AU2003204148B2 - Tilt adjustable shade apparatus - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPEC/F/CA TIONFORA STANDARD PA TENT Name ofApplicant" Ekkehard Koehn Acua//Invent or(s) Ekkehard Koehn Addioressfor Serv/ce: AHEARN FOX Patent Trade Mark Attorneys GPO Box 1149 Brisbane Queensland 4001 /nvent/on Tlt/e: "TILT ADJUSTABLE SHADE APPARATUS" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: -1- TILT ADJUSTABLE SHADE APPARATUS FIELD OF INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a tilt adjustable shade apparatus.

The invention has particular application to a tilt adjustable large umbrella-type shade assemblies such as those described in my International Patent Application No.

PCT/AU94/00782. It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to this field of use.

BACKGROUND ART Umbrella-type shade assemblies are typically utilised for providing shade to outdoor entertainment areas and in many cases a user of such shade assembly will wish to orient the shade assembly to accommodate changes in the angle of direct sunlight.

For example, a user may wish to tilt the shade assembly to accommodate the setting sun shining at a different angle from that of the midday sun. Normally, a central shaft supporting the shade assembly has two parts joining at a bendable joint such that the shade assembly may be tilted by bending the shaft at the join such that one part of the shaft is at an angle to the other part of the shaft. However, the where the supporting shaft is not centrally located with respect to the umbrella, such an arrangement would present difficulties in the strength of the support, and the range of locations within which the umbrella could be oriented may be limited and may result in an undesirable raising or lowering of the umbrella necessitated by its arrangement.

The present invention is aimed at providing a tilt adjustable shade assembly in which the shade assembly can be re- -2oriented. Other aims and advantages may hereinafter become apparent from the following description.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing in view the invention in one aspect resides broadly in a tilt adjustable shade apparatus including: umbrella-type shade means incorporating a collapsible frame assembly and a flexible cover attached thereto said shade means being movable between a stowed attitude and an open attitude, and said frame assembly having a plurality of radially extending frame members extending from a central column member; support means operably associated with said column member for supporting said shade means from above said flexible cover., said support means incorporating an upstanding arm for supporting said shade means at an elevation and a lateral arm extending from an upper portion of said upstanding arm, said lateral arm being of a length sufficient to support said shade means from a distal end thereof; and wherein said lateral arm includes a spigot and socket joint intermediate its distal and proximal ends, said spigot having a substantially circular cross-section whereby the distal portion of said lateral arm may be rotated about an axis longitudinally of said lateral arm, and said spigot and socket joint further including locking means for locking the joint against said rotation.

Preferably, the lateral arm is formed from a square section -rolled hollow section (RHS) steel or the like member having a substantially square bore. It is also preferred that the spigot be formed from a circular section pipe or the like fixed into one side of the joint and being of a size to provide a clearance fit in the square bore in the other side of the joint. Suitably, the -3spigot is of a length sufficient to provide no significant bending of the joint, the spigot being rotatable in the square bore by being in contact with the flat sides of the RHS about midway between the corners.

It is preferred that the locking means include one or more apertures penetrating the RHS through one or more of the flat sides close to midway between the corners and spaced from the split in the RHS for the joint a distance about half of the length of the projection of the spigot, and further apertures be provided at a selection of radial positions about the spigot, and further that one or more pins are provided to penetrate the apertures through both the RHS and the spigot for locking the distal portion of the lateral arm in one of a selection of rotational dispositions with respect to the proximal portion of the lateral arm.

Preferably, the frame assembly is configured such that in the erected operative disposition it forms a part-cone (substantially a part circle in plan) for providing shade to an area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein: Fig. 1 is a side view of shade apparatus according to the invention in operative.attitude; Fig. 2 is a side view of the shade apparatus of Fig.

1 in stowed attitude; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing part of a lateral member for the shade apparatus of Figs.

1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic end and oblique view of part of the lateral member of Fig 3; and Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic oblique view showing the spigot and socket arrangement for the lateral member of the shade apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The shade apparatus 10 is shown in Fig. 1 in an open or deployed attitude and in Fig. .2 in a folded or stowed attitude.

The shade apparatus includes a shade assembly having a canopy stretched over a plurality of radiating ribs in the fashion of an umbrella.

