Abstract: An umbrella canopy includes a single sheet of web material formed in a closed configuration and having a periphery, said single sheet of web material having a bowed configuration, said single sheet of web material having at least one radially oriented tuck therein which applies a circumferential force on said single sheet of web material to form said single sheet of web material into said bowed configuration, each said tuck extending radially outwardly to said periphery.

Abstract: An umbrella includes a hollow tubular handle extending in an axial direction, the handle having an upper edge and a lower portion; an elongated rod having an upper end and a lower end, the elongated rod movable in the axial direction within the hollow tubular handle; a plurality of struts pivotally mounted to the upper end of the elongated rod for movement in a range between a storage position substantially parallel to the axial direction and adjacent to the elongated rod, and an open position substantially perpendicular to the axial direction; a web of flexible, water-resistant material connected to the struts; and a locking mechanism connected to a lower end of the elongated rod for engaging with a lower portion of the tubular handle to releasably lock the struts in either the open position in which the struts rest on the upper edge of the tubular handle, and the closed position in which the struts are positioned within the tubular handle, the locking mechanism including two diametrically opposite spring fi

Abstract: An umbrella includes a hollow tubular handle, a hub slidably contained in the handle between an upper extended position and a lower stored position; a spider hinge mounted on the hub and including radially extending spider arms; a plurality of flexible struts, each having a fixed end and a free end, with each strut having a width which tapers from the fixed end to the fre end and with the fixed end being secured on each spider arm; a retainer bushing and plug which fixedly secures the spider hinge onto the hub; each strut further having a block thereon with an outwardly radially extending opening; a cord extending peripherally about the umbrella and connected within the openings of the blocks and thereby to the struts for applying a pre-loading tensioning force to the struts so as to bend the struts into a bowed configuration; and a one-piece web of flexible, water-resistant material connected to the ends of the tensioned struts.

Abstract: An emergency umbrella includes a hollow, tubular handle; a hub formed of an inverted cup-like section slidably contained in the handle between an open position at the upper end of the handle and a stored position at the lower end of the handle, the hub also including a piston secured to the inverted cup-like section; a sleeve slidably mounted on the hub between an upper position and a lower position, the sleeve including a central section slidably mounted on the hub and radially directed strut locking sections hingedly connected to the central section; a plurality of struts connected to the strut locking sections, each strut movable between an upright position substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle and a radial position substantially radially outward from the longitudinal axis; and a web of flexible, water-resistant material connected to the struts, such that opening and closing of the struts is accomplished by a snap action of the handle, whereupon the sleeve slides on the piston of th