Umbrella quick frame assembly systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10631604-B2
Application number	US-201816049387-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2018
Priority date	Apr 19, 2012
Publication date	Apr 28, 2020
Grant date	Apr 28, 2020

Abstract

An umbrella hub is provided that includes an inner portion, an outer periphery, a lower portion and an upper portion. A plurality of vertical grooves is disposed in the outer periphery and is configured to receive umbrella ribs or struts. A plurality of grooves extends transverse to the vertical grooves. A retention member is disposed in each of the transverse grooves. A first configuration of the hub permits deflection of the retention member such that a transverse pin coupled with the umbrella ribs or struts can be inserted into the transverse groove in which the retention member is disposed. A second configuration of the hub prevents deflection of the retention member such that inadvertent withdrawal of the pin from the transverse groove in which the retention member is disposed is prevented.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An umbrella hub, comprising:
an outer periphery;
a base comprising a first outer surface of the outer periphery;
a cover comprising a second outer surface of the outer periphery;
an opening disposed in the outer periphery, the opening having an end disposed radially inwardly of the outer periphery; and
a retention member having a fixed end attached to one of the base and the cover, the retention member having a free end disposed away from the fixed end, the free end insertable into the other one of the cover and the base;
wherein the opening permits a transverse pin coupled with an umbrella rib to be inserted into the hub through the opening when the cover and base are not fully assembled together and the retention member traps the transverse pin in the hub between the end and the outer periphery by blocking the opening when the cover and base are fully assembled together; and
wherein the retention member is disposed radially inwardly of the outer periphery when the cover and base are fully assembled together.

2. The umbrella hub of claim 1 , wherein the fixed end of the retention member is coupled with the base and the free end is insertable into the cover.

3. The umbrella hub of claim 1 , wherein the cover and the base are coupled together when not fully assembled by one or more inverted fastening units.

4. The umbrella hub of claim 1 , wherein the cover and the base are coupled together when fully assembled by one or more inverted fastening units.

5. The umbrella hub of claim 1 , wherein the cover and the base are coupled together in a partially assembled configuration before being assembled in a fully assembled configuration.

6. The umbrella hub of claim 1 , wherein the retention member is offset radially inwardly from the outer periphery.

7. The umbrella hub of claim 1 , wherein the retention member is a stop block disposed within the opening.

8. The umbrella hub of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of vertical grooves in the outer periphery, each groove of the plurality of grooves configured to receive an end portion of an umbrella rib, the opening in the hub extending transverse to one of the vertical grooves.

9. An umbrella hub, comprising:
an outer periphery;
a base comprising a first outer surface of the outer periphery;
a cover comprising a second outer surface of the outer periphery;
an opening disposed in the outer periphery, the opening having an end disposed radially inwardly of the outer periphery; and
a retention member having a fixed end attached to one of the base and the cover, the retention member having a free end disposed away from the fixed end;
wherein the opening provides access for a transverse pin of an umbrella rib to be inserted into the hub between the end and the outer periphery by deflecting the retention member radially inwardly when the cover and base are not fully assembled together and where the retention member traps the transverse pin between the end and the outer periphery when the cover and base are fully assembled together.

10. The umbrella hub of claim 9 , wherein the retention member is prevented from being deflected radially outwardly by the outer periphery when the cover and base are fully assembled together.

11. The umbrella hub of claim 9 , wherein the fixed end of the retention member is coupled with the base and the free end is insertable into the cover.

12. The umbrella hub of claim 9 , wherein the cover and the base are coupled together in when not fully assembled by one or more inverted fastening units.

13. The umbrella hub of claim 9 , wherein the cover and the base are coupled together in when fully assembled by one or more inverted fastening units.

14. The umbrella hub of claim 9 , wherein the cover and the base are coupled together in a partially assembled configuration before being assembled in a fully assembled configuration.

15. The umbrella hub of claim 9 , wherein the retention member is offset radially inwardly from the outer periphery.

16. The umbrella hub of claim 9 , wherein the retention member is a stop block disposed within the opening.

17. The umbrella hub of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of vertical grooves in the outer periphery, each groove of the plurality of vertical grooves being configured to receive an end portion of the umbrella rib, the opening in the hub extending transverse to one of the vertical grooves.

18. A shade structure hub, comprising:
a base;
a cover having a rib space and a wall partly defining the rib space, the wall having a slot formed therein extending along the rib space, the slot having an open end and a closed end;
an opening disposed in an outer periphery of the hub in a first configuration; and
a retention member having a fixed end attached to the base, the retention member having a free end disposed away from the fixed end, the free end insertable into the cover, the hub providing access to the open end of the slot through the opening in the first configuration;
wherein the opening permits a transverse pin coupled with a rib to be inserted into the hub through the opening in a radially inward direction when the cover and base are in the first configuration and the retention member and the slot within the wall of the cover trap the transverse pin in the hub upon closing the opening when the cover and base are in a second configuration; and
wherein the retention member is disposed radially inwardly of the outer periphery when the cover and base are in the second configuration.

19. A shade structure hub, comprising:
a base and a cover comprising an outer periphery and an inner periphery extending along a longitudinal axis;
an opening disposed in the outer periphery, the opening having an end disposed radially inwardly of the outer periphery; and
a retention member having a fixed end attached to the base, the retention member having a free end disposed away from the fixed end;
wherein the opening provides access for a transverse pin of a rib to be inserted radially inwardly into the hub between the end and the outer periphery when the cover and base are assembled together in a first configuration and wherein the retention member traps the transverse pin between the end and the outer periphery when the cover and base are assembled together in a second configuration in which the opening is closed by relative movement of the base and cover together along the longitudinal axis from the first configuration to the second configuration;
wherein the free end of the retention member is received within a slot in the base in the second configuration.

Assignees

• Ma Zhun An

Inventors

• Ma Zhun-An

Classifications

• A45B25/06 Primary

  Umbrella runners · CPC title

• Y10T29/40

  Umbrella-frame making · CPC title

• A45B25/02

  Umbrella frames · CPC title