The present invention relates to an adjustable shade-providing building structure, and more particularly relates to a structure configured to provide adjustable shading in an outdoor open environment, but that is also configured to meet many building codes and to provide greater durability and permanency than umbrella furniture systems and traditional shading systems that will not withstand wind loads.
Many establishments require (or desire) shading structures to facilitate and promote outdoor activities. For example, furniture with umbrellas are often used in outdoor restaurants, picnic areas and beaches to provide shade from the sun while allowing users to enjoy the sun and outdoor areas. However, the umbrellas used in furniture are typically relatively lightweight and not intended to be left outside for extended periods of time. Nor are they made with sufficient structure to withstand high wind, intense rain or other harsh weather conditions. Nor are they made to meet building codes.
There are also umbrella structures and covers that are intended for more permanent installation and use, such as structures for covering hot tubs, pools, and the like. However, where they are intended to be exposed to the environment for longer periods of time, they are typically intended to be latched down with multiple latches and/or anchored with tie-downs. Also, many are complex to assemble and expensive to erect and/or install.
There are also awnings and fabric-covered “porch-type” systems. However, they are not free-standing, but instead require the presence of a building wall for their basic anchoring and support. Further, though these systems are sometimes extendable, they are not adjustable around a specific center location in order to continue to provide shading in the center location as the sun moves across the sky. Instead, they basically must be big enough or low enough so that the desired area always has some shade. Also, like umbrellas, many of these systems are not intended to withstand high wind, intense rain, or other harsh weather conditions. Instead, they are intended to be retracted and/or taken down during any significant wind and weather.
We, the inventors, have found a continued unmet need for an adjustable structure configured to provide adjustable free-standing shading, including shading that an “untrained” user can adjust, but that is also configured to meet building codes and to provide greater durability and permanency than traditional umbrella and awning systems. In particular, the present known prior art shading systems do not provide a roof-supporting structure sufficient to withstand high wind (such as 90 mph wind loads) where the structure is also adjustable to maintain shading in a particular area as the sun moves across the sky. Further, the known shading systems that are more durable tend to lack style and elegance. Further, they include multiple components, making them expensive to purchase, cumbersome to assemble, expensive to erect and/or build, and difficult and expensive to repair.
In addition, there is a need to combine basic structural building technology with shading technology in a manner that provides flexibility in the design, styling, and appearance. It is desirable to provide a building structure that is flexible in terms of size, shape, and simplicity of installation and repair.
Another need is that common umbrella systems have a pole in the center. With a pole in the center, a table below is impossible unless it is built around the column. It is desirable to have an offset column umbrella that allows for any table and column arrangement be placed directly below the center of shade when the sun is overhead.
Thus, a system having the aforementioned advantages and solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
In one aspect of the present invention, a shade structure includes a vertical column and a roof. The roof includes a cover, a framework supporting the cover, and a mount attached to a top of the column and supporting the roof for rotation to different shade positions around the column including immediately adjacent the column. The mount is located inside a perimeter defined by the cover but is spaced horizontally from a center of the cover, so that the roof can be adjusted by rotation to the different shade positions to selectively provide shade around and immediately adjacent the column throughout a sunny day.
In another aspect of the present invention, a shade structure includes a vertical column and a roof having a cover, a framework, and a mount attached to a top of the column and supporting the roof on the column. The framework includes a triangular main beam arrangement comprising a plurality of beams secured together to form a triangular structure that lies in a vertical plane and that defines a peak and opposing first corners, with the mount being located between the peak and one of the opposing corners. The framework further includes at least one transverse beam secured to the triangular main beam arrangement and that defines opposing second corners.
In another aspect of the present invention, a shade structure includes a vertical column and a roof including a cover, a framework, and a mount attached to a top of the column and supporting the roof on the column. The mount includes a section engaging the column, and the framework includes first and second beams secured to and extending from the column-engaging section and further includes a third beam secured to the first and second beams but not secured to the column-engaging section. The first beam includes a first end and a second end, and one of the second and third beams includes a third end. The first and third ends define opposing corners of the roof and the second end defines a peak of the roof, with the column-engaging section being located between and below the first and second ends of the first beam at a location offset from the peak and from a perimeter of the roof.
In still another aspect of the present invention, a shade structure includes a vertical column and a roof for the structure. The roof includes a cover, a framework with at least one structural beam, and a mount attached to a top of the column and supporting the roof on the column. The mount includes a section engaging the column, with the beam being secured to the column-engaging section. The beam includes a first end section extending in a first direction from the column-engaging section to define a first corner of the roof and further includes a second end section extending in an opposite second direction and at an angle from the column-engaging section to define a peak of the roof, with the mount being between the first corner and the peak.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a shade structure includes a column, a roof-supporting framework supported by the column, and a cover. The cover is made of sheet material and covers the framework for providing shade. The framework includes a mount engaging a top of the column and further includes a beam arrangement supported by the mount. The beam arrangement has first and second beams defining first opposing corners on opposite sides of the column, and also has third and fourth beams defining second opposing corners on opposite sides of the column, and still further has at least one stabilizer fifth beam extending between and connected to the third and fourth beams and also connected to another part of the beam arrangement for stabilizing the third and fourth arms relative to the mount.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a shade structure includes a column, a plurality of beams secured to a top of the column and forming a non-folding framework, and a cover. The beams are positioned asymmetrically about the column and include a first pair of beams that extend in opposite directions from the column to define a vertical plane with the column and further include at least two laterally-extending beams that extend on opposite sides of the vertical plane. The first pair of beams and the laterally-extending beams define a plurality of corners and also define a peak, with the peak and the corners all being spaced from the column when the shade structure is viewed from above. The cover is made of sheet material and covers the beams.
