GB2375480A

GB2375480A - Guy-supported parasol

Info

Publication number: GB2375480A
Application number: GB0112317A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Justin Alec Bailey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-05-19
Filing date: 2001-05-19
Publication date: 2002-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 2021-05-19
Also published as: GB2375480B; GB0112317D0

Abstract

The parasol has a circular flexible ribless canopy 2 with a peripheral hoop-like frame (38 Fig 7), comprising a plurality of releasable segments, which is held in place by a combination of hook-and-loop fasteners (100 Fig 7) and an inwardly projecting lip 8 tightened over the frame by drawstring 10. Three equally spaced guy lines are attached to the periphery and these may include markings 29 for indicating where to attach the lines to the ground. Three tensioning lines 30, arranged symmetrically between the guy lines, are attached to the lip by elastic loops 32 and to a ring 36 on the telescopic pole 18. The pole may have a ball-and-socket base 20.

Description

A Parasol The present invention relates to a parasol and to a method for erecting and securing a parasol in a desired location.

Usually parasols take the form of a large canopy that provides beneath it an area of shade. The parasol is provided with a central support that must driven into the ground, or attached to a heavy base unit for the parasol to be erected. These parasols are often cumbersome to handle and erect and are often unstable in use. These factors may prevent people from using such parasols more widely.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a more convenient parasol and a method of erecting a parasol.

According to the present invention there is provided a parasol comprising a flexible canopy having a centre axis and a periphery, the canopy being provided with a removable frame member secured by securing means at or adjacent the periphery, the frame member comprising flexible sections releasably connected to one another to form a continuous structure, the parasol further comprising three guy lines secured to the canopy at securing points at or adjacent the periphery, wherein imaginary lines connecting each securing point to the centre axis in a plane are substantially at 120 to one another.

This arrangement does away with the need for an umbrella like arrangement of struts to support the canopy because the canopy is supported and shaped by the frame member.

This reduces the complexity of manufacture of the parasol and hence reduces the cost of the parasol.

Since the frame member can be removed-fr-om the canopy and disassembled, it can be packed into a container for ease of storage and transportation. Preferably the frame member consists of a plurality of flexible sections joined together to form a hoop.

The three guy lines act to triangulate the forces applied to the canopy and ensure that the parasol remains in the desired position even in windy conditions. The location of the guy lines at 1200 from one another other means that they are evenly spaced around the periphery of the canopy and this aids even distribution of loads.

The guy lines enable the canopy to be suspended between trees, bushes, lamp posts, or any other suitably located objects with no need for a central support pole, although a central support pole is used in the preferred embodiment.

Preferably, the frame member and periphery are substantially circular. This provides a traditional circular shaped parasol and has no corners that could cause an injury if they were to make contact with a person's eye. Forming a hoop also helps lock the flexible

sections together.

The securing means may include hook and loop fastenings. These are cheap to install and easy to use. They do not rust and are effective even when wet. Since a parasol may

be used near the sea it is desirable that the fastenings

should not corrode in the & a-j-t water atmospheres

The securing means may include a drawstring at or adjacent the periphery to enable the circumference of the periphery to be reduced to hold the frame member in place when the drawstring is tightened. This is a quick and easy way to secure the frame member in position and can be used to create a taut upper surface to the canopy as it is stretched over the frame member by the drawstring.

The securing means may include a receiving portion at or adjacent the periphery such that sections of the flexible frame member may be introduced into said receiving portion and guided around the periphery. This enables the flexible sections of the frame member to be introduced into the receiving portion attached to the canopy and subsequently joined together to form the frame member. The receiving portion may guide the frame sections around the periphery of the canopy prior to the frame sections being joined to form a continuous loop.

The flexible portions of the frame member could be permanently attached to the canopy such that they can be connected together and disconnected while attached to the

canopy.

In a preferred embodiment, during construction the frame member is first secured to the canopy with hook and loop fastenings and subsequently a drawstring is pulled tight to secure the frame member in place and create a taut upper surface to the canopy.

