Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45B—WALKING STICKS; UMBRELLAS; LADIES' OR LIKE FANS
  • A45B25/00—Details of umbrellas
  • A45B25/06—Umbrella runners
  • A45B25/08—Devices for fastening or locking
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45B—WALKING STICKS; UMBRELLAS; LADIES' OR LIKE FANS
  • A45B25/00—Details of umbrellas
  • A45B25/06—Umbrella runners
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45B—WALKING STICKS; UMBRELLAS; LADIES' OR LIKE FANS
  • A45B25/00—Details of umbrellas
  • A45B25/14—Devices for opening and for closing umbrellas
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45B—WALKING STICKS; UMBRELLAS; LADIES' OR LIKE FANS
  • A45B9/00—Details
  • A45B9/02—Handles or heads
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45B—WALKING STICKS; UMBRELLAS; LADIES' OR LIKE FANS
  • A45B2200/00—Details not otherwise provided for in A45B
  • A45B2200/10—Umbrellas; Sunshades
  • A45B2200/1081—Umbrella handles

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates generally to umbrellas. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to structures for moving an umbrella canopy between an open position and a closed position.
• Umbrellas are commonly used to provide shade over a given area. Large umbrellas can be used to provide shade for large areas such as recreational areas, public gathering areas, and commercial venues. Umbrellas typically include a foldable shade structure for allowing a user to move the umbrella between an open and a closed position.
• the folding shade structure generally includes a runner moveable along a pole, struts extending from the runner, and a canopy overlaying the struts. The runner can be moved to an elevated position to open the struts and stretch the canopy or moved to a lower position to close the struts and collapse the canopy. Gravity may cause the umbrella to collapse unless the runner is supported in the elevated position.
• a spring-loaded flange In a small umbrella a spring-loaded flange, sometimes called a snib, has been used to support the runner in the elevated position.
• Large umbrellas are commonly subject to continuous use for many years in outdoor conditions and could benefit from more robust and user friendly features to improve durability, operational convenience, and ease of use.
• the present disclosure provides, among other things, an umbrella assembly.
• the disclosed umbrella assembly may be used in various contexts to provide shade over areas. More specifically, the present disclosure provides a lower hub assembly with an integrated handle portion and locking mechanism for moving the umbrella assembly between an open configuration and a closed configuration.
• the umbrella assembly can include a support pole, a plurality of spaced apart recesses disposed along the support pole, and a lower hub assembly moveably coupled to the support pole.
• the lower hub assembly can include a runner hub and a hub controller coupled to the runner hub.
• the runner hub can have a plurality of grooves configured to receive umbrella ribs.
• the hub controller can include an upper portion extending from the runner hub, a handle portion coupled to the upper portion, and a locking mechanism coupled to the handle portion.
• the handle portion can have an aperture configured to receive a hand of a user.
• the locking mechanism can include an actuator having a gripping surface and a locking feature coupled to the actuator. The actuator can be disposed in the aperture.
• the actuator can be moveable relative to the handle portion between a first position in which the locking feature is disposed in one of the spaced apart recesses and a second position in which the locking feature is not disposed in one of the spaced apart recesses in response to the hand of the user applying a force to the gripping surface.
• the umbrella assembly can include a support pole, a locking fixture disposed on the support pole, and a lower hub assembly moveably coupled to the support pole.
• the lower hub assembly can include a runner hub having a plurality of grooves configured to receive umbrella ribs and a hub controller extending from the runner hub.
• the hub controller can include a handle portion and a locking mechanism coupled to the handle portion.
• the locking mechanism can include an actuator moveable relative to the handle portion and a locking feature coupled to the actuator. The actuator can be moved between a first position in which the locking feature is engaged with the locking fixture and a second position in which the locking feature is disengaged from the locking fixture.
• the umbrella assembly can include a support pole, a locking fixture disposed on the support pole, and a lower hub assembly moveably coupled to the support pole.
• the lower hub assembly can include a runner hub having a plurality of grooves configured to receive umbrella ribs and a hub controller extending from the lower hub.
• the hub controller can include a handle portion having an aperture configured for receiving a hand of a user, an actuator disposed within the aperture, and one or more skids disposed between the actuator and an interior surface of the handle portion. The actuator can be moved relative to the handle portion to move a locking feature into engagement with the locking fixture.
• FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an umbrella assembly 100 in an open configuration.
• the umbrella assembly 100 can include a base 140, a support pole 110, a lower hub assembly 150, an upper hub 210, umbrella ribs 120, and/or a canopy 130.
• the base 140 can be configured to allow the umbrella assembly 100 to be freestanding.
• the support pole 110 can be attached to the base 140 at one end and extend vertically to an upper hub 210 disposed at and coupled to an opposing end.
• a locking fixture 116 can be disposed on the support pole 110.
• a lower hub assembly 150 can be movably coupled to the support pole 110 and disposed along the support pole 110 between the base 140 and the upper hub 210.
• the lower hub assembly 150 can include a locking mechanism 330.
• the locking mechanism 330 can be configured to engage the locking fixture 116 to secure the lower hub assembly 150 in an upper position and to disengage from the locking fixture 116 to permit the lower hub assembly 150 to move from the upper position to the lower position.
• One or more umbrella rubs can be pivotably coupled to the lower hub assembly 150.
• the canopy 130 can be disposed over the umbrella ribs 120 to provide shade.
• FIG. 2A depicts a partial cross-sectional view of the umbrella assembly 100 in the open configuration.
• the lower hub assembly 150 is disposed at an upper position located proximate to the upper hub 210. Positioning the lower hub assembly 150 proximate to the upper position causes the umbrella ribs 120 to move toward a substantially horizontal or inclined radially downward orientation.
