Side supported umbrella

Abstract

Traditional umbrella ribs and spreaders comprise a quadrilateral extender device which projects a canopy outwards over greater distances than previously possible so as to facilitate a side-supported umbrella without overhead suspension. Use of two slider-openers enables the concurrent opening of ribs of wide variation in length.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Reference is made to Provisional Patent Application No. 60/506,849 entitled Side Supported Umbrella. The within application for Non Provisional Utility Patent relies on the former Provisional Application, filed on Sep. 30, 2004. Name of Applicant, Address, and Title of Invention are Identical.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1) The Side Supported Umbrella is an improvement relevant to sun and rain protection. The invention allows for use of existing tooling to create side supported and off center umbrellas and canopies that are supported in the traditional manner, from a support pole underneath.

2) Advances in the general field have been numerous. The Side Supported Umbrella answers a gap in the modernization of prior art, because side supported umbrella patents and market availability have concentrated on updated methods for boom and overhanging umbrellas, which can be unsightly, expensive, and bulky. Square, oval, and other custom shapes of patio and cafe umbrellas have traditionally been supported at the center. If a sidepole umbrella of any shape has been available, it has been based on a central support pole or hub, by hanging or anchoring the central pivot from a long arm or supporting it by some horizontal support. A sidepole umbrella that is based on ribs extending from a side support, as opposed to the above overhead central hub has not been available because of the lack of a design that is attractive and cost efficient.

3) Because of the offset position of the support means, much of the canopy of the Side Supported Umbrella is at a far above average distance from the support pole. The variation in length of ribs is great For this reason ribs would vary in length in the region of ±150%. Outdoor umbrellas to date have, even in the most specialized designs, encountered rib length differences of ±25%, and have needed no specialized means to accomplish this other than varying the length of the ribs.

4) Large outdoor umbrella styles which utilize the central or side support pole, have been limited to styles with standard full length ribs, which, at the point generally where they become 5 feet or longer, become unwieldy due to their reaching extremely close to the ground when closed and thus not practical around objects like tables, shrubbery, or hot tubs and spas, which are an obstacle to their opening and closing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

1) A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

2) To support the side supported umbrella canopy from one side requires a) ribs of a very long reach, for the far corners and outer region of the canopy, and b) ribs of a typical length, to support regions of the canopy closer to the support means. A mechanism to allow both very long ribs and short to medium ribs was, before this invention, a somewhat complex design using multiple part metal extenders of multiple lengths that would be design and labor intensive and costly to tool and implement.

3) The applied-for design utilizes traditional outdoor umbrella parts and a unique design that is based on existing rib and slider sizes and thus will be produced at minimum cost. Another issue that has prevented large umbrellas from being actively marketed is the resulting increase in height of the top of the umbrella and/or the proximity of the lowest reach of the closed canopy to the ground. The closed position of the side supported umbrella leaves a distance to the ground of three feet or more, for convenient use near spas or hot tubs and in cafes, and as the public is accustomed to in their yards and patios. The peak of the side supported umbrella is also a typical height, and it can even be shorter than a standard umbrella if a custom style was warranted, for instance, such as under low reaching tree boughs or near unusual building configurations. In addition, the height and the lowest reach can both be minimized so as to allow opening within a narrow range, such as where there is a restriction on height, but the operator requires the umbrella to not come within 4 feet of the ground when closed.

4) The following are accomplished by the side supported umbrella:

