A personal umbrella assembly has a frame, a lighting apparatus coupled with the frame, and light control logic operatively coupled with the lighting apparatus. The light control logic is configured to receive an input signal and cause the lighting apparatus to display a light signal/pattern as a function of the input signal.

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a sun shade assembly. Particularly, the assembly includes a sail that releasably attaches to a pair of ribs, providing shade to the user. At least one support arm can be used to reinforce the ribs. A mast provides height to the assembly and includes an anchor that allows the assembly to be secured into a support surface (e.g., sand). The ribs and support arms rotate about the mast, thereby self-adjusting the direction of sail in response to the wind blowing. The assembly further includes a tension adjuster that can be tightened or loosed to control the rotation of the ribs and support arms in response to wind conditions.

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a sun shade assembly. Particularly, the assembly includes a sail that releasably attaches to a pair of ribs, providing shade to the user. At least one support arm can be used to reinforce the ribs. A mast provides height to the assembly and includes an anchor that allows the assembly to be secured into a support surface (e.g., sand). The ribs and support arms rotate about the mast, thereby self-adjusting the direction of sail in response to the wind blowing. The assembly further includes a tension adjuster that can be tightened or loosed to control the rotation of the ribs and support arms in response to wind conditions.

An umbrella is provided that includes a hollow pole, a shade assembly, and a lift assembly. The shade assembly is coupled with an upper portion of the hollow pole. The shade assembly includes an upper hub, a lower hub, and a shade structure coupling the upper hub to the lower hub. The shade structure supports a shade member and the lower hub is moveable along the hollow pole. The lift assembly is disposed within the hollow pole. The lift assembly includes a gas spring and a cord. The cord has a first end coupled with the hollow pole and a second end coupled with the lower hub. When closing the umbrella, the cord applies a load to compress the gas spring. When opening the umbrella, the gas spring applies a load to the cord, to cause the lower hub to be moved upward.

An umbrella is provided that includes a hollow pole, a shade assembly, and a lift assembly. The shade assembly is coupled with an upper portion of the hollow pole. The shade assembly includes an upper hub, a lower hub, and a shade structure coupling the upper hub to the lower hub. The shade structure supports a shade member and the lower hub is moveable along the hollow pole. The lift assembly is disposed within the hollow pole. The lift assembly includes a gas spring and a cord. The cord has a first end coupled with the hollow pole and a second end coupled with the lower hub. When closing the umbrella, the cord applies a load to compress the gas spring. When opening the umbrella, the gas spring applies a load to the cord, to cause the lower hub to be moved upward.

An improved umbrella is provided including a collapsible support structure, a primary canopy disposed over the support structure and defining a number of holes and an upper opening therein, a secondary canopy operably secured to the primary canopy to overlap the number of holes and a tertiary canopy operably secured to the primary canopy to overlap the upper opening. The alignment of the secondary canopy and the tertiary canopy over the holes in the primary canopy enables the dissipation of high air pressure formed within the interior of the umbrella caused by winds contacting the umbrella while maximizing the structural integrity of the umbrella.

An improved umbrella is provided including a collapsible support structure, a primary canopy disposed over the support structure and defining a number of holes and an upper opening therein, a secondary canopy operably secured to the primary canopy to overlap the number of holes and a tertiary canopy operably secured to the primary canopy to overlap the upper opening. The alignment of the secondary canopy and the tertiary canopy over the holes in the primary canopy enables the dissipation of high air pressure formed within the interior of the umbrella caused by winds contacting the umbrella while maximizing the structural integrity of the umbrella.

A wind-resistant umbrella including a canopy attached to an upper end of a pole member, flexible ribs, and multiple load sensitive connectors (LSCs) is provided. The flexible ribs flex inwardly at a wind speed of more than about 10 miles per hour (mph) to preclude wind from traveling under the canopy. The LSCs detachably couple an upper canopy section to a lower canopy section of the canopy. The upper canopy section partially overlaps the lower canopy section along the LSCs. Upon impact from a wind gust that exceeds a speed of more than about 20 mph, at least one of the LSCs detach to allow wind to flow freely through one or more vents created between the upper and lower canopy sections, while providing warnings to a user, and to preclude wind-induced tilting and lifting actions on the wind-resistant umbrella, thereby precluding dislodgment thereof from an anchoring location.

A wind-resistant umbrella including a canopy attached to an upper end of a pole member, flexible ribs, and multiple load sensitive connectors (LSCs) is provided. The flexible ribs flex inwardly at a wind speed of more than about 10 miles per hour (mph) to preclude wind from traveling under the canopy. The LSCs detachably couple an upper canopy section to a lower canopy section of the canopy. The upper canopy section partially overlaps the lower canopy section along the LSCs. Upon impact from a wind gust that exceeds a speed of more than about 20 mph, at least one of the LSCs detach to allow wind to flow freely through one or more vents created between the upper and lower canopy sections, while providing warnings to a user, and to preclude wind-induced tilting and lifting actions on the wind-resistant umbrella, thereby precluding dislodgment thereof from an anchoring location.

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)