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US 8,555,906 B2Granted
Hubs for shade structures
AssigneeOliver Joen-an Ma
InventorOliver Joen-an Ma
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shade structure is provided, such as an umbrella, particularly a large free-standing umbrella, which can have a variable geometry. In some embodiments, the umbrella can comprise multiple sets of ribs supporting a canopy structure and having a mechanism associated with each set of ribs for influencing the angle or elevation of the rib sets.
Claims25
An umbrella comprising:
- a support pole;
- a first hub attached to the support pole and having a plurality of ribs extending from the hub, the ribs supporting a canopy, the ribs being movable from a closed position in which the canopy is substantially closed to an open position in which the canopy is substantially open;
- a second hub extending around the support pole at a location below the first hub, the second hub comprising a first hub component and a second hub component, the first and second hub components each having a center body and a plurality of projections extending therefrom to engage with the plurality of ribs for supporting the canopy, the first and second hub components being movable with respect to each other from a first position, corresponding to the closed position of the ribs, in which one of the center bodies is at least partially received in a space extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the support pole between the support pole and the other center body to a second position, corresponding to the open position of all of the ribs, in which the center bodies are separated from one another, wherein the center bodies of the first and second hub components do not overlap each other in the second position;
- the umbrella configured to retain the first and second hub components in the second position.
1 more element
An umbrella comprising:
- a support pole;
- a first hub attached to the support pole and having a plurality of ribs extending from the hub, the ribs supporting a canopy, the ribs being movable from a closed position in which the canopy is substantially closed to an open position in which the canopy is substantially open;
- a second hub extending around the support pole at a location below the first hub, the second hub comprising a first hub component and a second hub component, the first and second hub components each having a center body and a plurality of projections extending therefrom to engage with the plurality of ribs for supporting the canopy, the first and second hub components being movable with respect to each other from a first position, corresponding to the closed position of the ribs, in which the center bodies are positioned adjacent to each other in a nested or embedded configuration to a second position, corresponding to the open position of all of the ribs, in which the center bodies are separated from one another, wherein the center bodies of the first and second hub components do not overlap each other in the second position;
- the umbrella configured to retain the first and second hub components in the second position;
- wherein each of the first and second hub components have at least one projection element and at least one recess, so that the first and second hub components can be nested or embedded together by interaction of the respective projection element(s) and recess(es).
2 more elements
An umbrella comprising:
- a support pole;
- a first hub disposed above at least a portion of the support pole and having a plurality of ribs extending therefrom for supporting a canopy, the ribs being movable from a closed position to first and second open positions, the second open position being different from the first open position, wherein the umbrella is configured to retain the ribs in the first and second open positions;
- a second hub coupled with the support pole at a location below the first hub, the second hub comprising a first hub component and a second hub component, the first and second hub components each having a center body disposed about the pole and configured to engage with at least one rib for supporting the canopy, the first and second hub components being movable with respect to each other from a first position, corresponding to the first open position of the ribs, in which the center bodies are positioned adjacent to each other to a second position, corresponding to the second open position of the ribs, in which an uppermost surface of the center body of the second hub component is positioned below a lowermost surface of the center body of the first hub component;
- wherein the first position and the second positions correspond to first and second open configurations of the umbrella, respectively;
- and
- wherein, when in the second position, the lowermost surface of the center body of the second hub component is disposed above the position of the uppermost surface of the center body of the second hub component when the ribs are in the closed position.
3 more elements
An umbrella comprising:
- a support pole comprising a longitudinal slot;
- a first hub disposed above at least a portion of the support pole and having a plurality of ribs extending therefrom for supporting a canopy;
- a second hub coupled with the support pole at a location below the first hub, the second hub comprising a first runner, a second runner, and a guide component configured to engage with the longitudinal slot of the support pole for resisting rotational movement relative to the support pole and for guiding one of the first and second runners between a nested configuration, in which a lowermost portion of the first runner is positioned below an uppermost portion of the second runner, and an un-nested configuration, in which the lowermost portion of the first runner is positioned above the uppermost portion of the second runner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.