Umbrella lower hub assembly with integrated handle

Abstract

An umbrella assembly includes a support pole having a locking fixture, a lower hub assembly movably coupled to the support pole, umbrella ribs extending from the lower hub assembly, and a canopy extending over the umbrella ribs. The lower hub assembly can be moved along the support pole to move the umbrella assembly between open and closed configurations. The lower hub assembly includes a runner hub and a hub controller. The hub controller includes an upper portion, a handle portion, and a locking mechanism integrated into the handle portion. The locking mechanism includes an actuator, a locking feature coupled to the actuator, and a spring configured to bias the actuator towards the support pole. The actuator is moveable between a first position in which the locking feature is engaged with the locking fixture and a second position in which the locking feature is disengaged from the locking fixture.

1 . An umbrella assembly comprising:
 a support pole;   a plurality of spaced apart recesses disposed along the support pole; and   a lower hub assembly moveably coupled to the support pole, the lower hub assembly comprising:
 a runner hub having a plurality of grooves configured to receive umbrella ribs; and 
 a hub controller coupled to the runner hub, the hub controller comprising:
 an upper portion extending from the runner hub; 
 a handle portion coupled to the upper portion, the handle portion having an aperture configured for receiving a hand of a user; and 
 a locking mechanism coupled to the handle portion, the locking mechanism comprising:
 an actuator disposed in the aperture and having a gripping surface; and 
 a locking feature coupled to the actuator, 
 
 
 wherein the actuator is moveable relative to the handle portion between a first position in which the locking feature is disposed in one of the spaced apart recesses and a second position in which the locking feature is not disposed in one of the spaced apart recesses in response to the hand of the user applying a force to the gripping surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion is directly connected to a lower surface of the lower hub assembly on a first side of the support pole, and wherein the handle portion is disposed below the upper portion and extends around a second side of the support pole opposite to the upper portion. 
     
     
         3 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the locking feature comprises two teeth configured to engage with the plurality of spaced apart recesses. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to axially translate within the handle portion. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises an annular body, the annular body comprising a central opening at least partially aligned with the aperture, wherein the central opening is configured to receive fingers of the hand of the user. 
     
     
         8 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the handle portion further comprises an enclosure disposed around the aperture, wherein the actuator is disposed in the enclosure, the hub controller comprising one or more skids disposed between the enclosure and the actuator. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An umbrella assembly comprising:
 a support pole;   a locking fixture disposed on the support pole; and   a lower hub assembly moveably coupled to the support pole, the lower hub assembly comprising:
 a runner hub having a plurality of grooves configured to receive umbrella ribs; and 
 a hub controller extending from the runner hub, the hub controller comprising:
 a handle portion; and 
 a locking mechanism coupled to the handle portion, the locking mechanism comprising:
 an actuator moveable relative to the handle portion; and 
 a locking feature coupled to the actuator, 
 
 
   wherein the actuator is moveable between a first position in which the locking feature is engaged with the locking fixture and a second position in which the locking feature is disengaged from the locking fixture.   
     
     
         16 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the handle portion comprises an aperture configured to receive a hand of a user, wherein the actuator is disposed within the aperture. 
     
     
         17 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising one or more skids disposed between the actuator and an interior surface of the handle portion. 
     
     
         18 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more skids extend from a side surface of the actuator. 
     
     
         19 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more skids extend from a bottom surface of the actuator. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the actuator is translatable within the handle portion without planar contact between the actuator and an interior surface of the handle portion. 
     
     
         22 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the actuator comprises an annular body, the annular body having a central opening at least partially aligned with the aperture. 
     
     
         23 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a spring disposed within the handle portion, wherein the spring is configured to bias the actuator to the first position. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the actuator is moveable between the first position and the second position without radial movement. 
     
     
         26 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the lower hub assembly can be held in an upper position without frictional engagement being applied along a vertical surface. 
     
     
         27 . An umbrella assembly comprising:
 a support pole;   a locking fixture disposed on the support pole; and   a lower hub assembly moveably coupled to the support pole, the lower hub assembly comprising:
 a runner hub having a plurality of grooves configured to receive umbrella ribs; and 
 a hub controller extending from the runner hub, the hub controller comprising:
 a handle portion having an aperture configured for receiving a hand of a user; 
 an actuator disposed within the aperture, wherein the actuator is moveable relative to the handle portion to move a locking feature into engagement with the locking fixture; and 
 one or more skids disposed between the actuator and an interior surface of the handle portion. 
 
   
     
     
         28 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more skids extend from a side surface of the actuator. 
     
     
         29 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more skids extend from a bottom surface of the actuator. 
     
     
         30 . The umbrella assembly of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of the one or more skids extends from a top surface of the actuator, at least one of the one or more skids extends from a bottom surface of the actuator, at least one of the one or more skids extends from a side surface of the actuator, and at least one of the one or more skids extends from an opposite side surface of the actuator. 
     
     
         31 . (canceled)