Patent Application
20230270216
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 CFR 1.57.
This application is directed to umbrella assemblies having an actuation assist mechanism, which can include a gas spring assembly configured to assist the opening and/or closing of the umbrella.
Many umbrellas are opened and closed by pushing a runner up and down along a pole. The size and weight of the umbrella can make the opening and closing of the umbrella challenging. The shade member, ribs, and struts blocking access to the runner can make it difficult to apply the necessary force to the runner to open and close the umbrella.
It can be challenging to apply sufficient force to open and close an umbrella due to obstacles caused by the umbrella itself, such as the shade member, ribs, and struts. Also, larger umbrellas can have a size and corresponding weight that make opening the umbrella by unassisted human force difficult. In view of the foregoing, improved umbrella assemblies incorporating lift assist or gas lift, e.g., gas spring, assemblies are needed. Such assemblies can be configured with fixed upper portions and displaceable lower portions that can store energy to help the umbrella transition from a closed configuration to an open configuration. Preferably these lift assist assemblies are retained within an umbrella pole assembly and can be actuated to store energy by movement of a lower hub without requiring an intermediate hub structure between an upper and a lower hub of a shade assembly.
In one embodiment, an umbrella is provided that includes a hollow pole, a shade assembly coupled with an upper portion of the hollow pole, an upper fixture disposed on the hollow pole, and a lift assist assembly disposed within the hollow pole. The shade assembly includes an upper hub, a lower hub, and a shade structure coupling the upper hub to the lower hub. The shade structure supports a shade member. The lower hub is moveable along the hollow pole. The upper fixture has a pulley and at least one ledge configured to interact with at least one hook pivotally coupled to the lower hub. The lift assist assembly includes a gas spring and a cord. The gas spring includes a hollow tube having an inner diameter, a piston having an outer diameter sized to fit within at least a portion of the hollow tube, a seal positioned between the inner diameter of the hollow tube and the outer diameter of the piston, and a lower fixture coupled to a lower end of the piston. The lower fixture including at least two spacers. The cord has a first end coupled with the hollow pole and a second end coupled with the lower hub. When closing the umbrella, the at least one hook disengages from the at least one ledge and the lower hub is moved downward and the cord applies a load to compress the gas spring by moving the piston into the hollow tube. Wherein when opening the umbrella the gas spring applies a load to the cord, to cause an upward load to be applied to the lower hub.
In some embodiments, the lower fixture comprises a core member and four spacers extending outward from the core member to outer edges. The outer edges of the spacers are configured to engage an inner wall of the hollow pole.
In some embodiments, the lower fixture comprises a pulley supported on a core member, the cord is disposed around the pulley.
In another embodiment, an umbrella is provided that includes a hollow pole, a shade assembly, a lift assist assembly, and a cord. The shade assembly is coupled with an upper portion of the hollow pole. The shade assembly includes an upper hub, a lower hub, a shade structure coupling the upper hub to the lower hub. The shade structure supports a shade member, e.g., when fully assembled. The lower hub is moveable along the hollow pole. The lift assist assembly is disposed within the hollow pole. The lift assist assembly includes a gas spring that comprises a hollow tube having an open interior and a piston disposed within the open interior of the hollow tube. The cord has a first end coupled with the hollow pole and a second end coupled with the lower hub. When closing the umbrella, the cord moves the piston into the hollow tube compressing a gas within the hollow tube and when opening the umbrella the gas spring applies a load to the cord, to cause the lower hub to be moved upward.
In some embodiments, the umbrella further includes a hook pivotably mounted in the lower hub. The hook configured to rest on a ledge of the hollow pole when the umbrella is open and to pivot away from the ledge to allow the umbrella to be closed. The pivoting of the hook being actuated by downward movement of a lower portion of a hub assembly including the lower hub relative to the lower hub. The hub assembly can include the lower hub and a handle coupled with the lower hub.
In some embodiments, the lower portion of the hub assembly further comprises a handle extending downward relative to an upper portion of the lower hub. The handle is moveable downward when the hook is resting on the ledge to pivot the hook away from the ledge to allow the lower hub to be lowered to allow the umbrella to be closed.
In some embodiments, the cord is disposed over a pulley coupled with the hollow pole and is tension by downward movement of the piston of the gas spring.
In some embodiments, the umbrella further includes a lower fixture coupled to a lower end of the piston, the lower fixture comprising at least one spacer, at least two spacers, at least three spacers, at least four spacers, and in some cases five or more spacers.
In some embodiments, the lower fixture further comprises a pulley and the cord is disposed around the pulley.
