Patent ID: 8555905

Claim:
An umbrella hub comprising: a hub body comprising an upper hub portion and a lower hub portion coupled to the upper portion, the hub body having a series of projections extending outwardly from a central portion thereof; an aperture extending through the upper and lower hub portions of the hub body, the aperture being configured to allow a cord to pass therethrough; an engagement device configured for engaging with or disengaging the cord, the engagement device being aligned with the aperture of the hub body such that the cord can be disposed through the aperture to be engaged with or disengaged from the engagement device, the engagement device allowing the cord to pass freely in a first direction through the aperture while preventing movement of the cord in a second direction opposite the first direction; and a recess enclosed within the hub body and formed in the lower hub portion, the recess being configured to at least partially receive the engagement device therein and to allow the engagement device to move between the engaged position and the disengaged position; wherein the upper hub portion comprises at least one insertion member configured to be inserted into the recess of the lower hub portion.