Patent ID: 7856996

Claim:
A light support system for an outdoor shade structure, the system comprising: a support hub having a chamber; a light support member having an exterior surface and proximal and distal portions, the light support member being positionable into the chamber of the support hub to assume a stowed position in which the distal portion of the light support member is positioned adjacent to an opening of the chamber and a portion of the exterior surface of the light support member is concealed within the chamber, the light support member being extendable from the chamber to assume a deployed position in which the proximal portion of the light support member is positioned adjacent to the opening of the chamber and the portion of the exterior surface of the light support member is exposed, the exterior surface of the light support member being configured to couple with a lighting device such that the light support member can support the lighting device when the light support member is in the deployed position; and a retention mechanism being configured to facilitate locking and unlocking of the light support member to restrain the light support member at least in the stowed position, the light support member being restrained relative to the support hub when the retention mechanism locks the light support member at least in the stowed position.