Automatically openable and closable umbrella

Claim 1

An automatically openable and closable umbrella comprising a shaft having a tubular outer shaft member slidably housing therein an upper inner, an intermediate inner and a lower inner tubular shaft members; a first ring fixed to the upper portion of said upper shaft member and pivotably carrying a plurality of ribs; a plurality of extensible rods; a second ring mounted on said shaft below said first ring, said second ring being fixed to said outer shaft member and pivotably carrying said extensible rods pivotably supporting said ribs; a plurality of supporting rods; a third ring mounted on said shaft below said second ring and pivotably carrying said supporting rods pivotably supporting said extensible rods; a plurality of spokes; a fourth ring mounted on said shaft below said third ring and pivotably carrying at a site other than the pivotal point of each of said extensible rods, said spokes pivotably supporting said ribs; compressible first spring menas for opening the umbrella and provided between said intermediate and said lower shaft members to urge them apart; a washer ring; compressible second spring means for opening the umbrella, said second spring means being mounted on said shaft between said third ring and said washer ring, said washer ring being securely attached to said intermediate shaft member so as to slide on said outer shaft member, said second ring menas being capable of urging said upper and intermediate shaft members apart with respect to said outer and lower shaft members; first latch means for opening the umbrella, said latch means being capable of disengageably engaging said fourth ring; and second latch means for closing the umbrella, said second latch means being provided in the lower portion of the lower shaft member and being capable of releasing the outer shaft member from its engagement with the lower shaft member, characterized in that: said spokes are constituted by pairs of elastic belt members, each pair being associated with a corresponding one of said ribs, wherein the elastic belt members belong to adjacent pairs are interconnected intermediate the span thereof, whereby, as the umbrella is opened, the ribs of each pair are elastically bowed laterally intermediate the span thereof to store force for aiding collapsing the umbrella; said fourth ring including means housing said second latch means when the umbrella is closed, to prevent accidental fingerrelease of the second latch means.