The shade assembly is suspended from a support member 12 on the distal end of a lateral member 20. The proximal end of the lateral member engages slidingly with a post 14 by way of a ring 17 circumscribing the post and having a pivotal connection with the proximal end of the lateral member. The ring may be lowered by operating a winder 15, and as the ring lowers, the lateral arm tilts at a steeper angle, being suspended also from the distal end of a strut 16 extending from the upper end or end portion of the post to the lateral member intermediate its ends.

In the detail drawings of the lateral member shown in Figs.

3, 4 and 5, the same reference numerals are used to refer to the same corresponding elements in each view, ,although the different views do not show all of the same parts. The lateral member is formed from square RHS and divided into two parts at a split 23, a proximal portion 21 and a distal portion 22. A joining pipe 24 having a circular section in inserted partway into the square bores of the two portions of the RHS near the split. The pipe is fixed into the distal portion by inserting a locking pin 33 through a first pair of apertures penetrating both the pipe and the flat side of the RHS about midway between its corner edges and spaced from the split. The pin has a cylindrical head 37 with a flange cap 36, and a shaft 38 extending from the head to a rounded end 35. A second pair of apertures is provided rotationally displaced from the first pair to permit the pipe to be fixed in the distal portion at a different rotational orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lateral member.

The portion of the pipe extending into the proximal portion of the lateral member is penetrated by pairs of diametrically opposed threaded apertures, at least one pair being arranged for alignment with a corresponding pair of threaded or clearance apertures penetrating the flat sides of the RHS about midway between the corner edges, and spaced from the slit. A screw is inserted into the threaded apertures to fix the pipe into the bore of the proximal portion of the lateral member. As shown in Fig. 4 in particular, the distal portion of the lateral member may be fixed in a relative rotated position shown at 22a with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lateral member. It can be seen that this will provide tilt adjustment of the shade assembly.

In use, a tilt adjustable shade apparatus of the present invention may be installed in an outdoor area where shade is required. The lateral member may be assembled in an "aligned" attitude wherein the corner edges of the proximal and distal portions of the lateral member line up. To tilt the shade assembly, the locking pin may be removed, the distal portion of the lateral member rotated slightly about its longitudinal axis until the apertures line up with one another, and the locking pin re-inserted to lock the lateral member in a twisted attitude wherein the distal portion is at a different rotational angle from the proximal portion with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lateral member. The tilt adjustment may be performed when the shade assembly is in its deployed attitude, but it may be easier to provided the tilt adjustment when the shade assembly is in its stowed attitude.

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing description has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (4)

1. Tilt adjustable shade apparatus including: umbrella-type shade means incorporating a collapsible frame assembly and a flexible cover attached thereto said shade means being movable between a stowed attitude and an open attitude, and said frame assembly having a plurality of radially extending frame members extending from a central column member; support means operably associated with said column member for supporting said shade means from above said flexible cover, said support means incorporating an upstanding arm for supporting said shade means at an elevation and a lateral arm extending from an upper portion of said upstanding arm, said lateral arm being of a length sufficient to support said shade means from a distal end thereof; and wherein said lateral arm includes a spigot and socket joint intermediate its distal and proximal ends, said spigot having a substantially circular cross-section whereby the distal portion of said lateral arm may be rotated about an axis longitudinally of said lateral arm, and said spigot and socket joint further including locking means for locking the joint against said rotation.

2. Tilt adjustable shade apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lateral arm is formed from a square section rolled hollow section (RHS) steel or the like member having a substantially square bore.

3. Tilt adjustable shade apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the spigot is formed from a circular section fixed into one side of the joint and being of a size to provide a clearance fit in the square,bore in the other side of the joint, the length of the spigot being sufficient to provide no significant bending of the joint, the spigot being rotatable in the square bore by being in contact with the flat sides of the RHS about midway between the corners.

4. Tilt adjustable shade apparatus according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the locking means include one or more apertures penetrating the RHS through one or more of the flat sides close to midway between the corners and spaced from the split in the RHS for the joint a distance about half of the length of the projection of the spigot, and further apertures be providedat a selection of radial positions about the spigot. Tilt adjustable shade apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein one or more pins are provided to penetrate the apertures through both the RHS and the spigot for locking the distal portion of the lateral arm in one of a selection of rotational dispositions with respect to the proximal portion of the lateral arm. Dated this 1 3 th day of May, 2003 EKKEHARD KOERN By his Patent Attorneys AHEARN FOX