In another aspect of the present invention, a shade structure includes a column, a roof-supporting framework having a matrix of interconnected beams supported on the column, and a sheet cover supported by and covering the framework. The matrix of interconnected beams forms at least four corners, a peak offset from a center of the at least four corners, and includes a mount engaging the column at a location offset from the center and offset inboard from the at least four corners.
An object of the present invention is to provide a shade structure that is durable, robust, and that will pass many building codes.
Another object is to provide an adjustable shade structure that is able to withstand 40 mph or even up to 90 mph winds.
Another object is to provide an adjustable shade structure that is flexible in shape and aesthetically appealing, visually attractive and mentally stimulating.
Another object is to provide an adjustable shade structure that is heavy duty and robust, but that is intuitively adjustable to unskilled users.
Another object is to provide an adjustable shade structure that is relatively easy to construct/erect without high capital investment and skilled labor.
Another object is to provide an adjustable shade structure that includes components that can be removed, replaced, and/or fixed without heavy equipment.
Another object is to provide an adjustable shade structure that is able to provide shade to several people at a time, despite movement of the sun across the sky.
These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
A shade structure 20 (
The column 21 is a free-standing single vertical column supported in a foundation 21′. The foundation is of standard construction. The illustrated foundation is of a type permitting the column to be bolted down to the foundation, such as is often used in poles for lighting for parking lots and similar situations. However, it is contemplated that other foundations can be used, such as a foundation where the column itself is permanently set into the concrete. The illustrated column 21 is a round tubular shape. It is contemplated that the top of column 21 will be made sufficiently accurately round and smooth for rotatably supporting the mount 25, as discussed below. However, the top could be machined or reformed, or could have material added to it or removed from it in order to properly form the top for rotational support of the mount 25. The illustrated column 21 top can be located at any height desired, such as for supporting the roof 22 high enough for people to stand under without interference. The column 21 can be made high and large enough to shade a platform, such as a lifeguard station or a spectator/viewing platform.
The illustrated mount 25 (
It is contemplated that a variety of different bearing arrangement for mount 25 could be used. For example, the bearing arrangement can include a top bearing to take vertical loads and also bottom bearings spaced around the top of the column to facilitate rotation and to take horizontal/torsional loads. As noted above, the illustrated arrangement includes a top bearing pad 41 located on a top surface of the column 21, and also additional bearing pads 76 can be positioned around the mount 25, such as three side-located bearing pads spaced at 120 degrees . . . or five side-located bearing pads spaced at 72 degrees.
Beam 26 is welded to a top of mount 25 at angle (
The present cover 23 (
The forced extension device (also called a “tensioner” herein) and related components are perhaps best shown in
It is noted that the concept of beams with telescopingly extendable end sections is described in Porter U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,518 B2 (filed Dec. 3, 2002, issued Apr. 5, 2005), and the reader is referred to this patent if additional detailed discussion and/or an understanding of alternative designs is desired. The entire teachings and disclosure in U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,518 are incorporated herein in their entirety. It is noted that the alternative telescoping beam constructions and cover constructions shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,518 could be adapted for use in the present structure 20. Nonetheless, the present description and disclosure in the drawings is believed sufficient for an understanding of the present inventive concepts.
The illustrated cover 23 is diamond-shaped (
The framework 24 is structural and engineered to meet building codes for structure, durability against high wind, severe weather, and fire rating. As noted above, the framework 24 includes a rigid triangularly-shaped main beam arrangement comprising a plurality of beams 26-28 secured together to form a triangular that lies in a vertical plane and that defines a peak 29 and opposing first corners 30 and 31. Mount 25 is located in an offset position between the peak 29 and one of the opposing corners 30 and 31.
The peak is offset from the center of the cover . . . providing a unique tent-like diamond-shaped appearance with curved edges that is aesthetically unique in a way that encourages imagination and heightens interest of users and enjoyment of the outdoors. The fabric can be made colorful and the framework and column can be powder coated or painted to match. At the same time, the design is functional in that rain is directed at angles away from the peak, as well as wind being deflected at an angle, which reduces stress and strain during extreme weather conditions.
By this arrangement, the shade structure 20 is a permanent yet adjustable building structure that, due in large part to the structural integrity of the framework 24, is able to withstand 40 mph wind loads, and even up to 90 mph wind loads.
It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.