Hub assembly for an umbrella frame

Abstract

An umbrella frame provides a stable and enduring support for an umbrella canopy while also allowing canopies of varying shapes and sizes to be mounted thereto. The umbrella frame includes a hub assembly, namely, a main hub member mounted about a central pole member of the umbrella frame which offers improved means for attaching brackets thereto which are structured to pivotally receive a plurality of strut members therein, which strut members are, in turn, pivotally secured to a plurality of rib members interconnected with an upper, secondary hub. The main hub member of the present invention preferably includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a channel having at least one ledge formed therebetween, with a band formed from a flattened strip of metal secured within the channel about the hub member. The channel is formed to have the same general height dimension as the brackets, which are secured to the band and the hub member and are confined within the space defined by the channel so as to prevent rotation or twisting thereof. As such, the present invention provides for an umbrella frame which is more sturdy and durable and yet, which allows the size and shape of the attached canopy to be readily varied.

1 . A hub assembly for an umbrella frame comprising:
 a hub member having a central aperture sized to receive a pole member of the umbrella frame, said hub member being capable of sliding between a bottom end and a top end of the pole,   said hub member having an upper portion and a lower portion separate from one another,   a ring also having a central aperture also sized to receive the pole member of the umbrella frame and capable of sliding between the bottom end and top end of the pole member, said ring including a first exposed, horizontally oriented surface and a second exposed horizontally oriented surface,   said upper portion of said hub member being adjacent to said first exposed ring surface and said lower portion of said hub member being adjacent to said second exposed ring surface in an assembled orientation, and   said ring including a plurality of brackets structured to pivotally receive an end of a strut member of the umbrella frame.   
   
   
       2 . A hub assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said ring is of a solid, one piece construction and said brackets are pre-formed. 
   
   
       3 . A hub assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein at least some of said pre-formed brackets of said ring have an interior surface with a generally “U” shape. 
   
   
       4 . A hub assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein at least some of said pre-formed brackets of said ring have an interior surface with a generally “V” shape. 
   
   
       5 . A hub assembly as recited in  claim 3  wherein said ring includes at least 8 of said pre-formed brackets.