US 2022/0015513 A1Published application

Umbrella system

AssigneeCurrent Products Corp.

InventorsWillis J. Mullet, Jonathan Derrick Dry, Richard Scott Hand, Jon Smidt

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Abstract

In one or more arrangements, an umbrella system includes a support pole connected to a rotating tube positioned around a center tube that extends between the support pole and a upper hub that is connected to an umbrella frame. The rotating tube has one or more helical grooves therein that are engaged by a lower hub which is connected to the umbrella frame. As the rotating tube is rotated, the lower hub is driven along the length of the rotating tube, thereby opening and closing the umbrella frame. In one or more arrangements, the system includes a rotational lock assembly configured to prevent rotation of the rotating tube when locked and permit rotation of the rotating tube when unlocked. In one or more arrangements, the system includes a counterbalance assembly that provides a counterbalance force positioned within a upper hub of the umbrella frame.

Claims27

Dependent claims

An umbrella system, comprising:

a first tube having a top end and a bottom end;
the first tube having an elongated cylindrical shape extending a length between the top end and the bottom end;
the first tube having a at least one helical groove extending along a length of the first tube;
an umbrella frame positioned adjacent the top end of the first tube;
wherein the umbrella frame is configured to move between an open position and a closed position;
a hub connected to the umbrella frame;
wherein the hub is configured to engage the at least one helical groove so as to move the umbrella frame between the open position and closed position in response to the first tube being rotated;
a rotational lock assembly;
wherein the rotational lock assembly includes a gear member operably connected to the first tube, the gear member having a set of teeth;
wherein the rotational lock assembly includes an inner lock assembly and an outer collar;
wherein the gear member is positioned within the inner lock assembly;
wherein the inner lock assembly is positioned within the outer collar;
wherein the inner lock assembly is configured to engage the set of teeth of the gear member and prevent rotation of the gear member in response to rotation of the outer collar in a first direction;
and
wherein the inner lock assembly is configured to disengage from the set of teeth of the gear member and permit rotation of the gear member in response to rotation of the outer collar in a second direction, opposite of the first direction.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.