Rotation base for umbrella

Abstract

An umbrella base is provided that includes a first support, a second support and a control device, which can include a foot pedal. The second support is rotatably coupled with the first support. The foot pedal is coupled with the first support, e.g., at a pivot. The foot pedal has at least one lateral member. The lateral member projects downward from an arm. The lateral member is located on the same side of the second support as the foot pedal. Movement of the foot pedal downward causes lateral members to disengage from the second support permitting the second support to rotate.

Claims

1. An umbrella base comprising: a first support comprising a planar portion with an upper surface, a mounting element extending upward from the upper surface, and an arcuate portion extending above the planar portion, the mounting element spaced apart from the arcuate portion; a cover extending over the arcuate portion, the cover comprising an actuator recess, the actuator recess extending over the mounting element; a second support at least partially disposed within the cover and at least partially disposed above the planar portion of the first support, the second support comprising a plurality of radial projections; and a control device pivotably coupled with the mounting element about a pivot axis, the control device comprising a first end having a foot pedal, a second end, and an upright projection at the second end of the control device, the upright projection extending upward from adjacent to the pivot axis of the control device to a location below a top surface of the control device, the second end of the control device disposed within the actuator recess, the pivot axis extending through the actuator recess, and the first end of the control device disposed outside the actuator recess; wherein the control device has a first position in which the first end of the control device is in an elevated position and the upright projection is placed between two adjacent projections of the plurality of radial projections, at least one of the radial projections overlapping an overlap portion of the upright projection in a circumferential direction, whereby the second support cannot rotate freely relative to the first support; and wherein the control device has a second position in which the first end of the control device is in a lowered position and the upright projection is disengaged from between the two adjacent projections, a radially innermost end of the overlap portion of the upright projection being spaced radially outward of a radially outermost end of each of the two adjacent projections in the second position, whereby the second support can rotate relative to the first support; wherein the second end of the control device remains within the actuator recess when in the first position and the second position, and the first end of the control device is disposed outside the actuator recess when in the first position and the second position.

2. The umbrella base of claim 1, wherein the upright projection comprises an aperture at the pivot axis for pivotably mounting the upright projection relative to the mounting element of the first support.

3. The umbrella base of claim 2, wherein the upright projection comprises a lower portion and an upper portion, the lower portion comprising the aperture and the upper portion comprising an engagement feature for engaging the plurality of radial projections of the second support.

4. The umbrella base of claim 1 wherein the second support comprises a sprocket.

5. The umbrella base of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the control device does not extend towards the second support beyond the radially outermost end of each of the two adjacent projections when the control device is in the second position.

6. An umbrella rotation base comprising: a first support; a second support rotatably coupled with the first support, the second support including a sprocket, the sprocket including a plurality of radial projections; a control device coupled with the first support at a pivot, the control device comprising: a first end disposed away from the first support; a second end disposed adjacent to the sprocket; and a U-shaped member disposed at the second end of the control device, the U-shaped member comprising two sides, a transverse side connecting the two sides, and an open end, the two sides each comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the pivot being located on the lower portion of at least one of the two sides and adjacent to the open end; the U-shaped member having an edge disposed along the two sides and the transverse side the edge having upper segments and lower arcuate segments, the lower arcuate segments coupled with the upper segments and curving radially away from the second support, each of the two sides extending radially inward towards the second support from the pivot to the edge to define a lateral portion, wherein each of the lateral portions extends down from the transverse side to below the pivot throughout the respective lateral portion and extends between the pivot and the edge; wherein the lateral portions of the two sides and the transverse side of the U-shaped member surround one of the plurality of radial projections of the sprocket in a first position of the control device, thereby preventing a rotation of the second support of the umbrella rotation base relative to the first support of the umbrella rotation base, and the two sides and the transverse side of the U-shaped member are spaced away from and positioned radially outward of the one of the plurality of radial projections in a second position of the control device, thereby permitting a rotation of the second support relative to the first support.

7. The umbrella rotation base of claim 6, wherein the control device further comprises a foot pedal disposed at the first end thereof.

8. The umbrella rotation base of claim 6, wherein the U-shaped member comprises a monolithic construction.

9. The umbrella rotation base of claim 6, wherein the control device is located only on one side of the umbrella rotation base.

