Abstract: A novel umbrella is disclosed with a simplified structure that creates a clean, elegant profile with reduced component count and increased wind resistance. The umbrella includes a support post, a housing supported thereby, spokes pivotally disposed about the housing, a canopy, and an actuator. The housing has a top hub and a bottom hub. The actuator slides the hubs together to pivot the spokes away from the housing, whereby the umbrella moves from a closed position to an open position. Rollers are preferably retained within the top hub, and each spoke preferably has a spoke cam attached to one end. The spokes pivot away from the housing by having a roller surface of each spoke cam slide along each respective roller. The actuator may have a crank operated worm drive mechanism to raise and lower the canopy.

Abstract: A novel umbrella is disclosed with a simplified structure that creates a clean, elegant profile with reduced component count and increased wind resistance. The umbrella includes a support post, a housing supported thereby, spokes pivotally disposed about the housing, a canopy, and an actuator. The housing has a top hub and a bottom hub. The actuator slides the hubs together to pivot the spokes away from the housing, whereby the umbrella moves from a closed position to an open position. Rollers are preferably retained within the top hub, and each spoke preferably has a spoke cam attached to one end. The spokes pivot away from the housing by having a roller surface of each spoke cam slide along each respective roller. The actuator may have a crank operated worm drive mechanism to raise and lower the canopy.

Abstract: A novel umbrella is disclosed with a simplified structure that creates a clean, elegant profile. The umbrella includes a support post having a hole, and a top housing and an opposing bottom housing supported by the post. The bottom housing has a bottom hub, a top cap disposed about the bottom hub, and an opposing bottom cap disposed about the bottom hub opposite the top cap. The bottom cap has a lever lock receptacle. Spokes are pivotally disposed about the top housing, and a canopy is disposed about the spokes. Struts are pivotally disposed about the bottom housing. A lever lock is retained by the lever lock receptacle, wherein the lever lock has a pin adapted to fit within the hole of the post for retaining the canopy in an open position.

Abstract: A novel umbrella includes a support post, a housing supported thereby, spokes pivotally disposed about the housing, a canopy, and an actuator. The housing has a top hub and a bottom hub. The actuator slides the hubs together to pivot the spokes away from the housing, whereby the umbrella moves from a closed position to an open position. Rollers are retained within the top hub, and each spoke has a spoke cam attached to one end. The spokes pivot away from the housing by having a roller surface of each spoke cam slide along each respective roller. The actuator may include a beam pivotally disposed about the support post, a strut pivotally disposed about the support post and coupled to the beam, a car slide slideably disposed within the beam, and a cable coupled to the strut and the housing.

Abstract: A novel umbrella is disclosed with a simplified structure that creates a clean, elegant profile. The umbrella includes a support post, a top housing supported by the post, and a bottom housing supported by the post. Spokes are pivotally disposed about the top housing. Struts are pivotally disposed about the bottom housing, wherein each strut is pivotally connected to a respective spoke. A canopy is disposed about the plurality of spokes. A first and second set of rollers may be retained with the top housing. A third set of rollers may be retained within the bottom housing. A rope raises and lowers the canopy. A lever lock is disposed about the bottom housing to retain the rope when the umbrella is in an open position. The umbrella also has a rope storage slot within the support post for retaining any excess rope.

Abstract: A novel sling assembly and corresponding method of stretching sling fabric are disclosed. The assembly preferably comprises a chassis with opposing rails connected by a cross bar. A sling frame having opposing stretch bars connected by a stretchable fabric is disposed over the chassis in a pre-assembled position. A cam lock is inserted into a key hole cut into at least one of the rails; the cam lock is then rotated away from the central axis of the key hole. An engagement member extending from at least one of the stretch bars is then inserted into the key hole. The sling fabric may now be stretched by rotating the cam lock toward the central axis of the key hole to move the engagement member along the key hole until the fabric is taut. The taut fabric is held in place by the engaged cam lock, whereby the assembly is kept in its stretched, fully assembled position. The invention's unique structure thus advantageously makes sling fabric replacement convenient, quick, and without the need for special tools.

Abstract: A novel sling assembly and corresponding method of stretching sling fabric are disclosed. The assembly preferably comprises a chassis with opposing rails connected by a cross bar. A sling frame having opposing stretch bars connected by a stretchable fabric is disposed over the chassis in a pre-assembled position. A cam lock is inserted into a key hole cut into at least one of the rails; the cam lock is then rotated away from the central axis of the key hole. An engagement member extending from at least one of the stretch bars is then inserted into the key hole. The sling fabric may now be stretched by rotating the cam lock toward the central axis of the key hole to move the engagement member along the key hole until the fabric is taut. The taut fabric is held in place by the engaged cam lock, whereby the assembly is kept in its stretched, fully assembled position. The invention's unique structure thus advantageously makes sling fabric replacement convenient, quick, and without the need for special tools.

Abstract: A workstation includes a frame having a lower rail and a plurality of upright posts coupled to and extending upwardly from the lower rail. Each upright post has a track. The workstation also includes a plurality of panels supported by the frame. Each panel has a first side edge received in the track of one of the plurality of upright posts, a second side edge received in the track of another of the plurality of upright posts, and a lower edge adjacent the lower rail. The lower edge has a first length. Each panel also has an upper edge opposite the lower edge. The upper edge has a second length that is longer than the first length.

Abstract: A workstation includes a frame having a lower rail and a plurality of upright posts coupled to and extending upwardly from the lower rail. Each upright post has a track. The workstation also includes a plurality of panels supported by the frame. Each panel has a first side edge received in the track of one of the plurality of upright posts, a second side edge received in the track of another of the plurality of upright posts, and a lower edge adjacent the lower rail. The lower edge has a first length. Each panel also has an upper edge opposite the lower edge. The upper edge has a second length that is longer than the first length.

Abstract: A novel table leg connection and method of assembly are disclosed. The connection may comprise a stand having a hole, a leg including a pin extending away from one end of the leg wherein the pin is configured to fit within the stand hole, and a locking bracket having prongs configured to engage the pin, wherein the stand has an interior wall having grooves configured to engage the locking bracket. The locking bracket may include a fastening arm disposed opposite the prongs and extending substantially orthogonally away from the locking bracket. The pin may have a slot configured to engage the prongs of the locking bracket. The method of assembly may comprise inserting a pin of a leg into a hole of a stand, sliding a locking bracket having prongs through grooves formed in the interior wall of the stand, and pushing the locking bracket toward the pin until the prongs are frictionally engaged by the pin.