Umbrella assembly with gas spring

Abstract

An umbrella is provided that includes a hollow pole, a shade assembly, and a lift assembly. The shade assembly is coupled with an upper portion of the hollow pole. The shade assembly includes an upper hub, a lower hub, and a shade structure coupling the upper hub to the lower hub. The shade structure supports a shade member and the lower hub is moveable along the hollow pole. The lift assembly is disposed within the hollow pole. The lift assembly includes a gas spring and a cord. The cord has a first end coupled with the hollow pole and a second end coupled with the lower hub. When closing the umbrella, the cord applies a load to compress the gas spring. When opening the umbrella, the gas spring applies a load to the cord, to cause the lower hub to be moved upward.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . An umbrella comprising:
 a hollow pole;   a lower hub configured to be moveable along the hollow pole;   a lift assist assembly disposed within the hollow pole; and   a cord having a first end coupled with the hollow pole and a second end coupled with the lower hub,   wherein, when closing the umbrella, the cord applies a load to the lift assist assembly, and wherein when opening the umbrella the lift assist assembly applies a load to the lower hub by way of the cord.   
     
     
         26 . The umbrella of  claim 25 , further comprising a pulley positioned below a lower end of the lift assist assembly, and wherein the cord is disposed around the pulley. 
     
     
         27 . The umbrella of  claim 25 , wherein the lift assist assembly comprises a gas spring. 
     
     
         28 . The umbrella of  claim 25 , wherein the first end of the cord is coupled with the hollow pole in an upper region of the hollow pole. 
     
     
         29 . The umbrella of  claim 25 , wherein the first end of the cord is coupled indirectly with the hollow pole by an inner fixture mounted within the hollow pole. 
     
     
         30 . The umbrella of  claim 25 , further comprising an upper fixture disposed around an outer surface of the hollow pole, the upper fixture configured to assist in securing the lower hub to the hollow pole when the umbrella is in an open state. 
     
     
         31 . The umbrella of  claim 30 , wherein the cord extends through a slot in the upper fixture. 
     
     
         32 . The umbrella of  claim 30 , wherein the upper fixture is sized to fit at least partially within an opening of the lower hub. 
     
     
         33 . A method of opening an umbrella comprising:
 moving a lower hub in an upward direction along a hollow pole, the hollow pole coupled with a first end of a cord and the lower hub coupled with a second end of the cord;   decreasing a length of the cord between the second end of the cord and a lower end of a lift assist assembly disposed within the hollow pole as the lower hub is moved in the upward direction; and   applying a load to the cord via the lift assist assembly to assist in moving the lower hub in the upward direction.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein when in an open state, the length of the cord between the second end of the cord and the lower end of the lift assist assembly is substantially equal to a length of the cord between the first end of the cord and the lower end of the lift assist assembly. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising increasing a length of the cord between the first end of the cord and the lower end of the lift assist assembly as the lower hub is moved in the upward direction. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the lift assist assembly comprises a gas spring and wherein the gas spring applies the load to the cord to assist in moving the lower hub in the upward direction. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the cord is disposed around a pulley positioned below the lower end of the lift assist assembly. 
     
     
         38 . A method of closing an umbrella comprising:
 moving a lower hub in a downward direction along a hollow pole, the hollow pole coupled with a first end of a cord and the lower hub coupled with a second end of the cord;   increasing a length of the cord between the first end of the cord and a lower end of a lift assist assembly disposed within the hollow pole as the lower hub is moved in the downward direction; and   applying a load to the lift assist assembly via the cord.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein applying the load to the lift assist assembly comprises compressing a gas spring by moving a piston into a hollow tube. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein when in a closed state, the length of the cord between the first end of the cord and the lower end of the lift assist assembly is greater than a length of the cord between the second end and the lower end of the lift assist assembly. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising decreasing a length of the cord between the second end of the cord and lower end of the lift assist assembly as the lower hub is moved in the downward direction. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising disengaging a hook pivotally coupled to the lower hub to allow the lower hub to be moved in the downward direction. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising pulling a handle of the lower hub to disengage the hook. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the cord is disposed around a pulley positioned below the lower end of the lift assist assembly.