Preferably the parasol includes a sectional central support pole for supporting the canopy substantially along the centre axis, the sectional central support pole having at least one section that may be removed to reduce the length of the pole. This pole enables the parasol to be erected on almost any surface and the guy ropes can then be used to secure the pole in a substantially vertical position. The sectional pole means that the pole can be dismantled and placed into a container for ease of transport and storage.

The central support pole may have a ground engaging base unit connected to the pole by a ball and socket joint.

This enables the canopy to move the top end of the pole slightly with respect to the ground without the lower end of the pole moving against the ground. This will result in less wear and tear on the end of the pole and will reduce the likelihood of the pole slipping over the ground.

The canopy may include three internal tensioning lines attached at or adjacent the periphery and connected to a substantially central location. These tensioning lines

would act in the same way as the drawstring, to hold the frame member in place and to hold the upper surface of the canopy taut. Preferably there are three internal tensioning lines disposed at 120 from one another.

If the parasol is provided with a central support pole,

the three internal ten & ionig-line-jnay be connected to a substantially centrally located locking member. In a preferred embodiment the locking member has a ring shape with an opening through which the central support pole passes. A locking key may be provided which could engage with a hole in the central support pole to secure the locking member in place relative to the central support pole. This would have the effect of providing the traditional cone shaped parasol and would increase the stability of the canopy.

Preferably each guy line has a marker located at a point along its length. Each marker is located so as to indicate to which point in the ground the guy line should be secured. This marker serves as an aid to ensure that the securing points are correctly located around the parasol and at the correct angle to the central support pole to ensure that the canopy is secured in position effectively.

It is preferred that the parasol can be disassembled and packed into a container, preferably in the form of a tool roll, for ease of transport and in a preferred embodiment the container has carrying handles and/or shoulder straps so that it may be carried like a normal bag, or worn on

the back like a rucksack. Accordingly another aspect of the invention provides a kit for making a parasol, the kit comprising three guy lines, a flexible canopy having a centre axis and a periphery, at least two flexible sections for connection to one another to form a frame member for location at or adjacent the periphery, the canopy being provided with securing means-for. securing the frame member thereto and three securing points at or adjacent the periphery to which the three guy lines are or may be secured, wherein imaginary lines connecting each securing point to the centre axis in a plane are substantially at 120 to one another.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of erecting a parasol, the parasol comprising a flexible canopy having a centre axis and a periphery with securing means at or adjacent the periphery, flexible sections of a frame member, three guy lines secured to the canopy at securing points at or adjacent the periphery, wherein imaginary lines connecting each securing point to the centre axis in a plane are substantially at 120 to one another, the method including the steps of: a) laying the canopy upside down, joining together the flexible sections of the frame member to form a closed shape and securing the frame member to the canopy with the securing means; b) siting the canopy in the desired location the correct way up;

c) securing the guy lines in relation to the ground; and d) tensioning the guy lines such that the canopy is securely held in the desired location with the guy lines disposed s-ubstantially radi-ally from the centre axis.

This provides an efficient method of erecting a parasol according to the invention.

If the parasol includes a sectional pole, the method may include, prior to the tensioning of the guy lines, the steps of assembling the pole, locating an end of the pole in the centre of the canopy, raising the pole to a substantially vertical position and locating the opposite end of the pole on the ground.

If the guy lines for the parasol further comprise a marker located along their length, the method may include, prior to the steps of securing the guy lines to appropriate features, the steps of extending the guy lines out from the centre of the parasol, observing the location of the markers on the guy lines relative to the ground and creating appropriate features at those locations to which the guy lines may be secured. This provides a quick and reliable method for determining where the guy lines should be secured to ensure maximum stability for the parasol.

