Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 C.F.R. ยง 1.57.
Field of the Invention
This application is directed to shade structures, for example collapsible portable shelters and umbrellas.
Description of the Related Art
Collapsible shade structures are popular devices used to provide shelter in a wide variety of conditions. These portable shelters are ubiquitous at sporting events, particularly in hot and sunny weather. These structures protect users from the sun so that sporting events, parties, and other outdoor events and activities can be more enjoyable.
Manufacturers and users of collapsible tent shade structures would benefit from improvement in the design of these structures to make them more efficient to manufacture, use, and maintain.
In one embodiment, a shade structure is provided that includes at least one ground support having a lower end and an upper end. The shade structure also includes an upper mount, a first rib, a moveable mount, and a second rib. The upper mount is coupled with the upper end of the at least one ground support. The upper mount has at least one groove. The first rib has a first end coupled with the upper mount in the groove thereof. The first rib has an elongate body that extends away from the first end. The moveable mount has an aperture disposed around the at least one ground support. The aperture is configured to allow the moveable mount to move along the at least one ground support. The moveable mount has a groove. The second rib has a first end coupled with the moveable mount in the groove thereof. The second rib has an elongate body that extends away from the first end. At least one of the upper mount and the moveable mount comprises a base configured to receive a corresponding rib in a groove thereof. The groove of the base of the upper mount can be configured to receive the first end portion of the first rib therein. The groove of the base of the moveable mount can be configured to receive the first end portion of the second rib therein. At least one of the upper mount and the moveable mount comprises a cover configured to secure the first end of the corresponding rib in the groove when the cover is coupled with the base.
In another embodiment, a mount is provided for a shade structure, such as a portable pavilion or an umbrella. The mount includes a base that has a space formed therein that is configured to receive a ground support. The ground support can be a leg of a pavilion frame or an umbrella pole, for example. The mount includes at least one groove configured to pivotably receive a rib. The groove is disposed between opposed walls of the base. The opposed walls each have a pin retention recess disposed therein. The mount also includes a cover that has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of projections having a first end fixed to the bottom surface of the cover and a second end disposed away from the bottom surface. One of the projections is configured to enclose a portion of the retention recess.
In one variation of the foregoing mount for a shade structure, one of the projections is configured to secure the cover to the base.
In another embodiment, a mount for a shade structure is provided. The mount has a base and a cover. The base has a space formed therein configured to receive a ground support of a shade structure. The cover has a top surface and a bottom surface to be secured to the base. A groove is formed in the mount and is configured to pivotably receive a rib. The groove is disposed between opposed walls of the mount. A pin retention recess is disposed on each side of the opposed walls in one of the cover and the base. A plurality of projections are provided that each have a first end fixed to one of the cover and the base in which the pin retention recess is not formed and a second end disposed away from the fixed end. One of the projections is configured to enclose a portion of the retention recess when the cover and the base are secured together.
The abovementioned and other features of the inventions disclosed herein are described below with reference to the drawings of the preferred embodiments. The embodiments are intended to illustrate, but not to limit the inventions. The drawings include the following figures.
This application is directed to improved components and assemblies for shade structures, including collapsible tents, pavilions and umbrellas.
In one embodiment, the frame 14 includes an upper mount 30, a plurality of ribs 34 coupled with the upper mount 30, a moveable mount 38. The frame 14 also can include a plurality of ribs 42 coupled with the moveable mount 38. The ribs 34, 42 can be coupled to each other in a manner that permits the frame 14 to be folded, such that the pavilion 10 can be portable. For example, the ribs 34, 42 can be joined in a middle portion thereof. The ribs 34, 42 can be joined other ribs at ends opposite to ends that are coupled with the mounts 30, 38.
In another embodiment as discussed further below, the upper mount 30 can be configured as a top hub or top nest of an umbrella. The moveable mount 38 can be configured in other embodiments as a moveable hub, e.g., a runner of an umbrella.
The base 60 can have a pin retention recess 84 disposed therein. The pin retention recess 84 can be formed in the opposed walls 72. The pin retention recess 84 can be configured to receive and retain a pin 88 on a first end 92 of the rib 34. The pin retention recess 84 preferably is configured to at least temporarily secure the pin 88 therein. In certain embodiments, the upper mount 30 has secondary securement features as discussed further below.
The base 60 has a top surface 100 that comprises a first opening 104 disposed on one side of one of the grooves 40 and a second opening 108. The second opening 108 is disposed on the base 60 such that the groove 40 is disposed between the first opening 104 and the second opening 108. The first opening 104 and the second opening 108 extends into the base 60. The openings 104, 108 extend to an elevation below the pin retention recess 84 formed in the base 60.
The slot 120 includes a constricted portion 136 adapted to secure a portion of a rib such that the rib can be retained in the groove 40 prior to securing the cover to the base. In one embodiment, the slot 120 includes an expanded portion 140. The constricted portion 136 is disposed, in one embodiment, between the expanded portion 140 and the groove 40 on the base 60.
The base 60 also provides at least some temporary securement of the pin 88 and a rib coupled therewith.
The first and second projections 308A, 308B are positioned on the cover 64 such that when the cover 64 is coupled with the base 60 the first projection 308A is disposed in the first opening 104 and the second projection 308B is disposed in the second opening 108. The first projection 308A encloses a first pin retention feature 84 and the second projection 308B encloses a second pin retention feature 84.
In one embodiment, the plurality of projections on the cover comprises a third projection 312 having a first end fixed to the bottom surface 304 of the cover 64 and a second end disposed away from the first end. The second end is adapted to couple with the base 60 in a manner preventing removing the cover 64 from the base 60. The cover 64 can comprise a groove 320 defined between a first projection and a second projection. The groove 320 is located on the cover 64 to be disposed over the groove 40 located on the base. The groove 320 extends through the bottom surface 304 to the top surface of the cover 64 to allow a rib of the frame 14 to rotate to a position disposed at least partially above the upper mount 30.
