An umbrella is provided that includes a hollow pole, a shade assembly, a counterweight system, and a locking device. The shade assembly includes a guide rod coupled with an upper hub. The guide rod has a stop surface. The counterweight system has a ballast and a cord that has a first end coupled with the ballast and a second end coupled with a lower hub. The locking device has pushrod mechanism. When closing the umbrella, the pushrod mechanism moves upward disengaging a moveable locking surface from the guide rod to allow the lower hub to move downward and the ballast to move upward.

An umbrella includes a shaft, a rib assembly comprising a plurality of ribs that are pivotally coupled to the shaft, and a plurality of struts that are pivotally coupled to the plurality of ribs and the shaft. The umbrella also includes an anti-inversion assembly to counter inversion of the canopy and rib assembly. The anti-inversion assembly includes a biasing mechanism that is coupled to the shaft and is configured to store energy when a force is applied thereto. The anti-inversion assembly further includes a plurality of elongated bendable members. Each elongated bendable member is coupled at a first end to the biasing mechanism and at a second end to one rib or to a tip of one rib. The elongated bendable member is held taut by the biasing mechanism when the umbrella is in an open position, a closed position and intermediate positions between the open and closed positions.

An umbrella includes a shaft, a rib assembly comprising a plurality of ribs that are pivotally coupled to the shaft, and a plurality of struts that are pivotally coupled to the plurality of ribs and the shaft. The umbrella also includes an anti-inversion assembly to counter inversion of the canopy and rib assembly. The anti-inversion assembly includes a biasing mechanism that is coupled to the shaft and is configured to store energy when a force is applied thereto. The anti-inversion assembly further includes a plurality of elongated bendable members. Each elongated bendable member is coupled at a first end to the biasing mechanism and at a second end to one rib or to a tip of one rib. The elongated bendable member is held taut by the biasing mechanism when the umbrella is in an open position, a closed position and intermediate positions between the open and closed positions.

An umbrella includes an anti-inversion mechanism that is configured to apply to each rib assembly a force that counters an inversion force that is applied to the umbrella. The anti-inversion mechanism includes a first rib joint that is coupled to first and second ribs, a first elongated member that is coupled to the first rib joint and a second elongated member that is coupled to the first elongated member and to the distal rib. The first rib joint includes an inner slot and the first elongated member comprises a wire having a bent clip portion at a first end of the wire, the bent clip portion being received within the inner slot and being biased against a floor of the inner slot resulting in the wire being attached to the first rib joint.

An umbrella includes an anti-inversion mechanism that is configured to apply to each rib assembly a force that counters an inversion force that is applied to the umbrella. The anti-inversion mechanism includes a first rib joint that is coupled to first and second ribs, a first elongated member that is coupled to the first rib joint and a second elongated member that is coupled to the first elongated member and to the distal rib. The first rib joint includes an inner slot and the first elongated member comprises a wire having a bent clip portion at a first end of the wire, the bent clip portion being received within the inner slot and being biased against a floor of the inner slot resulting in the wire being attached to the first rib joint.

Embodiments of the invention provide a vented canopy system to keep umbrellas from flying away and becoming a safety hazard in strong winds. The system includes a trim that attaches to the umbrella support structure's outer edge, leaving an opening in the middle. A breathable support layer covers this opening, allowing air to pass through while still providing support. The umbrella may have several layered canopy sections disposed on top of the breathable support layer. Each section covers part of the open space in the middle, with upper sections overlapping lower sections. The inside edge of each section is attached to the umbrella frame, and the outside edge has a tether (like a string) that allows it to flip up in the wind but prevents it from flipping all the way over. This way, it flips back down when the wind stops.

Embodiments of the invention provide a vented canopy system to keep umbrellas from flying away and becoming a safety hazard in strong winds. The system includes a trim that attaches to the umbrella support structure's outer edge, leaving an opening in the middle. A breathable support layer covers this opening, allowing air to pass through while still providing support. The umbrella may have several layered canopy sections disposed on top of the breathable support layer. Each section covers part of the open space in the middle, with upper sections overlapping lower sections. The inside edge of each section is attached to the umbrella frame, and the outside edge has a tether (like a string) that allows it to flip up in the wind but prevents it from flipping all the way over. This way, it flips back down when the wind stops.

In one example, an umbrella is provided including a hub, a plurality of arms, a plurality of stretchers, a canopy, a runner, and a motor. Each of the plurality of stretchers is coupled to the hub. Each of the plurality of stretchers is coupled to one of the plurality of arms. The canopy has a maximum diameter and extends over the hub and arms. The runner is moveable from a first position to a second position along an advancement distance. Each of the stretchers is coupled to the runner. The advancement distance of the runner is no more than 6.7% of the maximum diameter of the canopy. The motor is coupled to the runner. The motor is adapted to move the runner from the first position to the second position.

In one example, an umbrella is provided including a hub, a plurality of arms, a plurality of stretchers, a canopy, a runner, and a motor. Each of the plurality of stretchers is coupled to the hub. Each of the plurality of stretchers is coupled to one of the plurality of arms. The canopy has a maximum diameter and extends over the hub and arms. The runner is moveable from a first position to a second position along an advancement distance. Each of the stretchers is coupled to the runner. The advancement distance of the runner is no more than 6.7% of the maximum diameter of the canopy. The motor is coupled to the runner. The motor is adapted to move the runner from the first position to the second position.