Canopy Apparatus with Articulating Arm

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a canopy system. The canopy system may include: a canopy that includes a shaft and a canopy ball coupled to the shaft; a double socket arm connected to the canopy via the canopy ball; and a mount, the mount having a mounting ball, the mount connected to the double socket arm via the mounting ball, the canopy system thus configured for a wide range of canopy articulation with respect to the mount. Alternative embodiments are provided for the shaft, double socket arm and mounts.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A canopy system comprising:
 a canopy that includes a shaft and a canopy ball coupled to the shaft;   a double socket arm connected to the canopy via the canopy ball; and   a mount, the mount having a mounting ball, the mount connected to the double socket arm via the mounting ball, the canopy system thus configured for a wide range of canopy articulation with respect to the mount.   
     
     
         2 . The canopy system of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft does not include a contoured handle. 
     
     
         3 . The canopy system of  claim 2 , wherein the canopy includes a threaded insert configured to retain the canopy ball to the shaft, a first portion of the threaded insert being disposed in the shaft, a second portion of the threaded insert being disposed in the canopy ball. 
     
     
         4 . The canopy system of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a contoured handle, 
     
     
         5 . The canopy system of  claim 4 , wherein the canopy includes an insert configured to retain the canopy ball to the shaft, an unthreaded portion of the insert being disposed in and affixed to the handle, a threaded portion of the insert being disposed in the canopy ball. 
     
     
         6 . The canopy system of  claim 1 , wherein the double socket arm includes a T handle. 
     
     
         7 . The canopy system of  claim 1 , wherein the double socket arm includes a lever handle. 
     
     
         8 . The canopy system of  claim 1 , wherein the double socket arm includes a cam lever. 
     
     
         9 . The canopy system of  claim 1 , wherein the mount includes a chair mounting bracket. 
     
     
         10 . The canopy system of  claim 9 , wherein the chair mounting bracket includes a pedestal. 
     
     
         11 . The canopy system of  claim 9 , wherein the chair mounting bracket includes a swivel plate. 
     
     
         12 . The canopy system of  claim 9 , wherein the chair mounting bracket includes a locking pin. 
     
     
         13 . The canopy system of  claim 1 , wherein the mount is a bench seat mounting bracket. 
     
     
         14 . The canopy system of  claim 1 , wherein the mount is a bench seat mounting assembly that includes:
 an arm having at least one through hole and the mounting ball;   a retaining plate having at least one threaded hole; and   at least one handle screw configured to cooperate with the at least one through hole and the at least one threaded hole to couple the arm and the retaining plate, the bench seat mounting bracket thus configured to clamp a portion of a bench seat between a portion of the arm and the retaining plate.