Asymmetric umbrella

An asymmetric umbrella comprising:

• a canopy;
• a shaft eccentrically disposed beneath said canopy;
• a runner slidably mounted on said shaft and slidable between a first position, wherein said canopy is collapsed, and a second position, wherein said canopy is extended;
• and
• a plurality of rib assemblies forming a canopy supporting frame, each of said rib assemblies being coupled to the apex of said shaft at a proximal end and fixed to said canopy at a free end, said plurality of rib assemblies further comprising:
• a short main rib assembly having a deployment arm, a hinge joint, a proximal rib, and a distal rib, wherein said deployment arm is coupled to said runner, said proximal rib, said hinge joint, and said distal rib;
• and said proximal rib is coupled to said shaft apex, said deployment arm, and said hinge joint;
• and
• a long main rib assembly having a deployment arm, a proximal rib, a hinge joint, a first distal rib, a connecting arm, and a second distal rib, wherein said deployment arm is coupled to said runner, said proximal rib, said hinge joint, and said first distal rib;
• said proximal rib is coupled to said shaft apex, said deployment arm, and said hinge joint;
• said first distal rib is coupled to said hinge joint, said deployment arm, and said connecting arm;
• and said second distal rib is coupled to said connecting arm,
• wherein the free end of each of said rib assemblies points in the same direction when said canopy is collapsed,
• wherein said plurality of rib assemblies are of substantially the same length when said canopy is collapsed, and
• wherein said short main rib assembly deployment arm and said long main rib assembly deployment arm are of substantially equal length.

An asymmetric umbrella comprising:

• a canopy;
• a shaft eccentrically disposed beneath said canopy;
• a runner slidably mounted on said shaft and slidable between a first position, wherein said canopy is collapsed, and a second position, wherein said canopy is extended;
• and a plurality of rib assemblies forming a canopy supporting frame, each of said rib assemblies being coupled to the apex of said shaft at a proximal end and coupled to said canopy at a distal end, said plurality of rib assemblies further comprising:
• a short main rib assembly having a deployment arm and a rib, wherein said deployment arm is coupled to said runner and to said rib, and said rib is coupled to said shaft apex and to said deployment arm;
• and
• a long main rib assembly having a deployment arm, a first rib, a connecting arm, and a second rib, wherein said deployment arm is coupled to said runner and to said first rib;
• said first rib is coupled at one end to said shaft apex and coupled at another end to said connecting arm;
• and said connecting arm is coupled to said first rib and to said second rib,
• wherein the distal end of each of said plurality of rib assemblies points in the same direction when said canopy is collapsed.

An asymmetric umbrella comprising:

• a canopy;
• a shaft eccentrically disposed beneath said canopy;
• a runner slidably mounted on said shaft and slidable between a first position, wherein said canopy is collapsed, and a second position, wherein said canopy is extended;
• and a plurality of rib assemblies forming a canopy supporting frame, each of said rib assemblies being coupled to the apex of said shaft at a proximal end and fixed to said canopy at a distal end, said plurality of rib assemblies further comprising:
• a short main rib assembly having a deployment arm, a first rib, and a second rib, wherein said deployment arm is coupled to said runner, said first rib, and said second rib;
• and said first rib is coupled to said shaft apex, and said deployment arm;
• and
• a long main rib assembly having a deployment arm, a first rib, a second rib, a connecting arm, and a third rib, wherein said deployment arm is coupled to said runner, said first rib, and said second rib;
• said first rib is coupled to said shaft apex and said deployment arm;
• said second rib is coupled to said deployment arm and said connecting arm;
• and said third rib is coupled to said connecting arm,
• wherein the distal end of each of said rib assemblies points in the same direction when said canopy is collapsed, and
• wherein said plurality of rib assemblies are of substantially uniform length when said canopy is collapsed.