Suspended canopy support structures

Abstract

A canopy support structure includes a plurality of hubs arranged in series, and a plurality of articulating arms connecting the plurality of hubs. At least one of the plurality of hubs is suspended from above by a support member. At least some of the plurality of hubs are movable toward and away from each other to operate the canopy support structure between expanded and retracted positions. The plurality of articulating arms include a plurality of primary ribs connected directly to the plurality of hubs. The plurality of articulating arms may also include a plurality of secondary ribs connected to some of the plurality of primary ribs, and a plurality of tertiary ribs coupled between the plurality of secondary ribs and other of the plurality of primary ribs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A canopy support structure, comprising:
 a plurality of hubs arranged in series, at least one of the plurality of hubs comprising a suspension interface for suspending the canopy support structure from a support member, at least some of the plurality of hubs being movable toward and away from each other to operate the canopy support structure between expanded and retracted positions; and   a plurality of articulating arms connecting the plurality of hubs, the plurality of articulating arms comprising a plurality of primary ribs connected directly to the plurality of hubs.   
     
     
         2 . The canopy support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of articulating arms further comprise:
 a plurality of secondary ribs connected to some of the plurality of primary ribs; and   a plurality of tertiary ribs coupled between the plurality of secondary ribs and other of the plurality of primary ribs.   
     
     
         3 . The canopy support structure of  claim 1 , wherein moving at least some of the plurality of hubs toward each other moves the canopy support structure into the expanded position. 
     
     
         4 . The canopy support structure of  claim 1 , wherein moving at least some of the plurality of hubs away from each other moves the canopy support structure into the retracted position. 
     
     
         5 . The canopy support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hubs includes at least a first hub and a second hub, the first hub being positioned vertically above the second hub, the first hub being connected to the support member via the suspension interface to suspend the canopy support structure. 
     
     
         6 . The canopy support structure of  claim 5 , further comprising a mounting connector that extends through the first hub and includes a first end connected to the support member and a second end connected to the first hub. 
     
     
         7 . The canopy support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hubs includes at least a first hub and a second hub, the first hub being positioned vertically above the second hub, the second hub being connected to the support member via the suspension interface to suspend the canopy support structure. 
     
     
         8 . The canopy support structure of  claim 7 , further comprising a mounting connector that extends through the first hub and includes a first end connected to the support member and a second end connected to the second hub. 
     
     
         9 . The canopy support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hubs includes at least first, second and third hubs, the second hub being positioned in series between the first and third hubs, the first hub, the second hub or the third hub being connected to the support member to suspend the canopy support structure. 
     
     
         10 . The canopy support structure of  claim 9 , further comprising a mounting connector that extends through the first and second hubs and includes a first end connected to the support member and a second end connected to one of the first, second and third hubs. 
     
     
         11 . The canopy support structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of primary ribs is connected at a first end to one of the plurality of hubs. 
     
     
         12 . The canopy support structure of  claim 11 , wherein the primary ribs are connected to each other at a pivot point. 
     
     
         13 . The canopy support structure of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of primary ribs is connected at a first end to one of the plurality of hubs, a second end of a first group of the plurality of primary ribs are connected to a first end of the plurality of secondary ribs, a second end of the plurality of secondary ribs being a free end. 
     
     
         14 . The canopy support structure of  claim 13 , wherein a second end of a second group of the plurality of primary ribs are connected to a first end of the plurality of tertiary ribs, a second end of the plurality of tertiary ribs being connected to the secondary ribs at a location between the first and second ends of the secondary ribs. 
     
     
         15 . The canopy support structure of  claim 14 , wherein the primary ribs from the first and second groups of primary ribs are connected to each other at a pivot point. 
     
     
         16 . The canopy support structure of  claim 15 , wherein a second end of a third group the primary ribs is connected at the pivot point. 
     
     
         17 . The canopy support structure of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of hubs includes at least first, second and third hubs, the first group of primary ribs are connected to the third hub, the second group of primary ribs are connected to the second hub, and the third group of primary ribs are connected to the first hub. 
     