10. The umbrella rotation base of claim 6, wherein the pivot is disposed at an elevation below a lowermost surface of the first end of the control device.

11. The umbrella rotation base of claim 6, wherein the pivot is located at a first elevation, the first end of the control device is located at a second elevation above the first elevation and an engagement feature of the control device is located at a third elevation between the first and second elevations.

12. An umbrella base comprising: a first support; a second support rotatably coupled with the first support; a cover extending over the first support and the second support such that a radially outermost edge of the second support is enclosed by the cover; a control device comprising an arm, a foot pedal, a first engagement member projecting downward from the arm, and a second engagement member projecting downward from the arm, the control device coupled with a mounting bracket on the first support, the mounting bracket disposed underneath the cover; wherein the first engagement member, the second engagement member and the foot pedal are together located on a peripheral side of the second support, the first and second engagement members are disposed within the cover with the foot pedal disposed outside the cover, a pivot is located on a lower portion of at least one of the first and second engagement members for coupling the control device with the mounting bracket, and the pivot is disposed underneath the cover; wherein the control device is configured such that when the first and second engagement members are engaged with the second support, a movement of the foot pedal downward causes the first and second engagement members to be disengaged from the second support, thereby permitting the second support to rotate relative to the first support; wherein the control device is configured such that when the first and second engagement members are disengaged from the second support, a movement of the foot pedal upward causes the first and second engagement members to engage the second support to prevent the second support from rotating relative to the first support; and wherein the first and second engagement members of the control device remain underneath the cover both when engaged with and disengaged from the second support.

13. The umbrella base of claim 12, wherein a radially innermost end of the control device is configured to be disengaged from the second support by moving radially outward from the second support to a first location radially outward of a radially outermost edge of the second support; and the radially innermost end of the control device is configured to be engaged with the second support by moving radially inward toward the second support from the first location to a second location radially inward of the radially outermost edge of the second support.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features, aspects and advantages are described below with reference to the drawings, which are intended to illustrate but not to limit the inventions. In the drawings, like reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout similar embodiments.

(2) FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an umbrella frame and pole assembly for an umbrella;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an umbrella assembly including an upright pole and an umbrella rotation base;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the umbrella rotation base shown in FIGS. 1-2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a top view of the umbrella rotation base of FIG. 3 with a housing removed, the view showing a first position of a control device relative to radial projections of a rotatable member;

(6) FIG. 5 is a detail perspective view of the control device illustrating a pivot engagement thereof with a non-rotatable portion of the umbrella rotation base of FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 6 is another detail perspective view of the control device illustrating how a portion thereof adjacent to the rotatable portion of the base engaged radial projections thereof;

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a control device having a foot pedal; and

(9) FIG. 8 is a side view of the control device of FIG. 7 illustrating the relative positions of the foot pedal, radial projection engagement feature and pivot portion thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(10) While the present description sets forth specific details of various embodiments, it will be appreciated that the description is illustrative only and should not be construed in any way as limiting. Furthermore, various applications of such embodiments and modifications thereto, which may occur to those who are skilled in the art, are also encompassed by the general concepts described herein. Each and every feature described herein, and each and every combination of two or more of such features, is included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in such a combination are not mutually inconsistent.

(11) FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of an umbrella 10 that can be positioned in a variety of useful positions to provide shelter. One mode of positioning the umbrella 10 is to move it about an axis A extending upright along a support structure 14 of the umbrella. In this way the location of a sheltering member, e.g., a canopy assembly 18 or a canopy fabric, can be moved about a base 16 of the umbrella 10. Additional details of the umbrella 10 are discussed in U.S. 61/880,059, filed Sep. 19, 2013 a copy of which is included in an Appendix. The details of the 61/880,059 application are incorporated by reference into the body of this specification.

(12) The support structure 14 can take a variety of forms. In one embodiment, the support structure 14 includes a support pole 34 and a strut 42 coupled with the support pole. The strut 42 and the support pole 34 also are coupled with a boom 38. In the illustrated embodiment, the axis A is disposed along the longitudinal axis of the support pole 34.

(13) The support pole 34 has a lower end 46, an upper end 50 and an elongate body 54 extending therebetween. The pole can be configured to be mounted in a fixed position to the ground at or adjacent to the lower end 46.

