Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to umbrellas and more particularly, to an umbrella having a foldable canopy which is suspended in cantilever fashion from a support post rotatably mounted in a base and is capable of being positioned at a selected location in an imaginary circle defined by the orbit of the canopy around the support post for shelter against rain or sunlight. In a preferred embodiment the cantilever umbrella includes a base typically characterized by a concrete base block having a vertical tubular post seat mounted therein and a rectangular base plate mounted on the base block. The support post is rotatably mounted in the post seat of the base, and a support arm extends in angular relationship from the support post and includes a descending vertical segment on which a canopy support sleeve is mounted. Multiple canopy support ribs are pivotally mounted on the canopy support sleeve in radially-extending relationship therefrom, and the canopy is mounted on the canopy support ribs. A spreader strut is pivotally attached at one end thereof to each corresponding canopy support rib, and the other end of each spreader strut is pivotally mounted on a common strut support sleeve. A winch is mounted on the support post, and a cable having one end attached to the winch engages a pulley provided on the strut support sleeve. The canopy of the umbrella is deployed in the open configuration by winding the cable on the winch and thus causing the cable to lift the pulley and attached strut support sleeve as the spreader struts pivot outwardly on the strut support sleeve and respective canopy support ribs and the canopy support ribs pivot outwardly on the canopy support sleeve. The canopy is deployed in the closed position by unwinding the cable from the winch. A specially-designed lock mechanism is provided on the support post for selectively engaging the base and preventing inadvertent rotation of the support post in the base. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A variety of umbrellas which are mounted in cantilever fashion on a support structure are known in the art. Typical of these is the “Collapsible Umbrella”, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,258, dated May 26, 1992, to Vennik. The Vennik umbrella is characterized by a support arm which extends from a support post and has a canopy frame mounted on the support arm for supporting a canopy in cantilever configuration on the support post. A winch is provided on the support post for raising the support arm on the support post, and this action causes a cable attached to the support post to retract a control rod of the canopy frame into the support arm and deploy the canopy in the open configuration. Lowering the support arm on the support post extends the control rod from the support arm and causes the canopy to close. U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,644, dated Mar. 19, 1996, to Henry Geniele, details a “Sunshade Assembly” including a vertical stand having a lower segment mounted in a base and an upper segment rotatably mounted on the lower segment. A top ring is provided on the bottom end of the upper segment, and a bottom ring is provided on the top end of the lower segment. A sunshade covering or umbrella mounted in cantilever configuration on the upper segment can be easily adjusted to any of multiple positions around the stand, by rotating the upper segment on the lower segment of the stand and extending a lock pin through registering openings provided in the respective top and bottom rings. An “Umbrella” is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,585, dated Oct. 21, 1997, to May. The umbrella is characterized by an upright mast the upper end of which slidably receives an elongated boom, and a canopy is pivotally mounted on the extending end of the boom, in cantilever fashion The boom can be pivoted on the mast and the canopy folded and pivoted on the boom to facilitate a storage position of the umbrella. U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,302, dated April 7, 1998, to Saliva, describes an “Adjustable Hanging Sunshade Umbrella” including a side standard; a transverse arm joined to the side standard in cantilevered fashion; a central rod, support and operation mechanism for a protective covering connected to the central rod; and a position-adjusting device adapted to cause rotation of the central rod relative to the axis of the transverse arm and lock it to the desired inclination of the protective covering. U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,069, dated Jul. 28, 1998, to Glatz, discloses a “Standing Umbrella” having a mast on which the inner end of an outwardly and inwardly movable carrier beam is guided with the outer end of the beam carrying an umbrella stick of a collapsible umbrella and with the carrier beam held by a connecting strut linkedly arranged between the upper end of the mast and the carrier beam. A drive mechanism shifts the inner end of the carrier beam along the length of the mast and the mast has two guide tracks spaced from one another and so profiled such that guide elements running therealong and carried by the inner end of the mast are held by the shape of the tracks against movement transversely to the direction in which the inner end of the carrier beam is shifted. A “Demountable Structure” is detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,665, dated Dec. 8, 1998, to Koehn. The structure includes a shade having a flexible cover attached to multiple support arms which are movable from a lowered position in which the cover is in a storage configuration and a raised position in which the cover is in an operative shading configuration. A support mechanism having a mounting base and a support structure upstanding from the mounting base extends in part above the shade for for supporting the shade in cantilever configuration from the mounting base. Multiple cables are connected to respective ones of the support arms and disposed above the cover for maintaining the cover in the operative shading configuration. U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,806, dated Oct. 5, 1999, to Steiner, describes a “Parasol”, having a canopy which is supported in cantilever fashion from a support post. 
