Patent ID: 7401618
Filing Date: 2008-07-22
Classification: A45B

Abstract:
1. A retractible and deployable umbrella assembly, comprising: a flexible canopy which when flat has a generally rectangular perimeter and a central vent port having a perimeter; a flexible vent cover which when flat has a perimeter that overhangs the perimeter of the vent port; a central upright pole which passes through said vent port said pole having an axis; and an actuator to support, deploy, and retract said canopy and vent cover, said actuator comprising: a first hub fixed to the pole at an upper elevation thereof; one pair of ridge former rods, said rods being directed 180 degrees apart from each other across the first hub; two pairs of canopy rods, each pair comprising two canopy rods, the members of each pair being directed 180 degrees apart from each other across the first hub and at an angle to each other as viewed in plan; one pair of vent cover rods, said rods being directed 180 degrees apart from each other across the first hub; said ridge former rods, canopy rods and vent cover rods each having a first end hinged to said first hub, and a second end removed from said hub, the hinged movement being primarily in a plane that includes the pole axis, a second hub, said second hub being slideably mounted on said pole below said first hub; a pair of ridge former struts; said ridge former struts being directed 180 degrees apart from each other across the second hub, each having a first end hingedly mounted to said second hub, and a second end hingedly mounted at a mid location on a respective ridge former rod; a third hub, said third hub being slidably mounted on said pole between said first and second hubs; two pairs of canopy struts, each pair comprising two canopy struts, each pair being directed 180 degrees apart from each other across the third hub, each having a first end hingedly mounted to said third hub and a second end hingedly mounted at a mid location on a respective canopy rod; a pair of vent cover struts, said vent cover struts being directed 180 degrees apart from each other across the third hub, each having a first end hingedly mounted to said third hub, and the second end hingedly mounted at a mid location on a respective vent cover rod, each vent cover strut passing through said canopy; said second ends of said canopy rods being fixed to said canopy; said second ends of said vent cover rods being fixed to said vent cover; whereby with the foregoing assembly, and said ridge former rods deployed, the canopy is formed as a dihedral, stretched by said canopy rods over said ridge former rods, said vent covers being attached to said canopy at said ridge and stretched to overhang the vent port, with the vent cover tilted above said canopy, thus with said second hub and third hub raised together, the said dihedral angle will be less than 180 degrees; and with said second and third hubs fully lowered, said struts retract all of said rods and collapse the umbrella to a retracted condition.