• • a. In the case of large and extra large canopies, waist-high clearance from the ground to the lowest limit of the closed umbrella ribs and canopy is accomplished, so that the umbrella can be placed in close proximity to all furnishings, spas, and other objects, and opened and closed without encumbrance,
  • b. the mechanism allowing for this waist-high clearance also allows for extension of the side supported umbrella canopy over larger areas, for use commercially such as in outdoor restaurants, and for doing so in different canopy shapes such as square for use over spas, or clamshell for aesthetic surroundings.
  • c. The new mechanism which allows for extension of the longer side supported umbrella canopy from a manageable and traditional height off the ground is used in off-center umbrellas for custom shapes and sizes, and for versions that close to ultra compact sizes with the lowest reach of the closed canopy not less than, for instance, 5 feet from the ground, for use near bars, food counters, or tall shrubs where opening and closing must occur within a narrow vertical confine.
  • d. The mechanism as described in the above paragraphs is shown in an analogy. If an individual raises his arms from his sides to in front of his body, keeping the arms straight, there can be nothing in their path, which is the arc with a radius of the arm. If one raises one's arms from folded in front of him, to extended in front of him, the radius of encumbrance is nullified, due to the angulation of the arms at the elbows.
  • e. The side supported umbrella utilizes a construction using traditional materials and parts for economy, and more pleasant appearance. The best mode of the invention has the appearance when closed of a traditional umbrella with no visible metal stanchions, arms, or overhanging supports. The invention is also traditional in appearance from underneath when opened, whereas an engineered metal device would not maintain the simple visual appeal of straight line on fabric.
  • f. a shorter distance from apex to lower end of rib when closed is accomplished, so that a wider or longer umbrella can be accomplished without raising the height of the overall umbrella
  • g. The use of two sliders and quadrilateral opening rods for some of the longer ribs facilitates extra support of the larger canopy,
  • h. Construction is wholly with traditional wood, metal, or plastic umbrella pieces and thus provides for a cost effective process without excessive tooling costs
  • i. There are other unusual and specific accomplishments of the side supported umbrella and variations thereof that have not been enumerated in this description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

VIEW 1 shows a slightly overhead dimensional view of the entire side supported umbrella, with position of the major components when a square version of the umbrella is open.

VIEW 2 is a depiction of the position of the two sliders on the support pole, which when raised, raise the umbrella canopy. The bases of the spreader rods are shown attached to the sliders at best mode angles, in this case the configuration for a square umbrella canopy.

VIEW 3 describes a medium length umbrella rib of the invention, showing opened and closed position and the workings of the slider and extending rod.

VIEW 4 describes the opened and closed position of the required small rib featured in the best mode, needed on the opposite side of the pole from the canopy, and showing the angulation of it's extending rod to be near the perpendicular position in relation to the support pole, when the umbrella is fully opened.

VIEW 5 is a closer view of a typical slider for the invention as constructed of cast metal. In the way of interchangeability, also shown is a version without the sleeve (the hand-grasping implement for manual models.). The truncated version may serve as the upper slider, or as a hub (notch, the stationary rib holder at the apex), or may also serve as an add on to the hub when a large number of ribs are needed.

VIEW 6 is a closer view of a typical slider for the invention as constructed of wood or molded plastic, which is similar in design to the hub of wood or plastic, or notch. An overhead image shows assembly detail.

VIEW 7 is a diagram of an embodiment of the invention from directly overhead, showing the radial angulation of the ribs, the basic stresses present around the circumference of the umbrella canopy, and the realization of a solution for these stresses, the ‘small rib’ extending on the opposite side of the support pole.

VIEW 8 depicts the long, extendor type rib assembly used for support of the farther reaches of the side supported umbrella, in closed position, in various stages of opening, and in opened position.

VIEW 9 is an overhead and a side depiction of the one piece method of canopy construction, including wind turret.

VIEW 10 is an overhead and a side depiction of the described two piece method of canopy construction.

VIEW 11 shows a slightly overhead view of the entire side supported umbrella, with variations of vertical balance support as are attached to the small rib and the support pole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND IT'S PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

1) The present version of the side supported umbrella is constructed with a long cylindrical vertical support means 1 with a metal, wood, or plastic device on the apex 2 to secure the ribs. Steel or wood are used for the support pole 1. FIG. 2 shows the inventor's basic scheme for the 2 sliders that raise and lower the umbrella canopy. Slider ring mechanisms 3 with swiveled rods 14 attached to them move vertically on the cylinder. The rods swivel at specific angles around the circumference of the slider through protruding brackets 4, in the case of cast iron or aluminum, with holes for the horizontal bolts or rivets constituting the swivel joints.

2) The shaft of any slider is only slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the support means so that when placed onto the support means is held to a small degree of lateral variation. The walls of the sliding mechanism around the cylindrical cavity are thick and support the extending brackets or notched body to hold the rods 14, or push rods, which raise the umbrella ribs. Sliding mechanisms are a spherical or spheroid sleeve that has a cylindrical shaft as its center. The sliding mechanisms are constructed of metal, plastic, or wood. They include holes for the placement of bolts or rivets,: one bolt or rivet for each rod serves as its axis of swivel and as the anchor of rod to slider. The swivels found throughout this design are points of high physical stress and determine as a group the dependability of all embodiments of the invention.

