has an oval, elliptical or circular cross-section, after fully receiving the latter in the mounting channel 205 formed by the concave side in the corresponding cross-section (FIG. 6). In other words, as the upper arched tube 300 slides downward and is withdrawn into the lower arched tube 200, the semi-coverage starts to form.

[0060] In other embodiments also contemplated by the present invention, the cross-sections of the two arched tubes can be of any other suitable shapes so along as partial coverage of one is achieved by the other. For example, a first arched tube can have a cross-section that is or resembles a circle, an oval, a triangle, a rectangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, and so on, while a second arched tube's cross-section wraps around the first and provides partial coverage in the shape that is or resembles a crescent moon, a fan, a staple, a two-prong clamp, a multi-prong fork, and so on. Besides the pair shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, in another embodiment shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D, the two tubes can switch shape with other, i.e., the lower arched tube 200 may have a circular or oval cross-section while the upper arched tube 300, which now receives the lower arched tube 200 in its mounting channel 305, slides along the latter and is still connected to the umbrella canopy frame (not shown) through the canopy base junction 400. The upper arched tube 300 can have a kidney-shaped cross-section instead, thereby providing partial coverage over the lower arched tube 200. In other words, here the lower arched tube 200 partly nestles inside the mounting channel 305 of the upper arched tube 300. To stabilize the coverage and keep the upper arched tube 300 fitted over the lower arched tube 200, a support clamp 220 is similarly provided at the distal end of the lower arched tube 200 in addition to the handle assembly 600 at the proximal end of the upper arched tube 300.

[0061] And by partial coverage, it is meant that one of the arched tubes provides coverage, shielding or housing for at least and including 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% over the outer surface of the other arched tube, where the space or clearance 207 between the two tubes is no more than about 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 mm. In preferred embodiments, one arched tube provides about 20-80%, 30-70%, 40-60%, or about 50% coverage over the other arched tube when the two are collapsed, fitted or regressed into one (fully overlapped) as shown in FIG. 6, and the clearance between the two tubes is no more than about 4, 3, 2 or 1 mm. In one embodiment, the two arched tubes are close enough to each other to be touching. A major aim of this feature of the invention is to save space for shipping and storage. For manufacturing purpose and to resist deformation, one or more enforcement structures, e.g., a partition 210, can be arranged inside an arched tube.

[0062] As shown in FIGS. 1A-5, the handle assembly 600 includes a handle shell body 610, a winding wheel set 620, and a locking mechanism 630 installed in coordination with the handle shell body 610. The bottom of the upper arched tube 300 is installed on top of the handle shell body 610. The handle shell body 610, in turn, is comprised of a first shell body 611 and a second shell body 612, the two of which are coupled and sleeved/clamped over the lower arched tube 200, so that the handle shell body 610 can slide inwards or outwards along the curvature of the lower arched tube 200. The handle shell body 610 is provided with a mounting cavity for winding wheel 621 and a lock mounting cavity for a locking mechanism. The winding wheel set 620 is arranged in the mounting cavity for winding wheel 621, and is used for controlling the unfolding or folding of the umbrella's main canopy frame 500. A locking mechanism 630 is arranged in the lock mounting cavity, so that the handle shell body 610 can slide to any desired position and remain locked there, and thereby realizing full storage or extension of the upper arched tube in relation to the lower arched tube.

[0063] Whereas the specific structures are illustrated in FIGS. 2-5, the locking mechanism 630, in an illustrative embodiment, includes a mounting seat 631, a control member 632 and a locking assembly. Of these, the mounting seat 631 is affixed in a lock mounting cavity, and a sliding groove 635 matching the locking assembly is provided on the side of the mounting seat 631 closer to the lower arched tube 200. The locking assembly is slidably connected inside the sliding groove and can be driven by the control member 632 to move towards the side of the lower arched tube 200, and locking of the handle shell body 610 is achieved through static friction force between the locking assembly and the inside of the lower arched tube 200. When the control member 632 releases the pressure applied to the locking assembly, the static friction force between the locking assembly and the lower arched tube 200 is weakened, so that the handle shell body 610 can again slide or glide over the lower arched tube 200.

