Fully Automatic Reverse-Folding Umbrella with Screw-Driven Mechanism

The problem

When stepping out of a vehicle or entering a building with a conventional umbrella, the user must manually pull the canopy down against spring tension or push it shut. During this process, the wet outer surface faces outward, dripping water onto car upholstery, clothing, or other people in crowded spaces. Manual closing also requires two hands and extra physical effort, which is difficult when carrying bags or holding a child. Furthermore, standard umbrellas require a wide arc to fold, making them awkward to close in tight doorways or narrow vehicle cabins.

The solution

This patent describes a fully automatic reverse-folding umbrella that addresses these issues through a motorized drive system and an inverted frame structure.

1. A power source located inside the umbrella handle provides forward and reverse driving force.
2. This power source turns a screw mandrel, which drives an ejector sleeve to move up and down along a middle pipe.
3. The ejector sleeve connects to an outer tube placed outside the middle pipe. As the sleeve moves, it pushes or pulls the outer tube relative to the middle pipe.
4. The movement of the outer tube acts on a middle nest, which in turn operates the traction fulcra and main umbrella skeletons to deploy or collapse the canopy.
5. Instead of folding outward away from the shaft, the reflexed umbrella frame folds in reverse toward the top of the umbrella handle.
6. A double-layer cloth arrangement ensures that when fully folded, the rain-facing side of the outer umbrella cloth is trapped inside and covered by the inner umbrella cloth.

Who it is for

• Promotional product distributors supplying branded corporate gifts who need a premium, automated umbrella that stands out from standard manual models.
• Automotive accessory brands targeting drivers who enter and exit vehicles frequently in the rain and want to protect their interiors from water drips.
• Retail and department store buyers looking for weather accessories that offer one-handed convenience for commuters carrying briefcases or shopping bags.
• Outdoor gear wholesalers expanding their rain-protection lines with motorized options for users who value quick deployment.

How it works

The main parts

Operating steps

1. Opening: The user presses the button (81) on the umbrella handle. The power source drives the screw mandrel (71) forward. The nut portion (721) of the ejector sleeve moves up the mandrel, pushing the connecting portion (722) and supporting part (723) to lift the outer tube (11) relative to the middle pipe (12).
2. The position limiting structure (111) on top of the outer tube pushes the middle nest (5) upward. This action uses the traction fulcra (23) to push the main umbrella skeletons (21) open.
3. Simultaneously, the contraction spring (28) and traction piece (27) affect the long branched bone (24), short fulcra (25), and reflexed umbrella frame (22) to deploy outward. The lower nest (6) moves to the top of the outer tube, locked by the umbrella closing spring (29).
4. Closing: Pressing the button again starts the power source in reverse. The screw mandrel rotates backward, moving the nut portion down. The supporting part pulls the outer tube down relative to the middle pipe.
5. The position limiting structure releases the upward force on the middle nest. Under the umbrella closing spring, the main skeletons push down the traction fulcra, causing the middle nest to move down. The long branched bones lose tension, allowing the lower nest to slide down. The reflexed frame folds inward, and the outer cloth’s rain face encloses inside the inner cloth.

Applications

Commuting and public transit

Commuters boarding buses or trains often struggle to close wet umbrellas quickly in crowded aisles. This reverse-folding umbrella closes automatically at the press of a button, folding the wet surface inward so it does not drip on fellow passengers or the commuter’s own clothing.

Entering and exiting vehicles

Drivers and passengers need to transition between a car interior and the rain without soaking the seats. Because the canopy folds in reverse toward the handle, the user can close the umbrella while still partially seated, trapping the water inside the fabric layers before bringing it into the cabin.

Carrying groceries or luggage

Shoppers or travelers holding bags cannot easily use both hands to wrestle a manual umbrella closed. The motorized screw-drive mechanism allows one-handed operation via the handle button, freeing the other hand to manage packages or rolling luggage.

Corporate events and trade shows

Brands distributing promotional items want products that demonstrate clear mechanical differentiation. A motorized, reverse-closing umbrella serves as a functional item that recipients will use repeatedly, providing ongoing visibility for the brand logo printed on the canopy.

Where it is less suitable

• Extreme wind conditions - complex articulated frames with long branched bones and reflexed structures may be more susceptible to inversion in gale-force winds compared to heavy-duty storm umbrellas.
• Ultra-lightweight backpacking - the motor, battery, and screw mandrel add weight to the handle, making it less ideal for hikers prioritizing minimal pack weight.
• Areas without charging access - since the power source requires energy, users who cannot recharge the handle battery regularly will find manual umbrellas more reliable.