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 support assembly having a versatile structure capable of use with a variety of different products, devices, etc. intended for outdoor and/or indoor use such as, but not limited to, furniture, and/or umbrella or shade structures. The support assembly includes a body having a plurality of connector structures fixedly connected in outwardly extending, collectively surrounding relation thereto. The connector structures movably and removably interconnect one or more inserts in overlying relation to an outer surface of the body. When the body defines a support pole for an umbrella assembly, the plurality of connectors extend outwardly from the inserts in movable engagement with a canopy activating hub, thereby maintaining a spacing between the hub and the inserts, concurrent to travel of the hub along the length of the body.

A method of manufacturing and using a five-device-in-one water-collecting-and-decelerating fruit-and-nut-collecting-and-decelerating wind-diffusing-and-redirecting multi-function-transversable-ridge-and-seam multi-function-twist-locking-base carapace, which has at least one first three-hundred-and-sixty-degree-orientational-carapace panel, at least one second three-hundred-and-sixty-degree-orientational-carapace panel, a water-ejecting fruit-and-nut-discharging wind-diffusing crown-carapace nozzle, at least one breadth-wise carapace-panel-connecting seam, at least one mid-panel water-directing water-decelerating fruit-and-nut-decelerating wind-diffusing ridge seam, a upper hub, rib-hinging intersectors, arched carapace-supporting ribs, a three-hundred-sixty-degree-rotatably-locking center-support stanchion, an adjustable stanchion-supporting twist-locking base, a shuttle hub, and actuating-and-supporting ribs, comprises the steps of: sewing said at least one first three-hundred-and-sixty-degree-orientational-carapace panel and said at least one second three-hundred-and-sixty-degree-orientational-carapace panel together such that said at least one breadth-wise carapace-panels-connecting seam and said at least one mid-panel water-directing water-decelerating fruit-and-nut-decelerating wind-diffusing ridge seams are formed between said at least one first three-hundred-and-sixty-degree-orientational-carapace panel and said at least one second three-hundred-and-sixty-degree-orientational-carapace panel for converging rain water therein-to repeatedly change the direction of rain water to decelerate the flowing speed of rain water to reduce water splash to avoid damaging irrigated vegetables, for converging harvested fruits therein to repeatedly change the direction of harvested fruits to decelerate the rolling speed of harvested fruits to reduce fruit bruises to avoid throwing away bruised fruits, for converging harvested nuts therein to repeatedly change the direction of harvested nuts to decelerate the rolling speed of harvested nuts to reduce nut bruises to avoid throwing away bruised nuts, for converging catched balls therein to repeatedly change the direction of catched balls to decelerate the rolling speed of catched balls to reduce ball damages to avoid throwing away damaged balls, for directing rain water therealong, for directing harvested fruits therealong, for directing harvested nuts therealong, for directing game balls therealong, for forming a collecting cistern to collect rain water to irrigate garden, for forming a diverting gutter to collect rain water to discharge said rain water away from house balcony and foundation, for forming a collecting

Umbrella devices, assemblies, and systems are shown and described. In one embodiment an umbrella assembly includes an umbrella having an aperture along a distal portion of a canopy, and a flagstaff to removably mate within the umbrella.

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.

The present invention provides a system for solar and/or rainwater harvesting to be installed in open spaces to store the rainwater or charge ground water level and/or to harvest solar energy. The system for rainwater harvesting to be installed in open spaces, comprising at least one canopy to be installed for capturing rainwater in the open space, having inverted cone-like structure to capture water and at least one discharge opening for outflow of the captured water; a storage unit for storing the captured water; a connecting means extending from the discharge opening of the canopy to the storage unit for allowing flow of the captured water from the canopy to the storage unit; and at least two filtration means adapted between the canopy and the storage unit for filtering the captured water.

The invention generally relates to a sunshade apparatus such as an umbrella or sunshade that includes a canopy with extendable portions that may be positioned in a manner so as to maximize shade. In exemplary embodiments, the sunshade device includes a canopy, and a rib assembly connected to a shaft, the rib assembly including a first joint coupled to a first assembly arm, the first joint connecting a first arm extension to the rib assembly at a first angle with respect to a surface, and a second joint coupled to a second assembly arm, the second joint connecting a second arm extension to the rib assembly at a second angle with respect to the surface.

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.

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 like structure deployed in an inverted configuration that acts as a funnel and collection area to receive rainwater. The center of the umbrella is connected to a support structure which includes tubing that transfers the water to a collection tank via an irrigation system. The umbrella like structure has further applications as providing shade and additional protection for the vegetation underneath.