Umbrella with Sliding Mast and Related Methods

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 18/186,375 filed Mar. 20, 2023, which is based upon prior filed copending Application No. 63/385,883 filed Dec. 2, 2022, the entire subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present disclosure relates to the field of outdoor accessories, and, more particularly, to an umbrella and related methods.

Large patio-style umbrellas are useful on patios, decks, pools, beaches, and in other outdoor settings for providing protection from the sun and allowing users a convenient way to enjoy shade while participating in outdoor activities. Typically, the umbrella comprises a mast extending from a base, and a canopy coupled to the mast opposite to the base. Due to the size of the canopy, there are some application where it can be useful to adjust the height of the mast, for example, when the umbrella is deployed within a screen enclosure.

Generally, an umbrella comprises a canopy configured to switch between an open position and a closed position, and a mast coupled to the canopy. The mast includes an upper portion comprising an upper tubular housing, and a track carried on an outer surface of the upper tubular housing and extending longitudinally, the track comprising interweaved recesses and ridges. The mast also includes a lower portion comprising a lower tubular housing slidingly receiving the upper portion, and a protrusion extending outward from the lower tubular housing and defining a passageway therein. The passageway is aligned with the track, and the protrusion has a first threaded surface. The lower portion also includes a pin received by the passageway and extending through the protrusion to interface with the track of the upper portion, and a cap having a second threaded surface to engage with the first threaded surface of the protrusion and to cause the pin to lock the lower portion and the upper portion together.

In some embodiments, the pin may comprise a peripheral flange, and the protrusion may comprise an inner rim surrounding the passageway and to retain the pin within the passageway. The pin may also comprise a keyed distal end to be received by the interweaved recesses and ridges of the track. The pin may comprise a proximal portion, and a medial portion between the keyed distal portion and the proximal portion. The medial portion has a width greater than that of the keyed distal portion and the proximal portion. For example, the proximal portion may be cylinder-shaped.

Also, the cap may comprise a raised peripheral rim defining the second threaded surface, and a medial protrusion within the raised peripheral rim and to abut the pin. The pin may define a first fastener receiving passageway opposite the track, and the medial protrusion may define a second fastener receiving passageway aligned with the first fastener receiving passageway. The lower portion may include a fastener extending through the first fastener receiving passageway and the second fastener receiving passageway for coupling the cap and the pin together.

Moreover, the upper portion may comprise a winding device coupled to the upper tubular housing and configured to cause the canopy to switch from the closed position to the open position. The upper portion may include a pivoting device between the winding device and the canopy and configured to cause the canopy to switch between a tilted position and an untilted position.

Another aspect is directed to a method for making an umbrella. The method comprises providing a canopy configured to switch between an open position and a closed position, and coupling a mast to the canopy. The mast includes an upper portion comprising an upper tubular housing, and a track carried on an outer surface of the upper tubular housing and extending longitudinally, the track comprising interweaved recesses and ridges. The mast also includes a lower portion comprising a lower tubular housing slidingly receiving the upper portion, and a protrusion extending outward from the lower tubular housing and defining a passageway therein. The passageway is aligned with the track, and the protrusion has a first threaded surface. The lower portion also includes a pin received by the passageway and extending through the protrusion to interface with the track of the upper portion, and a cap having a second threaded surface to engage with the first threaded surface of the protrusion and to cause the pin to lock the lower portion and the upper portion together.

The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which several embodiments of the invention are shown. This present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and basereference numerals are used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments.

Referring initially to, an umbrellaaccording to the present disclosure is now described. The umbrellaillustratively includes a canopyconfigured to switch between an open position () and a closed position (), and a mastcoupled to an uppermost portion of the canopy. The canopyincludes a fabric shell, and a structuresupporting the fabric shell. As will be appreciated, the structurecomprises a plurality of support arms, and a collar coupled to the plurality of support arms and slidingly positioned on the mast.

The mastillustratively comprises an upper portion, and a lower portionslidingly receiving the upper portion. In the illustrated embodiment, both the upper portionand the lower portioneach comprises a tube having a circle-shaped cross-section, the lower portion having a diameter greater than that of the upper portion. In short, the upper portionand the lower portionare telescoping. In other embodiments, the upper portionand the lower portionmay have different cross-section shapes, such as a rectangle-shaped cross-section. Also, the mastmay comprise a metallic material, such as aluminum, but may comprise one or more metals in some embodiments. Indeed, any rigid material with sufficient mechanical strength may be used.

The upper portioncomprises an upper tubular housing, and a trackcarried on an outer surface of the upper tubular housing and extending longitudinally. The upper portionillustratively comprises a pivoting deviceconfigured to cause the canopyto switch between the tilted position () and the untilted position (), and a winding devicecoupled to the upper tubular housingand configured cause the canopy to switch from the closed position to the open position. For example, in some embodiments, the winding devicecomprises a hub, a line wound around the hub and extending through the upper portionand to the canopy, and a handle (e.g., illustrated crank, embedded finger recesses) coupled to the hub.

As perhaps best seen in, the trackillustratively includes interweaved recesses-and ridges-. In the illustrated example embodiment, the interweaved recesses-and ridges-are substantially rectangle-shaped, but in other embodiments, they may have rounded shapes or triangle-shaped recesses and ridges.

The lower portioncomprises a lower tubular housing, and a locking devicecarried on an outer surface of the lower tubular housing and extending through an opening() in the lower tubular housing to interface with the trackof the upper portionto lock the lower portion and the upper portion together. In particular, the locking deviceillustratively includes a sleevecarried on the outer surface of the lower tubular housing, and a mountextending outward from the sleeve. The mounthas an outer threaded surface, and is illustratively circle-shaped. In some embodiments, the sleeveand the mountmay be integrally formed.

The mountdefines a passageway(illustratively rectangle-shaped) aligned with the track. More specifically, when the upper portionis received by the lower portion, the trackis visible via the passageway. The locking deviceillustratively includes a pinreceived by the passagewayand to interface with the track. The pin comprises a keyed distal endto be received by the interweaved recesses-and ridges-of the track.

The locking deviceillustratively comprises a caphaving an inner threaded surfaceto engage with the outer threaded surfaceof the mount. The capcomprises a raised peripheral rim() defining the inner threaded surface, and a medial protrusion() within the raised peripheral rim and to abut the pin.

The pinillustratively includes a proximal enddefining a first fastener receiving passagewayopposite the track, and the medial protrusiondefines a second fastener receiving passageway() aligned with the first fastener receiving passageway. The proximal endis illustratively cylinder-shaped, but may take on other shapes in other embodiments. The pinillustratively comprises a medial portionbetween the proximal endand the keyed distal end. The medial portionhas a greater thickness than the proximal endand the keyed distal end, and has rounded corners. Also, the medial portionis illustratively rectangle-shaped in cross-section to fit into the passageway.

The locking deviceillustratively includes a fastener(e.g., threaded screw) extending through the first fastener receiving passagewayand the second fastener receiving passagewayfor coupling the capand the pintogether, and a coverconfigured to protect the fastener and fitting into an opening of the second fastener receiving passageway.

As will be appreciated, the mastof the umbrellamay be configured to have a desired height by sliding the upper portioninto the lower portion. When the user wants to adjust height, the user unscrews the capfrom the mount, which releases the pinfrom the track(i.e. moving the keyed distal endoutward and free of the interweaved recesses-and ridges-of the track). When the desired height has been reached, the user then screws the caponto the mount, which positions the pininto the track(i.e. moving the keyed distal endinward and into the interweaved recesses-and ridges-of the track).

Another aspect is directed to a method of making an umbrella. The method includes providing a canopyconfigured to switch between an open position and a closed position, and coupling a mastto the canopy. The mastcomprises an upper portioncomprising an upper tubular housing, and a trackcarried on an outer surface of the upper tubular housing and extending longitudinally. The trackcomprises interweaved recesses-and ridges-. The mastalso includes a lower portionslidingly receiving the upper portionand comprising a lower tubular housing, and a locking devicecarried on an outer surface of the lower tubular housing and extending through the lower tubular housing to interface with the trackof the upper portionto lock the lower portion and the upper portion together.

Referring now additionally to, another embodiment of the umbrellais now described. In this embodiment of the umbrella, those elements already discussed above with respect toare incremented by 100 and most require no further discussion herein. This embodiment differs from the previous embodiment in that this umbrellaillustratively includes the pinhaving a peripheral flange. The mountillustratively comprises an inner rimsurrounding the passagewayand to retain the pinand the capcoupled thereto within the passageway when the cap is unscrewed from the mount, which releases the pinfrom the track.

The capillustratively includes the raised peripheral rim, and an outer rimradially spaced apart from the raised peripheral rim and defining an annular space therebetween. The outer rimsupports the torque from the user threading the caponto the mount.

Other features relating to umbrellas are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,604,015; 8,104, 492; 9, 470, 413; 7, 882, 846; 9,504,298; 7,533, 679; 9, 622,569; 5,937, 882; 6, 889, 953; and 9, 655, 417, all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the present disclosure will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the present disclosure is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.