IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0849222
(2007-08-31)
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등록번호 |
US-7703464
(2010-05-20)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear, LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
39 인용 특허 :
11 |
초록
▼
A connector is provided to connect a structural rib of a structure to another rib or portion of the structure, such as an umbrella. The connector comprises first and second ends, and can include a reinforcing rib and/or a closure member. The second end comprises at least one recess extending from a
A connector is provided to connect a structural rib of a structure to another rib or portion of the structure, such as an umbrella. The connector comprises first and second ends, and can include a reinforcing rib and/or a closure member. The second end comprises at least one recess extending from a side of the connector. The recess can comprise an open end configured to be coupled to a mounting member of an umbrella hub or rib and a closed end configured to rest on or retain the mounting member. The reinforcing rib can extend between the first and second ends of the connector to enhance its strength. The closure member, if present, can be biased to allow or restrict access to the open end of the recess to retain the mounting member in the closed ends thereof.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A connector assembly for connecting a first load bearing structure of a shade structure to a second load bearing structure, the connector assembly comprising: support posts coupled with the second load bearing structure, the support posts having a first dimension in cross-sec
What is claimed is: 1. A connector assembly for connecting a first load bearing structure of a shade structure to a second load bearing structure, the connector assembly comprising: support posts coupled with the second load bearing structure, the support posts having a first dimension in cross-section and a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension, the second dimension being greater than the first dimension; and a connector capable of being coupled to the first load bearing structure for coupling the first load bearing structure to the support posts of the second load bearing structure, the connector comprising: a first end capable of being mechanically coupled with the first load bearing structure; and a second end capable of being mechanically coupled with the support post of the second load bearing structure, the second end comprising: first and second recesses extending from a first side of the connector toward a second side of the connector, each recess comprising an open end and a closed end, the open end having a first width being greater than the first dimension of the support post and less than the second dimension of the support post, the closed end having a second width greater than both the first and second dimensions such that the connector can rotate relative to the support post when the support post is in the closed end, the first width of the open end permitting the support post to be inserted through the open end and into the closed end when the second width of the support post is generally longitudinally aligned with the open end and preventing the support post from being removed from the closed end when the second width of the support post is generally longitudinally misaligned with the open end; first and second shoulders formed in the connector between the first and second recesses and a distal end surface of the connector and the second side of the connector, the first and second shoulders extending upwardly from the second side toward the first side of the connector, the first and second shoulders being configured to engage a respective support post to maintain the support post in the respective recess of the connector when attached; a reinforcing rib formed in the connector between respective side surfaces of the first and second recesses, the reinforcing rib extending along the first side of the connector and separating the first recess from the second recess to define a width that is less than the width of the connector, the reinforcing rib being monolithically formed with the first and second shoulders to couple the first and second shoulders to the first end of the connector for enhancing the structural strength of the connector; and closure members for retaining the support posts in the first and second recesses. 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the recess includes a channel section having a generally constant width. 3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the second width defines a diameter of a perimeter of the closed end. 4. A connector capable of connecting a first portion of a shade structure to another portion of the structure, the connector comprising: a first end capable of being mechanically coupled with the first portion; a second end comprising first and second recesses and a reinforcing rib formed in the connector between the first and second recesses, the first and second recesses extending from respective first and second openings adjacent to a first side of the connector toward a second side of the connector, the first and second recesses defining respective first and second shoulders, the first and second shoulders being formed monolithically with the reinforcing rib along the first side of the connector for enhancing the structural strength of the connector, the first and second openings being configured to receive mounting members of the other portion of the shade structure, the first and second shoulders being configured to rest on or retain the mounting members, the mounting members having a first dimension in cross-section and a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension, the second dimension being greater than the first dimension, the first and second recesses each comprising an open end and a closed end, the open end having a first width being greater than a first dimension of the mounting member and less than a second dimension of the mounting member to prevent rotation of the mounting member when in the open end, the closed end having a second width greater than both the first and second dimensions such that the connector can rotate relative to the mounting members when the mounting members are in the closed ends of the first and second recesses, the first width of the open end permitting the mounting member to be inserted through the open end and into the closed end when the second width of the mounting member is generally longitudinally aligned with the open end and preventing the mounting member from being removed from the closed end when the second width of the mounting member is generally longitudinally misaligned with the open end; and closure members disposed in the first and second recesses adjacent to the first and second openings thereof, the closure members being disposed on opposing sides of the reinforcing rib, the closure members being movable relative to the reinforcing rib from a first position in which access to the first and second recesses is provided through the respective first and second openings to a second position in which the closure members extend into the first and second recesses blocking access through the first and second openings to the respective first and second recesses. 5. The connector of claim 4, wherein the closure member moves in a path generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the connector. 6. The connector of claim 4, wherein the closure member is pivotally coupled to the first end of the connector and pivots about an axis that is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the connector. 7. The connector of claim 4, wherein the closure member and the connector are formed from a continuous piece of material. 8. The connector of claim 4, wherein the connector comprises first and second longitudinally symmetric halves, the first and second halves each comprising interior slots that collectively form a central aperture when the first and second halves are joined together, the central aperture being engagable by a fastener to attach the connector to the first portion of the shade structure. 9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the first and second halves of the connector can be inserted into a hollow end of the first portion of the shade structure to be coupled thereto. 10. The connector of claim 8, wherein the first and second halves of the connector comprise one or more protrusions configured to engage the first portion of the shade structure. 11. A connector capable of connecting a first portion of a shade structure to another portion of the shade structure, the connector comprising: a first end capable of being mechanically coupled with the first portion; a second end capable of being mechanically coupled with the other portion of the shade structure, the second end comprising first and second recesses and a reinforcing rib formed in the connector between the first and second recesses, the first and second recesses defining respective first and second shoulders, the first and second shoulders being formed monolithically with the reinforcing rib along a first side of the connector for enhancing the structural strength of the shoulders, the first and second openings being configured to receive mounting members of the other portion of the shade structure, the first and second recesses configured to receive the mounting members therein in a given orientation and to prevent the mounting members from exiting therefrom unless the mounting members are in the given orientation; and closure members extending from the reinforcing rib into the first and second recesses, the closure members being pivotable along an axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the connector to allow the mounting members to enter the respective first and second recesses and to selectively prevent the mounting members from exiting the respective first and second recesses, the closure members being manually deflectable into the reinforcing rib for permitting the mounting members to exit the respective first and second recesses. 12. The connector of claim 11, wherein the closure members are monolithically formed with the reinforcing rib. 13. The connector of claim 11, wherein the mounting members have a first dimension in cross-section and a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension, the second dimension being greater than the first dimension, the first and second recesses each comprising an open end and a closed end, the open end having a first width being greater than a first dimension of the mounting member and less than a second dimension of the mounting member to prevent rotation of the mounting member when in the open end, the closed end having a second width greater than both the first and second dimensions such that the connector can rotate relative to the mounting members when the mounting members are in the closed ends of the first and second recesses, the first width of the open end permitting the mounting member to be inserted through the open end and into the closed end when the second width of the mounting member is generally longitudinally aligned with the open end and preventing the mounting member from being removed from the closed end when the second width of the mounting member is generally longitudinally misaligned with the open end.
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