Abstract: The umbrella is constructed with a frame that allows one rib to be manually lifted in order to open the umbrella and allows a manually applied force to be placed on the cover between two adjacent ribs in order to close the umbrella. Mechanical cranks and the like are eliminated. In one embodiment, the upper yoke is movable relative to a fixed lower yoke and the tension in the cover maintains the upper movable yoke in the open condition of the umbrella.

Abstract: The umbrella is constructed with a frame that allows one rib to be manually lifted in order to open the umbrella and allows a manually applied force to be placed on the cover between two adjacent ribs in order to close the umbrella. Mechanical cranks and the like are eliminated. In one embodiment, rods are added to the struts to weight and maintain the lower movable yoke in the open condition of the umbrella. In another embodiment, the tension in the cover maintains the upper movable yoke in the open condition of the umbrella.

Abstract: The umbrella is constructed with a frame that allows one rib to be manually lifted in order to open the umbrella and allows a manually applied force to be placed on the cover between two adjacent ribs in order to close the umbrella. Mechanical cranks and the like are eliminated. In one embodiment, the upper yoke is movable relative to a fixed lower yoke and the tension in the cover maintains the upper movable yoke in the open condition of the umbrella.

Abstract: The umbrella is constructed with a frame that allows one rib to be manually lifted in order to open the umbrella and allows a manually applied force to be placed on the cover between two adjacent ribs in order to close the umbrella. Mechanical cranks and the like are eliminated. In one embodiment, rods are added to the struts to weight and maintain the lower movable yoke in the open condition of the umbrella. In another embodiment, the tension in the cover maintains the upper movable yoke in the open condition of the umbrella.

Abstract: The tilt mechanism has a pair of tubular members and a catch which is fixedly mounted in the upper member and pivotally mounted in the lower member to permit tilting of the two members relative to each other. A pin is mounted in the lower member and is biased into one of several recesses in the lower end of the catch in order to hold the sections in either an upright or a tilted position relative to each other. A coil spring is used to bias the pin into a recess of the catch. Pulling down on the pin allows the tubular members to be tilted relative to each other.

Abstract: The chair frame of a swivel rocker is slidably mounted via a pair of sleeves on the arms of a pair of flexures mounted on the base of the rocker to allow the chair frame to be moved into different positions on the flexures. Bolts are used to secure the sleeves in place on the flexures. Movement of the sleeves along the flexures changes the position at which the weight of an occupant is transferred to the flexures and thereby changes the bending moments imposed on the flexures.

Abstract: The chair is constructed with a seat frame which is pivotally mounted at a forward end on a support frame. The rear of the seat frame is interconnected by a linkage to the support frame. The linkage includes a transverse bar which is manually movable to rest against the support legs of the support frame with the seat frame in an upright position or a reclined position.

Abstract: The umbrella frame is provided with a movable yoke at the upper end and a stationary yoke at an intermediate point. Ribs are pivotally mounted on the movable yoke and struts are pivotally mounted on the fixed yoke while being pivotally mounted to intermediate points on the ribs. A downward movement of the upper yoke causes the ribs to splay outwardly so as to open the umbrella. An articulated lever and link arrangement is connected to one rib and strut unit so that actuation of the lever causes the upper yoke to be pulled downwardly to open the umbrella. Passage of the lever by a bottom dead center position effects locking of the movable yoke in the lowered position.

Abstract: The umbrella frame is provided with a movable yoke at the upper end and a stationary yoke at an intermediate point. Ribs are pivotally mounted on the movable yoke and struts are pivotally mounted on the fixed yoke while being pivotally mounted to intermediate points on the ribs. A downward movement of the upper yoke causes the ribs to splay outwardly so as to open the umbrella. A crank mechanism is connected to the upper yoke via a cord so that upon cranking of the crank mechanism in one direction, the upper yoke is pulled downwardly to open the umbrella. A clutch assembly is also provided in the crank assembly to lock the crank assembly against the weight of the ribs and cover while allowing a reverse rotation of the crank mechanism under a manually applied force to permit the umbrella to close under the weight of the ribs and cover.

Abstract: The connection unit for the swivel rocker employs a hollow vertical pivot pin which is received within the base to permit rotation about a vertical axis. The connection unit employs a pair of U-shaped flexures which provide for a soft rocking motion. These flexures are connected to the pivot pin via a composite beam which imparts side-to-side stability to the swivel rocker.

Abstract: The clamp for securing a canopy to a beach chair has a pair of metal plates fixedly secured to a cross-piece of the canopy. In addition, the clamp employs a plastic strap between the two metal plates for engaging with the tubular cross-piece of the chair under the biasing force of the adjacent metal plate. A nut member of trilobular shape is provided on a threaded bolt which passes through the metal plates and plastic strap to bias the metal plates towards each other. The large surface-to-surface contact provided by the strap provides a positive clamping action of the clamp on the tubular member of the chair.

Abstract: The leg assembly for the outdoor trestle table is formed of a cross-piece unit and a pair of leg units. A pair of vertically spaced spacers at each end of the cross-piece unit slide into and fit within a pair of vertically disposed inverted L-shaped slots in a mounting plate secured to and extending from each leg unit. The cross-piece unit is mounted on the mounting plate of each leg unit without the need for tools and may be readily removed for storage purposes. The mounting plate has an H-shaped cross section which fits between two vertical portions of the legs in each leg unit to enhance stability of the mounting plate.