In another embodiment an umbrella is provided that includes a hollow pole, a shade assembly, and a lift assist assembly. The shade assembly is coupled with an upper portion of the hollow pole. The shade assembly including an upper hub, a lower hub, a shade structure coupling the upper hub to the lower hub. The shade structure supports a shade member, e.g., when fully assembled. The lower hub is moveable along the hollow pole. The lift assist assembly disposed within the hollow pole. The lift assist assembling including a gas spring and a cord that has a first end coupled with the hollow pole and a second end coupled with the lower hub. When closing the umbrella, the cord applies a load to compress the gas spring and when opening, the gas spring applies a load to the lower hub by way of the cord.
In some embodiments, the umbrella further includes a hook pivotably mounted in the lower hub. The hook configured to rest on a ledge of the hollow pole when the umbrella is open and to pivot away from the ledge to allow the umbrella to be closed. The pivoting of the hook being actuated by downward movement of a handle relative to an upper portion of the lower hub.
In some embodiments, the handle extends downward from a lower portion of the lower hub. The handle is moveable downward relative to an upper portion of the lower hub when the hook is resting on the ledge to pivot the hook away from the ledge to allow the lower hub to be lowered to allow the umbrella to be closed.
In some embodiments, the hook has a curved lower portion that is actuated by movement of a roller disposed in the handle.
In some embodiments, the cord is disposed over a pulley coupled with the hollow pole and is tension by downward movement of a lower end of the gas spring and/or downward movement of the lower hub.
In some embodiments, downward movement of the lower hub raises a lower end of the gas spring to compress the gas spring.
In some embodiments, the umbrella further includes an upper fixture disposed on the hollow pole. The upper fixture comprising a pulley and at least one ledge for a corresponding hook of the lower hub to interact with.
In some embodiments, the gas spring further includes a lower fixture comprising a central hub and a plurality of spacers, each spacer extending from the central hub to a free end.
In some embodiments, the lower fixture comprises a pulley, the cord being disposed around the pulley.
In some embodiments, the umbrella further includes a strap to retain the umbrella in a closed state.
In some embodiments, the gas spring further comprises a hollow tube and a piston sized to fit within the hollow tube.
In some embodiments, the gas spring further comprises a seal positioned between an inner diameter of the hollow tube and the outer diameter of the piston.
In some embodiments, the umbrella further includes an upper fixture disposed on the hollow pole. The upper fixture comprising a radial projection disposed on a lower portion. The lower hub comprising a radial recess disposed on an inner periphery of an upper portion. The radial projection configured to be disposed in the radial recess to limit rotation of the lower hub about the hollow pole.
In some embodiments, the upper fixture comprises a plurality of radial projections disposed on a lower portion. The lower hub comprising a plurality of radial recesses disposed on an inner periphery of an upper portion. The plurality of radial projections configured to be disposed in the plurality of radial recesses to limit rotation of the lower hub about the hollow pole.
In some embodiments, the umbrella further includes a cord guide member disposed about a hollow tube of a gas spring of the lift assist assembly. The cord guide member comprising a plurality of projections configured to slide along an inner surface of the hollow pole.
In another embodiment, an umbrella is provided that includes a hollow pole, and a shade assembly. The shade assembly is coupled with an upper portion of the hollow pole. The shade assembly includes an upper hub, a lower hub, a shade structure coupling the upper hub to the lower hub. The shade structure supports a shade member, e.g., when fully assembled. The lower hub is moveable along the hollow pole. A hook is pivotably mounted in the lower hub of a hub assembly including a handle. The hook configured to rest on a ledge of the pole assembly when the umbrella is open and to pivot away from the ledge to allow the umbrella to be closed. The pivoting of the hook is actuated by downward movement of the handle. The handle is moveable downward when the hook is resting on the ledge to pivot the hook away from the ledge to allow the lower hub to be lowered to allow the umbrella to be closed.
In variation of the foregoing embodiment, the hook includes an outwardly curved lower portion that can be actuated by an internal portion of the handle, such as a projection, roller, or other actuator.
In further variations, the umbrella includes a lift assist assembly and a cord. The lift assist assembly is disposed within the hollow pole. The lift assist assembly includes a gas spring that comprises a hollow tube having an open interior and a piston disposed within the open interior of the hollow tube. The cord has a first end coupled with the hollow pole and a second end coupled with the lower hub. When closing the umbrella, the cord moves the piston into the hollow tube, e.g., upward into the hollow tube, compressing a gas within the hollow tube and when opening the umbrella the gas spring applies a load to the cord, e.g., by the lower end of the piston moving downward relative to the hollow tube, to cause the lower hub to be moved upward.