3) FIG. 5 and 6 show the design of the sliders in more detail. A bulbous slider with rectangular notches 15, is used in the case of molded plastic or wood sliders, using steel wire for attaching the rods. In the case of wood, or most plastic, ovoid sliders, a fill circumference of steel wire passed through each rib or rod to be attached, is then twisted or otherwise sealed end-to-end to comprise a circular ring holding all of the ribs or rods in place on the slider. A groove 28 (FIG. 6) holds the wire ring in place through creation of a smaller circumference capture of the wire ring 36.

4) It is possible in many cases of square, semicircular, and custom shapes of canopy, to design an upper and a lower slider that are identical, but which serve either purpose by way of rotation on the vertical axis and/or minor alteration, thereby increasing manufacturing efficiency.

5) FIG. 3 and 4. The rods are attached on their other ends 6 to the ribs 13 or rib assemblies, in a manner parallel to and alongside the rib 8 with a bolt passing horizontally through the rod and the rib, together acting as a swivel so that the moving upwards of a slider, to open the canopy, acts upon the rods which then push the closed vertical ribs 10 into a near horizontal, open, position. The canopy over the ribs is spread open by the upwards and outwards motion of all of the ribs to the point of taut stretching of the canopy.

6) The hub at the apex of the umbrella supports all of the ribs. The hub 2 (see also 4, 28) holds the long rib mechanisms 12 and the medium and short length ribs 13 at the necessary radial angles through the use of notches (wood and plastic) or flanges (metal). [a swivel of the same form as the slider] thus swiveling occurs, as on the sliders, by way of either horizontal bolt or rivet through a metal bracket 4 on a metal hub or by way off alternately] a heavy gauge wire passing through all ribs and the notched plastic ellipsoid, ovate, or irregularly shaped ovate 15. The hub is anchored to the top of the support means by fitting over the top of the support means due to an inside symmetrical hollow, which hollow is a cylindrical shaft only slightly larger in diameter than the support means, to allow a snug fit. The hub is fastened to the support means through one or two metal fasteners, rivets or screws, passing through both the hub and the support means. For the manufacturer, the slider can become the hub with a minimum of alteration. Where the number of ribs is greater than 4, because all of them but one extend on one side of the hub, the thickness of wood, metal, or plastic between swivel notches, which comprises the supportive mass and strength of the hub, becomes too thin and thus too weak to support the weight and stress of the ribs anchored in the notches. A taller hub placing swivel notches at two levels eliminates this problem. An adapted slider can be anchored as the second-level hub just below the hub, and the two together serve as a hub with needed strength, the hub itself is typically so near in design to the design of a slider that the manufacture of hubs and sliders is greatly economized by planning for interchangeability with small alterations.

7) An upper sliding mechanism 16 raises the 5 regular ribs 13 (5 of the total of 8 ribs) by pushing up on the supporting rods which by upwards force raise the ribs to their determined position. These ribs and supports are each a 2 part rib and support mechanism (see FIGS. 1, 3, & 4) that are used to support areas of the canopy closer to the support means (see FIG. 7). These ribs, rods (spreaders), and slider support sections of the canopy a shorter distance from the support means. The different lengths of the ribs are a result of their angulation to specific positions for distributed support of the cloth or plastic canopy as shown in FIG. 7.

8) One rib opened and closed by the upper sliding mechanism is the small rib 13a. The small rib is under two feet long, has an even smaller support rod, of dimension less than half it's length, and is more near in orientation to the vertical as opposed to the horizontal. This small rib exists for an important structural purpose of supporting the reinforcing cable(s) 19 for overall structural integrity of the side supported umbrella. The anchoring cable is a balancing support which maintains the straight line formed by the two rearmost ribs 13r forming the back end of the square.

9) The upper sliding mechanism 16 is a sleeve around the support means which includes brackets or notches to hold the rods which raise the 2-piece rod and rib assemblies at the determined radial and horizontal-like angle. These raise and support the parts of the canopy nearer to the support means just as in a standard umbrella. Variations in length are adjusted, where one dimension may be needed for a square canopy and another for a semicircular one.

10) The upper sliding mechanism [number here−16?], when the umbrella is closed, remains a much shorter distance from the apex of the support means than the lower sliding mechanism: note FIGS. 1, 3, & 8. This has no detrimental effect or conflict with any working mechanics of any of the umbrella's ribs, extenders or canopy. The upper sliding mechanism lowers only this far because of the shorter distance required to be traveled by the supporting bars to raise the medium length and shorter length ribs. This shorter distance is ultimately thus limited because of the very small length, and small extension angle, of the shortest rib 13a.