The appropriate features to which the guy lines are attached may be created on a sandy or granular surface by a method including the steps of: a) pressing a tube having a chamfered internal edge into the surface of the substrate to a minimum prescribed depth such that the-substrate material is forced into, and compressed within, the tube to form a core; b) removing the tube and core of the substrate material leaving a hole; c) placing into said hole a securing member, the securing member having affixed thereto a line, the line having an end that remains outside the hole; d) filling the hole with material to secure the securing member in place; and e) attaching the guy line to the end of the line outside the hole.

This quickly provides a secure attachment point for the guy lines. Such a secure attachment cannot easily be provided on a sandy or granular surface with a peg. The securing member is preferably a disc. This shape gives the maximum possible surface area and depth of filling above the securing member for a given hole.

Alternative methods of securing the guy lines could be used depending upon the nature of the surface. A peg could be used on a soil surface, but on a pebble or rocky surface a bag could be filled with ballast material and the bag used as an anchor point for the guy lines. The guy lines may also simply be tied around rocks, or in light winds the pole can simply be pushed into the ground.

Also according to the invention there is provided a method of forming a hole for use in securing an object in a sandy or granular substrate including the steps of: a) pressing a tube having a chamfered internal edge into the surface of the substrate to a minimum prescribed depth such that the substrate material is forced into, and compressed within, the tube to form a core; and b) removing the tube and core of the substrate material leaving a hole.

According to the invention there is also provided a method of securing a guy line in a sandy or granular substrate, the method including the steps of: a) pressing a tube having a chamfered internal edge into the surface of the substrate to a minimum prescribed depth such that the substrate material is forced into, and compressed within, the tube to form a core;

b) removing the tube and core of the substrate material leaving a hole; c) placing into said hole a securing member, the securing member having affixed thereto a line, the line having an end that remain outside the hole ; d) filling the hole with material to secure the securing member in place; and e) attaching the guy line to the end of the line outside the hole.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a parasol according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a detailed view of the periphery of the canopy; Figure 3 shows a close-up view of a locking member and key in use; Figure 4 shows the base of the central support pole attached to a base unit with a ball and socket joint; Figure 5 shows possible means for securing the guy lines to the ground; Figure 6 shows a sequence of steps for using a tube to make a hole in a sandy or granular surface and then using a securing member to provide an attachment point for a guy line; Figure 7 shows an underside view of the canopy; and Figure 8 shows how the parasol may react on a windy day.

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a parasol 1

having a canopy 2 with a centre axis passing transverse to the two major surfaces of the canopy 2 and passing through the canopy 2 at a substantially central location. The canopy 2 has a cone shape with a peak 4 and a flared opening 6. Within the flared opening 6, there is an inwardly projecting lip 8 created by the tightening of a

drawstring 1. The canopy 2 i & provded,-Mith a hnnp shapLed sectional frame member 38 (best shown in Figure 7) within a lip of its periphery 14. The drawstring 10 acts to reduce the inner circumference 12 of the lip 8 such that the frame member 38 is held in place within the periphery 14.

A sectional central support pole 16, made of many pole sections 18 connected together, passes vertically from a ground engaging base unit 20 into the peak 4 to support the canopy 2.

Equally distributed around the opening 6 are three reinforced attachment points 22 linked to corresponding guy lines 24 by an elastic loop 26. Each guy line is secured to the ground at its base 27 and each has a tension adjuster 28 near its base 27 for adjusting the effective length of the guy line 24. A marker 29 is located at a point along the length of each guy line 24. The marker 29 is located such that it may be used to determine to which point on the ground the base 27 of the guy line 24 should be attached.

Equally distributed around the lip 8 are three inwardly

pointing internal tensioning lines 30. Each internal tensioning line 30 is attached to the lip 8 by an elastic loop 32 secured to a reinforced attachment point 34 on the lip 8. All these internal tensioning lines are permanently attached to a ring shaped locking member 36 through which the central support pole 16 passes.

