Umbrella assembly with counterweight system

Abstract

An umbrella is provided that includes a hollow pole, a shade assembly, a counterweight system, and a locking device. The shade assembly includes a guide rod coupled with an upper hub. The guide rod has a stop surface. The counterweight system has a ballast and a cord that has a first end coupled with the ballast and a second end coupled with a lower hub. The locking device has pushrod mechanism. When closing the umbrella, the pushrod mechanism moves upward disengaging a moveable locking surface from the guide rod to allow the lower hub to move downward and the ballast to move upward.

1 .- 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . An umbrella comprising:
 a pole;   a shade assembly coupled with an upper portion of the pole, the shade assembly comprising an upper hub;   a guide rod movably disposed within the pole and coupled with the upper hub; and   a locking device, the locking device comprising:
 a hook assembly configured to engage the guide rod to lock the umbrella in an open state, and 
 a pushrod at least partially disposed below the hook assembly, 
   wherein, when closing the umbrella, the pushrod is actuated to move upward to disengage the hook assembly.   
     
     
         29 . The umbrella of claim  29 , wherein the hook assembly comprises a prong configured to fit within a corresponding recess of the guide rod. 
     
     
         31 . The umbrella of claim  30 , wherein the hook assembly comprises a plurality of prongs, each prong configured to fit within a corresponding recess of the guide rod. 
     
     
         32 . The umbrella of  claim 29 , wherein the pushrod comprises a fixture configured to disengage the hook assembly when the pushrod moves upward. 
     
     
         33 . The umbrella of  claim 32 , wherein the fixture comprises an angled surface, the angled surface configured to disengage the hook assembly when the pushrod moves upward. 
     
     
         34 . The umbrella of  claim 29 , wherein the pushrod comprises at least one width that corresponds with a width of an interior space of the guide rod, the corresponding widths configured to prevent the pushrod from deflecting away from the hook assembly when the pushrod moves upward. 
     
     
         35 . The umbrella of  claim 29 , wherein the locking device comprises a spring configured to urge the hook assembly to engage the guide rod. 
     
     
         36 . The umbrella of  claim 29 , further comprising a counterweight system disposed within an interior space of the pole. 
     
     
         37 . The umbrella of  claim 36 , wherein the counterweight system comprises a ballast and a cord having a first end coupled with the ballast and a second end coupled with a lower hub. 
     
     
         38 . The umbrella of  claim 37 , wherein the pushrod is actuated by movement of the ballast. 
     
     
         39 . An umbrella comprising:
 a pole;   a shade assembly coupled with an upper portion of the pole, the shade assembly comprising:
 an upper hub coupled with a guide rod, and 
 a lower hub moveable along the pole; and 
   a locking device configured to engage the guide rod, the locking device comprising a pushrod positioned at least partially below the lower hub,   wherein when closing the umbrella, the pushrod moves upward disengaging the locking device from the guide rod, allowing the lower hub to be moved downward.   
     
     
         40 . The umbrella of  claim 39 , wherein the locking device comprises a moveable locking surface configured to engage the guide rod. 
     
     
         41 . The umbrella of  claim 40 , wherein the locking device comprises a spring configured to move the moveable locking surface to engage the guide rod. 
     
     
         42 . The umbrella of  claim 40 , wherein the moveable locking surface comprises at least one prong configured to engage a corresponding recess of the guide rod when the umbrella is in an open state. 
     
     
         43 . The umbrella of  claim 39 , wherein the pushrod comprises a fixture configured to disengage the locking device when the pushrod moves upward. 
     
     
         44 . The umbrella of  claim 43 , wherein the fixture comprises an angled surface, the angled surface configured to disengage the locking device when the pushrod moves upward. 
     
     
         45 . The umbrella of  claim 39 , wherein the pushrod comprises at least one width that corresponds with a width of an interior space of the guide rod, the corresponding widths configured to prevent the pushrod from deflecting away from the locking device when the pushrod moves upward. 
     
     
         46 . The umbrella of  claim 39 , further comprising a counterweight system disposed within an interior space of the pole. 
     
     
         47 . The umbrella of  claim 46 , wherein the counterweight system comprises a ballast and a cord having a first end coupled with the ballast and a second end coupled with the lower hub. 
     
     
         48 . The umbrella of  claim 47 , wherein the pushrod is actuated by movement of the ballast.