(14) A pivot device 58 coupled with the lower end 46 enables the pole 34 and the boom 38 to rotate about the axis A and integration into a decorative umbrella base. The pivot device 58 includes a rotation base 100 and a cross-brace 104. The cross-brace 104 advantageously create a fairly wide profile to make the umbrella 10 more stable. Generally, a decorative base cowling (not shown) is provided to conceal the cross-brace 104. The cowling will have an opening through which an umbrella pole 108 can extend. The pole 108 can comprise the support 34 or can be a sleeve into which the support 34 is inserted.

(15) FIGS. 3-6 show that the rotation base 100 can include a first support 120, a second support 124, and a control device 126 for engaging and disengaging the first and second supports 120, 124 to each other. The second support 124 is rotatably coupled with the first support 120. The second support 124 has a sprocket 132 rotatably mounted thereto. The second support 124 also has one or a plurality of mounts 136 for connecting the umbrella pole 108 and a plurality of mounts 140 for mounting the second support to the cross-brace 104. The mounts 136 can be disposed on the sprocket 132 such that rotation of the sprocket and the umbrella pole 108 is one-to-one. The mounts 140 can be disposed on a flange 144 of the first support 120. The flange 144 provides a rigid connection such that the first support 120 is not moveable relative to the cross-brace 104 or other lower ground connection.

(16) The flange 144 includes a planar portion 150 and an arcuate portion 154 that extends away from the planar portion 150. The arcuate portion 154 can include a concave portion disposed away from the planar portion 150. The concave portion is disposed around a space in which part of the second support 124 can be mounted. The second support 124 can include a rotation device such as a rotation bearing that permits a portion of the second support to be rotated within the arcuate portion 154 as indicated by the arrow A.

(17) The flange 144 also includes a portion of a pivot 162. In one embodiment, the flange 144 includes at least one, e.g., two mounting elements 166 for disposing an axle or other pivot device on the first support 120. The mounting element 166 can be disposed on, e.g., vertically mounted to, the planar portion 150 of the flange 144. The mounting element 166 can include an aperture 170 through which an axle (not shown) can be disposed. In one embodiment, there are two mounting elements 166, each having an aperture 170. Where multiple mounting elements and apertures 166, 170 are provided multiple axles may be used. The connection of the mounting element(s) 166 to the control device 126 is discussed in greater detail below.

(18) FIG. 4 shows that the sprocket 132 includes a plurality of radial projections 182. The projections 182 can be disposed about the outer circumference of the sprocket 132 at intervals, e.g., at regular intervals. Each of the radial projections 182 can define a discrete spaced apart radial position of the sprocket relative to the first portion 120 (and the ground to which it is coupled). The radial projections 182 can be positioned at any interval. In one embodiment, radial projections 182 are positioned at about 20 degree intervals from each other to allow for fine adjustment of the location of the shade provided by the canopy assembly 18.

(19) FIG. 8 shows that the control device 126 can have an actuator 200 that has a first end 204 disposed away from the first support 120 and a second end 208 disposed adjacent to the sprocket 132. The actuator 200 can be a lever with a special configuration to optimize engagement with and disengagement from the radial projections 182 of the sprocket 132. In one form, the actuator 200 includes a foot pedal 212 coupled with the pivot 162. FIGS. 7 and 8 show that the actuator 200 has an elongate configuration in which an arm 216 extends between the first and second ends 204, 208. The length of the arm 216 allows the foot pedal 212 to be disposed away from the pivot 162 so that the actuator 200 can be pivoted a sufficient amount to engage and disengage the control device 126 as discussed further below.

