There have been attempts to create a folding umbrella so that once folded the wet side of the canopy folds upon itself containing any residual water on the canopy within allowing the user to handle the dry side when furling the canopy closed. This prevents the residual water on the canopy dripping on the floor or wetting the user. The design is also to facilitate folding of the frame away from the user allowing it to close through small spaces, such as the close gap of a doorway. The present innovation achieves the intended objectives whilst maintaining the size and weight of the umbrella comparable to conventional single fold folding umbrellas.

A portable lightweight sun blocking shade system designed to provide freedom of movement under the shaded area, with a fast deployment and a safe fabric release under high wind conditions. To make shade over a desired area, position the holder apparatus to block sun, suspend the closed umbrella shade apparatus at the overhead hanger, open the suspended umbrella with a simple vertical lift of the lower handle to lock at the center shaft. To store shade, simply unlock the open umbrella with a push of the handle button, allow gravity to lower the handle, and remove the closed shade from the hanger. The holder apparatus can be left in place, or quickly removed for complete shade system storage.

A system for providing weather protection including shading in an automated and selective manner. The system includes an enclosure with an inner chamber and an outlet to the inner chamber. The system also includes a canopy and a deploy and retract assembly, which includes a canopy support assembly supporting the canopy. The deploy and retract assembly operates to move the canopy support assembly to move the canopy into the inner chamber and out of the inner chamber. The system further includes a controller generating control signals to operate the deploy and retract assembly. Specifically, this assembly is configured to retract the canopy by moving the canopy support assembly to move the canopy through the outlet into the inner chamber and further is configured to deploy the canopy by moving the canopy support assembly to move the canopy through the outlet to be at least partially outside of the inner chamber.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a flexible canopy. In one embodiment, the flexible canopy includes a central shaft, a sliding collar, a plurality of supports, a plurality of tensioners, a tensioner connection hub, and a membrane. The sliding collar is slidably connected to and surrounds the central shaft. A first end of each of the supports is connected to the sliding collar, and a second end of each of the supports is connected to the membrane near the edge of the membrane. Each of the tensioners is connected at one end to a different one of the supports and at the other end to the tensioner connection hub. In one embodiment, the flexible canopy includes a handle connected to a first, lower end of the central shaft. In other embodiments, the first, lower end of the central shaft includes or is insertable into a base.

Disclosed herein are retractable umbrella frame devices comprising a base body structure at least partially surrounding a central axis structure. The central axis structure can be connected to a skeletal frame structure comprising a plurality of arms having a first end connected to the central axis structure and a second free end. The plurality of arms can be moveably connected to the central axis structure, such that the arms can be retracted into or extended from the base body structure. In some embodiments, the base body structure comprises open portions along its length. In some embodiments, the retractable umbrella frame devices further comprise one or more secondary support structures at least partially surrounding the base body structure. In some embodiments, the retractable umbrella frame devices can further comprise guide structures connected to the one or more secondary support structures and the arms of the skeletal frame structure.

An umbrella system is provided, including an elongated handle having an upper section, a canopy section disposed at the upper section of the handle, and a canopy operating mechanism connected the handle to the canopy section and configured to switch the umbrella system between an open mode and a closed mode. The canopy section includes an edge section formed with a plurality of blades, each of the plurality of blades being disposed to side-contact or partially overlap adjacent blades of the plurality of blades. The blades come into close contact with the adjacent blades to form an enclosure to seal the interior cavity such that raindrops, snowflakes, water, or other moisture on upper surfaces of the canopy section is sealed within the interior cavity to inhibit the raindrops, snowflakes, water, or other moisture from leaking out of the interior cavity, when the umbrella is in the closed mode.

Disclosed herein are retractable umbrella frame devices comprising a base body structure at least partially surrounding a central axis structure. The central axis structure can be connected to a skeletal frame structure comprising a plurality of arms having a first end connected to the central axis structure and a second free end. The plurality of arms can be moveably connected to the central axis structure, such that the arms can be retracted into or extended from the base body structure. In some embodiments, the base body structure comprises open portions along its length. In some embodiments, the retractable umbrella frame devices further comprise one or more secondary support structures at least partially surrounding the base body structure. In some embodiments, the retractable umbrella frame devices can further comprise guide structures connected to the one or more secondary support structures and the arms of the skeletal frame structure.

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 shelter further includes a line arrangement extending between the stretcher arrangement and each rib.

The present invention relates to a portable shelter assembly. The assembly includes a support; and an expandable shelter for being supported by the support and expanding to shelter at least one person. The shelter includes ribs extending from the support. Each rib includes one or more proximal elements pivotally mounted to the support. Each rib further includes a distal element extending from the proximal elements and configured to move outwardly to expand the shelter when the proximal elements pivot in a first direction. Advantageously, the distal elements may be simply pulled down one at a time to lift the connected proximal elements and extend the ribs, which is advantageous in windy conditions, or pulled down together to lift the proximal elements and extend the ribs.

Disclosed herein are retractable umbrella frame devices comprising a base body structure at least partially surrounding a central axis structure. The central axis structure can be connected to a skeletal frame structure comprising a plurality of arms having a first end connected to the central axis structure and a second free end. The plurality of arms can be moveably connected to the central axis structure, such that the arms can be retracted into or extended from the base body structure. In some embodiments, the base body structure comprises open portions along its length. In some embodiments, the retractable umbrella frame devices further comprise one or more secondary support structures at least partially surrounding the base body structure. In some embodiments, the retractable umbrella frame devices can further comprise guide structures connected to the one or more secondary support structures and the arms of the skeletal frame structure.