Umbrella with pivoting locking device and related methods

An umbrella comprising:

• a vertical support having a track carried on an outer surface of the vertical support, the track extending longitudinally;
• a canopy configured to switch between an open state and a closed state;
• a sliding collar coupled to the vertical support and configured to slidingly engage the vertical support to control an angle of the canopy with respect to the vertical support;
• a winding device carried by the sliding collar and coupled to the canopy, the winding device configured to switch the canopy between the open state and the closed state;
• a first arm coupled between the sliding collar and the canopy;
• and
• a second arm coupled between the vertical support and the first arm;
• the sliding collar comprising
• a housing defining a recess having a peripheral ledge,
• an activation button received by the recess of the housing and switching between an extended state and a retracted state, and
• a locking device carried by the housing, the locking device comprising
• first and second elastic members coupled between the peripheral ledge and the activation button and configured to bias the activation button in the extended state,
• a locking arm received in the activation button and pivotably coupled to the housing and having a first end coupled to the activation button, and a second end opposite to the first end, and
• a locking pin coupled to the second end of the locking arm and configured to selectively engage the track in the extended state.

A method for making an umbrella, the method comprising:

• forming a vertical support having a track carried on an outer surface of the vertical support, the track extending longitudinally;
• coupling a sliding collar to the vertical support and configured to slidingly engage the vertical support to control an angle of a canopy with respect to the vertical support, the canopy configured to switch between an open state and a closed state;
• coupling a first arm between the sliding collar and the canopy;
• and
• coupling a second arm between the vertical support and the first arm;
• the sliding collar comprising
• a housing defining a recess,
• an activation button received by the recess of the housing and switching between an extended state and a retracted state, and
• a locking device carried by the housing, the locking device comprising
• a locking arm received in the activation button and pivotably coupled to the housing and having a first end coupled to the activation button, and a second end opposite to the first end, and
• a locking pin coupled to the second end of the locking arm and configured to selectively engage the track in the extended state.