11) A lower sliding mechanism 26 raises the 3 LONG additional ribs of the eight total ribs at the same time during which the upper slider 16 is raising the MEDIUM AND shorter LENGTH ribs. The lower sliding mechanism [in fact] is the force that at the point where it meets the upper slider, pushes that slider [with it] into final open position. When the sliders are THEN locked into open position, the lower slider remains pushing up in contact with the upper slider, as in FIGS. 1 & 8. The lower slider is the slider which is acted upon by whatever mechanism is used to lock the umbrella in open position.

12) FIG. 8. The three long rib assemblies 12 that are attached to the lower slider 26 are the extendor mechanisms which by upwards force from the slider, and resulting outwards force due to the scissors bar design 29 , raise and extend support bars 30 and rib 31 to an open position constituting the supporting ribs for the farther reaches of the canopy up to 11 feet or more from the support means. The extendor mechanism allows for the following:

13) a shorter distance from apex to lower end of rib when closed, where a one piece rib of 9 or 11 feet would be unmanageable and longer than the support pole itself, requiring an overly tall support pole the same height as the longest rib.

14) The reinforcement of the rib mechanism, a structural necessity, when extending a rib for a long distance, due to the parallelogram having the equivalent of two rib thicknesses for much of it's length, due to the mechanism having two horizontal ribs, as required for the scissor assembly. This also creates additional cross (vertical) reinforcement because of the parallelogram design, having by it's nature two cross, or horizontal beams, and two semi vertical beams, [in this case] creating a vertical reinforcement not only between the dual horizontals, but strengthening the overall rib assembly.

15) In closed position, the slider is lower than the umbrella canopy, so that it can be grasped without searching for it in the confines of the closed umbrella 47 (FIG. 8.)

16) The long rib extendor mechanism consists of three longer rods and a shorter rod. The rods are joined in an arrangement approximating a parallelogram with two legs extending, also called scissors in this specification. One of these attaches to the apex hub 2 and one rod attaches to the lower slider 26. A third rod extends outward and serves as the rib and furthest extent of the extendor assembly 31. This assembly is an accordion type extendor that folds down to a one dimensional vertical resting position 34 against the support means. The lower slider accomodates the extending rods for these three ribs only. It must move a distance of a few feet to open or close. In closed position it is at a determined height that is similar to many regular umbrellas, 3-4 feet off of the ground. In this invention the slider will be visible, that is, a small distance lower than the rib ends, and thus easily accessible. At a point where the lower slider is being pushed vertically upwards to extend these extendor ribs, it comes in contact with the upper slider and begins to push it upwards in unison. This opens the remaining ribs, which for certain reasons require a shorter distance of slider displacement.

17) The parallelogram design of the extendor rib assemblies allows for use of existing rib styles and thicknesses, whether wood or metal. The parallelogram design also lends strength to what are the ribs of longest length, doubling from one to two the amount of net horizontal strength as one proceeds from the support pole to the outer end of the extendor polygon. This is nearly three-fifths of the net length from apex to edge of canopy. Vertical strength is also multiplied by the vertical component of the polygon. This added strength is necessary due to the long length of the ribs, because standard sized ribs are being used, and because of the large areas of fabric between these three ribs and the 2 adjacent ribs. The total number of ribs is eight for a larger square side supported umbrella, such as the 9 foot square version described in this specification, but can also be 7, 6, or 5 ribs in smaller, or in semi-circular or semi-oval shaped variations of this design. Larger numbers of ribs will be needed for rectangular, large semicircular umbrellas, and oyster shaped models, along with new and custom versions. In each case 2 or more of the ribs are long extendor assembly ribs, and some varieties use a majority of extendor ribs. Larger, thicker, ribs, and ribs of newer materials can also be used to facilitate versions of this invention.

