A weight system for supporting a free-standing object comprising a container defining an interior chamber, the container comprising at least one side wall, a lower wall, and an upper wall, where the upper wall is configured to define a fill opening and a closure system comprising first and second closure portions. The first closure portion is arranged to define a first side of the fill opening. The second closure portion is arranged to define a second side of the fill opening. The closure system is arranged to allow the container to be configured in a closed configuration in which the first closure portion engages the second closure portion substantially to prevent access to the interior chamber through the fill opening and an open configuration in which the first closure portion is disengaged from the second closure portion to allow access to the interior chamber through the fill opening.

A modular canopy device having rotatably adjustable canopy panels that rotatable substantially through a range of 180 degrees that is removably secured to a base support assembly including a cantilever support member. A canopy fabric is provided on the canopy panel frame members to provide shelter and concealment attributes.

An umbrella assembly having a post supporting first and second pivot joints to move relative to each other along the post, and a support strut and adjacent stabilizing struts pivotally coupled to the first and second pivot joints and supporting the collapsible frame assembly of a canopy. The collapsible frame assembly collapses between an opened configuration and a collapsed configuration with movement of the first and second pivot joints relative to each other.

An outdoor sunshade umbrella and a method for using the same are provided. The outdoor sunshade umbrella includes: a supporting portion; a sunshade umbrella main body pivotally connected with the supporting portion; and a control portion. The control portion is used to control the supporting portion to automatically adjust a position of the sunshade umbrella main body according to a direction of sunlight and position information of an obscured object.

A multi-function double-canopy umbrella comprises: a first foot, a second foot, a mounting plate bolted to the first and second feet, a lower post attached to the mounting plate, an upper post, an inner core inserted into the lower and upper posts, a central tube, a spool, a crank rotatably attached to the spool, a rope threaded through the central tube, central ribs, central arms pivotably attached to the central ribs, an adjustable central canopy attached to the central ribs to adjust to different heights, an intersector slidably attached to the central tube, first ribs pivotably connected to the intersector and central arms, second ribs, multi-rib-connecting cores slidably connected to the first and second ribs to adjust the multi-function double-canopy umbrella to multiple different sizes, raising arms foldably attached to the intersector, an adjustable ring canopy attached to the first and second ribs, and adjusting flaps sewn to the adjustable ring canopy to adjust it to multiple different sizes.

A multi-angle multi-function umbrella comprises: a first foot, a second foot, a mounting plate bolted to the first and second feet, a lower post attached to the mounting plate, an upper post, a middle post, a first inner core inserted into the lower and middle posts, a second inner core inserted into the middle and upper posts, a central tube, a spool, a crank rotatably attached to the spool, a rope threaded through the central tube, central ribs, central arms pivotably attached to the central ribs, an adjustable central canopy attached to the central ribs to adjust to different heights, an intersector slidably attached to the central tube, first ribs pivotably connected to the intersector and central arms, second ribs, third ribs, first coil caps pivotably connected to the first and second ribs, second coil caps pivotably connected to the second and third ribs, raising arms foldably attached to the intersector, an adjustable ring canopy attached to the first and second ribs, and adjusting flaps sewn to the adjustable ring canopy to adjust it to multiple different sizes.

An intelligent shading object, comprises a plurality of shading elements, a shading element deployment mechanism, a support structure, and a base unit. A shading element deployment mechanism deploys a plurality of shading elements independently of each other. A support structure is coupled to the shading element deployment mechanism. A base unit is coupled to the support structure to provide stability to the support structure, the shading element deployment mechanism, and the plurality of shading elements.

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a portable shelter, whether being of the type having a floating canopy or an umbrella. The shelter includes a support including an upright. A canopy is supported by the support. The canopy includes an expandable frame, and a sheet of material supported by the frame. The frame includes retractable ribs supporting the sheet. The frame also includes a stretcher arrangement for stretching out each rib from the support. The stretcher arrangement includes a first stretcher for coupling between the support and the rib; and a second stretcher for coupling to the first stretcher.

A weight system for supporting a free-standing object comprising a container defining an interior chamber, the container comprising at least one side wall, a lower wall, and an upper wall, where the upper wall is configured to define a fill opening and a closure system comprising first and second closure portions. The first closure portion is arranged to define a first side of the fill opening. The second closure portion is arranged to define a second side of the fill opening. The closure system is arranged to allow the container to be configured in a closed configuration in which the first closure portion engages the second closure portion substantially to prevent access to the interior chamber through the fill opening and an open configuration in which the first closure portion is disengaged from the second closure portion to allow access to the interior chamber through the fill opening.

A shading object includes a base unit, a support unit coupled to the base unit, and a rotation hub assembly, the rotation hub assembly coupled to the support unit and rotatable in a circular direction about the rotation hub assembly. The shading object also includes a control housing, the control housing coupled to the rotation hub assembly, the control housing having one or more motor assemblies installed therein. The shading object includes a pivot assembly, a shading element frame, and one or more shading elements, the shading element frame coupled to the pivot assembly, the pivot assembly to rotate the shading element frame and the one or more shading elements about the pivot assembly axis.