Umbrella rib connector assemblies and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10874182-B2
Application number	US-201916416615-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2019
Priority date	Oct 25, 2016
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

In one aspect of the present disclosure, an umbrella hub assembly comprises an a cylindrical portion and a socket coupled to the cylindrical portion. The socket can have a fixed end, a free end, and a cylindrical wall defining a concave space extending from the free end toward the fixed end. The socket can have an access aperture disposed through the cylindrical wall. The assembly can further include an umbrella rib comprising a first end, a second end, and an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis. The first end can be configured to be received in the concave space through the free end such that the socket engages the umbrella rib and such that the first end is accessible through the access aperture.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shade assembly comprising:
a movable hub comprising:
an outer portion; and
a socket having an inner end pivotably coupled to the outer portion and a free end disposed away from the outer portion, the free end including an opening comprising a central portion and a non-circular wing section connected with the central portion extending towards an outer circumference of the free end;
a rib coupled with the socket, the rib having an end configured to fit within the opening in a pre-defined rotational orientation with respect to the socket; and
wherein the end is configured to be trapped within respective socket.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the end of the rib includes a flattened region and the wing section is configured to receive the flattened region.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the opening includes two wing sections on opposite sides of the central portion.

4. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the central portion has a diameter and the flattened region has a width greater than the diameter of the central portion.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the socket includes an internal space and a catch, the catch configured to trap the flattened region of the end when the end of the rib is inserted into the socket through the opening.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the catch in the socket includes an upper catch and a lower catch that engage on opposite sides of the flattened region of the end of the rib.

7. A shade assembly comprising:
a hub comprising:
an outer portion disposed about a central aperture; and
a socket pivotably coupled to the outer portion and having an end disposed away from the outer portion, the end including an opening into the socket;

a rib having a rib end and a shaft, the rib end including a widened segment that is wider than a width of a body of the shaft, the widened segment including a stepped surface extending transverse to a length of the body of the shaft;
wherein the socket includes a catch configured to prevent the rib end from being removed when disposed within the socket through the opening by blocking the stepped surface.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the body of the shaft includes a continuously outwardly curved outer surface adjacent to the stepped surface.

9. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the widened segment comprises a flat portion.

10. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the socket includes an access aperture disposed through an outer wall of the socket, the widened segment accessible through the access aperture when received within the socket.

11. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the socket includes a narrow internal space located between the end and the outer portion of the hub, the catch located at the narrow internal space, the catch located at the narrow internal space, a widened internal space located between the narrow internal space and the outer portion of the hub, the widened internal space configured to receive the widened segment of the rib.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the catch comprises deflectable portions disposed on opposed sides of the socket configured to be deflected away from a centerline of the socket by advancement of the widened segment into the narrow internal space.

13. A shade structure assembly comprising:
a rib coupler comprising:
an arcuate portion disposed around an aperture, the aperture extending along an axis;
a plurality of sockets coupled with the arcuate portion; and
a socket of the plurality of sockets configured to receive and trap a rib, the socket coupled to the arcuate portion, the socket having a first end, a second end disposed away from the first end, an outer wall disposed between the first end and the second end, and an opening on the second end;

wherein the first end of the at least one socket includes a pivotal connection provided by a flexible region, the flexible region including a living hinge including a locally thin section, the locally thin section having a width greater than a width of the socket within a plane transverse to the axis;
wherein a width of the flexible region within the plane tapers down from the width of the locally thin section to the width of the socket at the first end of the socket.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the at least one socket and the arcuate portion are formed of a unitary expanse of material.

15. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the flexible region is thinner at an interface with the arcuate portion and thicker at an interface with the socket.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein an upper side of the flexible region includes a concave curvature and a lower side of the flexible region includes a concave curvature.

17. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the flexible region is wider than the width of the socket measured within a plane extending through the socket.

18. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the opening is keyhole-shaped and configured to trap a rib that includes an enlarged end.

Assignees

• Ma Zhun An

Inventors

• Ma Zhun-An

Classifications

• A45B25/08

  Devices for fastening or locking · CPC title

• A45B25/02 Primary

  Umbrella frames · CPC title

• A45B25/10

  Umbrella crowns {(A45B25/06 takes precedence)} · CPC title