Figure 2 shows a close-up of the periphery 14 of the canopy 2. This drawing clearly shows the location of the frame member 38 within the lip 8 of the periphery 14. The drawstring 10 located at the inner circumference 12 of the lip 8 may be tightened to reduce the circumference 12 hence increasing the tension in the lip 8 and causing greater tension in the canopy 2. Since the frame member passes around the entire circumference of the periphery 14 and it may not be compressed, the action of tightening the drawstring holds the frame member 38 securely in place.

Figure 3 shows a close-up view of the locking member 36 and a locking key 40. The central support pole 16 passes through the central hole 42 of the ring shaped locking member 36. The locking key 40 is attached 46 to the locking member 36 so that it cannot be easily lost. The key is engaged with a hole 48 through the central support pole 16 and prevents the locking member 36 from moving past the key.

Figure 4 shows a ground engaging base unit 50 having a concave surface 52 engaging with a central support pole 16 with a convex end surface 54. The engagement of the two

surfaces 52,54 forms a ball and socket joint and this joint is arranged to allow the pole to sway 56 slightly.

Figure 5 shows the parasol 1, and close-ups of three possible methods of securing a guy line 24 to the ground 58. A securing member 60 may be buried in the ground 58.

The securing member 60 having attached thereto a line 62 and end 64 of which remains above the surface 66 to which the guy line 24 may be attached. A peg 68 may be driven into the ground 58 with an end 70 of the peg 68 remaining above the surface 66 to which the guy line 24 may be attached. A bag 72 may be placed on the surface 66 of the ground 58 filled with ballast material until sufficiently heavy to form a secure attaching point for the guy line 24.

Figure 7 shows an underside view of the canopy 2 without a central support pole 16. From this diagram the position of the sectional frame member 38 within the canopy 2 can clearly be seen located within the lip 8 of the periphery 14. In this case the frame member is made up of nine flexible sections 43 connected together. It should be noted that in this diagram it can be seen that the guy lines 24 are at an angle of 1200 from each other. It can also be seen that the internal tensioning lines 30 are at an angle of 1200 from each other, and the guy lines 24 and internal tensioning lines 30 are displaced from one another by an angle of 600.

The frame member 38 is secured to the canopy in six places

by hook and loop fasteners 100 equally distributed around the periphery of the canopy 2.

To erect the parasol 1, the canopy 2 is laid on the ground upside-down. The frame member 38 is assembled by connecting all the sections together to form a continuous hoopythis is-then-placed-en-t-hcanopy 2-md-ernrRd. in place with hook and loop tabs. The drawstring 10 is then tightened such that the frame member is held within the canopy 2 by a lip 8 as shown in Figure 2.

The internal tensioning lines 30 are attached to the lip 8 of the canopy 2 such that each line 30 is held under tension by the corresponding elastic loop 32.

The canopy 2 is turned the correct way up and placed on the ground in the desired location. The guy lines 24 are laid out along the ground in a radial direction away from the centre 4 of the canopy 2. The ends 27 of the guy lines are then secured to the ground in the location indicated by the respective markers 29.

The central support pole 16 is assembled by connecting the sections 18 together. The pole is passed through the locking member 36 and one end located at the centre 4 of the canopy 2. The locking member 36 is then pulled down the support pole away from the canopy until the locking key hole 48 is between the canopy and the locking member 36. The locking key 40 is then inserted into the locking hole 48 so as to secure the locking member 36 in place.

The pole 16 is then raised to a substantially vertical orientation such that the canopy 2 is held above the desired location and the base 20 of the pole 16 is located at a substantially equal distance from each guy line base 27. The tension adjusters 28 are then used to alter the

effective length of tale gay lines 2r o that the pej-e-16 is secured in a substantially vertical orientation. A base unit 50 can optionally be placed on the ground at the base 20 of the pole 16 to engage with the pole 16 via a ball and socket joint.