[0064] Of these, the locking assembly is comprised of a sliding block 633 and a pressing block 634, and the control member 632 adopts a locking trigger. The pressing block 634 is affixed onto the sliding block 633 through one or more screws. The locking trigger is rotatably connected to the mounting seat 631. When a user pulls or pushes the locking trigger downwards, the sliding block 633 will be driven towards the side closer to the lower arched tube 200, so that the pressing block 634 is pressed tightly against the lower arched tube 200, thereby enabling locking of the lower arched tube 200 through the handle shell body 610. When the user pulls or pushes the locking trigger upwards, the pressure force applied to the sliding block 633 will be released, the sliding block 633 automatically slides down under the influence of gravity; the pressing block 634 moves away from the lower arched tube 200, and the unlocking of the handle shell body 610 against the lower arched tube 200 is achieved.

[0065] In the present embodiment, the locking trigger is divided into a locking part 636 on the inside end and a holding part 637 on the outside. A user can hold the holding part 637 of the locking trigger and move upwards or downwards to drive the locking part 636 to rotate. Best viewed in FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B, the locking part 636 is of an oval/elliptical structure and consists of a protruding section 6321 on the inner terminal and an unlocking section 6322 on the outer side. The locking part is provided with two restrictive stops in the rotating process: a restrictive locking stop and a restrictive unlocking stop, respectively. When the locking part reaches the restrictive locking stop, the protruding section 6321 on the locking part abuts against the sliding block 633. The line connecting the end of the protruding section 6321 to the rotating center of the locking trigger is parallel to the sliding directions of the sliding block 633, so that the force and the reaction force between the sliding block 633 and the locking trigger balance out, and the locking trigger is prevented from rotating, thereby automatically unlocking the handle shell body 610. When the locking part is in the restrictive locking stop, the unlocking section 6322 of the locking part abuts against the sliding block 633 instead. As the unlocking section 6322's movement creates the space for the sliding block 633 to be released, the adjacent pressing block 634 separates from the lower arched tube 200, thereby unlocking the handle shell body 610 from the lower arched tube 200.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 5, the winding wheel set 620 includes a winding wheel 621, a crank axle 622 and a first torsion spring 623 which are sequentially connected in series in a sleeving fashion. Of these, a crank handle 640 is detachably arranged at the large outer end of the crank axle 622 and used for driving the crank axle 622 to rotate, and in turn the winding wheel 621 arranged on the crank axle 622. A wire rope is wound about the winding wheel 621. The distal end of the wire rope is connected to the umbrella's main canopy frame 500. A torsion spring capable of stopping sliding in both directions is selected as the first torsion spring 623 and used for locking after the crank axle 622 rotates by any number of turns. During use, when the winding wheel 621 is driven by the crank axle 622 to wind up the rope, the upper umbrella disk and the lower umbrella disk in the main canopy frame 500 are pulled closer to each other, and the main canopy frame 500 displays an open state. When the rope is unwound through the winding wheel 621, the upper umbrella disk and the lower umbrella disk in the main canopy frame 500 move farther away from each other due to the loss of tension, and the umbrella main canopy frame 500 displays a closed/folded state.

[0067] Further, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7A and 7B, the top of the umbrella main canopy frame 500 is rotatably connected with the canopy base junction 400. The canopy base junction 400 is provided with one or more stopping edges or barriers (edge stop) 410 that cooperate with the top tip 510 of the main canopy frame 500 by providing a U-shaped trough that limits further movement of the canopy top 510. In an initial state, the umbrella main canopy frame 500 is in a closed/folded state and can rotate about an axis 420 on the canopy base junction 400, thereby achieving further folding with respect to the upper arched tube 300. When it is time to open the main canopy frame 500, winding the rope preferably pulls the main canopy frame 500 to rotate about the same axis 420 on the umbrella canopy base junction 400. When the top 510 of the main canopy frame 500 rotates to a vertical state to the upper arched tube 300, it will meet and be stopped by the edge stop 410 on the canopy base junction 400 and henceforth leading to the unfolding of the main canopy frame 500 as shown in FIG. 7B.

