Canopy Structure for Outdoor Sunshade Umbrella

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202421987371.9, filed on Aug. 16, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to the technical field of sunshade umbrellas, specifically disclosing a canopy structure for an outdoor sunshade umbrella.

BACKGROUND ART

Sunshade umbrellas are widely used in people's daily lives, providing protection from the sun, wind, and rain. They are indispensable for home leisure or outdoor activities such as picnics and camping, offering a comfortable shaded space during hot summer days. As a result, they are commonly set up in occasions such as outdoor cafes, rest areas, lawns, parks, or beaches.

These sunshade umbrellas differ from ordinary umbrellas, as their canopy diameter is typically larger, and an overall size of the umbrella is relatively bigger. They provide a large shaded space, which necessitates that the ribs supporting the canopy must be sufficiently long. Traditional sunshade umbrellas have fixed ribs, so when folded after use, due to their long length, their overall length is at least equal to a length of one rib, resulting in a relatively large space requirement. Especially for sunshade umbrellas with a canopy area exceeding 3 square meters, the folded length is usually greater than 1.5 meters, making storage relatively inconvenient and unsuitable for car transportation. Additionally, for packaging and transportation, a larger packaging volume is required, which consequently increases packaging and transportation costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the invention is to provide a canopy structure for an outdoor sunshade umbrella that is reasonable and simple in design, convenient for folding and storage to reduce a volume, and lowers transportation costs.

The objective of the invention is achieved as follows:

• • a canopy structure for an outdoor sunshade umbrella, including an upper umbrella hub, a lower umbrella hub, umbrella ribs, and a support rod, wherein one end of the umbrella rib is rotatably mounted on the upper umbrella hub, one end of the support rod is rotatably mounted on the lower umbrella hub, the other end of the support rod is rotatably connected to a middle part of the umbrella rib, and the canopy is folded or unfolded by moving the lower umbrella hub away from or towards the upper umbrella hub through external force, a cross-section of the umbrella rib is elliptical which includes a long rib, a short rib, and an elastic connecting device, both the long rib and the short rib are hollow structures, and one end of the short rib has a narrowed portion that facilitates insertion into the long rib, the short rib is always connected to the long rib through the elastic connecting device, the elastic connecting device includes a support torsion spring and an elastic cord, the support torsion spring is installed inside the long rib and the short rib, and both ends of the elastic cord are connected to the support torsion spring inside the long rib and the short rib, respectively.

In the above canopy structure for an outdoor sunshade umbrella, the support torsion spring includes two support columns and an elastic ring, wherein the two support columns are connected to the elastic ring, and the two support columns are inclined relative to each other.

In the above canopy structure for an outdoor sunshade umbrella, under an elastic action of the elastic ring, ends of the two support columns always abut against an inner wall of the long rib and an inner wall of the short rib.

In the above canopy structure for an outdoor sunshade umbrella, both ends of the umbrella rib and the support rod are provided with end caps.

In the above canopy structure for an outdoor sunshade umbrella, the narrowed portion of the short rib and the inner wall of the long rib are in a clearance fit.

In the above canopy structure for an outdoor sunshade umbrella, a length ratio of the short rib to the long rib is 1:2.

In the above canopy structure for an outdoor sunshade umbrella, a length of the narrowed portion of the short rib is between 1/9 and 1/10 of a length of the short rib.

The invention offers the following prominent and beneficial technical effects compared to existing technologies: in the invention, the umbrella rib of the canopy structure includes a long rib and a short rib, which are connected together through an elastic connecting device. Additionally, one end of the short rib is provided with a narrowed portion that can be inserted into the long rib. When folding is required, the narrowed portion of the short rib can be pulled out from the long rib, thereby shortening a length of the umbrella rib. This design facilitates transportation and reduces transportation costs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the umbrella rib of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the upper umbrella hub, the lower umbrella hub, the umbrella ribs, and the support rod of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of section A of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the short rib of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a first schematic diagram of an installation structure of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a second schematic diagram of the installation structure of the invention.

