[Problem to be solved] Provided is a parasol that can be easily installed in many places and used as a sunshade or a rain shield.

[Solution] A parasol 1 includes: only one tension rod-type pole 10 including telescopic portions 101 and 102 and having an adjustable length; a lower hub 12 penetrated by the pole 10 and configured to move in a vertical direction along the pole 10; a protruding portion 13 provided on the pole 10 and configured to restrict downward movement of the lower hub 12; an upper hub 11 fixed to the pole 10; ribs 20 joined to the upper hub 11 and configured to rotate vertically and to not rotate horizontally; struts 30 provided for the ribs 20 and connecting the ribs 20 and the lower hub 12; and a sheet 40 provided between the ribs 20.

A novel umbrella is disclosed with a simplified structure that creates a clean, elegant profile. The umbrella includes a support post having a hole, and a top housing and an opposing bottom housing supported by the post. The bottom housing has a bottom hub, a top cap disposed about the bottom hub, and an opposing bottom cap disposed about the bottom hub opposite the top cap. The bottom cap has a lever lock receptacle. Spokes are pivotally disposed about the top housing, and a canopy is disposed about the spokes. Struts are pivotally disposed about the bottom housing. A lever lock is retained by the lever lock receptacle, wherein the lever lock has a pin adapted to fit within the hole of the post for retaining the canopy in an open position.

A novel umbrella is disclosed with a simplified structure that creates a clean, elegant profile. The umbrella includes a support post having a hole, and a top housing and an opposing bottom housing supported by the post. The bottom housing has a bottom hub, a top cap disposed about the bottom hub, and an opposing bottom cap disposed about the bottom hub opposite the top cap. The bottom cap has a lever lock receptacle. Spokes are pivotally disposed about the top housing, and a canopy is disposed about the spokes. Struts are pivotally disposed about the bottom housing. A lever lock is retained by the lever lock receptacle, wherein the lever lock has a pin adapted to fit within the hole of the post for retaining the canopy in an open position.

A novel umbrella is disclosed with a simplified structure that creates a clean, elegant profile with reduced component count and increased wind resistance. The umbrella includes a support post, a housing supported thereby, spokes pivotally disposed about the housing, a canopy, and an actuator. The housing has a top hub and a bottom hub. The actuator slides the hubs together to pivot the spokes away from the housing, whereby the umbrella moves from a closed position to an open position. Rollers are preferably retained within the top hub, and each spoke preferably has a spoke cam attached to one end. The spokes pivot away from the housing by having a roller surface of each spoke cam slide along each respective roller. The actuator may have a crank operated worm drive mechanism to raise and lower the canopy. In particular, the umbrella may include a threaded rod coupled to a crank for screwing into a receptacle in the housing for moving the hubs closer together, causing the spokes to pivot away from the housing, whereby the umbrella moves from a closed position to an open position.

A novel umbrella is disclosed with a simplified structure that creates a clean, elegant profile with reduced component count and increased wind resistance. The umbrella includes a support post, a housing supported thereby, spokes pivotally disposed about the housing, a canopy, and an actuator. The housing has a top hub and a bottom hub. The actuator slides the hubs together to pivot the spokes away from the housing, whereby the umbrella moves from a closed position to an open position. Rollers are preferably retained within the top hub, and each spoke preferably has a spoke cam attached to one end. The spokes pivot away from the housing by having a roller surface of each spoke cam slide along each respective roller. The actuator may have a crank operated worm drive mechanism to raise and lower the canopy. In particular, the umbrella may include a threaded rod coupled to a crank for screwing into a receptacle in the housing for moving the hubs closer together, causing the spokes to pivot away from the housing, whereby the umbrella moves from a closed position to an open position.

Animal umbrellas adapted to protect animals, more specifically household pets, from precipitation and sun radiation. The animal umbrellas include a shade held at a distance from an animal's body by a plurality of ribs and stretchers, and is attached and extends from at least one collar or harness placed on the animal. A leash can be incorporated and releasably attached thereto.

A canopy apparatus includes a support assembly extending from an attached bracket configured to be fixed to a bicycle to an attached canopy extending outwardly from the support assembly over the bracket for providing shade or shelter from the Sun and weather conditions, and a caution flag, or increasing the visibility of the canopy apparatus, depending downwardly from the canopy to an intermediate position of the support assembly between the bracket and the canopy. The support assembly includes a plurality of segments releasably secured with lock pins and compression couplings.

An apparatus and method can be configured to adjustably block natural light and/or overhead lighting to provide a use desired amount of light within a particular work space. Embodiments can help permit a user to adjust the light affecting that user's work space so a common lighting arrangement affecting many different work spaces' within a common area (e.g. an office floor or large office room within a building, etc.) so that the illumination provided by one or more light sources to illuminate the common area can be adjusted to meet a particular user's preferences within a particular work space within that common work area.

The invention features a shade apparatus adapted to provide shade to an individual or individuals while they are outside and in need of shade from sunlight. Aspects of embodiments of the present invention contemplate a shade apparatus that is easily portable and easily adapted to the sun's changing positions, thereby providing the individual/user with shade from sunlight.

A novel umbrella includes a support post, a housing supported thereby, spokes pivotally disposed about the housing, a canopy, and an actuator. The housing has a top hub and a bottom hub. The actuator slides the hubs together to pivot the spokes away from the housing, whereby the umbrella moves from a closed position to an open position. Rollers are retained within the top hub, and each spoke has a spoke cam attached to one end. The spokes pivot away from the housing by having a roller surface of each spoke cam slide along each respective roller. The actuator may include a beam pivotally disposed about the support post, a strut pivotally disposed about the support post and coupled to the beam, a car slide slideably disposed within the beam, and a cable coupled to the strut and the housing.