Umbrella assembly structured for use in high wind conditions
AssigneeTuuci Worldwide, LLC
InventorDougan H. Clarke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An umbrella frame structured for use in a strong wind conditions such as those conditions frequently encountered on a boat traveling at relatively high speeds. An umbrella frame assembly includes a reinforcing assembly connected thereto in a supportive, operative orientation thereby providing a stable support for an umbrella canopy which can remain open even during travel of the boat. The frame assembly can be modified to support canopies of varying shapes and sizes and the frame assembly can be easily removed, for storage purposes, from a supporting base which may be mounted on or connected to a boat.
Claims14
An umbrella assembly structured for use on a watercraft traveling at high speed, said umbrella assembly comprising:
- a frame assembly including a support pole, a plurality of at least substantially linearly configured ribs, and a plurality of struts,
- each of said plurality of struts interconnected between said support pole and a correspondingly positioned one of said plurality of ribs,
- a canopy connected to and supported on said plurality of ribs, and
- a reinforcing assembly comprising at least one auxiliary strut connected to said frame assembly in supporting relation to a rib and a strut of at least one rib and strut pair,
- said at least one auxiliary strut comprising a first, proximal end connected to said strut at a location substantially adjacent said support pole, and a second, distal end connected to an outer, distal end of said rib, and
- said at least one auxiliary strut formed of a rigid material and being structured to restrict said canopy from collapsing in an upward and downward direction.
An umbrella assembly in combination with a water craft, said watercraft comprising a deck, said combination comprising:
- a base fixedly attached and secured to said deck of said watercraft,
- a frame assembly disposed in a removably secured relation with said base, wherein said frame assembly and said base are structured to maintain said removably secured relation with one another during strong wind conditions,
- said frame assembly comprising a support pole, a plurality of ribs, and a plurality of struts,
- each of said plurality of ribs comprising a substantially linear configuration,
- a canopy connected to and supported by at least some of said plurality of ribs,
- said canopy structured to assume a substantially flat orientation in profile when disposed in a position to provide shade to portions of the water craft,
- corresponding positioned ones of said plurality of ribs and said plurality of struts defining a plurality of rib and strut pairs, said rib and said strut of each of said plurality of rib and strut pairs being coupled to one another at a connection juncture disposed along a longitudinal portion of said rib and defining an outer longitudinal portion disposed between said connection juncture and an outer, distal end of said rib,
- a reinforcing assembly and an anchoring assembly disposed on each of said plurality of rib and strut pairs,
- each of said reinforcing assemblies comprising an auxiliary strut interconnected in supporting relation between a rib and a strut of said rib and strut pair,
- said auxiliary strut of each of said reinforcing assemblies comprising a first, proximal end connected to said strut at a location substantially adjacent said support pole, and a second, distal end connected to an outer, distal end of said rib,
- said at least one auxiliary strut being formed of a rigid material and structured and disposed to restrict said canopy from collapsing in an upward and downward direction,
- said anchor assembly comprising at least one elongated anchor member disposed and structured to secure predetermined portions of said canopy to predetermined portions of a rib of each of said plurality of rib and strut pairs, and
- said at least one elongated anchor member being disposed in a covering relation along a majority of said outer longitudinal portion of said rib.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.