Patent Publication Number: US-6988504-B1

Title: Umbrella assembly

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Applications Ser. No. 60/149,026 filed Aug. 13, 1999, and Ser. No. 60/158,580 filed Oct. 7, 1999, both of Brian L. Goldwitz, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to umbrella assemblies, and more particularly to foldable umbrellas that may be readily opened and readily collapsed. 
   BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
   Foldable umbrellas are known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,069 to Glatz shows a standing umbrella with a mast, a movable carrier beam, and a connecting strut linking the mast and the carrier bean. A drive mechanism folds the carrier beam relative to the mast, and opens and closes the umbrella. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,585 to May shows an umbrella with a mast, an elongated boom, and a fitting located on the mast that slidably receives the boom. A foldable canopy forming an umbrella is connected to one end of the elongated boom. 
   One drawback associated with these and other prior art umbrellas is the complexity of the mast and associated supporting frame members and connectors. Having more than one supporting frame member requires correspondingly complex drive mechanisms and also increases the likelihood that an individual component will fail thereby rendering the umbrella assembly inoperable. Moreover, relatively complex supporting frame structures and drive mechanisms increase manufacturing cost, and ultimately increase consumer cost. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome these and other drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to an umbrella assembly comprising a base, a pole, and an umbrella frame. The pole is mounted on the base and extends upwardly and laterally from the base. A handle is mounted on the lower portion of the pole, and a cable extending through the pole is coupled to the umbrella frame and to the handle. A carriage is slidably attached to the pole such that it can be moved along the pole from the upper end of the pole to the location of the handle. 
   The umbrella frame includes an adapter that is connected to the carriage such that the umbrella frame is movable with the carriage along the pole. When the handle is rotated in one direction, for example clockwise, the cable is retracted, and the adapter is releasably locked to the umbrella frame and the carriage. Upon further rotating the handle in the same direction, the umbrella frame is extended to an open condition forming an umbrella located at the upper end of the pole. 
   Alternatively, when the handle is rotated in the other direction, for example counter-clockwise, the cable is released and the umbrella frame is retracted to a closed condition at the upper end of the pole. Upon further rotating the handle in this direction, the adapter is unlocked from the umbrella frame and the carriage to thereby permit the umbrella frame to pivotally rotate in relation to the adapter. At this point, the cable can be retracted to thereby releasably lock the umbrella frame to the adapter in an inclined or tilted position, or releasably lock the adapter to the carriage thereby locking the umbrella frame in an inclined or tilted position. The umbrella can be opened by further retracting the cable. In contrast, the cable can be further released by turning the handle as previously described and the carriage and umbrella frame will correspondingly slide along the pole to any position between the upper end of the pole and the location at which the handle is mounted on the pole. 
   One advantage of the present invention is that the supporting frame for the umbrella assembly comprises one upright member instead of a mast and boom assembly. Accordingly, a less complicated drive mechanism can be employed to open and close the umbrella frame, as well as to move the umbrella frame relative to the supporting frame. As a result, the likelihood that an individual component will fail and render the umbrella assembly inoperable is substantially reduced. Moreover, a relatively simple supporting frame structure and drive mechanism can correspondingly decrease the overall manufacturing and consumer cost. 
   Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in view of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of an umbrella assembly of the present invention, showing a pole extending upwardly and laterally from the base. 
       FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of another embodiment of an umbrella assembly of the present invention, showing a curved pole extending upwardly, rearwardly, and then forwardly from the base. 
       FIGS. 3–5  are sequential perspective views showing the umbrella assembly of  FIG. 2  and illustrating the collapsing of the umbrella assembly and movement of the umbrella carrier along the pole. 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevational and partial schematic view of the umbrella assembly of  FIG. 2 , with the umbrella covering removed to show the umbrella frame. 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged side elevational view, partly in section, of a portion of the umbrella assembly labeled A in  FIG. 6 , showing the carriage connected to the pole, and the adapter connected between the carriage and the umbrella frame. 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  are sectional sequential views taken along line  8 — 8  of  FIG. 7 , showing a means for releasably locking the adapter to the carriage of the umbrella assembly.  FIG. 8A  illustrates the locked condition and  FIG. 8B  illustrates the unlocked condition. 
       FIG. 8C  is a side sectional view of an endcap that may be inserted into the upper end of the pole of the umbrella assembly. 
       FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of the umbrella assembly of  FIG. 2  with the umbrella shown in an open condition and tilted to one side. 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged side elevational view, partly in section, of a portion of the umbrella assembly of  FIG. 6 , showing the carriage at a point on the pole some distance away from the endcap, and the adapter connected between the carriage and the umbrella frame. 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  are sectional views showing the adapter in the locked and the unlocked conditions, respectively. 