The upper end of the hollow tube of the gas lifter can be fixed within the hollow pole. The upper end of the hollow tube can be fixed at a position at or adjacent to the ledge for securing the hook.
Features of the invention can be better understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying schematic drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only. The drawings include the following figures:
While the present description sets forth specific details of various embodiments, it will be appreciated that the description is illustrative only and should not be construed in any way as limiting. Furthermore, various applications of such embodiments and modifications thereto, which may occur to those who are skilled in the art, are also encompassed by the general concepts described herein. Each and every feature described herein, and each and every combination of two or more of such features, is included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in such a combination are not mutually inconsistent.
This application is directed to new umbrella assemblies that assist a user in actuating the umbrella, e.g., by providing an upward or downward directed force to reduce the amount of force needed in one or both of opening and closing the umbrella. In one embodiment, a gas spring is provided. The gas spring can be configured to provide an assist in the lifting of a lower hub of the umbrella, sometimes referred to herein as a lifter assist. Such assist is particularly useful in the opening of large umbrellas. These assemblies can be embodied in or operate with novel hub configurations and designs. A lift assembly with a hollow tube, a piston disposed at least partially within the hollow tube, a seal, and a cord facilitate movement of the lower hub when opening the umbrella as discussed in greater detail below. The gas spring can alternatively be used to assist in the closing of or in maintaining an umbrella closed.
The lower hub 516 can be secured to the hollow pole assembly 504 via the upper fixture 532. The lower hub 516 can include at least one hook 544. Movement of the handle 556 relative to the lower hub 516 of a lower hub assembly 515 of which the handle 556 and the lower hub 516 are a part can actuate the hook 544 or another form of locking mechanism to allow for collapsing the umbrella 500. The upper fixture 532 can include at least one ledge 540. The lower hub 516 can include a plurality of hooks 544. The upper fixture 532 can include a plurality of ledges 540. The number of hooks 544 can correspond to the number of ledges 540. The hook 544 can be pivotally connected to the lower hub 516 via a pin 552. When the umbrella 500 is opened, the hook 544 can rest on the corresponding ledge 540 to help retain the umbrella 500 in an open state. When the umbrella 500 is to be closed, the hook 544 can be disengaged or pivoted away from the ledge 540 to allow the lower hub 516 to move downward along the hollow pole assembly 504 and the umbrella 500. The downward movement of the lower hub 516 allows the umbrella 500 to close. The pulling of the handle 556 can cause the hook 544 to disengage or pivot away from the ledge 540, as discussed further below.
The upper fixture 532 can include at least one ledge 540, as discussed herein. The upper fixture 532 can have one, two, three or more ledges 540. The at least one ledge 540 can interact with the at least one hook 544 of the lower hub 516, as described herein. There can be a corresponding number of ledges 540 and hooks 544. The ledge 540 can be disposed on opposite sides of the upper fixture 532, e.g., can be disposed on a common diameter of the upper fixture 532.
The upper fixture 532 can have a slot 564. The slot 564 can allow the cord 548 to exit the interior space of the hollow pole assembly 504 to be coupled to the lower hub 516 as described herein. The slot 564 can be sized to allow a portion of the pulley 594 to extend at least partially into and through a wall of the upper fixture 532. In one embodiment an assembly including the pulley 594 can be partially or completely mounted to the upper fixture 532.
The lower hub 516 can have at least one strut recess 586. The struts (e.g., struts 520) can be coupled to the lower hub 516 by being positioned within the corresponding strut recesses 586. Pins or other pivot members (not shown) can be used to secure the struts 520 in place. The number of struts 520 can be equal to the number of strut recesses 586 in various embodiments of the umbrella 500.
As shown in
The cord 548 can be positioned over the pulley 594 and extend down the length of the hollow tube 560. The cord 548 can extend through an opening of a first projection 618 of a cord guide member 614. The cord guide member 614 can be disposed around the hollow tube 560. The projections 618 of the cord guide member 614 can be positioned around the cord guide member 614 separated at equal or unequal distances. The cord guide member 614 can have at least two projections 618. The cord 548 can continue to extend down along the length of piston 610, as shown in
The member 614 serves a spacing function the umbrella 500 in some examples. The member 614 comprise a centering member such that it is disposed centrally in the interior space of the hollow pole assembly 504. The projections 618 can extend substantially equal amounts from a central hub 615 of the member 614. The projection 618 can have an arcuate outer periphery to contact an inner diameter of the hollow pole assembly 504. In one embodiment, an outer surface of the projection 618 has a radius that is smaller than the radius of the hollow pole assembly 504 such that the contact between the member 614 and the inner surface of the hollow pole assembly 504 can be tangential or along a short arc of the inner surface of the hollow pole assembly 504. The member 614 is coupled with a bottom end of the hollow tube 560 and can be used to position the hollow tube 560 generally centrally within the hollow pole assembly 504, e.g., by placing each of two, three, four, or more projection 618 in contact with the inner surface of the hollow pole assembly 504. As discussed above, the cord guide member 614 may also have one or more openings to allow the cord 548 to pass through. In other embodiments, the cord 548 is allowed to pass between the member 614 (serving to center the hollow tube 560) and the inner surface of the hollow pole assembly 504 but not through any portion of the member 614.