[0068] Further, the umbrella main canopy frame 500 remains in an unfolded/open state under the pulling of the wire rope. Because the top tip 510 of the main canopy frame 500 is constrained by the canopy base junction 400's main body, the main canopy frame 500 stays perpendicular to the distal end of the upper arched tube 300. When the upper arched tube 300 is driven to slide outwards or inwards, the orientation of the canopy surface in the main canopy frame 500 moves in sync with the movement of the upper arched tube 300, thereby adjusting the angle of the canopy surface.

[0069] In this embodiment, an upper lining 615 and a lower lining 616 are further arranged on the lower arched tube 200 at an interval. A first clamping groove 618 and a second clamping groove 619 corresponding to the upper lining 615 and the lower lining 616, respectively, are provided in the opposite and facing sides of the first shell body 611 and the second shell body 612 (best viewed in FIG. 5). In particular, the first clamping groove 618 and the second clamping groove 619 are formed in the top and the bottom, respectively, of a clamping notch that matches the first shell 611 and the second shell 612 to the lower arched tube 200. The upper lining 615 and the lower lining 616 are embedded in the first clamping groove 618 and the second clamping groove 619, respectively, and used for compensating aberrations when the first shell 611 and the second shell 612 are sleeved over the lower arched tube 200at the same time, these linings lead to dustproof and waterproof effects on the interiors of the first shell 611 and the second shell 612.

[0070] Moreover, pulleys 624 are arranged on the edges of the two sides of the clamping notch where the first shell body 611 and the second shell body 612 sleeve over the lower arched tube 200. Such pulleys are used for assisting the sliding or gliding of the first shell body 611 and the second shell body 612 along the length of the lower arched tube 200.

EXAMPLE 2

[0071] Based on Example 1, in reference to FIGS. 8 and 13, the invention further discloses a tube support or base 100 that can be employed to support an umbrella spine including the arced spine (due-arched tubes) and other features of the present invention. The tube support 100 can be rotated through a wrench, which would effect rotation of the spine such as the arched tubes of Example 1 installed above. The tube support 100, in one aspect, includes a mounting base 1, an inner vertical pipe 2, an outer vertical pipe 3 and a locking structure 4, where the inner vertical pipe 2 is affixed to the mounting base 1 (see, e.g., FIGS. 9 and 10). In one embodiment, the mounting base 1 is circular or oval in its shape or cross-section; the outer vertical pipe 3 is of a circular pipe structure, and is sleeved over the outer surface of the inner vertical pipe 2 to form cooperative rotation relative to the inner vertical pipe 2. The locking structure 4 is arranged between the inner vertical pipe 2 and the outer vertical pipe 3 and can control the locking and unlocking of the rotating outer vertical pipe 3, thereby achieving the canopy 500's 360-degree rotation and locking about the base support 100.

[0072] According to a principle of the present invention, the lower arched tube 200 is fixedly connected to the outer vertical pipe 3 by any suitable means known to one skilled in the art, e.g., welding, adhesive, or fastener (screws, rivets, clamps, and so on). In one embodiment, the lower arched tube 200 is sleeved over the distal portion of the inner vertical pipe 2 before connecting to the outer vertical pipe 3. As a result, rotating the outer vertical pipe 3 results in the rotation of the lower arched tube 200, and in turn, the upper arched tube 300 and the canopy connected therewith.

[0073] Specifically, still referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the locking structure 4 includes a fluted disk 5, a first gasket bearing 6, a rotating sleeve piece 7 and a locking assembly 8, where the fluted disk 5 is affixed to the top of the inner vertical pipe 2. The rotating sleeve piece 7 is fixedly attached to the outer vertical pipe 3 and is connected with the fluted disk 5 through the first gasket bearing 6, so that the rotating sleeve piece 7 can rotate relative to the fluted disk 5.

[0074] The locking assembly 8 is installed on the outer vertical pipe 3, and locking or unlocking of the outer vertical pipe 3 is achieved by the locking assembly 8's coupling or decoupling from the teeth/grooves in the fluted disk 5.

[0075] In this embodiment, a penetrating, first connecting aperture is provided in the upper side wall of the rotating sleeve piece 7, and a second connecting aperture corresponding to the first connecting aperture is provided in the outer vertical pipe 3. The outer vertical pipe 3 is further provided with a first pin bushing that cooperates with both the first connecting aperture and the second connecting aperture. The inner end of the pin bushing sequentially passes through the first connecting aperture and the second connecting aperture, thereby affixing the outer vertical pipe 3 to the rotating sleeve piece 7.