       FIG. 11  is a side perspective view of the umbrella assembly of  FIG. 2 , with the umbrella shown in an open condition and at an inclined angle. 
       FIGS. 12A and 12B  are cross sectional views showing the carriage slidably connected to the pole of the umbrella assembly. 
       FIG. 12C  is a plan view of a track for engaging the carriage. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , an umbrella assembly  10  of the present invention comprises a base  12 , a pole  14  mounted on the base  12 , a carriage  16  slidably mounted on the pole  14 , an adapter  18  coupled to the carriage  16 , an umbrella frame  20  coupled to the adapter  18 , and a cover  22  attached to the umbrella frame  20 . The pole  14  further includes a first or lower portion  24  extending upwardly from the base  12 , and a second or upper portion  26  extending laterally outwardly away from the base. A handle  28  is rotatably mounted on the pole  14  in a known manner. The umbrella assembly  10  is shown in an open condition wherein the umbrella frame  20  is held in a fully extended position to thereby place the cover  22  in a conventional umbrella position. 
   It will be appreciated that the base  12  and pole  14  each may include a variety of configurations depending on the particular application. For example, the base  12  may be mounted to a wall, door or other structure (none of which are shown) but is preferably set on a ground surface as illustrated. Also, the pole  14  may extend in various directions at various angles from the base depending upon the application and location of a table, item or person to be covered by the umbrella assembly. Further, the pole  14  can also include a plurality of different cross-sectional configurations such as, for example, cylindrical, square, rectangular, and hexagonal, and is preferably a hollow or tubular configuration. As described in more detail below, this configuration advantageously houses and protects a means for opening and closing the umbrella. 
     FIG. 2  shows another embodiment of an umbrella assembly in accordance with the present invention generally at  110  which may be similar to the embodiment discussed above and wherein like elements are indicated by like reference numerals preceded by the numeral  1 . As discussed in further detail below, a pole  114  similar to pole  14  discussed above has an arcuate outer configuration as opposed to a generally linear configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . It will be appreciated that either configuration may be more advantageous than the other depending upon the application. 
   In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the umbrella assembly  110  comprises a base  112 , a pole  114 , a carriage  116 , an adapter  118 , an umbrella frame  120 , a cover  122 , and a handle  128 . The pole  114  includes a first or lower portion  124  and a second or upper portion  126 . The lower portion  124  further includes a first length  130  immediately adjacent to the base  112  extending upwardly, a second length  132  extending upwardly from the first length  130  and curved rearwardly in relation to the umbrella frame  120 , and a third length  134  extending upwardly from the second length  132  and curved inwardly in relation to the umbrella frame  120 . 
   It will be understood that the following description of further details of the embodiment of  FIG. 2  is equally applicable, e.g., to the embodiment of  FIG. 1  and other configurations of the pole and thus is not intended to be limiting in any manner. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 3 through 5 , the umbrella assembly  110  is illustrated in the sequences of collapsing the umbrella frame  120  and moving the carriage  116  along the pole  114  to a storage condition that may be accomplished via rotation of the handle  128 . In particular, a cable  136  is coupled at one end to the adapter  118 , which is in turn connected to the umbrella frame  120 . The cable  136  is coupled at another end to the handle  128  mounted to the lower portion  124  of the pole  114 . By rotating the handle  128  in a first direction, for example clockwise, the cable  136  is tensioned or retracted, and in turn the umbrella frame  120  is extended into an open condition spaced laterally from the base  112  on the upper portion  126  of the pole  114  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   When the handle  128  is rotated in a second direction, for example counter-clockwise, the cable  136  is released, and in turn the umbrella frame  120  is collapsed into a closed condition spaced laterally in relation to the base  112  on the upper portion  126  of the pole  114  as shown in  FIG. 3 . By further rotating the handle  128  in the second direction to thereby further release the cable, the carriage  116  slidably moves laterally toward to the base  112  along the upper portion  126  of the pole  114 , to a lowermost point approximately adjacent to the handle  128  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the umbrella frame  120  comprises hinged fabric support bars  133  and hinged cross bars  135  which cooperate to open and close the umbrella frame  120  as discussed above. As previously described and shown in more detail in  FIG. 6 , the cable  136  terminates at a hub  137  of the umbrella frame  120  and is coupled to the adapter  118 , the carriage  116 , and the handle  128 . When the cable  136  is tensioned or retracted, the umbrella frame  120  is pulled upwardly to thereby extend the umbrella frame  120  into an open condition. When the cable  136  is released, the umbrella frame  120  is pulled downwardly by gravity to thereby collapse the umbrella frame  120  into a closed condition. 
