Shade canopy in combination with a fitting to support the same

Abstract

The invention is directed to a shade canopy in combination with a fitting that is used in a support structure wherein beams support the 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 at 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, they will have a correct pitch and rigidity of the support structure to support the canopy over the playground.

1 . A shade canopy structure in combination with fittings supporting said: shade canopy including vertical support columns, each of said fittings being of a unitary and rigid construction having a lower insert tube to be inserted into each of said vertical columns, a limiting ring is attached to said insert tube to limit an insertion into said vertical support column, a connector plate is 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 underside thereof, means for connecting said connector plate and said counter plate to each other.  
   
   
       2 . The shade canopy structure of  claim 1 , wherein said insert tube and said saddle pipe are of a circular cross-section.  
   
   
       3 . The shade canopy structure of  claim 1 , wherein said means for connecting are a nut and a bolt arrangement.  
   
   
       4 . The shade canopy structure of  claim 1  including further tubes that are connected at a common point to form an apex.  
   
   
       5 . The canopy structure of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of said further tubes is connected to said apex in a horizontal direction to accommodate a roof connecting beam.