Method of manufacturing a gravity-powered, wind-resistant and self-opening umbrella system

Abstract

Methods of manufacturing a gravity-powered, self-opening, and wind-resistant umbrella systems are provided. As evidenced from the teachings provided herein, the systems can be designed in a variety of configurations. The umbrella system can include a counterweight and system of pulleys, where the system of pulleys includes class 1 and class 2 pulleys configured with the counterweight to gain a mechanical advantage in the normal operation of the umbrella. The umbrella can be, for example, a patio umbrella in which the mechanical advantage provides a self-opening of an umbrella canopy and ease-of-retracting of the canopy for a user. And, the system can also be dynamic, such that it's also resistant to external forces, such as the wind.

1 . A gravity-powered, and self-opening umbrella system, comprising:
 a static component having a top portion;   a dynamic component including
 a retractable umbrella covering having a center and an outer edge; 
 a runner adapted to slide vertically on the static component; and, 
 a user rope having a fixed-end and a user-end, the user end configured for receiving a force, F 1 , applied by a user to close the umbrella covering, the fixed end of the user rope operably attached to the runner; 
   a counterweight component to provide a gravitational force; and,   a compound pulley component including
 at least one class-2 pulley attached to the dynamic component; and, 
 a pulley rope (i) having a fixed end and a weighted end attached to the counterweight component, and (ii) in operable connection with the pulleys to provide a mechanical advantage to the umbrella system, the fixed end of the pulley rope operably attached to the static component above the at least one class-2 pulley. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the umbrella covering is a patio umbrella covering. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the static component comprises a pole. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pulley rope comprises a cable rope. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the compound pulley component comprises:
 two class 1 pulleys,   two class 2 pulleys in the at least one class two pulley, and   a cable-tension compensator pulley to balance forces between the pulleys.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pole contains the counterweight. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the counterweight component weighs no more than about 8 pounds. 
     
     
         8 . A method of manufacturing a gravity-powered, self-opening umbrella, comprising:
 obtaining a pole having a top end portion; a retractable umbrella covering having a center; a user rope having a fixed-end and a user end; a pulley system having at least one fixed pulley, at least one moveable pulley, and a pulley rope; and, a counterweight to provide a gravitational force, F 2 , for a self-opening of the umbrella covering;   attaching the center of the retractable umbrella to the top end portion of the pole;   circumscribing the pole with a runner, the runner adapted to slide vertically on the pole;   configuring the user end of the user rope for receiving a force, F 1 , applied by a user to close the umbrella covering;   operably attaching the fixed end of the user rope to the runner;   configuring the pulley rope to (i) have a fixed end for receiving the force F 1  and a weighted end attached to the counterweight, and (ii) be in operable connection with the pulleys and the counterweight to provide a mechanical advantage to the umbrella of at least 2, the fixed end of the pulley rope operably attached to the pole.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the umbrella covering is a patio umbrella covering. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the pole comprises a cylindrical pole. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the rope comprises a cable rope. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the forces are balanced on each side of the pole, and the pulley system comprises
 two fixed pulleys in the at least one fixed pulley,   two moveable pulleys in the at least one moveable pulley, and   a tension compensator pulley to balance forces between the pulleys.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the cylindrical pole contains the counterweight. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein,
 F 2  is substantially greater than f t +0.5 F 3 ;   F 3  is the upward vertical force on the runner, in the absence of any friction, applied to open the umbrella covering; and,   f t  is the total frictional force in the system realized at the counterweight component.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein F 2  is at least 4 pounds greater than f t +0.5 F 3 , and F 1  is no more than about 8 pounds. 
     
     
         16 . A wind-resistant patio umbrella, comprising:
 a cylindrical pole having a base portion and a top portion;   a retractable patio umbrella covering having a center and an outer edge, the center attached to the top portion of the pole;   a runner circumscribing the pole, adapted to slide vertically on the pole in response to a force applied to the runner from a user or a wind;   a user rope having a fixed end and a user end, the user end configured to receive a force F 1  from the user; and, the fixed end of the user rope operably attached to the runner;   a counterweight to provide a gravitational force, F 2 , and,   a pulley system having at least one fixed pulley, at least one moveable pulley, and a pulley rope, the pulley rope having (i) a fixed end for receiving the force F 1 , (ii) a weighted end attached to the counterweight component, and (iii) an operable connection with the pulleys to provide a mechanical advantage to the umbrella of at least 2, the fixed end of the pulley rope operably attached to the cylindrical pole;   wherein,
 F 2  is substantially greater than f t +0.5 F 3  for a self-opening of the umbrella covering; 
 F 3  is the upward vertical force on the runner, in the absence of any friction, applied to open the umbrella covering; and, 
 f t  is the total frictional force in the system realized at the counterweight component. 
   
     
     
         17 . The umbrella of  claim 16 , wherein F 2  is at least 4 pounds greater than f t +0.5 F 3 , and F 1  is no more than about 8 pounds. 
     
     
         18 . The umbrella of  claim 16 , wherein the forces are balanced on each side of the pole, the system of pulleys having two fixed pulleys and two moveable pulleys (i) in operable contact with the rope, (ii) positioned between the fixed-end and the user-end of the rope, and (iii) functioning to provide the mechanical advantage. 
     
     
         19 . The umbrella of  claim 16 , wherein the system of pulleys has two fixed pulleys, two moveable pulleys, and a tension-compensator pulley to balance the forces between the pulleys; the system of pulleys (i) in operable contact with the rope, (ii) positioned between the fixed-end and the user-end of the rope, (iii) having one fixed pulley and one moveable pulley on each side of the pole, and (iv) functioning to provide the mechanical advantage. 
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing a counterweighted, self-opening umbrella, comprising:
 obtaining a pole with a top end and a bottom end; a retractable umbrella covering having a center; a mechanical support framework for opening and retracting the umbrella covering; a user rope having a fixed end and a user end; and, a runner configured to (i) receive a force applied by a user at the user end of the user rope and (ii) transfer the force to the mechanical support framework;   operably attaching the center of the umbrella covering to the top end of the pole;   operably attaching a fixed pulley to the pole;   operably attaching a moveable pulley to the mechanical support framework;   operably attaching a pulley rope to the fixed pulley and the moveable pulley, the pulley rope having a fixed end fixably-attached to the pole and a weighted end;   operably attaching a counterweight to the weighted end of the pulley rope to facilitate opening and retracting the umbrella with a mechanical advantage of at least 2;   operably attaching the fixed end of the user rope to the runner; and,   configuring the user end of the user rope for receiving the force from the user to retract the retractable umbrella;   wherein, the umbrella (i) self-opens using only the gravitational force of the counterweight and (ii) retracts with a minimal force, due to the mechanical advantage.