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US 7,708,022 B2Granted
Umbrella assembly with tilt adjustment
OwnerOliver Joen-an Mainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An umbrella is provided that comprises a support pole, a suspending pole mounted transversely to the support pole, a hub, a canopy, and means for coupling and decoupling the hub from the suspending pole. The suspending pole has first and second ends and a longitudinal axis that defines an arc. The hub is attached to second end of suspending pole. The canopy is suspended in use from the hub. The coupling and decoupling means permits the canopy to be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the supporting pole.
Claims31
An umbrella comprising:
- a support pole, at least a portion of which extends upwardly in use;
- a suspending pole, mounted transversely to the support pole and having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis;
- a canopy suspended in use from the second end of the suspending pole;
- a mechanism for enabling tilting of the canopy about the longitudinal axis of the support pole, comprising an actuator adjacent the first end of the suspending pole and a locking mechanism comprising a locking device operably coupled with the actuator and located adjacent the second end of the suspending pole, wherein operation of the actuator releases the locking device permitting the canopy to tilt about an axis of rotation that extends along the longitudinal axis;
- a tension member extending between the actuator and the locking device, the tension member applying a force to the locking device to release the locking device upon operation of the actuator;
- and
- a shaft having a mount post to which the tension member is coupled, the shaft being coupled with the actuator such that actuation thereof rotates the mount post, whereby a force is applied to the tension member.
4 more elements
An umbrella comprising:
- a support pole, at least a portion of which extends upwardly in use;
- a suspending pole, mounted transversely to the support pole and having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis;
- a canopy suspended in use from the second end of the suspending pole;
- a mechanism for enabling tilting of the canopy about the longitudinal axis of the support pole, comprising an actuator adjacent the first end of the suspending pole and a locking mechanism comprising a locking device operably coupled with the actuator and located adjacent the second end of the suspending pole, wherein operation of the actuator releases the locking device permitting the canopy to tilt about an axis of rotation that extends along the longitudinal axis,
- a head assembly between the second end of the suspending pole and the canopy and from which the canopy is suspended, in use, the head assembly being coupled to the second end of the suspending pole by means of the locking mechanism to normally prevent rotation of the head assembly with respect to the suspending pole, such rotation being permitted upon release of the locking device to decouple the head assembly from the second end of the suspending pole;
- wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a first gear coupled with the head assembly and a second gear coupled with the suspending pole adjacent the second end thereof, wherein actuation of the actuator permits relative movement between the first and second gears such that the locking device is disengaged, and
- wherein the first and second gears are resiliently urged into engagement by a spring member when the actuator is in an un-actuated position.
4 more elements
An umbrella comprising:
- a support pole, at least a portion of which extends upwardly in use;
- a suspending pole, mounted transversely to the support pole and having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis;
- a canopy suspended in use from the second end of the suspending pole;
- a mechanism for enabling tilting of the canopy about the longitudinal axis of the support pole, comprising an actuator adjacent the first end of the suspending pole and a locking mechanism comprising a locking device operably coupled with the actuator and located adjacent the second end of the suspending pole, wherein operation of the actuator releases the locking device permitting the canopy to tilt about an axis of rotation that extends along the longitudinal axis,
- a head assembly between the second end of the suspending pole and the canopy and from which the canopy is suspended, in use, the head assembly being coupled to the second end of the suspending pole by means of the locking mechanism to normally prevent rotation of the head assembly with respect to the suspending pole, such rotation being permitted upon release of the locking device to decouple the head assembly from the second end of the suspending pole;
- wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a first gear coupled with the head assembly and a second gear coupled with the suspending pole adjacent the second end thereof, wherein actuation of the actuator permits relative movement between the first and second gears such that the locking device is disengaged, and
- wherein the second gear extends distal of the second end of the suspending pole to engage the first gear when the actuator is in an un-actuated position.