(20) The actuator 200 can include first and second lateral members 224A, 224B. The lateral members 224A, 224B can perform multiple functions. The lateral members 224A, 224B are sometimes referred to as upright members in that when the lateral members 224A, 224B are assembled on the base 10 the generally extend upwardly from a pivot to an arm and/or foot pedal elevation. In some embodiments, the lateral members 224A, 224B include apertures 228 for mounting the actuator 160 to the pivot 162. The apertures 228 can be configured to receive an axle and in some embodiments, each aperture 228 receives separate short axle that also extends through the aperture 170 of the mounting elements 166. FIG. 6 shows that the lateral member 224A is mounted between the lateral member 224B and one of the mounting elements 166 and the lateral member 224B is mounted between the lateral member 224A and one of the mounting elements 166. FIG. 8 shows that in some embodiments a function of the lateral members 224A, 22B is to elevate an upper portion of the actuator, e.g., the foot pedal 212, above the axis of the pivot 162 by an amount h. The axis of the pivot 162 is generally centered on the apertures 228. If the foot pedal 212 is slanted as shown in FIG. 8, the minimum value of h is at the outermost portion of the pedal 212. By the position of the outer portion of the actuator 20 (e.g., the foot pedal 212) at an elevation above the pivot 162 by the dimension h, the range of motion allows the lateral members 224A, 224B to be disposed between adjacent projections 182.

(21) The arrangement also enables one of the projections 182 to be received between the lateral members 224A, 224B, e.g., at a third elevation between the elevation of the pedal 212 and the elevation of the pivot 162. FIG. 6 shows that when so received a small amount of play is provided between the lateral members 224A, 224B and the projections 182. This allows minor rotations of the second support 124 relative to the first support 120. This small amount of play allows the umbrella to move a little bit under loads such as wind, which can be important for large umbrellas. This movement allows some of the load to be dissipated rather than being immediately applied to the actuator 200.

(22) Providing for engagement between the two members 224A, 224B and two faces of the sprocket 132 also allows such loads to be divided among the two members. Referring to FIG. 6, a portion of a clockwise load is applied by the projection 182 to the right of the lateral member 224A and a portion of the load to be applied to the lateral member 224B by the projection 182 disposed between the lateral members 224A, 224B. A portion of a counter-clockwise load is applied by the projection 182 to the left of the lateral member 224B and a portion of the load to be applied to the lateral member 224A by the projection 182 disposed between the lateral members 224A, 224B.

(23) FIGS. 5 and 7 show that the control device 126 can have a U-shaped member 240 disposed at the second end 208 of the control device. The U-shaped member 240 can include the lateral members 224A, 22B and part of the arm 216 disposed at the second end 208 of the actuator 200. In one embodiment, the U-shaped member 240 and the arm 216 from which it extends are of a monolithic construction. For example, these structures can be formed from a single piece of sheet metal. Cuts can be made to define the outlines of the lateral members 224A, 224B, and the lateral members can be bent to the orientation shown in FIG. 7.

(24) One advantage of the U-shaped member 240 involves the position of the engagement features 250 for coupling the control device 126 to the second support 124 to prevent rotational movement between the first and second supports 120, 124. The engagement features 250 are disposed on the same side of the umbrella pole 108 as is the actuator 200. This makes the control device 126 more compact and less obtrusive to the user.

(25) In some embodiments the rotation base 100 includes a cover 262 that is provided the second support 124 such that the working components are shielded from view and also from the user. The cover 262 can have a generally convex shape such that the height of the first and/or second supports 120, 124 can be accommodated within the cover. In one embodiment, the cover 262 includes an actuator recess 266 for accommodating the lateral portions 224A, 224B such that the engagement features 250 and the edges of the radial projections 182 of the sprocket 132 are enclosed. The cover also includes an opening 270 through which the umbrella pole 108 extends.

(26) Operation of the rotation base 100 and the control device 126 is simple and straight forward. The control device 126 is placed in a first position illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6 in which sides of the U-shaped member 240, e.g., the lateral portions 224A, 224B, and the portion extending from the arm 216, surround one of the radial projections 182. The first position is one in which prevents rotation of the second portion 124 of the base 100 relative to the first portion 120. In a second position of the control device 126, the U-shaped member 240 does not surround the projection 182 so the sprocket 132 is able to rotate. This allows the second portion 124 of the base 100 to rotate relative to the first portion 120 of the base.

(27) The base 100 is well suited to support the umbrella 10 but could be used for rotational positioning of other structures or device.

(28) Although these inventions have been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present inventions extend beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the inventions and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while several variations of the inventions have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within the scope of these inventions, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various combination or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the inventions. It should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed inventions. Thus, it is intended that the scope of at least some of the present inventions herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above.