Collapsible diposable umbrella

An umbrella comprising:

• a shaft having an upper end and a lower end;
• an upper hub member secured to said upper end;
• a plurality of ribs;
• hinge means securing said ribs to said hub for movement from a first position wherein said ribs are parallel to said shaft to a second position wherein said rib extend radially outwardly from said shaft;
• a lower hub slidably received on said shaft and movable from a first position to a second position adjacent to said upper hub;
• interengaging means to affix said upper hub to said lower hub when said lower hub is in said second position;
• a bracing strut for each of said ribs, each of said struts extending between said hub and its respective rib;
• second hinge means permitting movement of said struts from a first position where said struts are parallel to said shaft to a second position angularly disposed with respect to said shaft and said ribs;
• said lower hub being in spaced relationship with said upper hub when said ribs and struts are in said first positions and said lower hub being in engagement with said upper hub when said ribs and struts are in their second positions;
• a flexible sheet material secured to said ribs;
• a tubular container for receiving said ribs and struts in their first positions and serving as a handle when said ribs and struts are in said second positions.

An umbrella comprising:

• a tubular container having an upper end and a lower end and having an annular groove formed interiorally thereof adjacent said upper end;
• a shaft received in said tube and having a top end, a bottom end and a length slightly less than that of said tube;
• a piston;
• means securing said piston to said bottom end of said shaft;
• a flexible centering ring reciprocally received on said shaft, located above said piston and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said tube causing it to bow when located in said tube;
• said shaft having a first position wherein said piston is at said lower end and said top end is below said grove and said shaft being movable to a second position wherein said shaft is substantially exterior of said tube and said centering ring is moved to a position coplanar with said groove and snaps therein;
• a plurality of ribs;
• a sheet of flexible protective material secured to said ribs;
• first hinge means connecting said ribs to said top end for movement from a position parallel to said shaft to an expanded position extending radially outwardly from said shaft;
• a lower hub member slidably received on said shaft;
• a plurality of bracing struts, each one of which is associated with each of said ribs;
• second hinge means connecting said braces to said hub and to each of said ribs for movement of said struts to a first position parallel to said shaft and to a second position wherein said struts are angularly disposed with respect to said ribs and said braces;
• said tube having an interior sufficiently large to receive said shaft, said ribs, said struts and said material when said ribs and struts are in said second positions.