Shade structure assemblies and components

#Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 C.F.R. § 1.57.

#This application is directed to shade structures, assemblies, and components, including umbrella assemblies and components.

#Umbrellas typically have a symmetrical configuration with an umbrella pole in the center of a canopy assembly. The canopy assembly can include upper and lower hubs with rib members that are foldable and extendable. When extended the umbrella ribs extend a shade-providing canopy over the rib members and pole. The rib members extend radially in a symmetrical manner from the hub or hubs.

#Features of the invention can be better understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying schematic drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only. The drawings include the following figures:

#FIG. 1 is an example of a market umbrella that can include a novel rib end connector;

#FIG. 2 is bottom view of a non-symmetrical, e.g., a rectangular, umbrella canopy assembly that can include a novel rib end connector;

#While the present description sets forth specific details of various embodiments, it will be appreciated that the description is illustrative only and should not be construed in any way as limiting. Furthermore, various applications of such embodiments and modifications thereto, which may occur to those who are skilled in the art, are also encompassed by the general concepts described herein. Each and every feature described herein, and each and every combination of two or more of such features, is included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in such a combination are not mutually inconsistent.

#This application discloses an inventive umbrella and other shade structures and components for the same. FIG. 1 shows an assembly 100 of an umbrella. The assembly includes an umbrella pole 104 and canopy frame that includes an upper hub 116 and a lower hub 120. In this umbrella assembly 100 the lower hub 120 is moveable along the umbrella pole 104 between a lowered position (as shown in FIG. 1) and a raised position (not shown but between the lowered position and the position of the upper hub 116). The upper hub 116 and the lower hub 120 are connected to each other by a framework of rib members, including upper ribs 108 and lower ribs 112. The upper ribs 108 are secured at a first end to the upper hub 116 and at an end opposite the first end to a canopy member, e.g., fabric (not shown). The lower ribs 112 are connected to the lower hub 120 at a first end and to a point along the length of the upper ribs 108 at a second end opposite the first end.

#The umbrella assembly 100 is often used for a shade structure that is symmetrical about the umbrella pole 104, e.g., a circular, square, hexagon, or similar shape. FIG. 2 shows a modified embodiment of an umbrella 100A, which includes a frame structure to be mounted to a pole, similar to that shown in FIG. 1. The umbrella 100A includes a canopy fabric 102. The umbrella 100A differs in providing an asymmetric shape, in this illustrated embodiment a rectangular shape. The umbrella 100A includes the upper hub 116 and a plurality of upper ribs 108 that extend from the upper hub 116 to a periphery of the canopy fabric 102. As can be seen some of the upper ribs 108 extend along a radius of the upper hub 116, e.g., radially relative to the upper hub 116. These hubs are seen at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock in FIG. 2. Four of the upper ribs 108 extend at a different orientation to the upper hub 116. FIG. 2 shows that the umbrella 100A has a connector 130 that is configured to bend along the length thereof at a point between the end of a tubular member of the upper ribs 108 and the radially inner end of the connector 130. The bending of the connector 130 enables the longitudinal axis of the tubular member to be angled relative to a radial direction of the upper hub 116.