Patent ID: 7520289

Claim:
An umbrella supporting apparatus comprising: an upstanding pole; a support arm having two ends, the support arm pivotally attached to the pole adjacent an upper end thereof so that a longer portion of the arm extends outwardly from one side of the pole to a first, canopy supporting, end and a shorter portion of the arm extends outwardly from the other side of the pole to a second, actuator-connected, end; an actuator mechanism connected between the pole and the shorter portion of the arm and operable to selectively raise or lower the canopy supporting end of the arm by moving the actuator-connected end of the arm respectively toward or away from the pole; and a support arm cable assembly comprising: a tied-off cable having two ends, the first end of the tied-off cable tied-off to the pole, the second end of the tied-off cable attached to a first portion of a pulley arrangement, the first portion of the pulley arrangement movable along the support arm; and a runner cable having two ends, a free end of the runner cable depending from the support arm adjacent the canopy supporting end thereof, the runner cable engaging a second portion of the pulley arrangement attached to and not movable along the support arm; wherein the pulley arrangement comprises a plurality of pulleys and is characterized in that a displacement of the first portion thereof is accompanied by a greater displacement of the free end of the runner cable.