Referring now to figure 8, if the wind blows 102 once the parasol 1 has been erected, the external elastic loops 26 allow the parasol 1 to move slightly in the direction of the wind. This movement causes the external elastic loops 26 on the upwind side of the parasol to stretch and resist the movement. The resulting shape of the parasol is generally shown in Figure 8 and labelled 104. The stretched external elastic loops 26 then provide a restoring force to cause the canopy 2 to return to its original position when the wind ceases. This movement is facilitated if the ball and socket base unit 50 has been used as the central support pole 16 is allowed to move slightly without flexing.

Figure 6 shows steps in the creation of a secure attachment point for a guy line 24 in a sandy or granular substrate 80. A hollow tube 82 with a chamfered ground engaging edge 84 is forced down 86 into the substrate 80.

Substrate material forced into the tube 82 is compressed slightly as it passes through the chamfer 84 When the tube is withdrawn 88 from the substrate a core 90 of substrate material remains within the tube 82 and is removed from the substrate 80 to leave a hole 92.

A securing member, in this ease a disc 94 with a line 96 attached is placed at the bottom of the hole 92. The hole 92 is then filled to secure the disc 94 within the substrate 80 leaving an end 98 of the line 96 outside the substrate to which the guy line 24 can be attached.

Claims

Claims 1. A parasol comprising a flexible canopy having a centre axis and a periphery, the canopy being provided with a removable frame member secured by securing means at or adjacent the periphery, the frame member comprising flxible sections releasabl-yconnected to oneanother to form a continuous structure, the parasol further comprising three guy lines secured to the canopy at securing points at or adjacent the periphery, wherein imaginary lines connecting each securing point to the centre axis in a plane are substantially at 120 to one another.
2. A parasol as claimed in claim 1, in which the frame member and periphery are substantially circular.
3. A parasol as claimed in claims 1 or 2, in which the securing means include hook and loop fastenings.
4. A parasol as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the securing means include a drawstring at or adjacent the periphery to enable the circumference of the periphery to be reduced to hold the frame member in place when the drawstring is tightened.
5. A parasol as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the securing means include a receiving portion at or adjacent the periphery such that sections of the flexible frame member may be introduced into said receiving portion

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and guided around the periphery.
6. A parasol as claimed in any of preceding claim, in which there is provided a sectional central support pole having a proximal end for supporting the canopy substantially along the centre axis, the sectional central support pole compr1sTnq at least one- secli-en that may be removed to reduce the length of the pole.
7. A parasol as claimed in claim 6, in which the central support pole further comprises at its distal end a ground engaging base unit connected to the pole by a ball and socket joint.
8. A parasol as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the canopy further includes at least three internal tensioning lines attached at or adjacent the periphery and connected to a substantially central location.
9. A parasol as claimed in claim 8, in which three internal tensioning lines are connected to a substantially centrally located locking member, the locking member having a ring structure with an opening through which the central support pole passes, and a locking key, the central support pole having a hole into which the locking key may be inserted to secure the locking member in place relative to the central support pole.
10. A parasol as claimed in any of claims 7,8 or 9 in which each guy line has a marker located at a point along

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its length, the marker being located so as to indicate to which point in the ground the guy line should be secured.
11. A kit for making a parasol, the kit comprising three guy lines, a flexible canopy having a centre axis and a periphery, at least two flexible sections that may be connected to one another to form a frame member for location at or adjacent the periphery, the canopy being provided with securing means for securing the frame member thereto and three securing points at or adjacent the periphery to which the three guy lines are or may be secured, wherein imaginary lines connecting each securing point to the centre axis in a plane are substantially at 1200 to one another.
12. A kit as claimed in claim 11, in which the canopy and frame member are substantially circular.
13. A kit as claimed in claims 11 or 12, further providing pole sections that can be connected together to form a central support pole with a proximal end for supporting the canopy substantially along the centre axis.
14. A kit as claimed in claims 11,12 or 13, in which the canopy is provided with at least three internal tensioning lines attached at or adjacent the periphery and connected to a substantially central location.
15. A kit as claimed in any of claims 11-14, in which the kit further includes a contained into which the parasol

