Fitting for a shade canopy

Abstract

The invention is directed to a fitting that is used in a support structure wherein beams support a shade canopy over a playground for children. The fitting may be inserted at its lower end into vertical support columns rigidly supported in the ground. The fitting includes a connector plate that is welded to an upper end of the fitting but an angle which is determinative of the angle of the roof of the canopy. There is a counter plate attached to a saddle pipe. When the connector plate and the counter plate are attached to each other to thereby form the fitting, a correct pitch and rigidity of the support structure to support the canopy on the support structure.

What I claim is:  
     
         1 . A fitting adapted to be used in supporting a shade canopy structure having vertical support columns including tubes to inter fit with said support columns, each one of said tubes having a lower insert tube to be inter fitted with said vertical support column, a limiting ring attached to said insert tube to limit an insertion into said vertical support column, a connector plate attached to a top of said insert tube, said connector plate is attached to said insert tube at an angle, said fitting further includes a saddle pipe having a counter plate attached to an under side thereof, means for connecting said connector plate and said counter plate.  
     
     
         2 . The fitting of  claim 1 , wherein said tubes are of a circular shape.  
     
     
         3 . The fitting of  claim 1  wherein said means for connecting are a nut and bolt arrangement.  
     
     
         4 . The fitting of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of said tubes are connected at a common point to form an apex.  
     
     
         5 . The fitting of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of said tubes extends in a horizontal direction to accommodate a roof connecting beam.