[0076] Further, a vertically penetrating position-restricting aperture (or restricting aperture) is provided in the rotating sleeve piece 7. The restricting aperture is, in this embodiment, of a stepped structure. A connecting shaft for position-restriction (or restricting shaft) is arranged in the restricting aperture. The bottom of the restricting shaft is fixedly connected to the inner vertical pipe 2 and is used for restricting the relative positions between the rotating sleeve piece 7 and the fluted disk 5. The fluted disk 5, the inner vertical pipe 2 and the restricting shaft are fixedly connected through a second pin bushing.

[0077] Specifically, a first fixation aperture is provided in the bottom of the restricting shaft. The inner vertical pipe 2 is provided with a second fixation aperture that is in communication with the first fixation aperture. The bottom of the fluted disk 5 is provided with an integrally formed connecting edge. A third fixation aperture in communication with the second fixation aperture is provided in the connecting edge. The inner end of the second pin bushing sequentially passes through the third fixation aperture, the second fixation aperture and then the first fixation aperture, thereby locking down the relative positions between the fluted disk 5, the inner vertical pipe 2 and the restricting shaft.

[0078] In combination with the above, the locking assembly 8 includes a fixed sleeve seat 8-1 and a wrench 8-2, where the fixed sleeve seat 8-1 is affixed to the outer vertical pipe 3, and a first receding groove is provided in the outer vertical face of the sleeve seat. The outer vertical pipe 3 is provided with a second receding groove in communication with both the first receding groove and the inner cavity of the outer vertical pipe 3. The wrench 8-2 is rotatably connected to the fixed sleeve seat 8-1, and the inner end of the wrench 8-2 is provided with an integrally formed locking piece 8-3. The locking piece 8-3 passes through the first receding groove and the second receding groove, and extends into the inner cavity of the outer vertical pipe 3. Locking grooves that cooperate with the grooved teeth of the fluted disk 5 are provided on the outer portion of the locking piece 8-3.

[0079] Based on the above description, and best viewed in FIGS. 11 and 12, in an initial state, the wrench 8-2 is turned upwards to a terminal position, one or more locking grooves on the outer portion of the locking piece 8-3 receptively mate with one or more grooved teeth in the fluted disk 5, thereby locking the relative position of the outer vertical pipe 3 versus the inner vertical pipe 2as a result, the outer vertical pipe 3 cannot rotate or turn. When the outer vertical pipe 3 needs to be rotated or adjusted, the wrench 8-2 is turned downwards, driving the locking piece 8-3 to move simultaneously, where the locking grooves on the outer portion of the locking piece 8-3 are gradually separated from the grooved teeth in the fluted disk 5. Once the outer vertical pipe 3 is unlocked, it can be adjusted by any angle relative to the inner vertical pipe 2.

[0080] In this particular embodiment, the fixed sleeve seat 8-1 is connected to the outer vertical pipe 3 through rivets.

[0081] Further, a mounting groove is provided in the rotating end of the wrench 8-2. A second torsion spring 8-4 is embedded in the inner wall of the mounting groove. The inner end of the second torsion spring 8-4 is fixedly attached to the inner wall of the mounting groove, and the outer end of the second torsion spring 8-4 abuts against the outer vertical face of the fixing sleeve seat 8-1. When a user presses the wrench 8-2 downwards, the second torsion spring 8-4 deforms. When the user removes the pressure applied to the wrench 8-2, the second torsion spring 8-4 resets, driving the wrench 8-2 to rotate upwards, so that one or more of the locking grooves formed in the outer end of the locking piece 8-3 arranged on the wrench 8-2 are coupled with grooved teeth in the fluted disk 5, thereby locking the relative position between the outer vertical pipe 3 and the inner vertical pipe 2.

[0082] In the present embodiment and best viewed in FIGS. 9 and 10, the mounting base 1 includes a counterweight seat 1-1 and two elongated pieces 1-2 housed therein. The counterweight seat 1-1, in an embodiment, includes two counterweight blocks. The two counterweight blocks are, in this embodiment, each of a semicircular structure, and together form a circular-disk-shaped structure when closed. Housing grooves are provided in the opposing sides of the two counterweight blocks. When the two balancing weights are close to each other, a housing cavity is formed between the counterweight blocks. The two elongated pieces 1-2 are arranged in the housing cavity in an intersecting fashion to form a cross structure. A positioning aperture matching the shape and dimension of the outer vertical pipe 3 is provided in the top portion of the housing cavity. Accordingly, the bottoms of the inner vertical pipe 2 and the outer vertical pipe 3 can extend into the housing cavity through the positioning aperture.

