Canopy structure

Abstract

A canopy structure having a canopy supported by a plurality of elongated support columns, each support column having a longitudinal cavity and an opening at a first end thereof to provide access to the longitudinal cavity. A container to receive a ballast material is positioned within the longitudinal cavity of each of the support columns to provide adjustable counterbalancing of the canopy structure. Each support column may be encased or covered by a sheath or other outer layer of material.

1 . A canopy structure comprising:
 a canopy;   at least two elongated support columns coupled to the canopy, each support column having a longitudinal cavity therein and an opening at a first end thereof to provide access to the longitudinal cavity; and   at least two containers to receive a ballast material, the containers received within the longitudinal cavity of respective ones of the support columns.   
     
     
         2 . The canopy structure of  claim 1  wherein each of the containers is a bag having an inlet and an elongated body. 
     
     
         3 . The canopy structure of  claim 1  wherein each of the containers is substantially impermeable to a ballast material comprising sand. 
     
     
         4 . The canopy structure of  claim 1  wherein each of the containers is physically attached to the respective ones of the support columns. 
     
     
         5 . The canopy structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fastener for each of the containers to selectively close the inlet of each container after the container is at least partially filled with the ballast material.   
     
     
         6 . The canopy structure of  claim 1  wherein each support column is a metallic rectangular tube. 
     
     
         7 . The canopy structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least two sheathes, the sheathes surrounding a perimeter of a respective one of the support columns and extending at least a portion of a length of the support columns.   
     
     
         8 . The canopy structure of  claim 7  wherein each sheath is a woven material. 
     
     
         9 . The canopy structure of  claim 1  wherein each support column further includes a mounting foot. 
     
     
         10 . The canopy structure of  claim 1  wherein the canopy includes a generally rectangular periphery and wherein the canopy structure includes four support columns, each support column positioned beneath a respective corner of the canopy. 
     
     
         11 . The canopy structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an elongated cross member physically coupled to an upper end of each of a first and a second one of the support columns.   
     
     
         12 . A support system for a canopy structure comprising:
 at least two support columns, each support column including an elongated cavity therein and having an opening at a first end thereof to provide access to the elongated cavity;   an elongated cross member physically coupled to an upper end of each of a first and a second one of the support columns; and   at least two containers to receive a ballast material positioned within the elongated cavity of respective ones of the support columns to increase a resistance to overturning of the canopy structure when the containers are filled with the ballast material.   
     
     
         13 . The support system of  claim 12  wherein each of the containers is a bag having an inlet and an elongated body. 
     
     
         14 . The support system of  claim 12  wherein each of the containers is substantially impermeable to a ballast material comprising sand. 
     
     
         15 . The support system of  claim 12  wherein each of the containers is physically attached to the respective ones of the support columns. 
     
     
         16 . The support system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a fastener for each of the containers to close the inlet of each container after the container is at least partially filled with the ballast material.   
     
     
         17 . The support system of  claim 12  wherein each support column is a metallic rectangular tube. 
     
     
         18 . The support system of  claim 12  wherein each support column further includes a mounting foot. 
     
     
         19 . The support system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 at least two sheathes, the sheathes surrounding a perimeter of a respective one of the support columns and extending at least a portion of a length of the support columns.   
     
     
         20 . The support system of  claim 19  wherein each sheath is a woven material.