Abstract: A beach umbrella with a built-in sand hole digging apparatus. The digging apparatus includes a tube and a piston. The tube includes an interior sidewall forming a hollow core. The tube further includes a top end forming a top opening and a bottom end forming a bottom opening. The piston includes an elongated rod. The elongated rod includes a top end protruding from the top opening of the tube. A head is attached to the bottom end of the piston. The head is disposed within the hollow core of the tube and is slidably engaged with the sidewall.

Abstract: A foldable modular structure for a fast-erecting shelter comprising the assembly of profiled sections that form at least two opposing arches linked by at least two purlins, including one ridge purlin. A first end of the ridge purlin is linked by a hinge to a first ridge part of a first arch, said hinge comprising first pivoting means allowing said ridge purlin to pivot on a transverse axis, parallel to the plane of the arch, in order to allow the purlin to fold parallel to said arch, and second pivoting means allowing the ridge purlin to pivot on an axis perpendicular to the plane of the arch, and the second end of the ridge purlin comprises linking means for linking with a second ridge part of a second arch, said linking means being arranged to provide a dismountable but rigid link between the ridge purlin and said second linking part.

Abstract: A scalable, light-weight, portable, self-supporting and adjustable, multi-purpose, cubular utility barrier enclosure (C.U.B.E.) structural system, made of a membrane that defines a space and resiliently flexible poles, that maintain a stable shape as the membrane is pushed out by the poles connected together in flexed pole loops contained within the space, that are caused to bow in a flexed condition and are biased in place by the membrane when the poles are positioned in a freestanding manner, with adjustable section lengths that slip fit connect together to form various flexed pole loop configurations in proportion with the membrane to be biased in place, the membrane is constituted by pliable mesh that is substantially impermeable to insects, comprised of durable, high-tenacity synthetic fiber, resistant to puncture, prolong exposure to the sun, wind, and weather elements, substantially waterproof, thermally insulated, fire resistant, and configured in various shapes and sizes.

Abstract: Umbrella support apparatuses and kits are provided. The umbrella support apparatus may be used to support umbrellas where stability is desired. The umbrella support apparatus includes an umbrella or be used with existing umbrellas having a support shaft, a collar connected to an approximate mid-point of the support shaft, at least one auxiliary support shaft angularly connected to the collar with a connector for supporting the umbrella against an external force.

Abstract: An automated vehicle sunshade includes a compartment mountable to a roof of a vehicle, a flexible shade, a plurality of rods coupled to the flexible shade and a drive device coupled to the plurality of rods and a spindle coupled to the flexible shade and operable by the drive device. The plurality of rods are retractable and extendable so that the sunshade repeatably alternates between an extended position and a retracted position. In the retracted position, the flexible shade, plurality of rods and drive device are enclosed within the compartment. The sunshade also rotates the spindle by operation of the drive device to allow the shade to extend and retract without snagging, tearing and to easily fit within the compartment.

Abstract: A frame for a top of a boat in accordance with the present invention can be moved into a deployed position with the aid of a biasing member such that the manual effort required is minimized. When the frame is in the deployed position a locking member may be engaged to hold the frame and top in the deployed position and a ratcheting strut may be used to secure the frame in place. When the locking member is disengaged, the frame may be manually collapsed into a stowed position in a controlled and safe manner.

Abstract: The rail skirt system includes a top rail, a skirt that hangs from the top rail, formed from rail bar members connected together at their inner ends by a middle connector tube connectable to a locking support leg, to provide support for the top rail on a side of a shelter. The outer ends of the rail bar members are connected to legs of the shelter by fixed corner connecting brackets.

Abstract: A pneumatic tent (1) with at least one pole (2) extending in final assembly position vertically from the mounting surface (8) and a dome-shaped tent cover (3) extending over the self-supporting pole (2) which is locked and tensioned with locking means (4) in relation to the mounting surface (8), wherein the pole (2) containing a pressurized filling gas is constructed as single or multiple layered and includes a controllable or adjustable illumination device (5) that is placed inside the pole (2).

Abstract: A walker/cane assembly, multi-legged cane, and single-pointed cane may share common parts that may be easily connected and detached to allow a user to convert a walker/cane assembly to a multi-legged cane and/or a single-pointed cane. Accordingly, a user may use a single assembly that may be quickly and easily modified to meet the user's needs, such as his/her current balance or energy level. One or more folding mechanisms may be employed to allow the walker/cane assembly, or the frame forming a portion of the walker/cane assembly, to be easily collapsed and folded. This may allow a user to store the walker/cane assembly, or the frame portion of the assembly, in a smaller amount of space than the expanded walker/cane assembly or the frame portion of the assembly may otherwise occupy.

Abstract: An improved white cane includes an elongate body having a proximal end adapted to be held by or secured to a human user and a distal tip, and a noise generator located proximate the distal tip, the noise generator being configured to generate sound within a range of frequencies audible to humans. The user is able to interpret differences in reflected sound as the white cane is moved about the user's surroundings to obtain more information about the surroundings than could be obtained using a normal white cane. Additionally, the information about the surroundings may become available to the user before that information might otherwise have been available to the user using a standard white cane.