[0083] Further in this particular illustrative embodiment, an integrally formed mounting plate is affixed to the bottom of the inner vertical pipe 2. The mounting plate is then affixed to the two elongated pieces 1-2 using screws. A vertical-pipe-positioning sleeve 9 is fixedly inserted into the bottom of the inner cavity of the outer vertical pipe 3. A second gasket bearing is arranged between the vertical-pipe-positioning sleeve 9 and the mounting base 1, for effecting rotational connection between the outer vertical pipe 3 and the mounting base 1, so that rotation of the outer vertical pipe 3 relative to the inner vertical pipe 2 can be realized as the second gasket bearing makes it easier for the outer vertical pipe 3 to rotate relative to the mounting base 1 and the inner vertical pipe 2.

[0084] In addition, in the present embodiment, a vertical pipe cover 10 is optionally sleeved over the outside of the bottom of the outer vertical pipe 3. As the bottom of the vertical pipe cover 10 abuts against the top face of the counterweight blocks, the vertical pipe cover 10 is used for improving the stability of the outer vertical pipe 3 during rotation.

EXAMPLE 3

[0085] In another embodiment example illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, the outer vertical pipe 3 is of a non-circular pipe structure, and is sleeved over the outer surface of a similarly shaped inner vertical pipe 2 to form cooperative rotation between the two. A similar locking structure 4 is provided to control the locking and unlocking at any rotational degree between the two vertical pipes. The cross-sections of the outer vertical pipe 3 and inner vertical pipe 2 are each of a non-circular shape with two parallel opposite laterals and two arc-shaped side laterals. This four-sided shape is a mix between an oval and a rectangle. Other shapes can also be employed without departing from the principle of the present invention.

[0086] The lower arched tube 200 is fixedly connected to the outer vertical pipe 3 through any suitable means known to one skilled in the art, e.g., welding, adhesive, friction, or fastener. In one embodiment and illustrated here, the lower arched tube 200 is sleeved over the distal portion of the inner vertical pipe 2 before connecting to the outer vertical pipe 3. A reinforcement band 11 surrounding the junction between the lower arch tube 200 and the outer vertical pipe 3 is used to protect and reinforce the connection. As a result, rotating the outer vertical pipe 3 results in the rotation of the lower arched tube 200, and in turn, the upper arched tube 300 and the canopy connected therewith. In other embodiments, the outer vertical pipe 3 is manufactured as an integral part of the lower arched tube 200.

[0087] Features related to the tube support 100 disclosed herein can be used with other types of outdoor umbrellas: (a) a regular outdoor umbrella with a pole in the center of the canopy; (b) an offset or cantilever umbrella where the pole is on the side of the canopy: besides the bent arm cantilever umbrellas (e.g., the duo-arc versions disclosed in Example 1), these offset umbrellas also include Roman umbrellas (FIG. 16) and banana umbrellas (FIG. 17). In situations where the main supporting column/spine is largely straight, in order to employ the presently disclosed features related to the tube support 100, while the straight column/spine 250 can be affixed to the outer vertical pipe 3 using means well known in the art (e.g., fastener or friction), manufacturing the two as one integral piece may be the preferred way to implement the inventive feature here as the ultimate goal here is to effect single-limb (hand or foot) operation in terms of the horizontal rotation and locking of the canopy. As a result, operational convenience comes from the liberation of other limbs of the operator when one tries to unlock, rotate, and lock the canopy horizontally.

[0088] Other differences between the present embodiment and the embodiment in Example 2 include: the counterweight seat 1-1 is, in this embodiment, rectangular or square in cross-section but can be of other suitable shapes as well.

[0089] Finally, the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not limited thereto; Although the present utility invention is described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, a person of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments can still be modified, or some or all of the technical features therein can be equivalently replaced; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions separate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present utility invention.