IP Library Granted Patent US 12702206
Granted Patent B2
US 12702206 · App. 18/186,349 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Portable suspended inverted umbrella with quick release fabric

Inventor: Robert Scott Arnold (San Diego, CA)
A45B23/00A45B11/00A45B2023/0037
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12702206
App. No.
18/186,349
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a suspended inverted umbrella shade system that provides a lightweight portable sun blocking solution, with fast deployment and removal, safe under high wind conditions. The system allows for freedom of movement under an easily and broadly reconfigurable shaded area. The shade system includes a lightweight adjustable cantilever with only two cam levers for simplified positioning, suspending an inverted umbrella framework with a simple twist release handle and a tight durable storage configuration. A flower petal fabric assembly provides immediate reaction in high wind, safely releasing attached fabric petals at engineered pressure. The invention description provides step-by-step instructions for one-handed operation, including rotation and tilt position adjustment, finishing with the safe removal and storage of the shade. Overall, the suspended inverted umbrella system simplifies shade operation, making it accessible to a broader user base, including disabled individuals.

Claims (41)

1 . A suspended inverted umbrella shade system comprising:

a shade apparatus comprising:

a hanger,

an umbrella shade framework, and

a safety fabric;

an umbrella holder apparatus thereby suspending said shade apparatus with a quickly-connectable quickly-releasable umbrella hanger socket at a proximal position of the umbrella shade framework;

an axial and angular adjustment system for said umbrella holder to lock said hanger and umbrella shade framework at a desired height, tilt angle and umbrella axis rotation comprising toothed mechanical clamps with 2 points of cam action for complete shade positioning where each cam locks a first circular toothed face directly attached to a circumference clamp, with a coaxial complementary second identical circular toothed face clamp arrangement on the opposite side, using said coaxial enter point as the co-linear clamp shaft of the integrated circumference clamps,

the umbrella shade framework being an inverted opening umbrella framework for the said suspended shade apparatus, wherein the framework is fully deployed by lifting a lower umbrella framework hub until it is fastened to a bottom of an umbrella short center shaft, causing an attached plurality of ribs of said framework to angulate and move rib tips thereof outward in connection to a corresponding plurality of umbrella frame stretchers attached at proximal ends to an upper hub and at distal ends to rib hinges, wherein said plurality of umbrella framework ribs and stretchers are each connected with wedge angle surfaced hinges, wherein the closed framework requires all center oriented hinge surfaces to interlock as in a firm keystone ring;

a short center shaft and lower hub quick-connection quick-release locking system for said framework fixing said shade framework into full up and open position; and

a fabric release system wherein said safety fabric reacts to high wind forces urging detachment of the fabric at a plurality of rib tips thereby substantially releasing said safety fabric pressure to allow the fabric to fluttering while firmly attached surrounding said umbrella hub, wherein the rib tips are dimensioned to safely avoid a poking hazard.

2 . A method of operating the suspended inverted umbrella shade system of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:

a) estimating a desired position for the shade apparatus by setting the toothed mechanical clamps between a rod holder insert, a cantilever, and a bayonet shade hanger;

b) lifting and inserting the rod holder insert into an overhead rod holder, placing a rod slot over a holder bottom positioning pin;

c) lifting and inserting the shade apparatus into an overhead bayonet socket, turning the shade to engage a socket;

d) lifting the bottom center of the umbrella shade framework to unfurl ribs and fabric overhead, continuing until a handle clips and locks into place;

e) adjusting the shade apparatus position as necessary using the toothed mechanical clamps;

f) turning a center handle to a pre-set position to open handle lock clips and drop the umbrella center in place, held by the bayonet shade hanger;

g) lifting and rotating counterclockwise the shade apparatus to free it from the bayonet socket and cantilever;

h) reclosing the releasable tips of a safety fabric to restore shade function, in the event fabric has released under high wind pressure;

l) sliding the shade apparatus into storage or holster to protect the shade during winds or rapid travel.

3 . A suspended inverted umbrella shade system as in claim 1 , further comprising a bayonet connection with a slotted lock system using one or more placement slots in the umbrella hanger socket and pins in the hanger at the insertion of said umbrella wherein suspended shade position is firmly set.