     An object of this invention is to provide a cantilever umbrella which is rotatably mounted in cantilever configuration in a base and can be positioned at a selected location in an imaginary circle defined by the orbit of the umbrella for shelter against rain or sunlight. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a cantilever umbrella characterized by a support post which is rotatably mounted in a base and a foldable umbrella canopy mounted in cantilever configuration on the support post, which canopy can be deployed at a selected position in an imaginary circle defined by the orbit of the canopy around the support post by rotating and locking the support post in the base. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a cantilever umbrella characterized by a support post and an umbrella canopy mounted in cantilever configuration on the support post, which canopy can be selectively deployed in open and closed configurations by operation of a winch mounted on the support post. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide a cantilever umbrella characterized by a support post mounted in a base; a support arm extending from the support post; a canopy support sleeve mounted on the support arm; multiple canopy support ribs pivotally mounted on the canopy support sleeve in radially-extending relationship therefrom; a canopy mounted on the canopy support ribs; a spreader strut pivotally mounted on each canopy support rib, each spreader strut pivotally mounted on a common strut support sleeve; a pulley mounted on the strut support sleeve; a winch mounted on the support post; and a cable extending from the winch and engaging the pulley, which canopy is selectively deployed in opened and closed configurations by operation of the winch, whereby the cable raises the strut support sleeve, the spreader struts pivot outwardly in concert on the strut support sleeve, and the canopy support ribs pivot outwardly on the respective spreader struts and the canopy support sleeve and the canopy is opened as the cable is wound on the winch, and whereby the strut support sleeve is lowered and the canopy is deployed in the folded or closed configuration by unwinding the cable from the winch. 
     A still further object of this invention is to provide a cantilever umbrella having a folding umbrella canopy which is mounted in cantilever configuration on a rotatable support post and can be positioned at a selected location in an imaginary circle surrounding the support post for shelter against rain or sunlight, which cantilever umbrella includes a base characterized by a typically concrete base block, a base plate mounted on the base block typically by means of multiple anchor bolts and a tubular post seat extending through the base block beneath the base plate, which support post is rotatably mounted in the post seat of the base; an umbrella canopy mounted in cantilever fashion on the support post; a post lock collar fitted with a pair of spaced-apart post lock flanges mounted on the support post above the base plate; and a lock plate fitted with multiple plate notches slidably mounted on the support post, wherein inadvertent rotation of the support post in the base is selectively prevented by lowering the lock plate onto the base plate between the anchor bolts while inserting the post lock flanges of the post lock collar in respective plate notches of the lock plate, and the support post is unlocked in the base for rotation therein and selective positioning of the umbrella canopy by lifting the lock plate from the base plate to remove the post lock flanges from the plate notches, and resting the lock plate on the anchor bolts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These and other objects of the invention are provided in a cantilever umbrella having a folding canopy which is mounted in cantilever fashion on a vertical support post rotatably mounted in a base and can be deployed at selected positions in an imaginary circle defined by the orbit of the canopy around the support post for shelter against rain or sunlight. In a preferred embodiment the base is characterized by a typically concrete base block, a base plate mounted on the base block typically by means of multiple anchor bolts and a tubular post seat extending through the base block beneath the base plate. The support post is rotatably mounted in the post seat, and a support arm extends in angular relationship from the support post. A canopy support sleeve is mounted on a descending vertical segment of the support arm, and multiple canopy support ribs which support the canopy are pivotally mounted on the canopy support sleeve in radially-extending relationship therefrom. Multiple spreader struts are each pivotally attached at one end thereof to the corresponding canopy support rib, and the other end of each spreader strut is pivotally mounted on a common strut support sleeve. A winch is mounted on the support post, and a cable attached to the winch engages a pulley provided on the strut support sleeve. The canopy of the umbrella is deployed in the open configuration by rotating the winch handle to wind the cable on the winch and thus cause