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may be packed when disassembled, the container including carrying means by which the container may be carried.
16. A kit as claimed in claim 15 in which the container includes shoulder straps so that the container may be carried on the back like a rucksack.
17. A method of erecting a parasol, the parasol comprising a flexible canopy having a centre axis and a periphery with securing means at or adjacent the periphery, flexible sections of a frame member, three guy lines secured to the canopy at securing points at or adjacent the periphery, wherein imaginary lines connecting each securing point to the centre axis in a plane are substantially at 1200 to one another, the method including the steps of: a) laying the canopy upside down, joining together the flexible sections of the frame member to form a closed shape and securing the frame member to the canopy with the securing means; b) siting the canopy in the desired location the correct way up; c) securing the guy lines in relation to the ground; and d) tensioning the guy lines such that the canopy is securely held in the desired location.

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18. A method as claimed in claim 17, in which the parasol further comprises a sectional pole, and the method includes, prior to the tensioning of the guy lines, the steps of assembling the pole, locating an end of the pole in the centre of the canopy, raising the pole to a substantially vertical position and locating the opposite end of the pole on the ground.
19. A method as claimed in claim 18, in which the guy lines for the parasol further comprise a marker located along their length, and the method including, prior to the steps of securing the guy lines to appropriate features, the steps of extending the guy lines out from the centre of the parasol, observing the location of the markers on the guy lines relative to the ground and creating appropriate features at those locations to which the guy lines may be secured.
20. A method as claimed in claim 19, in which the appropriate features are created on a sandy or granular surface by a method including the steps of: a) pressing a tube having a chamfered internal edge into the surface of the substrate to a minimum prescribed depth such that the substrate material is forced into, and compressed within, the tube to form a core; b) removing the tube and core of the substrate

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material leaving a hole; c) placing into said hole a securing member, the securing member having affixed thereto a line, the line having an end that remains outside the hole; d) filling the hole with material to-secure the securing member in place; and e) attaching the guy line to the end of the line outside the hole.
21. A method as claimed in claim 20, in which the securing member is a disc.
22. A method of forming a hole for use in securing an object in a sandy or granular substrate including the steps of: a) pressing a tube having a chamfered internal edge into the surface of the substrate to a minimum prescribed depth such that the substrate material is forced into, and compressed within, the tube to form a core; and b) removing the tube and core of the substrate material leaving a hole.
23. A method for erecting a parasol substantially as herein described, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

23. A method of securing a guy line in a sandy or granular substrate, the method including the steps of:

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a) pressing a tube having a chamfered internal edge into the surface of the substrate to a minimum prescribed depth such that the substrate material is forced into, and compressed within, the tube to form a core; b) removing the tube and core of the substrate material leaving a hole; c) placing into said hole a securing member, the securing member having affixed thereto a line, the line having an end that remains outside the hole ; d) filling the hole with material to secure the securing member in place; and e) attaching the guy line to the end of the line outside the hole.

24. A parasol substantially as herein described, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

25. A method for erecting a parasol substantially as herein described, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

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Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A parasol comprising a flexible canopy having a centre axis and a periphery, the canopy being provided with a removable frame member secured by securing means at or adjacent the periphery, the frame member comprising flexible sections releasably connected to one another to form a continuous structure, the parasol further comprising three guy lines secured to the canopy at securing points at or adjacent the periphery, wherein imaginary lines connecting each securing point to the centre axis in a plane are substantially at 1200 to one another.

2. A parasol as claimed in claim 1, in which the frame member and periphery are substantially circular.

3. A parasol as claimed in claims 1 or 2, in which the securing means include hook and loop fastenings.

4. A parasol as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the securing means include a drawstring at or adjacent the periphery to enable the circumference of the periphery to be reduced to hold the frame member in place when the drawstring is tightened.

5. A parasol as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the securing means include a receiving portion at or adjacent the periphery such that sections of the flexible frame member may be introduced into said receiving portion

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and guided around the periphery.