18) In summary, the design utilizing two sliders allows compatibility between the long distance 32 needed for an ‘oversized’ long extendor slider to travel upwards on opening, and the short distance 33 required for customary-length ribs, and especially a small rod-rib needed to support the cable which counters the weight on the ribs which all bear down on one side of the support means. Without the invention described herein, this wide range of lengths and resulting extendor rod distances required is not compatible with simple slider movement, unless a person designs multiple, multi-level extendor devices, which are not cost effective and not able to be constructed of basic, strong, economically preferred, attractive, umbrella ribs. Medium, typical length ribs for intermediate length radial positions of the side supported umbrella 13 and 13r are able to be opened by the same slider that opens the small rib because of the basic two-variable relationship between rod and rib, as exemplified by FIG. 3 and 4. The need to keep the horizontal projection of the small rib at a minimum, to allow placement of the umbrella near walls, along with the desirability of a right angle between the extendor rod 21 and the support pole 1, for strength through minimization of tension displacement into any vertical component of force on the slider, creates a small parameter for the extendor rods 6 for standard ribs 13 and 13r, resulting in less than average length of the extendor rods for them.

19) At a certain distance, the lower slider 26 (FIGS. 1 and 8) meets the upper slider 16 and pushes it towards open position. The upper slider opens 2 ribs at an intermediate angle, 2 ribs opposite each other forming the back edge of the umbrella canopy, and the small rib for angulating the support cable creating tautness and integrity.

20) The small rib is present to act as a balancing means to the forces needed to stretch the cloth or plastic canopy. The small rib 13a is the only rib facing in the opposite direction of the canopy. (FIG. 1 et seq.) The cable provides a horizontal balancing force for the large opposite force present on ribs 13r which is due in increasing succession to the force passed from the canopy in increasing measure from far corners 12 to successive ribs 13 and then to ribs 13r.

21) A uniform support of the entire cloth or plastic canopy is desired for prevention of wind tear, minimization of uneven stress, even wearing and stretching of the fabric, and better performance in bad weather. The stress created by the great majority of weight and tautness of the canopy being on one side of the pole is greatest on the two oppositely facing ribs 13r at the rear of the invention. The cable creating the opposing force 19 is drawn slightly outward from the support means by the small rib 13a to increase the fraction of opposing force drawing back from the main section. The triangle created by cable 19 and rear ribs 13r determines the dimensions of an attractive back section of the umbrella 20. The back section of the canopy can be divided to allow a small opening in the middle for wind venting. The small horizontal distance of the small rib from the support pole allows this side of the side supported umbrella to be placed against walls or borders so that shade can be accomplished from an inconspicuous and unobtrusive position, such as over sidewalk cafes. The cable is knotted and passed through horizontal shafts in each rear rib and passes through a similar shaft in the small rib. The length of the cable is such as to become quite taut when ribs are raised into the open position. The cable can be metal or cord.

22) The cable can be used for the entire circumference of the canopy, or for a section of the canopy from opposite ribs 12 or 13 see FIG. 7, depending on the forces of weight, and the weave or elasticity, of the material used for the canopy, and the size of the canopy. The cable may be sewn into the edge of the canopy or mounted alongside, or under, the edge of the canopy, through horizontal shafts machined a short distance from the end of the ribs. The extendor rod for the small rib 21 is perpendicular to the shaft of the support means 1 in open position (see FIG. 4), in order to achieve the best support of the cord 19 with no coefficient upwards or downwards but rather directly against the slider and thus the support pole. The gauge of tubing used for the support pole is matched to this direct force as it is substantial and subject to the sudden variation from side to side and all directions due to wind.

23) The shortest rib is the only rib facing in the opposite direction of the canopy. An additional cord 23 (FIG. 11) may be used as a means to balance the vertical stresses of the weight of the canopy by pulling down on the small rib 13a when in open position, creating equalizing force on the opposite side of the canopy. This is another reason for the small rib extendor rod 21 (FIG. 4) being perpendicular to the support means. This counterbalancing is not helpful to horizontal pressures from the canopy on the ribs, rather, the assistance from a vertical counterbalance is to alleviate stress on the hub, and sliders, and support pole, which through one-sided weight are continually strained in the direction of the weight of the canopy. A single long rod 24, or collapsing rod 25 or manually inserted rods are mechanically useful in place of the vertical cord when appropriate. See FIG. 11.