When closing the umbrella 500, the cord 548 can apply a load to compress the gas lifter 601. In some embodiments, the piston 610 can be moved at least partially into or deeper into the hollow tube 560 to compress air or another gas within the hollow tube 560. When opening the umbrella 500, the gas lifter 601 can apply a load to the cord 548 to cause the lower hub 516 to be moved upward and open the umbrella 500.
When the umbrella 500 is open, the length of the cord 548 between the first end 549 and the lower fixture 606 and the length of the cord 548 between the second end 550 and the lower fixture 606 can be similar, e.g., substantially equal. When the umbrella 500 is closed, the length of the cord 548 between the first end 549 and the lower fixture 606 can be greater than the length of the cord 548 between the first end 549 and the lower fixture 606 when the umbrella is opened. When the umbrella 500 is closed, the length of the cord 548 between the second end 550 and the lower fixture 606 can be greater than the length of the cord 548 between the second end 550 and the lower fixture 606 when the umbrella is opened. When the umbrella 500 is closed, the length of the cord 548 between the first end 549 and the lower fixture 606 can be greater than the length of the cord 548 between the second end 550 and the lower fixture 606. The length of the cord 548 between the first end 549 and the lower fixture 606 can increase as the lower hub 516 is moved downward along the hollow pole assembly 504. The length of the cord 548 between the first end 549 and the lower fixture 606 can decrease as the lower hub 516 is moved upward along the hollow pole assembly 504. The length of the cord 548 between the second end 550 and the lower fixture 606 can increase as the lower hub 516 is moved downward along the hollow pole assembly 504. The length of the cord 548 between the second end 550 and the lower fixture 606 can decrease as the lower hub 516 is moved upward along the hollow pole assembly 504.
The cord openings 634 can be sized to allow the cord 548 to fit within the cord openings 634. The cord openings 634 can be positioned on opposite sides of the lower fixture 606. In some embodiments, each cord opening 634 can be positioned between two spacers 630. The cord openings can extend down at least a portion of the length of the lower fixture 606. As described herein, the cord 548 can enter a first cord opening 634 and then be disposed around a pulley 626 and then exit a second cord opening 634.
While certain embodiments of the inventions have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the systems and methods described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the present inventions is defined only by reference to the appended claims.
Features, materials, characteristics, or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described in this section or elsewhere in this specification unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The protection is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The protection extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.
Furthermore, certain features that are described in this disclosure in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations, one or more features from a claimed combination can, in some cases, be excised from the combination, and the combination may be claimed as a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
Moreover, while operations may be depicted in the drawings or described in the specification in a particular order, such operations need not be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Other operations that are not depicted or described can be incorporated in the example methods and processes. For example, one or more additional operations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the described operations. Further, the operations may be rearranged or reordered in other implementations. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments, the actual steps taken in the processes illustrated and/or disclosed may differ from those shown in the figures. Depending on the embodiment, certain of the steps described above may be removed, others may be added. Furthermore, the features and attributes of the specific embodiments disclosed above may be combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all of which fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Also, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single product or packaged into multiple products.
For purposes of this disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features are described herein. Not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves one advantage or a group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
Conditional language, such as “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements, and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.
Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require the presence of at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z.
Language of degree used herein, such as the terms “approximately,” “about,” “generally,” and “substantially” as used herein represent a value, amount, or characteristic close to the stated value, amount, or characteristic that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately”, “about”, “generally,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 10% of, within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, within less than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of the stated amount. As another example, in certain embodiments, the terms “generally parallel” and “substantially parallel” refer to a value, amount, or characteristic that departs from exactly parallel by less than or equal to 15 degrees, 10 degrees, 5 degrees, 3 degrees, 1 degree, or 0.1 degree.
The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the specific disclosures of preferred embodiments in this section or elsewhere in this specification, and may be defined by claims as presented in this section or elsewhere in this specification or as presented in the future. The language of the claims is to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited to the examples described in the present specification or during the prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63264026 | Nov 2021 | US |
