Method of manufacturing a gravity-powered, wind-resistant and self-opening umbrella system

A method of manufacturing a gravity-powered, self-opening umbrella, comprising:

• obtaining a pole having a top end portion;
• a retractable umbrella covering having a center;
• a user rope having a fixed-end and a user end;
• a pulley system having at least one fixed pulley, at least one moveable pulley, and a pulley rope;
• and, a counterweight to provide a gravitational force, F2, for a self-opening of the umbrella covering;
• attaching the center of the retractable umbrella to the top end portion of the pole;
• circumscribing the pole with a runner, the runner adapted to slide vertically on the pole;
• configuring the user end of the user rope for receiving a force, F1, applied by a user to close the umbrella covering;
• operably attaching the fixed end of the user rope to the runner;
• configuring the pulley rope to (i) have a fixed end for receiving the force F1 and a weighted end attached to the counterweight, and (ii) be in operable connection with the pulleys and the counterweight to provide a mechanical advantage to the umbrella of at least 2, the fixed end of the pulley rope operably attached to the pole.

A wind-resistant patio umbrella, comprising:

• a cylindrical pole having a base portion and a top portion;
• a retractable patio umbrella covering having a center and an outer edge, the center attached to the top portion of the pole;
• a runner circumscribing the pole, adapted to slide vertically on the pole in response to a force applied to the runner from a user or a wind;
• a user rope having a fixed end and a user end, the user end configured to receive a force F1 from the user;
• and, the fixed end of the user rope operably attached to the runner;
• a counterweight to provide a gravitational force, F2, and,
• a pulley system having at least one fixed pulley, at least one moveable pulley, and a pulley rope, the pulley rope having (i) a fixed end for receiving the force F1, (ii) a weighted end attached to the counterweight component, and (iii) an operable connection with the pulleys to provide a mechanical advantage to the umbrella of at least 2, the fixed end of the pulley rope operably attached to the cylindrical pole;
• wherein,
• F2 is substantially greater than ft+0.5 F3 for a self-opening of the umbrella covering;
• F3 is the upward vertical force on the runner, in the absence of any friction, applied to open the umbrella covering;
• and,
• ft is the total frictional force in the system realized at the counterweight component.

A method of manufacturing a counterweighted, self-opening umbrella, comprising:

• obtaining a pole with a top end and a bottom end;
• a retractable umbrella covering having a center;
• a mechanical support framework for opening and retracting the umbrella covering;
• a user rope having a fixed end and a user end;
• and, a runner configured to (i) receive a force applied by a user at the user end of the user rope and (ii) transfer the force to the mechanical support framework;
• operably attaching the center of the umbrella covering to the top end of the pole;
• operably attaching a fixed pulley to the pole;
• operably attaching a moveable pulley to the mechanical support framework;
• operably attaching a pulley rope to the fixed pulley and the moveable pulley, the pulley rope having a fixed end fixably-attached to the pole and a weighted end;
• operably attaching a counterweight to the weighted end of the pulley rope to facilitate opening and retracting the umbrella with a mechanical advantage of at least 2;
• operably attaching the fixed end of the user rope to the runner;
• and,
• configuring the user end of the user rope for receiving the force from the user to retract the retractable umbrella;
• wherein, the umbrella (i) self-opens using only the gravitational force of the counterweight and (ii) retracts with a minimal force, due to the mechanical advantage.