the cable to lift the pulley and attached strut support sleeve as the spreader struts pivot outwardly on the strut support sleeve and respective canopy support ribs and the canopy support ribs pivot outwardly on the canopy support sleeve. A post lock collar fitted with a pair of spaced-apart post lock flanges is mounted on the support post above the base plate of the base, and a lock plate fitted with multiple plate notches is slidably mounted on the support post. Inadvertent rotation of the support post in the base is selectively prevented by lowering the lock plate onto the base plate between the anchor bolts while inserting the post lock flanges of the post lock collar in respective plate notches of the lock plate. The support post is unlocked in the base for rotation therein as desired for re-positioning of the umbrella canopy around the support post, by lifting the lock plate from the base plate to remove the post lock flanges from the plate notches, and resting the lock plate on the anchor bolts. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the support post, support arm and canopy components of the cantilever umbrella of this invention, with the support post removed from the base (not illustrated), the lock plate component slidably mounted on the support post and the canopy deployed in the open configuration; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cantilever umbrella illustrated in FIG. 1, more particularly illustrating the canopy (illustrated in phantom) mounted on the canopy support ribs of the umbrella with the canopy deployed in the open configuration; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the support arm, strut support sleeve and multiple spreader strut components of the cantilever umbrella, more particularly illustrating a preferred, connector rod technique for pivotally mounting the respective spreader struts on the strut support sleeve; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cantilever umbrella, with the support post component removed from the base (not illustrated) and the canopy (also not illustrated) removed from the canopy support ribs, and the canopy support ribs and spreader struts deployed in the closed configuration; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the cantilever umbrella, with the canopy (not illustrated) removed from the canopy support ribs, and the canopy support ribs and spreader struts deployed in the closed configuration; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the base component of the cantilever umbrella; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view, taken along section lines  7 — 7  in FIG. 6, of the base; 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded, perspective view of the support post, support arm and canopy support sleeve components of the cantilever umbrella, more particularly illustrating a preferred technique for mounting the support arm on the support post and the canopy support sleeve on the support arm; 
     FIG. 9 is an exploded, perspective view, partially in section, of one of the canopy support ribs of the cantilever umbrella, more particularly illustrating a preferred technique for pivotally mounting each spreader strut (also partially in section) on the corresponding canopy support rib; 
     FIG. 10 is an exploded, perspective view of the support arm (partially in section), canopy support sleeve, multiple canopy support ribs (partially in section), strut support sleeve, multiple spreader struts (partially in section) and pulley components of the cantilever umbrella; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the base component of the cantilever umbrella, with the lock plate component of the umbrella slidably mounted on the support post, more particularly illustrating a preferred technique for selectively locking and preventing inadvertent rotation of the support post in the base by operation of the lock plate; 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the base illustrated in FIG.  11 , with the lock plate positioned in the post-locking configuration on the base; 
     FIG. 13 is a top view of the base, more particularly illustrating alternative positioning capabilities of the the lock plate in the post-locking configuration (indicated by the solid lines) and in the post-unlocking configuration (illustrated in phantom); and 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a connector rod component of a preferred embodiment of the cantilever umbrella, used in pivotally attaching each canopy support rib to the common canopy support sleeve and each spreader strut to the common strut support sleeve. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring initially to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  6 ,  7  and  11 - 13  of the drawings, in a preferred embodiment the cantilever umbrella of this invention is generally illustrated by reference numeral  1  in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cantilever umbrella  1  includes a base  2  which, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, is characterized by a typically concrete rectangular base block  2   a . A rectangular base plate  3  is mounted on the upper surface of the base block  2   a , typically by means of multiple anchor bolts  4  which extend through the base plate  3  at respective corners thereof and as illustrated in FIG. 6, extend downwardly into the base block  2   a  with the hex head  5  of each anchor bolt  4  engaging the upper surface of the base plate  3 . A tubular post seat  6 , illustrated in longitudinal cross-section in FIG. 7, extends vertically through the base block  2   a  beneath the base plate  3 . The cantilever umbrella  1  further includes an elongated support post  13 , the vertical segment  13   a  of which extends through a post opening (not illustrated) provided in the base plate  3  and is rotatably mounted in the post seat  6 . As illustrated in FIGS. 11-13, a circular post lock collar  11 , fitted with a pair of diametrically-opposed post lock flanges  12 , is typically welded or otherwise mounted on the vertical segment  13   a  of the support post  13  and typically engages the upper surface of the base plate  3  when the vertical segment  13   a  of the support post  13  is inserted in the post seat  6  as illustrated in FIG.  7 . The vertical segment  13   a  of the support post  13  further extends through the plate opening  9  of a rectangular lock plate  7 , slidably mounted on the vertical segment  13   a  at the plate opening  9 . The plate opening  9  is provided with multiple plate notches  10 , and a pair of handles  8  is typically provided on the upper surface of the lock plate  7 , the purpose of which plate notches  10  and handles  8  will be hereinafter described. Accordingly, the lock plate  7  is capable of resting on the upper surface of the base plate  3  of the base  2  with the post lock flanges  12  of the post lock collar  11  (mounted on the vertical segment  13   a  of the support post  13 , FIG. 11) inserted in respective companion plate notches  10  of the lock plate  7  and the lock plate  7  fitted between the respective pairs of spaced-apart heads  5  of the anchor bolts  4  as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, to prevent inadvertent rotation of the support post  13  in the post seat  6  (FIG. 7) of the base  2 . The support post  13  can be unlocked in the base  2  for selective rotation in the post seat  6 , as desired, by lifting the lock plate  7  from the base plate  3  using the handles  8  to disengage the plate notches  10  from the post lock flanges  12  of the post lock collar  11 , and slightly rotating the lock plate  7  and resting diagonally-opposed corners of the lock plate  7  on the hex heads  5  of the respective anchor bolts  4 , as illustrated in phantom in FIG.  13 . 
     Referring again to FIGS. 3,  4 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10  and  14  and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, an angled segment  13   b  extends from the vertical segment  13   a  of the support post  13  at a post bend  13   c . As illustrated in FIG. 8, the angled segment  14   b  of a support arm  14 , including a vertical segment  14   a  joined to the angled segment  14   b  at an arm bend  14   c , is joined to the angled segment  13   b  of the support post  13  typically by means of an elongated post coupling  15 . Accordingly, respective ends of the post coupling  15  are inserted in the larger-diameter angled segment  13   b  of the support post  13  and angled segment  14   b  of the support arm  14 . Bolts  19  are extended through respective post bolt openings  13   d  provided in the angled segment  13   b  of the support post  13  and respective arm bolt openings  14   d  provided in the angled segment  14   b  of the support arm  14 , and through registering coupling bolt openings  15   a  provided in the post coupling  15 , and nuts  19   a  are threaded on the respective bolts  19 . Alternatively, it is understood that the support post  13  can be constructed in one piece with the support arm  14 , as desired, according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. A cylindrical canopy support sleeve  17 , the purpose of which will be hereinafter described, is mounted on the descending vertical segment  14   a  of the support arm  14 , typically by extending a bolt  19  through a pair of aligned, diametrically-opposed bolt openings  17   a  provided in the canopy support sleeve  17  and through registering bolt openings  16  provided in the vertical segment  14   a  of the support arm  14 , and threading a nut  19   a  on the bolt  19 . As further illustrated in FIG. 8, multiple connector rods  18  are typically welded or otherwise fixedly attached to the canopy support sleeve  17 , and extend outwardly therefrom in spaced-apart relationship with respect to each other around the circumference of the canopy support sleeve  17 . As illustrated in FIG. 14, each connector rod  18  is typically characterized by a first rod segment  18   a  which is welded or otherwise mounted on the canopy support sleeve  17 , a second rod segment  18   b  which extends from the first rod segment  18   a  in substantially perpendicular relationship thereto and a third rod segment  18   c  which extends from the second