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US 8,025,071 B2Granted
Bases and braces for support poles, such as poles for pavilions and umbrellas
OwnerOliver Joen-an Mainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Bases are disclosed that comprise a projecting portion designed to receive over it the hollow end of a pole or other elongate member, which may form part of a structure such as a pavilion or umbrella. The projecting portion of the base comprises wedges that move in response to the end of the pole moving over the projecting portion and in so moving, the wedges increase the effective cross section of the projecting portion to engage the inner surface of the end of the pole and to thereby stabilize the structure on a support surface, such as the ground. Braces are also disclosed that pull together adjacent poles of a pavilion to make the structure more rigid.
Claims15
A pavilion assembly comprising:
- a plurality of upright elongate members;
- a plurality of elongate members arranged at an angle to the upright members;
- at least one of the upright members being connected to at least one of the angled members by at least one brace, the brace having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis and comprising:
- a first connector element, attaching the first end of the brace, directly or indirectly, to the at least one upright member;
- a second connector element, attaching the second end of the brace, directly or indirectly, to the at least one angled member;
- a handle portion, located between the first and second connector element and being rotatable with respect to said connector elements about said longitudinal axis, the handle portion and connector elements extending generally along that axis;
- the first and second connector elements having outer walls and a surface facing the upright member and angled member, respectively, and sloping with respect to said axis;
- said sloping surfaces each having a first slot extending from an outer wall along the sloping surface, and being open through said outer wall and along at least part of its length along said surface, and a second slot extending generally parallel to the first and below it from the outer wall and being open to said outer wall and to said first slot along at least a part of the length of the first slot, said slots receiving attachment members attached directly or indirectly to the at least one upright member and the at least one angled member;
- whereby rotation of the handle portion in one direction draws the connector portions together, and thereby also the at least one upright member and the at least one angled member, and rotation of the handle portion in the other direction allows the connector portions to move further apart.
6 more elements
A brace for a shade structure comprising:
- a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;
- a first connector element, adapted to attach the first end of the brace, directly or indirectly, to a structural member of a shade structure;
- a second connector element, adapted to attach the second end of the brace, directly or indirectly, to a structural member of a shade structure;
- a handle portion, located between the first and second connector elements and being rotatable with respect to said connector elements about said longitudinal axis, the handle portion and connector elements extending generally along that axis;
- whereby rotation of the handle portion in one direction draws the connector elements together, and thereby also draws members of a shade structure together, and rotation of the handle portion in another direction allows the connector elements to move further apart;
- wherein the first and second connector elements comprise outer walls and a surface facing generally away from the handle portion, said surface having a first slot extending from an outer wall along the surface, and being open through said outer wall and along at least part of its length along said surface, and a second slot extending generally parallel to the first and distanced further away from the sloping surface than the first slot and being open to said outer wall and to said first slot along at least a part of the length of the first slot, said slots configured to receive a portion of a structural member of a shade structure.
3 more elements
A brace for a shade structure comprising:
- a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;
- a first connector element, adapted to attach the first end of the brace, directly or indirectly, to a structural member of a shade structure;
- a second connector element, adapted to attach the second end of the brace, directly or indirectly, to a second structural member of the shade structure;
- at least one of the first and second connector elements adapted to be releasably coupled, directly or indirectly, to the respective structural member of the shade structure by sliding engagement;
- a handle portion, located between the first and second connector elements and being rotatable with respect to said connector elements about said longitudinal axis, the handle portion and connector elements extending generally along said longitudinal axis;
- first external threads on the first connector element;
- first internal threads disposed on a first end of the handle portion, the first internal threads being complementary to the first external threads;
- second external threads on the second connector element that are wound in a direction opposite to a direction of the first external threads;
- and
- second internal threads disposed on a second end of the handle portion, the second internal threads being complementary to the second external threads;
- wherein rotation of the handle portion in one direction tightens the first external threads to the first internal threads and tightens the second external threads to the second internal threads to draw the connector elements together, and rotation of the handle portion in the opposite direction loosens the first external threads from the first internal threads and loosens the second external threads from the second internal threads to move the connector elements apart.
8 more elements
A brace for a shade structure comprising:
- a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;
- a first connector element, adapted to attach the first end of the brace, directly or indirectly, to a structural member of a shade structure;
- a second connector element, adapted to attach the second end of the brace, directly or indirectly, to a second structural member of the shade structure;
- at least one of the first and second connector elements adapted to be releasably coupled, directly or indirectly, to the respective structural member of the shade structure by sliding engagement;
- a handle portion, located between the first and second connector elements and being rotatable with respect to said connector elements about said longitudinal axis, the handle portion and connector elements extending generally along said longitudinal axis;
- external threads on the first connector element;
- internal threads disposed on an end of the handle portion, the internal threads being complementary to the external threads;
- and
- a coupling between the second connector element and the handle portion that allows for rotational movement but not axial movement of the second connector element relative to the handle portion;
- wherein rotation of the handle portion in one direction tightens the external threads to the internal threads to draw the connector elements together, and rotation of the handle portion in the opposite direction loosens the external threads from the internal threads to move the connector elements apart.
7 more elements
A shade structure comprising:
- a pavilion assembly comprising a first member and a second member arranged at an angle to the first member;
- a brace comprising:
- a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;
- a first connector element, adapted to attach the first end of the brace, directly or indirectly, to the first member;
- a second connector element, adapted to attach the second end of the brace, directly or indirectly, to the second member;
- and
- a slideably engageable connection disposed between the brace and at least one of the members of the pavilion assembly comprising:
- a protrusion comprising a head portion, and a neck portion having a smaller width than the head portion;
- a first opening having a width greater than a width of the head portion to permit insertion of the head portion therein and a second opening having a smaller width than that of the first opening and than that of the head portion;
- wherein the neck portion is configured to fit through the second opening;
- a handle portion located between the first and second connector elements and being rotatable with respect to said connector elements about said longitudinal axis, the handle portion and connector elements extending generally along said longitudinal axis;
- whereby rotation of the handle portion in one direction draws the connector elements together and causes the neck portion to slide in the second opening to provide additional support for the first and second members of the pavilion assembly.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.