Abstract: A cover assembly for use with a first window and an opposing second window is provided. The cover assembly includes a first slide fastener assembly coupled to the first window and includes a first track; a second slide fastener assembly coupled to the second window and includes a second track; and, a cover coupled to the second slide fastener assembly. The cover assembly further includes a connector coupled to the first slide fastener assembly and to the second slide fastener assembly. As the first slide fastener assembly travels along the first track, the connector is configured to move the second slide fastener assembly along the second track such that the cover moves between a first position and a second position relative to the second window.

Abstract: A frame for a top of a boat in accordance with the present invention can be moved into a deployed position with the aid of a biasing member such that the manual effort required is minimized. When the frame is in the deployed position a locking member may be engaged to hold the frame and top in the deployed position and a ratcheting strut may be used to secure the frame in place. When the locking member is disengaged, the frame may be manually collapsed into a stowed position in a controlled and safe manner.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a portable changing tent includes a puck body that houses a locking plate having a perimeter defined by at least three sets of alternating concave- and convex-shaped surfaces. A knob located at an uppermost end of the puck body rotates the locking plate between a fully unlocked and a fully locked position. The vertical centerline of the puck body's leg receivers is aligned with a corresponding horizontal centerline of the concave-shaped surface of the locking plate when the knob is in the fully locked position. The vertical centerline of each leg receiver is aligned with a corresponding horizontal centerline of the concave-shaped surface of the locking plate when the knob is in the fully unlocked position. Each concave-shaped surface of the locking plate urges against an end of a respective leg connector when the locking plate is in the fully locked position.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus include a modular tent comprising an upper tent portion having a first base surface area, wherein the upper tent portion does not include a floor surface; and a base extension that includes a floor surface having a second base surface area, the second base surface area being larger than the first base surface area, wherein the base extension is removably secured to the upper tent portion, wherein the base extension, when secured to the upper tent portion, results in a base surface area of the modular tent increasing to the second base surface area.

Abstract: An umbrella for removably securing to a surface, such as a vehicle. The umbrella includes a shaft having a handle on a first end and a canopy on an opposing second end. One or more ribs are secured to the canopy in order to support the canopy in an open configuration. Each rib includes one or more weights in order to stabilize the canopy when secured to a surface. One or more magnets are secured to a lower end of each rib in order to removably secure the umbrella to a magnetic surface for hands-free use. An upper end of each rib is hingedly secured to the shaft. The ribs are operably connected to an actuatable button in the handle so as to extend the ribs outward from the shaft in order to expand the canopy into the open configuration.

Abstract: A dual-mode cane includes a tip. The tip includes a low-friction surface that contacts a walking surface when the tip rests on the walking surface at an angle less than or equal to a transition angle. The tip includes a high-friction surface that contacts the walking surface when the tip rests on the walking surface at an angle greater than or equal to the transition angle.

Abstract: A shelter for an automobile has a pair of tracks positioned on opposing sides of the automobile and rest on a supporting surface such as the floor of a garage or car-port. A plurality of frames each having a u-shaped contour extend on opposing sides and over the automobile and are spaced apart from it. The terminal ends the frames are engaged with trucks which are in rolling engagement with the tracks. A canopy of a flexible material is attached over the frames and is movable between a folded state and an unfolded state when the trucks are moved within the tracks. The tracks have mutually orthogonal roller contact surfaces and the trucks have mutually orthogonal rollers positioned for rolling on the roller contact surfaces of said tracks. The canopy is able to be withdrawn from either of opposing sides and is further able to be drawn over the automobile to the supporting surface at both opposing sides.

Abstract: A beach umbrella anchoring system comprising a restraining device or container for preventing the beach umbrella from being blown about by unexpected, sudden gusts of wind comprising a container, i.e., a beach bag for containing ballast or a weighting medium such as sand, dirt, small rocks and the like therein to anchor the umbrella, a beach umbrella having easily accessible storage areas in the form of at least one pocket attached to at least one seam found on the interior of the umbrella. The beach umbrella is provided with a support shaft having a tapered end so as to facilitate insertion of the shaft into beach bag and/or the sand on the beach to provide the sole support for the umbrella. If a container or beach bag containing sand or dirt is provided, the support shaft will pass through the same and into the sand on the beach.

Abstract: A wheelchair having, in an embodiment, a frame, a seat, a plurality of wheels and an umbrella assembly. The umbrella assembly has a canopy, a canopy holder and a driving device. During opening, the canopy slides upward through the canopy holder and extends outward.

Abstract: Disclosed is a back-type expanding and opening foldable sunshade apparatus. The back-type expanding and opening foldable sunshade apparatus can be used directly on the back of a person or used together with a backpack by placing in the backpack, can adjust the opening extent and position of the shade in a lockable manner, and the width of the shade is expanded transversely when opening, thereby shading more effectively; and during use, the shade can be quickly opened, and when being not in use, the shade can be easily folded into a small device on the back or concealed in an interlayer of a backpack, thus being convenient and attractive.