Patent attributes
A novel umbrella is disclosed with a simplified structure that creates a clean, elegant profile with reduced component count and increased wind resistance. The umbrella includes a support post, a housing supported thereby, spokes pivotally disposed about the housing, a canopy, and an actuator. The housing has a top hub and a bottom hub. The actuator slides the hubs together to pivot the spokes away from the housing, whereby the umbrella moves from a closed position to an open position. Rollers are preferably retained within the top hub, and each spoke preferably has a spoke cam attached to one end. The spokes pivot away from the housing by having a roller surface of each spoke cam slide along each respective roller. The actuator may have a crank operated worm drive mechanism to raise and lower the canopy.
