Umbrella

Claim 1

AN UMBRELLA COMPRISING A SHAFT, A CANOPY SECURED AT ITS CENTER TO ONE END OF SAID SHAFT, AN ACTUATOR SLIDABLY ENGAGING SAID SHAFT, A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY DISPOSED CANOPY SUPPORTING RIBS EACH PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE ACTUATOR AND AT THE OTHER END OF THE PERIPHERY OF THE CANOPY, SAID ACTUATOR HAVING AN ANNULAR FLANGED PORTION WITH A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY FORMED SLOTS IN THE UNDERSIDE THEREOF TO RECEIVE SAID RIBS, EACH OF SAID RIBS HAVING END PORTIONS AT AN ANGLE LESS THAN 180* RELATIVE TO THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE RIB, SAID ACTUATOR BEING MOVABLE TO AND FROM POSITIONS ON AND ADJOINING THE END OF THE SHAFT TO WHICH THE CANOPY IS SECURED TO CLOSE AND OPEN THE CANOPY RESPECTIVELY, THE UPPER SURFACE OF SIAD SLOTS ENGAGING SAID RIBS WITH THE CANOPY IN THE OPEN POSITION TO LIMIT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE RIBS TO A PREDETERMINED ANGULAR POSITION RELATIVE TO THE SHAFT, AND RELEASABLE MEANS ENGAGING THE ACTUATOR AND SHAFT TO HOLD THE ACTUATOR IN POSITION SPACED FROM SAID END OF SAID SHAFT AND WITH THE CANOPY IN THE OPEN POSITION.