     
         18 . The canopy support structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of sets of secondary hubs positioned radially relative to the plurality of hubs, and a plurality of secondary ribs connecting the plurality of sets of secondary hubs to each other. 
     
     
         19 . The canopy support structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of cross-ribs extending laterally from some of the primary ribs. 
     
     
         20 . The canopy support structure of  claim 19 , further comprising a plurality of tertiary cross-ribs extending between other of the primary ribs and the plurality of cross-ribs. 
     
     
         21 . The canopy support structure of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of ribs are flexible. 
     
     
         22 . The canopy support structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pulley system operable to move the plurality of hubs relative to each other.   
     
     
         23 . The canopy support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises an extendable and retractable support. 
     
     
         24 . The canopy support structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a track. 
     
     
         25 . The canopy support structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a pivot support operable to move the canopy support structure into angled positions with respect to a vertical direction. 
     
     
         26 . A canopy support structure, comprising:
 an upper hub;   an intermediate hub;   a lower hub, the upper, intermediate, and lower hubs being arranged in series with the upper hub being positioned vertically above the intermediate and lower hubs;   a plurality of articulating arms connecting the upper, intermediate and lower hubs;   wherein moving the intermediate and lower hubs axially relative to each other moves the canopy support structure between expanded and retracted positions, and one of the upper, intermediate and lower hubs is configured to be connected to a support member arranged above the canopy support structure.   
     
     
         27 . The canopy support structure of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of articulating arms comprises:
 a plurality of primary ribs connected directly to the upper, intermediate, and lower hubs.   
     
     
         28 . The canopy support structure of  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of articulating arms further comprises:
 a plurality of secondary ribs connected to some of the plurality of primary ribs;   a plurality of tertiary ribs coupled between the plurality of secondary ribs and other of the plurality of primary ribs.   
     
     
         29 . A canopy support structure, comprising:
 a set of primary hubs arranged in series;   at least one set of secondary hubs arranged radially relative to the set of primary hubs; and   a plurality of articulating arms connecting the primary and secondary hubs;   wherein the primary hubs are movable toward and away from each other to move the canopy support structure between expanded and retracted positions, and at least one of the primary hubs comprising a suspension interface for suspending the canopy support structure from a support member.   
     
     
         30 . The canopy support structure of  claim 29 , wherein the set of primary hubs includes first, second and third hubs that are aligned in series, along a common axis with the first hub being positioned vertically above the second hub, and the third hub being positioned vertically below the second hub. 
     
     
         31 . The canopy support structure of  claim 30 , wherein the first hub is connected to the support member via the suspension interface to suspend the canopy support structure from above. 
     
     
         32 . The canopy support structure of  claim 30 , wherein one of the second and third primary hubs is connected to the support member via the suspension interface to suspend the canopy support structure from above. 
     
     
         33 . A canopy support assembly, comprising:
 a canopy support structure, comprising:
 a plurality of hubs arranged in series; and 
 a plurality of articulating arms connecting the plurality of hubs; 
 wherein the plurality of hubs are movable toward and away from each other to move the canopy support structure between expanded and retracted positions; 
   a support member connected to at least one of the plurality of hubs and configured to suspend the canopy support structure.   
     
     
         34 . The canopy support assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the support member comprises a retractable arm operable between extended and retracted positions. 
     
     
         35 . The canopy support assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the support member comprises a track, and the canopy support assembly is movable laterally along the track. 
     
     
         36 . The canopy support assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the plurality of articulating arms comprises a plurality of primary ribs connected directly to the plurality of hubs. 
     
     
         37 . The canopy support assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of articulating arms further comprises:
 a plurality of secondary ribs connected to a first group of the plurality of primary ribs; and   a plurality of tertiary ribs coupled between the plurality of secondary ribs and a second group of the plurality of primary ribs.