4 . A suspended inverted umbrella shade system as in claim 1 , wherein said fabric release system comprises mated interlocking reclosable fastener system configured to have a shear and tensile connection strength that is stronger than its peel and cleavage connection strength thereby allowing fabric surface connection release at substantial wind pressure.

5 . A suspended inverted umbrella shade system as in claim 1 , wherein said fabric release system comprises a mated interlocking hook and loop surfaces system allowing fabric surface connection release at substantial wind pressure.

6 . A suspended inverted umbrella shade system as in claim 1 , wherein said fabric release system comprises a spring loaded pinch connection to fabric mechanism allowing fabric release at substantial wind pressure.

7 . A suspended inverted umbrella shade system as in claim 1 , wherein said fabric release system comprises a breakable material tie to fabric connection, allowing said tie to break thereby releasing fabric at substantial wind pressure.

8 . A suspended inverted umbrella shade system as in claim 1 , wherein said fabric release system comprises a snap fastener including a rib tip snap connection to fabric button mechanism, allowing fabric snap button release at substantial wind pressure.

9 . A suspended inverted umbrella shade system as in claim 1 , wherein said fabric release system comprises a magnetic fastener including a magnetic rib tip connection to fabric attachment mechanism, allowing fabric magnetic clasp release at substantial wind pressure.

10 . A suspended inverted umbrella shade system as in claim 1 , wherein the quick-connection quick-release locking mechanism comprises an internal locking assembly using movable spring-attached clamp members to firmly lock around a center notch, releasable with a rotation or movement that opens the clamps to lower the handle.

11 . A suspended inverted umbrella shade system as in claim 1 , wherein the short center shaft comprises an internal slidable rod that is urged upwardly as the lower hub is locked into the open position to prevent the suspended framework from being lifted, rotated, or removed when the umbrella framework is opened.

12 . A suspended inverted umbrella shade system as in claim 1 , wherein the wedge angle surface hinges have complimentary features on each mating surface to tightly interlock and prevent sliding movement under compression.

13 . A suspended inverted umbrella shade system comprising:

a shade apparatus comprising a hanger, a suspended inverted umbrella framework having a plurality of panels, and a safety fabric with release, where each panel of the umbrella framework is attached to the umbrella frame tips with an angled surface attachment, using the specified angle and reclosable fasteners to promote easy release at a predetermined wind speed;

a holder apparatus for removably suspending the shade apparatus, wherein a mounted overhead cantilever assembly works as a means to suspend said shade assembly in optimal position horizontally, vertically and rotationally to block the sun, the holder apparatus comprising:

a hanger socket;

a mounting system for secure fixed attachment of said cantilever assembly to a boat tower or boat top or boat enclosure or sailboat boom or sailboat mast structure, wherein the mounting system comprises a slotted tip base tube insertable into an existing fishing rod holder socket as a means to fix said cantilever assembly at the proper height and rotation;

a cantilever adjustment system comprising a plurality of pivotally adjustable indicium connections to support said hanger socket and provide up to 360 degrees horizontal and vertical positioning of said shade apparatus around the holder apparatus to fix said shade apparatus in a vertical or tilted position for optimal shade; and

a plurality of tube members within said cantilever assembly attached to said connections as a slidable means for additional length and rotation added to the linear separation between said mounting system and said hanger socket at the opposite end.

14 . A suspended inverted umbrella shade system as in claim 13 , wherein a clamp is installed around an existing structural member of a boat tower, sailboat boom or vehicle roll cage as a means to connect said cantilever assembly.

15 . A suspended inverted umbrella shade system as in claim 13 , using a flat base connector with a through bolt hole to connect said cantilever assembly to a vertical or horizontal flat surface.

16 . A suspended inverted umbrella shade system as in claim 13 , wherein a plurality of adjustable cam lever clamp bolts urge fixed positioning at all adjustable movement points, axially within the rod holder, angularly above the rod holder, linearly and axially with the tube members, angularly above the umbrella assembly hanger, and axially within said hanger as a means to firmly position said umbrella shade system.

17 . A suspended inverted umbrella shade system as in claim 13 , wherein a plurality of adjustable cam lever clamp bolts urge fixed positioning at all angular, linear and axial connections as a means to firmly position said umbrella shade system.