24) The small rib also defines a small canopy section on the rear 20 of the side supported umbrella opposite the main bulk of the umbrella. This panel 20 completes the square, or semi-circular, or other shape, of the umbrella. The lower edge of these panels completes the circumference of the bottom, or lower, edge of the umbrella, which is planar and which is from 15 inches to 25 inches closer to the ground than the peak of the umbrella, depending on the size and model. The lower edge of the canopy is planar. The plane formed by the lower edge of the entire canopy is horizontal or nearly horizontal. A varying percentage of this circumference is reinforced with the cord or cable 19 described herein, pulling the ends of the ribs, and thereby pulling the ribs and canopy overall, towards an equal and opposite juncture of radial force, the small rib 13a. The appearance and intended shape of the canopy is horizontal. The effectiveness for rain and sun protection demands a nearly horizontal configuration. Tilting mechanisms may be implemented as a variation of this invention so that the side supported umbrella may be tilted to further block the sun or provide more selective protection from the rain or sun.

25) The lower sliding mechanism as shown in FIG. 5 can include a slender extension 25 downward from the bracket body, which allows for safe and comfortable manipulation of it by the users hands. The users hand is kept a distance from the swiveling action of the ribs in the bracket. The notched ovoid 15 of plastic or wood can also be equipped with such a handle. The extended slider as handle adds to the convenience of the lower slider being below the lower limit of the mechanism in closed position 47 (FIG. 8).

26) The upper sliding mechanism when the umbrella is closed remains a much shorter distance from the apex of the support means than the lower sliding mechanism. This has no effect on any working mechanics of the ribs, extendors or canopy. The upper sliding mechanism lowers only this far because of the shorter distance required to be traveled by the supporting bars to raise the medium length and shorter length ribs. This shorter distance is also limited because of the very small length of the shortest rib and it's extendor rod 21 (FIG. 4). These are kept small for the use of the side supported umbrella next to walls and buildings.

27) The upper slider is in most cases stopped at its upper limit by a stop 35 consisting of a thin cylindrical plastic or metal sleeve surrounding the support means 1 and anchored to the support means with sufficient rivets or screws passing through the sleeve and the surface of the support means. This prevents out of limit stretching of the entire mechanism in winds or manually created upwards pressure or jolting that may damage or tear parts, or jam the mechanism.

28) The support means is a hollow metal cylinder that may be painted. A convenient version of the side supported umbrella includes a cable inside the support pole and turn handle on the lower section of the pole enabling a raising assembly where a cable is pulled towards a gathering spool mounted inside the support means and attached thereto immediately on the outside of the support means to a turn handle. Turning the handle with the hand gathers cable or cord on the spool. The cable is drawn downward from a pulley inside and at the top of the support means. The cable then passes by way of the pulley through a hole outside of the support means and vertically downward, where on it's other end is attached to the lower slider of the umbrella. Cable drawn by the handle from the pulley raises the lower slider by the cable drawing upwards from the pulley through the hole in the support means.

29) The weight of the canopy and mechanism is in the same general realm as that of current day patio umbrellas. A simple pinning mechanism to lock the side supported umbrella open is a popular means and dependable. The pin slides through 2 small holes machined into either side of the support pole at exactly the point needed to secure the lower slider in place. The pin is kept from being lost by attaching it on the end of a short chain to a nearer support rod.

30) The cloth, vinyl, or plastic canopy of the side supported umbrella is a sewn piece that is of as few assembled pieces as possible. Two main variations are useful:

31) the traditional one piece canopy 37, with a small turret sewn at the apex 39. The turret is sewn in a small number of places 43 over a hole in the main piece 48 approximately 15 inches square or diameter round. Attachment at a small number of attaching points 43 through reinforced stitching allows a turret that is rain proof, but which allows wind and breeze to pass, thus decreasing wear from excessive forces of gusty or high winds.

32) b) Improved immunity to windy conditions is achieved through a 2 piece canopy 38. The upper section 40 canopy extends over the lower section 41 canopy by a short distance to ensure rain protection. The upper section 40 is attached to the lower section 41 through heavy duty reinforced stitching at determined points of attachment 42, allowing a great amount of wind venting due to the greater portion of the convergence of upper and lower canopy being unstitched and open to air current. A turret at the apex 39 as described in the above paragraph also will assist in the 2 section canopy described in this paragraph.

33) The canopy is attached to the ends of the ribs either by using a snap-on grommet, sewn sleeves 6 inches or more that snugly grasp the rib end 44, or more permanently attached wood screws or rivets through a reinforced fold in the fabric, attached to the wood or metal rib. Combinations of these processes are useful.