The upper mount 30 and the moveable mount 38 can be configured with a flush configuration when the base and cover are coupled together. For example, the base 60 can have a recessed portion 324 or area in the upper portion thereof. The recessed portion 324 can be surrounded by side walls 328 that have a height that is equal to or greater than the thickness of the cover 64. Where the thickness of the cover 64 is about the same as the height of the walls 328, a flush configuration is provided. Further, because the projections 308, 312 extend from a bottom surface of the cover 64 the top surface of the cover can be free of openings for screws or other fasteners. This provides not only a flush and attractive appearance, but also prevents water or debris from being lodged therein, which results in a better looking device that is also longer lasting. Also, the cover 18 can be stretched over the upper mount 30 in some embodiments. Accordingly, having a smooth flush surface can provide the advantage of reducing wear of the cover 18 in the location over the mount 30.
The upper mount 30 has a number of advantages. As discussed above, the base 60 is configured to retain the rib 34 therein prior to coupling the cover 64 with the base 60. See
If the slot 120 is one that converges along the axis thereof as in
The upper mount 30 is configured such that the cover 64 is manually coupled with the base 60 by inserting the projections 308, 312 into corresponding openings in the cover. The projections 308A, 308B are inserted into the openings 104, 108. The projections 312 are inserted into separate openings 350. The opening 350 and the projections 312 are disposed on the cover 64 such that the projections 312 are aligned to each of the openings 350. The projections 312 can have a hook-like feature on a free end 362 of the projection 312. The hook-like feature can include a lateral projection facing the bottom surface 304 of the cover 64. The lateral projection can be placed against a corresponding surface 368 in the base 60. An advantage of this design is enabling the base 60 and the cover 64 to be secured by a single insertion motion. A highly secure configuration can be provided by increasing the number of projections 312 from one to a plurality of projections. An embodiment with four projections 312 would be particularly secure. Apertures 370 can be provided in the base 60 such that the projections 312 can be accessed to allow them to be disengaged from the surface 368 of the base 60 for disassembly of the mount 30. The projection 312 can initially be deflected upon insertion of the cover 64 into the base 60. The projection 312 can be resilient such that it returns to a less or un-deflected configuration when it reaches the aperture 370. At this point the lateral projection of the hook-like feature can face the corresponding surface 368.
The moveable mount 38 includes a space 400 formed in the base 402 of the mount 38 extends from a lower surface 403 of the base 402 to an upper surface 405 of the moveable mount 38. That is, the space is a channel that extends entirely through the moveable mount 38.
A cover 404 of the moveable mount 38 has a different configuration than the cover 64. For example, to accommodate the space 400 extending entirely through the moveable mount 38 the cover 404 has less coverage of the top of the base 402. One side 406 of the cover 402 partly defines the space 400.
In one embodiment, the mount 38 can have a securement feature 430 disposed thereon. The securement feature 430 can enable the moveable mount 38 be positioned at any of select positions along the leg 22. For example a plurality of holes can be formed long the leg 22. A pin 434 can be inserted through the feature 430 and through one of the holes in the leg to hold the moveable member 38 at the selected elevation.
The upper mount 30 can be secured to a plurality of ribs 34 in the following methods.
The rib 42 can be assembled to the moveable mount 38 in substantially the same way. For example, the rib 42 can be inserted as indicated by the arrow B. The initial retention of the rib 42 in one of the grooves 40 can be in the same manner as discussed above in connection with the rib 34. For example, the pin 88 can be I shaped and the slots 120 can be C shaped. An inflection point P can be disposed between an enclosed end 132 of the slot 120 and the opening 124 to the slot 120. If the constricted passage configuration of
The base 502 has a plurality of grooves 516 disposed around the outer periphery thereof. The grooves 516 are suitable for pivotably coupling with a rib 518. Pin retention recesses 524, which can include a slot similar to the slot 120 or the slot 220 discussed above or similar features, are disposed in or on opposed walls within the base 504. Opposed walls 517 of the hub 500 can define the grooves 516. Projections 520 that have a fix end on a bottom surface of the cover 508 and a free end projecting away from the fixed end are disposed across the pin retention recesses 524 in a way similar to that discussed above. As such the projections 520 provide robust retention of the pin 88 of the rib 518. Securement of the cover 508 to the base 504 can be provided by hook-like projections 532. The projection 532 can be similar to the projections 312 discussed above. The description of these features and their connection to the base of the mount 30 are relevant and are incorporated here. The projections 532 can engage a surface 536 disposed in or on an opening in the base 504.
The runner 600 includes a base 604 and a cover 608. Grooves 612 are formed in the cover 608 to pivotably couple with ribs. Pin retention recesses 616 extend from an outer periphery of the cover 608 hub to an enclosed end disposed within the cover 608. Projections 620 on the base extend up into opening 624 the cover and are disposed across the pin retention recesses 616. The projections 620 block egress of a pin of an umbrella rib when the rib is installed in the hub 600 and the cover 608 is coupled with the base 604. Fastening projections 626, which can be hook-like in their configuration, project form the base 604. The projections 626 are received in opening in the cover 608. When so inserted the projections engage the cover 608 in a manner similar to that discussed above.
Assembly of the runner 600 proceeds in a manner similar to the assembly method discussed above.
Although these inventions have been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present inventions extend beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the inventions and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while several variations of the inventions have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within the scope of these inventions, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various combination or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the inventions. It should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed inventions. Thus, it is intended that the scope of at least some of the present inventions herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above.
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