An umbrella assembly is described in which a spring assisted movement of a knob away from or toward an umbrella handle respectively deploys or retracts a canopy and a plurality of support ribs. In the deployed position, each rib curves and keeps the canopy under tension. Elastic potential energy of a spring located within a body interior space deploys or retracts the ribs and canopy out of or into the body interior space, respectively.

An umbrella assembly is described in which a spring assisted movement of a knob away from or toward an umbrella handle respectively deploys or retracts a canopy and a plurality of support ribs. In the deployed position, each rib curves and keeps the canopy under tension. Elastic potential energy of a spring located within a body interior space deploys or retracts the ribs and canopy out of or into the body interior space, respectively.

The invention discloses a cantilever parasol with reduced maintenance workload. When the reel mechanism requires maintenance, one only needs to detach the reel housing from the inclined rod, without a need to perform a separate disassembly operation to the cord spool assembly or a need to change a connection relationship between the inclined rod and the post, avoiding difficulty in re-assembling the inclined rod. The cantilever parasol includes a post, an inclined rod and a reel mechanism. The reel mechanism includes a reel housing is detachably connected with the inclined rod, and a cord spool assembly is rotatably installed in the reel housing and located on an outer side of the inclined rod. One end of the inclined rod is connected with the post, the inclined rod is provided with a cord hole, and a cord is passed through the cord hole and connected with the cord spool assembly.

The invention discloses a cantilever parasol with reduced maintenance workload. When the reel mechanism requires maintenance, one only needs to detach the reel housing from the inclined rod, without a need to perform a separate disassembly operation to the cord spool assembly or a need to change a connection relationship between the inclined rod and the post, avoiding difficulty in re-assembling the inclined rod. The cantilever parasol includes a post, an inclined rod and a reel mechanism. The reel mechanism includes a reel housing is detachably connected with the inclined rod, and a cord spool assembly is rotatably installed in the reel housing and located on an outer side of the inclined rod. One end of the inclined rod is connected with the post, the inclined rod is provided with a cord hole, and a cord is passed through the cord hole and connected with the cord spool assembly.

A sunshade device and sunshade management system for mitigating the effects of climate change and direct and prolonged exposure to the sun, the sunshade device including a canopy attached to a collapsible web or frame structure. The frame structure can be collapsed or opened by operation of an electric motor. The sunshade device is positioned above the ground by electrically powered lifting devices that are powered by a battery system that is charged by solar cells. A sunshade management system controls the status of the sunshade device, and can collapse the frame and activate the lifting devices to position the sunshade in the sky, and open the frame and deactivate the lifting devices to allow the sunshade device to slowly descend while providing shade to areas below the sunshade device.

A sunshade device and sunshade management system for mitigating the effects of climate change and direct and prolonged exposure to the sun, the sunshade device including a canopy attached to a collapsible web or frame structure. The frame structure can be collapsed or opened by operation of an electric motor. The sunshade device is positioned above the ground by electrically powered lifting devices that are powered by a battery system that is charged by solar cells. A sunshade management system controls the status of the sunshade device, and can collapse the frame and activate the lifting devices to position the sunshade in the sky, and open the frame and deactivate the lifting devices to allow the sunshade device to slowly descend while providing shade to areas below the sunshade device.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage devices for providing directions haptically such that sight and hearing can continue unimpeded. In one exemplary embodiment, a wearable device (such as earphones, ear rings, gloves, glasses, or other wearable objects) configured as disclosed herein receives directions to an intended destination for a user, the directions comprising a movement action and a distance to the movement action. The wearable device has multiple haptic output units and generates, through one of those units, a haptic output based on the directions. This allows the user to receive the directions through touch rather than looking at their mobile device or from audio.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage devices for providing directions haptically such that sight and hearing can continue unimpeded. In one exemplary embodiment, a wearable device (such as earphones, ear rings, gloves, glasses, or other wearable objects) configured as disclosed herein receives directions to an intended destination for a user, the directions comprising a movement action and a distance to the movement action. The wearable device has multiple haptic output units and generates, through one of those units, a haptic output based on the directions. This allows the user to receive the directions through touch rather than looking at their mobile device or from audio.

The invention is a shading structure (10) having an open state and a closed state and comprising a canopy (12), wherein the canopy (12) is affixed to further components of the shading structure (10) at at least two attachment places (18), wherein the two attachment places (18) define an axis of rotation (21), and at least two stiffening sections (14) arranged along a periphery of the canopy (12), wherein adjacent stiffening sections (14) are coupled to each other by a respective articulating member (16), and wherein the canopy (12) is stretched in the open state of the shading structure (10) by means of the stiffening sections (14) coupled to each other by the articulating member(s) (16).

The shading structure is characterised in that in the open state of the shading structure (10) the stiffening sections (14) are skew with respect to the axis of rotation (21), and in the closed state of the shading structure (10) the stiffening sections (14) extend in the direction of the axis of rotation (21), and the canopy (12) is rolled up around the axis of rotation (21). (FIG. 15)

The invention is a shading structure (10) having an open state and a closed state and comprising a canopy (12), wherein the canopy (12) is affixed to further components of the shading structure (10) at at least two attachment places (18), wherein the two attachment places (18) define an axis of rotation (21), and at least two stiffening sections (14) arranged along a periphery of the canopy (12), wherein adjacent stiffening sections (14) are coupled to each other by a respective articulating member (16), and wherein the canopy (12) is stretched in the open state of the shading structure (10) by means of the stiffening sections (14) coupled to each other by the articulating member(s) (16).

The shading structure is characterised in that in the open state of the shading structure (10) the stiffening sections (14) are skew with respect to the axis of rotation (21), and in the closed state of the shading structure (10) the stiffening sections (14) extend in the direction of the axis of rotation (21), and the canopy (12) is rolled up around the axis of rotation (21). (FIG. 15)