Umbrella with sliding mast and related methods

Abstract

An umbrella includes a mast coupled to a canopy. The mast includes an upper portion having a track carried on an outer surface of an upper tubular housing and extending longitudinally. The mast also includes a lower portion having a lower tubular housing slidingly receiving the upper portion, and a protrusion extending outward from the lower tubular housing and defining a passageway therein. The passageway is aligned with the track, and the protrusion has a first threaded surface. The lower portion also includes a pin received by the passageway and extending through the protrusion to interface with the track of the upper portion, and a cap having a second threaded surface to engage with the first threaded surface of the protrusion and to cause the pin to lock the lower portion and the upper portion together.

1 . An umbrella comprising:
 a canopy configured to switch between an open position and a closed position; and   a mast coupled to the canopy and comprising
 an upper portion comprising
 an upper tubular housing, and 
 a track carried on an outer surface of the upper tubular housing and extending longitudinally, the track comprising interweaved recesses and ridges, and 
 
 a lower portion comprising
 a lower tubular housing slidingly receiving the upper portion, 
 a protrusion extending outward from the lower tubular housing and defining a passageway therein, the passageway being aligned with the track, the protrusion having a first threaded surface, 
 a pin received by the passageway and extending through the protrusion to interface with the track of the upper portion, and 
 a cap having a second threaded surface to engage with the first threaded surface of the protrusion and to cause the pin to lock the lower portion and the upper portion together. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The umbrella of  claim 1  wherein the pin comprises a peripheral flange; and wherein the protrusion comprises an inner rim surrounding the passageway and to retain the pin within the passageway. 
     
     
         3 . The umbrella of  claim 1  wherein the pin comprises a keyed distal end to be received by the interweaved recesses and ridges of the track. 
     
     
         4 . The umbrella of  claim 3  wherein the pin comprises a proximal portion, and a medial portion between the keyed distal portion and the proximal portion, the medial portion having a width greater than that of the keyed distal portion and the proximal portion. 
     
     
         5 . The umbrella of  claim 4  wherein the proximal portion is cylinder-shaped. 
     
     
         6 . The umbrella of  claim 1  wherein the cap comprises a raised peripheral rim defining the second threaded surface, and a medial protrusion within the raised peripheral rim and to abut the pin. 
     
     
         7 . The umbrella of  claim 6  wherein the pin defines a first fastener receiving passageway opposite the track; wherein the medial protrusion defines a second fastener receiving passageway aligned with the first fastener receiving passageway; and wherein the lower portion comprises a fastener extending through the first fastener receiving passageway and the second fastener receiving passageway for coupling the cap and the pin together. 
     
     
         8 . The umbrella of  claim 1  wherein the upper portion comprises a winding device coupled to the upper tubular housing and configured to cause the canopy to switch from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         9 . The umbrella of  claim 8  wherein the upper portion comprises a pivoting device between the winding device and the canopy and configured to cause the canopy to switch between a tilted position and an untilted position. 
     
     
         10 . An umbrella comprising:
 a canopy configured to switch between an open position and a closed position; and   a mast coupled to the canopy and comprising
 an upper portion comprising
 an upper tubular housing, and 
 a track carried on an outer surface of the upper tubular housing and extending longitudinally, the track comprising interweaved recesses and ridges, and 
 
 a lower portion comprising
 a lower tubular housing slidingly receiving the upper portion, 
 a protrusion extending outward from the lower tubular housing and defining a passageway therein, the passageway being aligned with the track, the protrusion having
 a first threaded surface, and 
 an inner rim surrounding the passageway, 
 
 a pin received by the passageway and extending through the protrusion to interface with the track of the upper portion, the pin comprising
 a peripheral flange, the inner rim to retain the pin within the passageway, and 
 a keyed distal end to be received by the interweaved recesses and ridges of the track, and 
 
 a cap having a second threaded surface to engage with the first threaded surface of the protrusion and to cause the pin to lock the lower portion and the upper portion together. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The umbrella of  claim 10  wherein the pin comprises a proximal portion, and a medial portion between the keyed distal portion and the proximal portion, the medial portion having a width greater than that of the keyed distal portion and the proximal portion. 
     
     
         12 . The umbrella of  claim 11  wherein the proximal portion is cylinder-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . The umbrella of  claim 10  wherein the cap comprises a raised peripheral rim defining the second threaded surface, and a medial protrusion within the raised peripheral rim and to abut the pin. 
     
     
         14 . The umbrella of  claim 13  wherein the pin defines a first fastener receiving passageway opposite the track; wherein the medial protrusion defines a second fastener receiving passageway aligned with the first fastener receiving passageway; and wherein the lower portion comprises a fastener extending through the first fastener receiving passageway and the second fastener receiving passageway for coupling the cap and the pin together. 
     
     
         15 . The umbrella of  claim 10  wherein the upper portion comprises a winding device coupled to the upper tubular housing and configured to cause the canopy to switch from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         16 . The umbrella of  claim 15  wherein the upper portion comprises a pivoting device between the winding device and the canopy and configured to cause the canopy to switch between a tilted position and an untilted position. 
     
     
         17 . A method for making an umbrella, the method comprising:
 providing a canopy configured to switch between an open position and a closed position; and   coupling a mast to the canopy, the mast comprising
 an upper portion comprising
 an upper tubular housing, and 
 a track carried on an outer surface of the upper tubular housing and extending longitudinally, the track comprising interweaved recesses and ridges, and 
 
 a lower portion comprising
 a lower tubular housing slidingly receiving the upper portion, 
 a protrusion extending outward from the lower tubular housing and defining a passageway therein, the passageway being aligned with the track, the protrusion having a first threaded surface, 
 a pin received by the passageway and extending through the protrusion to interface with the track of the upper portion, and 
 a cap having a second threaded surface to engage with the first threaded surface of the protrusion and to cause the pin to lock the lower portion and the upper portion together. 
 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the pin comprises a peripheral flange; and wherein the protrusion comprises an inner rim surrounding the passageway and to retain the pin within the passageway. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the pin comprises a keyed distal end to be received by the interweaved recesses and ridges of the track; wherein the pin comprises a proximal portion, and a medial portion between the keyed distal portion and the proximal portion, the medial portion having a width greater than that of the keyed distal portion and the proximal portion; and wherein the proximal portion is cylinder-shaped. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the cap comprises a raised peripheral rim defining the second threaded surface, and a medial protrusion within the raised peripheral rim and to abut the pin; wherein the pin defines a first fastener receiving passageway opposite the track; wherein the medial protrusion defines a second fastener receiving passageway aligned with the first fastener receiving passageway; and wherein the lower portion comprises a fastener extending through the first fastener receiving passageway and the second fastener receiving passageway for coupling the cap and the pin together. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the upper portion comprises a winding device coupled to the upper tubular housing and configured to cause the canopy to switch from the closed position to the open position and wherein the upper portion comprises a pivoting device between the winding device and the canopy and configured to cause the canopy to switch between a tilted position and an untilted position.