Cover support systems

A cover support frame for suspending a covering structure over a surface, the cover support frame comprising:

• a support shaft having an upper portion, a lower portion and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;
• a cover attachment surface located on the upper portion of the support shaft, the cover attachment surface configured to secure a portion of the covering structure thereto;
• a plurality of linkage assemblies including at least a first linkage assembly and a second linkage assembly, where the plurality of linkage assemblies each include an inboard end opposite to an outboard end, the inboard end being rotatably coupled to the support shaft such that each of the plurality of linkage assemblies can rotate relative to the support shaft in one or more planes that are orthogonal to the longitudinal axis while coupled to the support shaft, the outboard end having an attachment assembly configured to secure to an exterior structure;
• each linkage assembly of the plurality of linkage assemblies further comprises a mechanical dampening device, wherein when a force is applied to e plurality of linkage assemblies from the support shaft, the force causes axial movement of the inboard end relative to the outboard end, such that the mechanical dampening device absorbs at least a portion of the force.

A method of suspending a covering structure over a surface, the method comprising:

• affixing a lower portion of a support shaft to the surface;
• affixing an outboard end of a first linkage assembly to a stationary structure, wherein an inboard end of the first linkage assembly is rotatably coupled to the support shaft such that the first linkage assembly can rotate relative to the support shaft in one or more planes that are orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the support shaft;
• affixing the covering structure to a cover attachment surface located on an upper portion of the support shaft;
• spreading the covering structure to create a covered area over the surface;
• wherein movement of the covering structure causes application of a force to the support shaft through the cover attachment surface, resulting in relative movement between the outboard end and the inboard end of the first linkage assembly causing a first mechanical dampening device to extend or compress absorbing at least a portion of the force.