• the canopy 130 is outstretched to provide shade and shelter from the elements to users of the umbrella assembly 100.
• the canopy 130 can comprise an at least partially flexible material, such as fabric and/or a plastic film.
• the canopy 130 can offer shade protection from sunlight, as well as at least partial shelter from the elements, e.g., rain, bird droppings, tree sap, etc.
• the canopy 130 can also comprise materials having weather and sun resistant characteristics to provide extended durability and usage in outdoor settings.
• FIG. 2B depicts a partial cross-sectional view of the umbrella assembly 100 in the closed configuration.
• the lower hub assembly 150 is disposed at a lower position located farther from the upper hub 210 than in the open configuration. Positioning the lower hub assembly 150 at or toward the lower position causes the umbrella ribs 120 to collapse to a substantially vertical orientation.
• the umbrella assembly 100 encompasses less physical space, thereby facilitating storage, movement, and/or packaging for shipment.
• FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a lower hub assembly 150 coupled to a support pole 110.
• the umbrella assembly 100 can be moved between the closed configuration and the open configuration by moving the lower hub assembly 150 along the support pole 110 between the upper position and the lower position.
• FIG. 3 illustrates these features with the umbrella ribs 120 removed for clarity and includes a cutaway into the lower hub assembly 150.
• FIG. 4 depicts an exploded view of example components of the lower hub assembly 150 of FIG. 3 .
• the support pole 110 provides a structure onto which the upper hub 210, umbrella ribs 120, and canopy 130 can be coupled.
• the lower hub assembly 150 can also be releasably secured or fixed to the support pole 110 in a manner allowing travel, e.g., sliding or rolling along, the pole.
• the support pole 110 provides an elongated structure along which the lower hub assembly 150 can axially translate to move the umbrella between the open and closed configurations.
• the support pole 110 can be an assembly of one or more segments or components.
• the support pole 110 can be provided with a mounting end 112.
• the mounting end 112 can be a lower portion of the support pole 110, e.g., including a lower end thereof. As illustrated in FIG.
• the mounting end 112 can be configured for attachment to a pedestal or base 140 that rests on the ground, a patio deck, a lawn, or other surface.
• the base 140 could be built into or coupled with anchored fasteners in some embodiments.
• the mounting end 112 can be configured to be directly attached or mounted to a patio, to a bracket on a vertically or horizontally extending building surface, or the like.
• the mounting end 112 can be permanently or semi-permanently attached to a base 140, a fixed surface or other ground surface.
• the mounting end 112 can be releasably attached to a base 140, a fixed surface, or other ground surface.
• the attachment arrangement of the mounting end 112 in some embodiments can be configured to restrain both translation and rotation of the support pole 110. In other embodiments, the mounting end 112 can be configured to allow limited rotational movement, e.g., a swiveling type movement. Thus, it will be understood that the mounting end 112 can be provided in certain embodiments to enable the umbrella assembly 100 to be conveniently mounted in place for use of the umbrella assembly 100.
• the support pole 110 can comprise a generally elongate rigid member. As shown in FIGS. 1-3 , the support pole 110 can be substantially straight or linear along its length. In other embodiments, the support pole 110 can comprise straight portions in combination with curved portions. In yet other embodiments, the support pole 110 can be curved substantially along the entire length of the support pole 110.
• FIGS. 1-3 illustrate the support pole 110 in a substantially vertical orientation. In other embodiments, the support pole 110 can be arranged in an angled, diagonal, or horizontal orientation depending on the requirements of the particular application.
• the support pole 110 can form a generally cylindrical shape with a circular cross section. In other embodiments, the support pole 110 can be in the shape of a rectangular prism, triangular prism, or any other suitable shape.
• the support pole 110 comprises an elongated recess extending along the length of the support pole 110.
• the locking fixture 116 comprises a linear array of teeth, e.g., a ratchet feature or rack, disposed within the elongated recess.
• the locking fixture 116 is not limited to any specific shape or orientation.
• the locking fixture 116 can be a separate component or components attached to the support pole 110 via screw, nail, bolt, adhesive, or other fastener. In some embodiments, the locking fixture 116 can be monolithically formed with the support pole 110.
• the lower hub assembly 150 can include a runner hub 200 and a hub controller 300.
• the runner hub 200 can function as a central junction onto which one or more umbrellas ribs 120 can be coupled.
• the runner hub 200 can include one or more grooves 202 configured to receive the umbrella ribs 120.
• the umbrella ribs 120 can be coupled to the runner hub 200 at one or more pivot points disposed within the grooves 202.
• the plurality of grooves 202 can be dimensioned to allow the umbrella ribs 120 to pivot without obstruction.
• the runner hub 200 can be movably coupled to the support pole 110. As illustrated in FIG.
• the runner hub 200 can form a generally annular shape with a central channel 206 configured to the receive the support pole 110. When disposed around the support pole 110 via the central channel 206, the runner hub 200 can axially translate along the support pole 110. The runner hub 200 may be translated vertically in upwards or downwards directions to move the umbrella ribs 120 between the open and closed configurations.
• the runner hub 200 has eight grooves 202 for receiving eight umbrella ribs 120.
• the runner hub 200 can have zero, one, two, three, or any other number grooves 202 as required to receive the corresponding number of umbrella ribs 120.
• the runner hub 200 may take the form of any suitable shape.

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• Walking Sticks, Umbrellas, And Fans (AREA)

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ID=91374906

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Citations (5)

• 2024
  • 2024-05-28 EP EP24020175.6A patent/EP4606255A1/de active Pending
  • 2024-07-19 CN CN202421719757.1U patent/CN222929339U/zh active Active
• 2025
  • 2025-02-13 US US19/052,612 patent/US20250268346A1/en active Pending

Patent Citations (5)

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