Cantilevered umbrella design with an arcuate guide track

Abstract

A cantilevered umbrella assembly with an arcuate guide track comprises a support column, a cantilever arm attached to the support column, and an at least partially arcuate configured guide track attached to the cantilever arm that defines a sweep axis and a plane. The guide track defines a first free end, a second free end and an apex between the first end and the second end along the sweep axis. The sweep axis defines a first tangent to the sweep axis at the first end, a second tangent at the second end, and a third tangent at the apex, wherein a first line drawn perpendicularly to the first tangent and a second line drawn perpendicularly to the third tangent form a first included angle in the plane of the guide track that ranges from 10 to 45 degrees.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An umbrella subassembly for use with an umbrella assembly that includes an umbrella attachment mechanism having a locking member, the subassembly comprising:
 a canopy;   an articulated support structure to which the canopy is attached; and   an upward extending attachment member that defines at least one hole that is configured to receive the locking member.   
     
     
         2 . The umbrella subassembly of  claim 1  wherein the attachment member includes a central channel that is configured to allow a release cord to pass through the subassembly. 
     
     
         3 . The umbrella subassembly of  claim 1  further comprising an umbrella expansion and collapsing mechanism that is operatively associated with the articulated support structure for expanding and collapsing the canopy.