34) On open position, the 3 longest ribs, which are the ribs opened by the extendor mechanisms, do not extend from the apex to the farthest reach of the canopy. Rather they extend from a point approximately halfway from the apex 45 to the farthest reach of the canopy, therefrom to the farthest reach 46, the canopie's edge, or corner, as the case may be. Structural and cosmetic support for the canopy in the area between the inside end of the rib and the apex of the umbrella is provided by a length of cord or cable 49 extending from the end of the rib to the apex of the umbrella, underneath the canopy. The cable is attached at the rib by knotting the cord and passing it through a horizontal shaft machined in the end of the rib. The cord is attached at the apex through knotting at an unused bracket shaft, or accessory shaft machined in the region of the rod swivel brackets.

35) In summary, the canopy is subject to the typical forces attributable to the construction of umbrellas. Due to the one sidedness of the canopy, measures are taken to ensure the full stretching of the ribs without exaggerated force being exerted on any one piece of the umbrella. Wind forces are alleviated through a number of venting techniques.

Claims

1) A canopy stretcher-rib assembly with two stretchers, one rib, and a connecting rod, all of these comprising the four sides of a collapsible quadrilateral unit with four pivot points,

2) the stretcher-rib assembly in claim 1, wherein one of the stretchers is attached to a slider-opener which moves vertically on the support means, and another stretcher is attached to a hub or apex of the support means, whereby the two additional pivots created by the above attachement cause the unit to extend to a canopy-supporting rib when the slider-opener is raised towards the hub at the apex of the support means,

3) The stretcher-rib assembly in claim 2, wherein a cord or cable is attached at one end to the apex of the support means and at the other end to the end of the rib section of the stretcher-rib assembly closest to the support means, by way of eye-bolt or flange, which cord or cable is spread to a taut position by the spreading open of the assembly in order to support the canopy or sun shade resting above over the distance between the rib and the support means which does not form a concurrent plane of support for the canopy because of the angulation of the spreader-rib assembly.

4) a canopy slider-opener, on which pivots one or a plurality of stretcher-rods or combination of stretcher-rods and stretcher-rib assemblies, situated above a second slider-opener, or situated above a slider which is the pivot of a stretcher-rib assembly or a plurality of stretcher-rib assemblies or combination of stretcher rods and stretcher-rib assemblies, whereby the raising of the lower slider brings it into contact with the higher slider and continued raising of the lower slider raises both sliders by way of continued upward force tranferred from lower to upper slider,

5) the mechanism in claim 3, wherein the slider-opener consists of a ring of wood, metal, or plastic, which closely surrounds a support pole, and holds with grooves or flanges a plurality of stretcher-rods or combination of stretcher-rods and stretcher-rib assemblies. This is situated above a second slider-opener, or situated above a slider which is the pivot of a stretcher-rib assembly or a plurality of stretcher-rib assemblies or combination of stretcher rods and stretcher-rib assemblies, whereby the raising of the lower slider brings it into contact with the higher slider and continued raising of the lower slider raises both sliders by way of continued upward force, causing the stretching of a canopy or umbrella into open position.

6) The use of a short rib in a side-supported sun shade or canopy which is based on an underneath pole, at a position opposite the plurality of ribs which support the weight and volume of the device. A cable or cord, or extended section of the canopy, attach the short rib to the equatorial ribs on either side of it which define the edge of the canopy nearest the support means and which form a near vertical plane with the support means, thereby distributing the weight of the canopy, on the one side of the plane, to the cable between the equatorial ribs and short rib, on the other side of the plane, forming a full circumference of inter-supported ribs, preventing extreme stress on the equatorial ribs.

7) The short rib stated in claim 6, wherein a cord, cable, or wood, metal, or plastic rod is attached to the lowermost end of the short rib, and is attached at ifs other end to the support means at a point on the support means which is low enough to prevent interference with the sliding-opening apparatus, and at a position which, on opening of the apparatus and extension of the short rib, absorbs through tautness a portion of the skyward force on that rib and that side of the frame caused by the entirety of the weight of the canopy bearing groundward on the opposite hemisphere of the frame.

8) The device as stated in claim 7, used to alleviate unbalanced stress in any umbrella or canopy, where it may or may not serve any other function.

9) The use of a second ovoid, sphere, or other wood, metal or plastic slider, with it's specific characteristics as to radial positioning of spreader rods as a second apex hub, placed on the support means above or below the apex hub, so as to alleviate stresses on an apex hub which would otherwise hold a plurality of ribs within a narrow radial range (180 degrees) that would negate an adequate thickness of material between ribs.