6. A parasol as claimed in any of preceding claim, in which there is provided a sectional central support pole having a proximal end for supporting the canopy substantially along the centre axis, the sectional central support pole comprising at least one section that may be removed to reduce the length of the pole.

7. A parasol as claimed in claim 6, in which the central support pole further comprises at its distal end a ground engaging base unit connected to the pole by a ball and socket joint.

8. A parasol as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the canopy further includes at least three internal tensioning lines attached at or adjacent the periphery and connected to a substantially central location.

9. A parasol as claimed in claim 8, in which three internal tensioning lines are connected to a substantially centrally located locking member, the locking member having a ring structure with an opening through which the central support pole passes, and a locking key, the central support pole having a hole into which the locking key may be inserted to secure the locking member in place relative to the central support pole.

10. A parasol as claimed in any of claims 7,8 or 9 in which each guy line has a marker located at a point along

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its length, the marker being located so as to indicate to which point in the ground the guy line should be secured.

11. A kit for making a parasol, the kit comprising three guy lines, a flexible canopy having a centre axis and a periphery, at least two flexible sections that may be connected to one another to form a frame member for location at or adjacent the periphery, the canopy being provided with securing means for securing the frame member thereto and three securing points at or adjacent the periphery to which the three guy lines are or may be secured, wherein imaginary lines connecting each securing point to the centre axis in a plane are substantially at 120 to one another.

12. A kit as claimed in claim 11, in which the canopy and frame member are substantially circular.

13. A kit as claimed in claims 11 or 12, further providing pole sections that can be connected together to form a central support pole with a proximal end for supporting the canopy substantially along the centre axis.

14. A kit as claimed in claims 11,12 or 13, in which the canopy is provided with at least three internal tensioning lines attached at or adjacent the periphery and connected to a substantially central location.

15. A kit as claimed in any of claims 11-14, in which the kit further includes a contained into which the parasol

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may be packed when disassembled, the container including carrying means by which the container may be carried.

16. A kit as claimed in claim 15 in which the container includes shoulder straps so that the container may be carried on the back like a rucksack.

17. A method of erecting a parasol, the parasol comprising a flexible canopy having a centre axis and a periphery with securing means at or adjacent the periphery, flexible sections of a frame member, three guy lines secured to the canopy at securing points at or adjacent the periphery, wherein imaginary lines connecting each securing point to the centre axis in a plane are substantially at 1200 to one another, the method including the steps of: a) laying the canopy upside down, joining together the flexible sections of the frame member to form a closed shape and securing the frame member to the canopy with the securing means; b) siting the canopy in the desired location the correct way up; c) securing the guy lines in relation to the ground; and d) tensioning the guy lines such that the canopy is securely held in the desired location.

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18. A method as claimed in claim 17, in which the parasol further comprises a sectional pole, and the method includes, prior to the tensioning of the guy lines, the steps of assembling the pole, locating an end of the pole in the centre of the canopy, raising the pole to a substantially vertical position and locating the opposite end of the pole on the ground.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, in which the guy lines for the parasol further comprise a marker located along their length, and the method including, prior to the steps of securing the guy lines to appropriate features, the steps of extending the guy lines out from the centre of the parasol, observing the location of the markers on the guy lines relative to the ground and creating appropriate features at those locations to which the guy lines may be secured.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, in which the appropriate features are created on a sandy or granular surface by a method including the steps of: a) pressing a tube having a chamfered internal edge into the surface of the substrate to a minimum prescribed depth such that the substrate material is forced into, and compressed within, the tube to form a core; b) removing the tube and core of the substrate

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material leaving a hole; c) placing into said hole a securing member, the securing member having affixed thereto a line, the line having an end that remains outside the hole; d) filling the hole with material to secure the securing member in place; and e) attaching the guy line to the end of the line outside the hole.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, in which the securing member is a disc.

22. A parasol substantially as herein described, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.