Shade orientating device for large-sized umbrella

Abstract

An umbrella includes a shade orientating device arranged between upper and lower sections of a post. The upper section supports a shade. The shade orientating device includes an upper segment mounted to the upper post section, an intermediate segment connected to the upper segment by a first pivot, a lower segment mounted to the lower post section and connected to the intermediate segment by a second pivot. Thus, the upper segment is rotatable with respect to the intermediate segment about the first pivot pin and the rotation of the upper segment is controlled by a first controller. The intermediate segment is rotatable with respect to the lower segment about the second pivot pin and the rotation of the intermediate segment is controlled by a second controller. Arbitrary combinations of the rotations of the upper and intermediate segments orientate the shade at any desired direction.

1 . A shade orientating device adapted to adjust and control inclination and orientation of a shade supported on a central post of an umbrella, the central post being composed of upper and lower sections between which shade orientating device is arranged, the shade orientating device comprising:
 an upper segment having a lower end mounted to the upper section of the central post and an upper end supporting the shade;   an intermediate segment connected to the upper segment by a first pivot to allow relative rotation between the upper and intermediate segments;   a lower segment mounted to the lower section of the central post, and connected to the intermediate segment by a second pivot that forms an angle with respect to the first pivot to allow relative rotation between the intermediate and lower segments;   a first controller operable to selectively secure the upper and intermediate segments to each other at a first relative angular position and/or to release the upper and intermediate segments from each other to allow change of the first relative angular position between the upper and intermediate segments; and   a second controller operable to selectively secure the intermediate and the lower segments to each other at a second relative angular position and/or to release the intermediate and lower segments from each other to allow change of the second relative angular position between the intermediate and lower segments.   
   
   
       2 . The shade orientating device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first controller comprise an elongate body movably supported by the intermediate segment, the elongate body forming a pawl engageable with notches defined in the upper segment, the first controller being biased to have the pawl engaging a particular one of the notches to set the upper segment at the first angular position with respect to the intermediate segment, and wherein the first controller is manually movable against the biasing to disengage the pawl from the notch to allow rotation of the upper segment for change of the first angular position. 
   
   
       3 . The shade orientating device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second controller comprise an elongate body movably supported by the lower segment, the elongate body forming a pawl engageable with notches defined in the intermediate segment, the second controller being biased to have the pawl engaging a particular one of the notches to set the intermediate segment at the second angular position with respect to the lower segment, and wherein the second controller is manually movable against the biasing to disengage the pawl from the notch to allow rotation of the intermediate segment with respect to the lower segment for change of the second angular position. 
   
   
       4 . The shade orientating device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the angle between the first and second pivots is 90 degrees. 
   
   
       5 . A shade orientating device adapted to adjust and control inclination and orientation of a shade supported on a central post of an umbrella, the central post being composed of upper and lower sections between which shade orientating device is arranged, the shade orientating device comprising:
 an upper segment having a lower end mounted to the upper section of the central post and an upper end supporting the shade;   an intermediate segment connected to the upper segment by a first pivot to allow relative rotation between the upper and intermediate segments;   a lower segment mounted to the lower section of the central post, and connected to the intermediate segment by a second pivot that forms an angle with respect to the first pivot to allow relative rotation between the intermediate and lower segments;   a first controller ring movably mounted to the lower section of the central post for manual operation;   a first linkage connected between the first controller ring and the upper segment for converting movement of the first controller ring into a rotational motion of the upper segment about the first pivot to set a first relative angular position between the upper and intermediate segments;   a second controller ring movably mounted to the lower section of the central post for manual operation; and   a second linkage connected between the second controller ring and the intermediate segment for converting movement of the second controller ring into a rotational motion of the intermediate segment about the second pivot to set a second relative angular position between the intermediate and lower segments.