   As shown in  FIG. 6  and in further detail in  FIGS. 7 ,  8 A,  8 B and  8 C an endcap  138  is mounted to upper end  140  of the pole  114 . The endcap  138  functions to prevent the carriage  116  from moving off the upper end  140  of the pole  114 . The endcap  138  comprises a rotatable pulley  144 , or like cable guide, to guide cable  136  through the upper end  140  of the pole  114  and into the adapter  118 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B and  8 C the end  146  of endcap  138  includes an engaging means, for example, teeth  148 . Similarly, the carriage  116  defines a corresponding engaging means, e.g., teeth,  150  for releasably locking with the teeth  148  of the endcap  138  to prevent relative rotation of the carriage with respect to the endcap. 
   The cable  136  is coupled to the umbrella frame  120  such that the teeth  150  of the carriage are urged into engagement with teeth  148  of the endcap  138  as shown in  FIG. 8A  when the cable  136  is tensioned. In particular, the tension on the cable  136  forces the carriage  116  in the opposite direction or upwardly. It will be understood that upon releasing tension in cable  136  the teeth  150  of the carriage  116  and the teeth  148  of the endcap  138  disengage, as shown in  FIG. 8B . 
   When teeth  148  and  150  are disengaged, the umbrella frame may be tilted to an inclined position relative to a horizontal plane, in right and left directions in relation to the pole  114  as shown in  FIG. 9 . Thereafter, the cable  136  can be tensioned to engage teeth  148  and also, in turn, the endcap  138  and the carriage  116  to thereby secure the umbrella frame  120  in the inclined position. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 10 ,  10 A and  10 B, the adapter  118  comprises a ball  152  and a socket  154 . As shown in detail in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , the ball  152  and socket  154  each include corresponding engagement means, for example corresponding depressed and raised surfaces, e.g. depressed surfaces  155  and raised surfaces  157  best seen in  FIG. 10B , which together function to releasably lock the ball  152  and socket  154  in a selected position. The cable  136  is coupled to the adapter  118  via a pulley  115  so that the ball  152  and socket  154  are responsive to tensioning of the cable  136  to, in turn, releasably lock the ball  152  and socket  154  together, as shown in  FIG. 10A . The ball  152  and socket  154  may be unlocked via untensioning of cable  136 , thereby releasing the force on pulley  115 , as shown on  FIG. 10B . 
   The releasably lockable engagable means  156  and  158  allow the umbrella frame to be tilted in an inclined position relative to a horizontal plane, in an upward and downward directions in relation to the pole  114  as shown in  FIG. 11 . When the cable  136  is released such that the ball  152  and socket  154  are disengaged from one another, the umbrella frame  120  can be tilted into an inclined position. Thereafter, the cable  136  can be tensioned to couple the ball  152  and socket  154  because of the associated force on pulley  155  to thereby secure the umbrella frame  120  in the inclined position. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 12A ,  12 B and  12 C, the pole  114  comprises a track  160  mounted thereon for slidably engaging the carriage  116 . The track  160  includes protuberances  162  frictionally received within corresponding apertures  164  in the pole  114 . The track  160  can be mounted to the pole  114  by any one of numerous means known such as employing an adhesive or a fastening means such as a rivet. The carriage  116  includes an elongated slot  166  for slidably engaging track  160  as shown in  FIG. 12B . As described above, by rotating the handle  128  in the direction corresponding to releasing the cable  136 , the carriage  116  moves laterally along pole  114 , and slidably engages track  160 . 
   As may be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein, any of the releasably engagable means or the cable retracting and releasing means employed in an umbrella assembly of the present invention may take any of numerous different shapes, configurations, and/or types of such means that are currently or later become known for performing the functions of the means described herein. For example, rather than employing engagable teeth or raised and depressed surfaces to couple the carriage and the endcap or the adapter ball and socket, any one of numerous detachable fasteners such as a locking pin or clevis pin can be used. Similarly, rather than selecting a handle to retract and release the cable, a crank, knob, or wheel can be used. 
   One advantage to the umbrella assembly of the present invention is that after the umbrella frame is collapsed, it can easily be moved away from the upper end of the pole without employing any additional mechanical means. Additionally, there are no lateral or upright frame members that have to be moved in order to move the umbrella frame, and therefore less space is required to collapse and move the umbrella frame of the present invention. 
   As may be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein, numerous other changes and modifications may be made to the above-described and other embodiments of the present invention without departing from its scope as defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, this detailed description of preferred embodiments is to be taken in an illustrative, as opposed to a limiting sense.