Shade structure assemblies and components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11684129-B2
Application number	US-202117213967-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2021
Priority date	Mar 27, 2020
Publication date	Jun 27, 2023
Grant date	Jun 27, 2023

Abstract

A rib end connector, a plug to receive a rib socket, or a rib to be coupled with an upper or lower hub of a shade structure is provided that has a pin connection portion that has a first end configured to be disposed in a channel of an umbrella or other shade structure hub. The apparatus has a second portion opposite the first portion, a first side surface, and a second side surface. A circumferential width of the pin connection portion is defined between the first and second lateral surfaces. A pin channel disposed between the first side surface and the second side surface. The pin channel has a narrowest portion disposed between the first side surface and the second side surface and increases in size between the narrowest portion and the first side surface and/or the second side surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shade-structure rib apparatus, comprising:
a pin connection portion comprising a first end configured to be disposed in a channel of a shade structure hub, a second portion opposite the first end, a first side surface and a second side surface, a circumferential width of the pin connection portion being defined between the first side surface and the second side surface, and
a pin channel disposed between the first side surface and the second side surface, the pin channel having a narrowest portion disposed between the first side surface and the second side surface, the pin channel increasing in size along at least one direction between the narrowest portion and the first side surface and/or the second side surface;
wherein the pin channel increases in size in a radial direction and has a constant height from the first side surface to the second side surface.

2. The shade-structure rib apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pin channel enlarges symmetrically from the narrowest portion to the first side surface and to the second side surface.

3. The shade-structure rib apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pin channel comprises an hourglass shape in longitudinal cross-section.

4. The shade-structure rib apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first side surface and the second side surface is tapered toward the first end.

5. The shade-structure rib apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first side surface and the second side surface are both tapered toward the first end.

6. The shade-structure rib apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second portion is configured to be secured to a tubular member of an umbrella rib to provide a rib assembly.

7. The shade-structure rib apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an elongate tubular member having an open end portion having the second portion dispose therein, the elongate tubular member having a free end configured to be coupled with a periphery of an umbrella canopy.

8. The shade-structure rib apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an elongate tubular member extending away from the second portion to a free end, the free end configured to be coupled with a periphery of an umbrella canopy.

9. A rib apparatus, comprising:
a pin connection portion comprising a first end configured to be disposed in a channel of a shade structure hub and a rib connection portion opposite the pin connection portion, the rib connection portion configured to be disposed within a shade-structure rib, the pin connection portion including a first side surface and a second side surface, the first side surface and the second side surface angled toward a central longitudinal plane of the pin connection portion such that the pin connection portion tapers toward a free end of the pin connection portion; and
a pin slot disposed between a first end disposed on the first side surface and a second end disposed on the second side surface, the pin slot configured to allow angling of a pin received therein.

10. The rib apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the pin slot increases in size from a narrowest portion towards the first side surface and the second side surface.

11. The rib apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the pin slot has a constant height from the first side surface to the second side surface.

12. The rib apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the pin slot has a constant width from the first side surface to the second side surface.

13. The rib apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the pin slot comprises an hourglass shape in longitudinal cross-section.

14. The rib apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the rib connection portion is configured to be secured to a tubular umbrella rib to provide a rib assembly.

15. The rib apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising an umbrella rib having an open end portion with the rib connection portion dispose therein.

16. A shade-structure rib apparatus, comprising:
a pin connection portion comprising a free end configured to be disposed in a channel of a shade structure hub, a rib connection portion opposite the pin connection portion, a first side surface and a second side surface, a circumferential width of the pin connection portion being defined between the first side surface and the second side surface, and
a pin channel disposed between the first side surface and the second side surface along the circumferential width, the pin channel comprising a fully enclosed circular perimeter in a central longitudinal cross-section of the pin connection portion disposed perpendicular to the pin channel at a center of the pin channel and the pin channel comprises an oblong area in a longitudinal cross-section of the pin connection portion disposed between the central longitudinal cross-section and the first side surface or between the central longitudinal cross-section and the second side surface.

17. The shade-structure rib apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the pin channel increases in size continuously from the central longitudinal cross-section to the first side surface, from the central longitudinal cross-section to the second side surface, or from both the central longitudinal cross-section to the first side surface and from the central longitudinal cross-section to the second side surface.

18. The shade-structure rib apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the pin channel comprises an enclosed oval-shaped perimeter disposed at the first side surface or at the second side surface, a major axis of the enclosed oval-shaped perimeter disposed in a plane disposed perpendicular to the central longitudinal cross-section and containing a central axis of the pin channel.

Assignees

• Ma Zhun An

Inventors

• Ma Zhun-An

Classifications

• A45B25/10 Primary

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