4 more elements
An umbrella comprising:
- a support pole, at least a portion of which extends upwardly in use;
- a suspending pole, mounted transversely to the support pole and having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis;
- a canopy suspended in use from the second end of the suspending pole;
- a mechanism for enabling tilting of the canopy about the longitudinal axis of the support pole, comprising an actuator adjacent the first end of the suspending pole and a locking mechanism comprising a locking device operably coupled with the actuator and located adjacent the second end of the suspending pole, wherein operation of the actuator releases the locking device permitting the canopy to tilt about an axis of rotation that extends along the longitudinal axis, and
- a head assembly between the second end of the suspending pole and the canopy and from which the canopy is suspended, in use, the head assembly being coupled to the second end of the suspending pole by means of the locking mechanism to normally prevent rotation of the head assembly with respect to the suspending pole, such rotation being permitted upon release of the locking device to decouple the head assembly from the second end of the suspending pole;
- wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a first gear coupled with the head assembly and a second gear coupled with the suspending pole adjacent the second end thereof, wherein actuation of the actuator permits relative movement between the first and second gears such that the locking device is disengaged, and
- wherein actuation of the actuator moves the second gear along the longitudinal axis of the suspending pole.
4 more elements
An umbrella comprising:
- a support pole, at least a portion of which extends upwardly in use;
- a suspending pole, mounted transversely to the support pole and having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis;
- a canopy suspended in use from the second end of the suspending pole;
- a mechanism for enabling tilting of the canopy about the longitudinal axis of the support pole, comprising an actuator adjacent the first end of the suspending pole and a locking mechanism comprising a locking device operably coupled with the actuator and located adjacent the second end of the suspending pole, wherein operation of the actuator releases the locking device permitting the canopy to tilt about an axis of rotation that extends along the longitudinal axis;
- an axle connected to the suspending pole adjacent the second end thereof about which the canopy can be tilted when the locking device is disengaged;
- and
- a canopy deployment mechanism at least partially located within the suspending pole.
4 more elements
An umbrella comprising:
- a support pole, at least a portion of which extends upwardly in use;
- a suspending pole, mounted transversely to the support pole and having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis;
- a canopy suspended in use from the second end of the suspending pole;
- a mechanism for enabling tilting of the canopy about the longitudinal axis of the support pole, comprising an actuator adjacent the first end of the suspending pole and a locking mechanism comprising a locking device operably coupled with the actuator and located adjacent the second end of the suspending pole, wherein operation of the actuator releases the locking device permitting the canopy to tilt about an axis of rotation that extends along the longitudinal axis;
- and
- an axle connected to the suspending pole adjacent the second end thereof about which the canopy can be tilted when the locking device is disengaged,
- wherein a friction reducing device is positioned between a head assembly coupled with the canopy and the axle to reduce the force needed to rotate the canopy about the longitudinal axis of the suspending pole.
4 more elements
An umbrella comprising:
- a support pole, at least a portion of which extends upwardly in use;
- a suspending pole, mounted transversely to the support pole and having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis;
- a canopy suspended in use from the second end of the suspending pole;
- a mechanism for enabling tilting of the canopy about the longitudinal axis of the support pole, comprising an actuator adjacent the first end of the suspending pole and a locking mechanism comprising a locking device operably coupled with the actuator and located adjacent the second end of the suspending pole, wherein operation of the actuator releases the locking device permitting the canopy to tilt about an axis of rotation that extends along the longitudinal axis;
- and
- an actuation limiter configured to at least partially define a range of actuation of the actuator.
3 more elements
An umbrella comprising:
- a support pole, at least a portion of which extends upwardly in use;
- a suspending pole, mounted transversely to the support pole and having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis that defines an arc;
- a hub attached to second end of suspending pole;
- a canopy suspended in use from the hub;
- means for coupling and decoupling the hub from the suspending pole to permit rotating the canopy about an axis of rotation that extends along the longitudinal axis of the supporting pole;
- and
- wherein said coupling and decoupling means comprises a first connector in the suspending pole and having a first mating surface and a second connector in the hub and having a second mating surface, the first connector having a portion being movable with respect to the second connector so that the first mating surface can be engaged with or disengaged from the second mating surface to lock or release, respectively, the hub with respect to the suspending pole, so that the hub can be rotated with respect to the suspending pole;
- and
- a pin extending from the first connector into an internal passageway in the second connector and about which the second connector and the hub can rotate.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.