Patent Application
20170362849
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The disclosure and prior art relates to shading assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new shading assembly for provision of shade using a tethered panel.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a mast and a panel. The mast has a bottom configured to couple to a surface. The panel is flexible and has a respective opposing side reversibly couplable to a top of the mast. The mast is positioned substantially equally distant from opposing edges of the panel. A plurality of tethers is coupled to and extends from the panel. Each of a plurality of stakes is reversibly couplable to a respective tether distal from the panel. The panel is positioned to couple to the mast. The mast and the stakes are configured to couple to the surface. The tethers are positioned to couple the panel to the stakes, such that the panel is positioned above the surface to use the natural force of the wind to inflate the panel and hold it aloft to provide shade to a user.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A crossbeam 22 is coupled at its midpoint 24 to a top 26 of the mast 12. The crossbeam 22 extends bidirectionally from the mast 12. In one embodiment, the crossbeam 22 comprises a pair of poles 28 that is reversibly couplable to the mast 12. A pair of rods 30 is coupled singly to the crossbeam 22 distal from the midpoint 24. Each rod 30 extends perpendicularly from the crossbeam 22.
In one embodiment, the plurality of sections 16 comprises an upper section 32, a middle section 34 and a lower section 36. The upper section 32 has a cross-connector 38 that is coupled to the top end 18 of the upper section 32. Each pole 28 is reversibly couplable to the cross-connector 38, such that the poles 28 extend perpendicularly from the upper section 32. The middle section 34 has a first T-connector 40 coupled to the top end 18 of the middle section 34. The lower section 36 has a second T-connector 42 coupled to the top end 18 of the lower section 36. The middle section 34 is positioned to reversibly couple to the top end 18 of the lower section 36 and to the bottom end 20 of the upper section 32.
An extension 44 is reversibly couplable to the cross-connector 38 and extends linearly from the mast 12. The extension 44 is positioned on the cross-connector 38 such that the extension 44 is configured to hang a flag.
A plurality of bars 46 is reversibly couplable to and extends perpendicularly from the mast 12. The bars 46 are positioned on the mast 12 such that the bars 46 are configured to hang items on the bars 46. In one embodiment, the plurality of bars 46 comprises bars 46 reversibly couplable to the first T-connector 40 and the second T-connector 42.
The assembly 10 comprises a panel 48 that is flexible. The panel 48 has a respective opposing side 50 that is reversibly couplable to the top 26 of the mast 12. The mast 12 is positioned substantially equally distant from opposing edges 52 of the panel 48. The panel 48 is substantially rectangularly shaped.
A pair of loops 54 is coupled to the respective opposing side 50 of the panel 48. Each loop 54 is positioned on the panel 48 for insertion of a respective rod 30 to couple the crossbeam 22 to the panel 48. Each loop 54 comprises a first strap 56. The first strap 56 has opposing endpoints 58. The first strap 56 is stitchedly coupled to the panel 48 proximate to each opposing endpoint 58, defining the loop 54.
A plurality of tethers 60 is coupled to and extends from the panel 48. The plurality of tethers 60 comprises tethers 60 coupled to each corner 62 of the panel 48 and to the top 26 of the mast 12. In one embodiment, the tethers 60 comprise rope. The tethers 60 comprise braided nylon.
Each of a plurality of stakes 64 is reversibly couplable to a respective tether 60 distal from the panel 48. The plurality of stakes 64 comprises five stakes 64. The stakes 64 comprises plastic.
In one embodiment, a plurality of couplers 66 is coupled to the panel 48. Each coupler 66 is positioned proximate to a respective corner 62 of the panel 48. Each coupler 66 is positioned to couple to a respective tether 60, such that the panel 48 is couplable to the stakes 64. Each coupler 66 comprises a second strap 68. The second strap 68 has a first end 70 that is coupled to the panel 48 and a second end 72 that extends transversely from the panel 48. The second strap 68 comprises a grommet 74 that is positioned through the second strap 68 proximate to the second end 72.
The mast 12, the extension 44, the crossbeam 22, the rods 30 and the bars 46 each is tubular. In one embodiment, the mast 12, the extension 44, the crossbeam 22, the rods 30 and the bars 46 each is circular when viewed longitudinally.
The mast 12, the extension 44, the crossbeam 22, the rods 30 and the bars 46 each comprises plastic. In another embodiment, the mast 12, the extension 44, the crossbeam 22, the rods 30 and the bars 46 each comprises polyvinylchloride.
In use, the middle section 34 is positioned to reversibly couple to the top end 18 of the lower section 36 and the bottom end 20 of the upper section 32. The extension 44 is positioned on the cross-connector 38 such that the extension 44 is configured to hang a flag. The bars 46 are positioned on the mast 12 such that the bars 46 are configured to hang items on the bars 46. Each loop 54 is positioned on the panel 48 such that the loop 54 is positioned for insertion of a respective rod 30, wherein the crossbeam 22 is coupled to the panel 48. The mast 12 and the stakes 64 are configured to couple to the surface. The tethers 60 are positioned to couple the panel 48 to the stakes 64, such that the panel 48 is positioned above the surface to use the natural force of the wind to inflate the panel 48 and hold it aloft to provide shade to a user.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
