IP Verse

Canopy Umbrella

Patent No. US11219286 (titled "Canopy Umbrella") was filed by Lso Lp on Sep 13, 2018.

What is this patent about?

’286 is related to the field of sun and shade structures, specifically addressing the need for improved beach canopies. Traditional beach umbrellas offer limited shade, while existing canopies are often unstable and highly dependent on consistent wind direction. This patent aims to combine the benefits of both designs to provide a more reliable and versatile shade solution.

The underlying idea behind ’286 is to integrate a conventional beach umbrella with an extended canopy section. The umbrella provides structural support for the front of the canopy, mitigating the collapse issues common in standalone canopy designs. The canopy extends rearward from the umbrella, providing a larger shaded area, while the umbrella ensures stability even in variable wind conditions.

The claims of ’286 focus on a canopy umbrella comprising an umbrella portion with a pole, spokes, and fabric, and a canopy portion extending rearward from the back of the umbrella. The canopy portion curves downward and terminates in spaced-apart ends. Claim 12 adds a horizontal slit in the front of the umbrella to allow airflow. Claim 15 includes tubes along the sides of the canopy to further channel airflow.

In practice, the device functions as a standard beach umbrella with an integrated canopy. The user inserts the pole into the ground, opens the umbrella, and secures the ends of the canopy with sand-filled pockets. The horizontal slit in the front of the umbrella, along with the side tubes, helps to direct airflow and lift the canopy, enhancing its stability and shade coverage. The combination of the umbrella's rigid structure and the canopy's extended coverage provides a more robust and comfortable shading solution.

This design differentiates itself from prior art by using the umbrella structure to support the canopy, rather than relying solely on poles or wind. The integrated design reduces the risk of collapse and minimizes the need for constant readjustment due to changing wind direction. The addition of features like the horizontal slit and side tubes further enhances airflow management, contributing to a more stable and effective shade structure .

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the late 2010s when ’286 was filed, at a time when portable shade structures were typically implemented using either umbrellas with a central pole and radial ribs supporting a fabric top, or canopies supported by poles and weighted down with sandbags. When systems commonly relied on manual adjustment to account for changes in wind direction, and when hardware or software constraints made it non-trivial to provide a shade structure that was stable and effective in varying wind conditions.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The examiner approved the application because the appeal brief was persuasive. The examiner had previously made an amendment to the claims during an interview with the applicant's attorney.

Claims

This patent contains 16 claims, with independent claims numbered 1, 12, and 15. The independent claims are directed to a canopy umbrella having a pole, spokes, fabric, and a canopy portion extending rearwardly. The dependent claims generally add specific features or limitations to the independent claims, such as openings for airflow, means for maintaining ends on the ground, slits, tubes, or screens.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
Additional length of fabric material
(Claim 1, Claim 12, Claim 15)		“The back of the umbrella includes an additional length of fabric that extends horizontally rearwardly and then curves downwardly and terminates in two spaced apart ends. Each end includes a pocket that can be filled with sand to weigh the same down and to maintain the ends on the beach. The additional fabric is essentially a canopy. The umbrella structure provides better support for the forward end of the canopy and prevents the same from collapsing when the wind conditions change.”A fabric extension that forms the canopy portion, extending rearward from the umbrella portion, curving downward, and terminating in spaced apart ends.
Canopy umbrella
(Claim 1, Claim 12, Claim 15)		“The present invention is directed toward a combined umbrella and canopy or sun/shade which is primarily useful at the beach for protecting beachgoers from direct sunlight. It is, however, not limited to use at the beach and can be used in substantially any outdoor environment where protection from the sun is desired. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a combined umbrella and canopy that provides the advantages of both of these devices.”A combined umbrella and canopy or sun/shade device.
Elongated vertically extending pole
(Claim 1, Claim 12, Claim 15)		“summary, the umbrella portion 12 includes an elongated vertically extending pole 16 having a lower end 18 and an upper end 20. The lower end 18 is intended to be inserted into the ground to maintain the pole 16 in an essentially vertical orientation.”A long, upright pole that forms the central support for the umbrella portion, designed to be inserted into the ground.
Horizontal slit
(Claim 12)		“While these prior art devices may be somewhat useful and, under the right conditions, can provide more shade from the sun than many umbrellas, they require that there be wind, that the wind be relatively steady and that the wind come from the proper direction. Any shift in the wind or any temporary loss of wind may cause the canopy to collapse.”An elongated opening in the front of the umbrella portion that allows air to pass through.
Spokes extend radially outwardly
(Claim 1, Claim 12, Claim 15)		“In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, four spokes or ribs 22, 24, 26 and 28 are connected to the upper end 20 of the pole 16. As is also known in the art, they are hingedly secured thereto so as to be movable between a closed position such as shown in”The spokes move from a closed position parallel to the pole to an open position extending outward from the pole.

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US11219286

LSO LP
Application Number
US16646797
Filing Date
Sep 13, 2018
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
Sep 13, 2038
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents