Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Umbrella – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-10
2001-01-16
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Umbrella
Combined
C135S020300, C135S027000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173721
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to outdoor and patio umbrellas, and in particular, to an improved pulley system for use with outdoor and patio umbrellas.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Outdoor and patio umbrellas (hereinafter referred to collectively as patio umbrellas) have become increasingly popular in recent years as people have found new and useful applications for them. For example, patio umbrellas have traditionally been used at patios and backyards of homes to provide shade from sunlight. Patio umbrellas have also been used extensively at swimming pools and other play or recreation facilities to provide shade. Recently, hotels (and in particular, resorts) and restaurants have been major purchasers of these umbrellas.
In some locales, such as in tropical countries and resort areas where warm weather prevails for most of the year, these patio umbrellas will usually see extended usage. In addition, patio umbrellas are typically very heavy, large in size and bulky, thereby making them somewhat inconvenient to store and transport. However, patio umbrellas must carry sufficient weight and sturdiness to provide the necessary stability, otherwise they would not be appropriate for outdoor use.
For the above reasons, it is important that patio umbrellas be easy to open (i.e., deploy) and close (i.e., for storage). An important part of every patio umbrella is the pulley system.
FIG. 1
illustrates a conventional pulley system that is commonly used for opening and closing patio umbrellas.
FIG. 1
illustrates a section of the pole
10
of the umbrella along which a lower hub or runner
12
can be slid vertically upwardly or downwardly. A first pulley member
14
is secured to the pole
10
and a second pulley member
16
is secured to the runner
12
. A pulley rope
18
has a first end
20
that is tied or knotted to a shaft
22
at a top end of the second pulley member
16
. The rope
18
is then extended upwardly and passed through a lower wheel
24
of the first pulley member
14
, and is then pulled back down towards the second pulley member
16
and passed through a wheel
26
. The rope
18
is again extended upwardly and passed through an upper wheel
28
of the first pulley member
14
, and is then pulled back down towards the bottom of the pole
10
, where the user can manipulate the free end
30
of the rope
18
.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, all the elements of the pulley system are provided on one side of the pole
10
. Therefore, one drawback associated with the conventional pulley system of
FIG. 1
is that all the forces operating on the pulley system are exerted on the same side of the pole
10
. For example, to open the umbrella, the user must pull down on the free end
30
of the rope
18
in the direction of the arrow X, which decreases the length of the rope
18
between the first and second pulley members
14
and
16
. This in turn causes the second pulley member
16
to be lifted vertically along the pole
10
towards the first pulley member
14
in the direction of arrow Y, thereby causing the ribs of the umbrella to be opened. As shown in
FIG. 1
, the forces indicated by arrows X and Y are on the same side of the pole
10
in that all the rotating wheels are inside pulley members
14
and
16
that are secured to the same side of the pole
10
. Therefore, pulling down on the free end
30
may cause the umbrella to tilt to one side when the pulley rope
18
is being pulled down to open the umbrella. As a result, it can be difficult to pull and release the rope
18
to open and close, respectively, the umbrella. This is especially troublesome if the umbrella is heavy.
Thus, there remains a need to provide a patio umbrella that overcomes the drawbacks set forth above, and which provides a pulley system that provides better balance and weight distribution in use thereof in opening and closing the umbrella.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
It is an object of the present invention to provide a patio umbrella that is convenient and easy to open and close.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a pulley system for a patio umbrella that provides better balance and weight distribution in use thereof.
The objectives of the present invention are accomplished by providing a patio umbrella having a pole that has an opening extending therethrough. The patio umbrella has a plurality of ribs for supporting and umbrella covering, and a runner adapted to slide along the pole and coupled to the ribs. The patio umbrella further includes a pulley system that has a first pulley member secured to a first side of the pole, a second pulley member coupled to the runner on the first side of the pole, a wheel positioned inside the opening of the pole, and a pulley rope. The pulley rope has a first end secured to the second pulley member and passes through the first and second pulley members, and then through the wheel inside the opening of the pole, to a free end that is positioned on a side of the pole that is opposite to the first side.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2745421 (1956-05-01), Russell
patent: 6016822 (2000-01-01), Lin et al.
Seville Classics Inc.
Stodola Daniel P.
Sun Raymond
Thompson Hugh B.
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