• • 1—Upper umbrella hub; 2—Lower umbrella hub; 3—Umbrella ribs; 4—Support rod; 5—End cap; 31—Long rib; 32—Short rib; 33—Elastic connecting device; 34—Narrowed portion; 331—Support torsion spring; 332—Elastic cord; 3311—Support column; 3312—Elastic ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following describes the invention in further detail with specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings:

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7: a canopy structure for an outdoor sunshade umbrella includes an upper umbrella hub 1, a lower umbrella hub 2, umbrella ribs 3, and a support rod 4. One end of the umbrella rib 3 is rotatably mounted on the upper umbrella hub 1, and one end of the support rod 4 is rotatably mounted on the lower umbrella hub 2. The other end of the support rod 4 is rotatably connected to a middle part of the umbrella rib 3. The canopy can be folded or unfolded by moving the lower umbrella hub 2 away from or towards the upper umbrella hub 1 through external force. A cross-section of the umbrella rib 3 is elliptical, and when supporting the canopy, a shorter side of the rib is oriented downward to enhance a support strength of the canopy. The umbrella rib 3 includes a long rib 31, a short rib 32, and an elastic connecting device 33. Both the long rib 31 and the short rib 32 are hollow structures, and one end of the short rib 32 has a narrowed portion 34 that facilitates insertion into the long rib 31. The short rib 32 is always connected to the long rib 31 through the elastic connecting device 33. The elastic connecting device 33 includes a support torsion spring 331 and an elastic cord 332. The support torsion spring 331 is installed inside the long rib 31 and the short rib 32, and both ends of the elastic cord 332 are connected to the support torsion springs 331 inside the long rib 31 and the short rib 32, respectively. Specifically, the narrowed portion can be inserted into the long rib. When folding is required, the narrowed portion of the short rib can be pulled out from the long rib, thereby shortening a length of the umbrella rib. This design facilitates transportation and reduces transportation costs. Additionally, the narrowed portion is formed on the short rib, providing strong support when the short rib is connected to the long rib.

In the above canopy structure for an outdoor sunshade umbrella, the support torsion spring 331 includes two support columns 3311 and an elastic ring 3312. The two support columns 3311 are connected to the elastic ring 3312 and are inclined relative to each other. Under an elastic action of the elastic ring 3312, ends of the two support columns 3311 always abut against an inner wall of the long rib 31 and an inner wall of the short rib 32. Specifically, this ensures that when the support columns are inside the long rib or the short rib, their ends can latch onto the inner wall of the long rib or the inner wall of the short rib, improving a stability of a connection between the support torsion spring and the long and short ribs.

In the above canopy structure for an outdoor sunshade umbrella, both ends of the umbrella rib 3 and the support rod 4 are provided with end caps 5. Specifically, the end caps on the umbrella ribs are designed to facilitate a connection between the ribs and the canopy, as well as between the ribs and the upper umbrella hub. The end caps on the support rod are designed to facilitate its connection to the ribs and the lower umbrella hub, preventing deformation of the ribs and the support rod during use.

In the above canopy structure for an outdoor sunshade umbrella, the narrowed portion 34 of the short rib 32 and the inner wall of the long rib 31 are in a clearance fit. Specifically, this facilitates an assembly and disassembly of the short rib and the long rib.

In the above canopy structure for an outdoor sunshade umbrella, a length ratio of the short rib 32 to the long rib 31 is 1:2. When disassembly and transportation are required, removing the short rib reduces an overall length, making transportation more convenient.

In the above canopy structure for an outdoor sunshade umbrella, a length of the narrowed portion 34 of the short rib 32 is between 1/9 and 1/10 of a length of the short rib 32. Specifically, this ensures that the narrowed portion provides sufficient support force.

The above embodiments are only the preferred embodiments of the invention and do not limit the scope of protection of the invention. Therefore, any equivalent changes made to the structure, shape, or principle of the invention shall fall within the scope of protection of the invention.