UMBRELLA WITH LOOP-TYPE RIB STRUCTURE

摘要

An umbrella comprising a central shaft (10) having an upper end (16) and a lower end (12) with the lower end (12) including a handle (14) incorporates a plurality of pivotable members (28) each having a first end pivotally coupled to an upper end of the shaft (10) and being circumferentially spaced about the shaft and oriented generally parallel thereto when the umbrella is in a collapsed condition. A plurality of flexible members (42) are operatively associated with corresponding ones of the pivotable members (28). The flexible members (42) are each expandable into a generally hoop-shaped configuration adjacent another end of the pivotable members when the pivotable members (28) are pivoted from a collapsed condition to an operative position. The open umbrella appears as a canopy (50) stretched over a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs (28) with each rib terminating in a hoop-shaped member (42).