rod segment  18   b  in substantially perpendicular relationship thereto and with respect to the first rod segment  18   a . As illustrated in FIG. 10, an elongated canopy support rib  21 , typically constructed of aluminum square tubing, is pivotally mounted on each connector rod  18 , typically by extending the third rod segment  18   c  (FIG. 14) of each connector rod  18  through a rod opening  21   a  provided in the corresponding canopy support rib  21  and fitting a conventional rod cap (not illustrated) or other suitable fastener which is known to those skilled in the art on the end of the third rod segment  18   c  of the connector rod  18  to secure the canopy support rib  21  on the connector rod  18 . As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a canopy  39 , typically constructed of a selected durable fabric material having a selected color pattern and design, is mounted on the canopy support ribs  21  according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. As illustrated in FIG. 9, a strut connector hook  23  extends from one end of an elongated spreader strut  22 , typically constructed of aluminum square tubing, and each spreader strut  22  is pivotally attached to the corresponding canopy support rib  21  by extending the strut connector hook  23  through a rod opening  21   a  which is provided at substantially the midpoint of the corresponding canopy support rib  21 , as illustrated in FIG.  4 . The opposite end of each spreader strut  22  is pivotally attached to a corresponding connector rod  18 , as illustrated in FIG. 10, multiple ones of which connector rods  18  are typically welded to a cylindrical strut support sleeve  24  and extend therefrom in spaced-apart relationship to each other about the circumference of the strut support sleeve  24 , in the same manner as heretofore described with respect to the canopy support sleeve  17  illustrated in FIG.  8 . Accordingly, the third rod segment  18   c  (FIG. 14) of each connector rod  18  is extended through a connector rod opening  22   a  of the spreader strut  22 , as illustrated by the dashed lines in FIG. 10, and a rod cap (not illustrated) or other suitable fastener known to those skilled in the art is fitted on the third rod segment  18   c  to secure the spreader strut  22  on the connector rod  18  as heretofore described with respect to the canopy support sleeve  17  illustrated in FIG.  10 . As further illustrated in FIG. 10, a pulley  33 , the purpose of which will be hereinafter described, is mounted on an elongated pulley mount shaft  35 , typically by means of a pulley mount bolt  36  which is extended through a mount bolt opening  33   a  provided in the pulley  33  and through a registering shaft bolt opening  35   a , provided in the pulley mount shaft  35 . The pulley  33  is mounted on the strut support sleeve  24 , typically by means of a circular shaft plate  36  which is typically welded to the bottom edge of the strut support sleeve  24  and is provided with a central shaft opening (not illustrated) through which the pulley mount shaft  35  extends, and the pulley mount shaft  35  is welded to the shaft plate  36  and extends upwardly through the strut support sleeve  24 . As illustrated in FIG. 3, a safety pin  25  is typically extended through a safety pin opening  24   a  provided in the strut support sleeve  24 , and through a registering pin opening (not illustrated) provided in the pulley mount shaft  35  to further secure the pulley mount shaft  35  on the strut support sleeve  24 . 
     Referring again to FIGS. 3-5 and initially to FIG. 8 of the drawings, a winch spool  29 , fitted with a winch crank  30 , is rotatably mounted between a pair of parallel winch mount brackets  27 , mounted on the vertical segment  13   a  of the support post  13  typically by means of bracket mount bolts  28  and respective nuts  32 . A cable  31 , one end of which is attached to the winch spool  29  as illustrated in FIG. 4, enters the support post  13  through a cable opening  31   a  provided in the vertical segment  13   a  thereof As illustrated in phantom in FIG. 5, the cable  31  further extends through the bend  13   c  and angled segment  13   b  in the interior of the hollow support post  13  and through the post coupling  15  (FIG.  8 ), and downwardly from the vertical segment  14   a  of the support arm  14  through the open bottom end thereof. The cable  31  further extends through the pulley  33  (mounted on the strut support sleeve  24 ), as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 3, and loops upwardly and re-enters the vertical segment  14   a  of the support arm  14 , as illustrated in FIG. 5, where the cable  31  typically terminates in a cable loop (not illustrated) which is typically bolted or otherwise attached to the support arm  14 , inside the hollow vertical segment  14   a  thereof Accordingly, in application of the cantilever umbrella  1  as hereinafter described, the canopy support ribs  21  and mounted canopy  39  (FIG. 1) are deployed from the closed configuration illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 to the open, shielding configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, by rotating the winch crank  30  to wind the cable  31  on the winch spool  29  as the winch spool  29  rotates between the winch mount brackets  27 . This action draws the cable  31  through the pulley  33  whole the end of the cable  31  opposite the winch spool  29  remains attached to the interior of the support arm  14 , and the shortening cable  31  thus raises the pulley  33  and the attached strut support sleeve  24 . Consequently, the spreader struts  22  pivot outwardly in concert on the rising strut support sleeve  24  at the respective connector rods  18  (FIG.  5 ), and push the respective attached canopy support ribs  21  upwardly as the canopy support ribs  21  pivot outwardly in concert on the canopy support sleeve  17  at the respective connector rods  18  and on the spreader struts  22  at the respective strut connector hooks  23 . The canopy  39  is deployed in the closed configuration, as desired, by unwinding the cable  31  from the winch spool  29  by opposite rotation of the winch crank  30 , thereby causing the combined weights of the strut support sleeve  24  and pulley  33  to pull downwardly on the lengthening cable  31  at the pulley  33 , and the spreader struts  22  to pivot upwardly in concert on the strut support sleeve  24  and pivot on the canopy support ribs  21 , and the canopy support ribs  21  to pivot downwardly in concert on the canopy support sleeve  17 , as hereinafter further described. 
     Referring again to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  4  and  11 - 13  of the drawings, in typical application of the cantilever umbrella  1  the closed canopy  39  is initially positioned at a selected location in an imaginary circle which is defined by the orbit of the canopy  39  around the support post  13  by rotating the support post  13  in the post seat  6  (FIG. 7) of the base  2 . Accordingly, the support post  13  is unlocked for rotation in the base  2  by grasping the handles  8  and initially lifting the attached lock plate  7 , resting on the base plate  3  of the base  2  between the hex heads  5  of the respective anchor bolts  4  as illustrated in FIG. 12, from the upper surface of the base plate  3  to disengage the plate notches  10  from the respective post lock flanges  12  of the post lock collar  11 , as illustrated in FIG.  11 . While the post lock flanges  12  remain clear of the plate notches  10  of the lock plate  7 , the lock plate  7  is slightly rotated on the support post  13 , and diagonally-opposed corners of the lock plate  7  are rested on the hex heads  5  of the respective anchor bolts  4 , as illustrated in phantom in FIG.  13 . Accordingly, as indicated by the double-headed arrow in FIG. 11 the support post  13  is capable of rotating in the post seat  6  (FIG. 7) of the base  2  in order to facilitate positioning of the canopy  39  at any position in the imaginary circle defined by the orbit of the closed canopy  39  with the rotating support post  13  around the base  2 . When the desired positioning of the canopy  39  is achieved, the support post  13  is locked in the base  2  to prevent inadvertent rotation of the support post  13  in the post seat  6 . This is accomplished by repositioning the lock plate  7  as indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 13 to align a diametrically-opposed pair of the plate notches  10  of the lock plate  7  with the respective post lock flanges  12  of the post lock collar  11 , and then lowering the lock plate  7  to rest on the base plate  3  while extending the post lock flanges  12  through the respective plate notches  10 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that rotational pressure applied to the support post  13  in either direction in the base  2 , such as wind pressure applied to the canopy  39 , will be resisted by the lock plate  7 , since the post lock flanges  12  engage the lock plate  7  at the plate notches  10 , and this action causes the corresponding pair of diagonally-opposed corners of the lock plate  7  to engage the hex heads  5  of the respective pair of anchor bolts  4 , as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. The canopy  39  of the cantilever umbrella  1  is next opened as heretofore described with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5, by rotating the winch crank  30  to wind the cable  30  on the winch spool  29  and lift the strut support sleeve  24  by operation of the pulley  33  and deploy the canopy support ribs  21  and spreader struts  22  from the closed configuration illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 to the open configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Conversely, the canopy  39  is closed by rotating the winch crank  30  in the opposite direction to unwind the cable  30  from the winch spool  29  and deploy the canopy support ribs  21  and spreader struts  22  from the open configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 to the closed configuration illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, as heretofore described. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: a