Abstract: A garden umbrella of the generally large size having a ribholder runner notch adapted for movement along a hollow umbrella pole for operating the canopy ribs to open and close the umbrella canopy. A pulley wheel is mounted in the umbrella pole below its top portion, with one end of a pulley cord being attached to the ribholder runner notch while the other end of the pulley cord extends down through the hollow pole where it connects to a ballast weight. The ballast weight is adapted to travel vertically in the pole in synchronism with movement of the runner notch. The weight of the ballast weight and its pulley arrangement is selected to provide a uniform ballast force and a constant control which facilitates the opening and closing of the umbrella. A second pulley cord can be attached at one end to the runner notch while such cord extends around a second pulley wheel to a handle attached at its other end.

Abstract: A garden umbrella with a partial top canopy covering the central area of the umbrella and located on the upper side of the canopy ribs, and an underside outer canopy secured to the underside of the canopy ribs and covering at least the outer ring portion of the canopy ribs not covered by such partial top canopy. The underside outer canopy has canopy rib sleeves formed on its top side and adapted for receiving therein the middle and end tip portions of the canopy ribs. The partial top canopy is secured at its outer ends to the upper side of the canopy ribs and the canopy sleeves such that a deep vent is formed between the partial top canopy and the underside outer canopy for venting wind through the space between the two canopies. In one embodiment, the underside outer canopy has a general ring shape with an opening in the center for further venting of wind and updrafts through the center of the umbrella.

Abstract: A pole extension system for rigidly and tightly connecting an extension pole to a main pole. The main pole has a cylindrical end portion into which a T-nut is securely mounted coaxial with the pole axis. The extension pole has a cylindrical end portion forming an alignment shaft having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the main portion of the extension pole, such that an abutment shoulder is formed where the pole end portion meets with the extension pole. A bolt is mounted at the end of the alignment shaft and adapted for being screwed into the T-nut as the main pole and the extension pole are rotated relative to each other. A stabilizer means is mounted at the end portion of the main pole and includes a long tubular alignment sleeve having a length which extends past the end portion of the main pole and receives therein the alignment shaft in a close fitting relationship.

Abstract: A garden umbrella with its underside covered with a lining material that is attached to the ribs. The lining material extends from the runner ribholder, that moves along the umbrella pole, across both the stretcher ribs and the canopy ribs to the ends of the ribs such that the underside of the umbrella is fully covered by the lining. Cloth tabs are sewn onto the lining at selected locations where spring clips secure the cloth tabs and lining to the stretcher ribs and canopy ribs, whereby the lining, the tabs and the clips act to stabilize the ribs from unwanted movement. The use of the lining permits employment of an easily removable umbrella canopy for servicing or replacement with other canopies. Also, the configuration of the lining across the underside of the umbrella is designed to provide a wind deflector which reduces the lift effect of wind against the bottom of the umbrella.

Abstract: A solid wood pole garden umbrella is adapted to permit a hand crank and pulley system to slidably move a ribholder vertically along such wood pole for opening and closing the umbrella. A pulley wheel is mounted in the umbrella pole below its top portion, with one end of a pulley cord attached to the ribholder while the other end of the pulley cord extends through a narrow groove formed longitudinally along the side of the pole down to a lower pole portion where such pulley cord is operatively connected to the hand crank. The pulley cord is contained within the groove in the umbrella pole by a flexible plastic bead or rod which is snugly held or attached to the outer part of the groove to thereby provide a retainer for the pulley cord. The groove and retainer design enables the pulley and crank system to be employed in a solid wooden pole umbrella while maintaining the structural integrity of the pole and avoiding other designs where the pulley cord might interfere with the ribholder operation.

Abstract: A pulley system for opening and closing an umbrella which has a ribholder adapted for slidable movement along an umbrella pole. A pulley wheel is mounted in the umbrella pole below its top portion with one end of a pulley cord fixedly attached to the ribholder while the other end of the pulley cord extends below the closed umbrella cover with a first cord handle adapted for being grasped by an operator. The first cord handle has a locking pin adapted for insertion into a hole in the umbrella pole for stopping the downward travel of the ribholder and supporting the umbrella in its open position. A second cord handle is secured to the pulley cord at a predetermined distance from the first handle such that the second handle can be readily grasped and pulled further downward for raising the ribholder to permit the locking pin to be inserted into the hole for locking the umbrella in its open position.

Abstract: An umbrella cover (10) is provided in which a sleeve (10) contains a substantially rigid telescoping support rod (20) which enables the cover (10) to be readily mounted on an umbrella canopy (12) while facilitating compact storage of the cover (10). The lower end of the sleeve (10) includes a flap portion (16) which is folded back to form a cuff (24) prior to lifting the cover (10) over the umbrella (12). A stiffening strip (30) is provided along the lower edge of the cuff (24) to facilitate placement of the cover (10) over the umbrella (12). The flap portion (16) is temporarily held in the cuff configuration (24), which is preferably tricorner, by Velcro fasteners (26) which facilitate the fastening and unfastening of the flap portion (16).

Abstract: An umbrella cover (10, 100) is provided in which a sleeve (10, 100) contains a substantially rigid telescoping support rod (20) which enables the cover (10, 100) to be readily mounted on an umbrella canopy (12) while facilitating compact storage of the cover (10, 100). The lower end of the sleeve (10) may include a flap portion (16) which is folded back to form a cuff (24) prior to lifting the cover (10) over the umbrella (12) or the sleeve (100) may include a partial triangular cut out (104) in the front side (106) which has as its backing, a portion (114) of the interior of the rear side (112) of the cover (100) in place of the cuff arrangement (24). In either instance, the rigid rod (20) is retained in a pocket (22, 124) formed in the sleeve (10, 100). The pocket (124) extends along one edge of the backing member ( 114) to add ridigness while the cut out (104) facilitates mounting of the sleeve (100) over the umbrella canopy (12).

Abstract: An improved removable cover for an outdoor-type chair useable as a replacement for the existing covers thereon, to restore such existing covers or to reinforce an originally installed cover therefor, such as an originally installed cover comprising a plurality of horizontal tubular straps.

Abstract: A cover is used as a replacement for outdoor chairs and chaises, for restoring them and also for the manufacture of new units. In case of a chair having horizontal tubular vinyl straps extending across the back and the seat, the cover of the present invention consists of a top piece, elongated fairly wide straps and narrower straps for attaching the wide straps. The top piece is tubular and has opposed edges adapted to be closed by a zipper. The top piece is intended to be placed upon the top frame portion of the chair. The straps have ends firmly attached to the top piece. The wide straps are combined with the horizontal vinyl straps by extending over a few horizontal straps, then under the following straps, then again over some straps and so on. The narrower straps extend behind the chair and are used for attaching the wider straps. A substantially similar construction may be used for chairs having wide horizontal straps instead of the tubular straps.