An umbrella including a support shaft, a plurality of ribs, a rotatable cam assembly, and a canopy. Each rib of the plurality of ribs has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion is pivotably attached to an upper portion of the support shaft to pivot the rib between an open position and a closed position. The rotatable cam assembly includes a cam configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the support shaft. The cam is engaged with each rib of the plurality of ribs such that (i) each rib moves in a direction from the closed position to the open position when the cam rotates in a first direction and (ii) each rib moves in a direction from the open position to the closed position when the cam rotates in a second direction, the second direction being opposite the first direction.

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.

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.

A solar-powered umbrella has a cap structure that is connected by hinges to struts. The struts are relatively rigid and positioned above the umbrella shade and house solar panels. When the umbrella is opened and closed, the struts rotate via the hinges from an open to closed position. When the solar panels are exposed to the sun, light is converted to electrical energy to charge a rechargeable battery. The battery supplies power to one or more USB ports. A user can recharge an electronic device (e.g., smartphone or tablet computer) by connecting to a port of the umbrella using a cable.

A solar-powered umbrella has a cap structure that is connected by hinges to struts. The struts are relatively rigid and positioned above the umbrella shade and house solar panels. When the umbrella is opened and closed, the struts rotate via the hinges from an open to closed position. When the solar panels are exposed to the sun, light is converted to electrical energy to charge a rechargeable battery. The battery supplies power to one or more USB ports. A user can recharge an electronic device (e.g., smartphone or tablet computer) by connecting to a port of the umbrella using a cable.

An umbrella system includes a support pole connected to a rotating tube positioned around a center tube that extends between the support pole and a center support that is connected to an umbrella frame. The rotating tube has one or more helical grooves therein that are engaged by teeth of a hub which is connected to the umbrella frame. As the rotating tube is rotated, the hub is driven along the length of the rotating tube thereby opening and closing the umbrella frame. In one arrangement system includes a motor housing assembly including a plurality of batteries and a motor that includes a driven gear that meshes with a stationary gear which causes rotation of the rotating tube. The system also includes a counterbalance assembly positioned within the rotating tube. The counterbalance assembly includes at least one spring positioned within the rotating tube that provides a counterbalance force.

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.

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.

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.