US20120067388A1

US20120067388A1 - On-shore sail shade

Info

Publication number: US20120067388A1
Application number: US12/924,007
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas M. Zummach
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-09-17
Filing date: 2010-09-17
Publication date: 2012-03-22

Abstract

An on-shore sail shade is provided which includes a sail secured to a mast and a boom with the sail shade being positioned on a patio or the like to provide desired shade protection. A foot portion of the sail is located close to the ground or supporting surface so that the sail shade will provide the desired shade during all daylight hours.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an outdoor shade device and more particularly to a shade sail to provide shade in outdoor commercial and/or residential settings.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many types of outdoor shading devices such as awnings or other overhead structures have been previously provided. However, the awnings or other overhead structures are not effective during important times of the day as the result of the angle of the sun. An example would be a west-facing patio in an early evening scenario where sunlight has dropped below any existing shade structure currently on the market.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
An on-shore sail shade apparatus including a mast support which is associated with a supporting surface with the mast having upper and lower ends. The lower end of the mast is secured to the mast support and extends upwardly therefrom. Preferably, the mast is comprised of a plurality of mast sections to facilitate the assembly and positioning of the mast. An elongated, horizontally disposed boom, having inner and outer ends, has its inner end secured to the mast above the lower end thereof and extends horizontally therefrom. A flexible, generally triangularly-shaped sail is provided having a foot portion with inner and outer ends, a luft portion having upper and lower ends, which extends upwardly from the inner end of the foot portion and a leech portion extending downwardly and outwardly from the upper end of the luft portion to the outer end of the foot portion of the sail. The foot portion of the sail is secured to the boom. The upper end of the luft portion of the sail is secured to the mast adjacent the upper end thereof. The boom is horizontally rotatably movable between various positions either by the boom being rotatably secured to the mast or by rotating the mast and the boom affixed thereto. The boom is movable between various positions to enable the said to be positioned in various shading positions.
The outer end of the boom is fixed to an anchor which may be of various designs to maintain the boom and sail in the desired shading position. The sail and the boom may be removed from the mast so that a flag, banner, sign or other structures may be supported from the mast.
It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved outdoor shade device.
A further object of the invention is to provide an outdoor shade device which includes a mast, boom and a sail.
A further object of the invention is to provide an on-shore sail shade apparatus which may be selectively positioned in various shading positions.
A further object of the invention is to provide a sail shade apparatus wherein the sail thereof is comprised of an air permeable or breathable material.
A further object of the invention is to provide an on-shore sail shade apparatus which is easily assembled and disassembled.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the sail shade apparatus of this invention in an erected position with the broken lines illustrating the sail being moved to a different shading position;

FIG. 2 is a partial vertical sectional view of the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a pair of the sail shade devices of this invention being used to shade the desired areas;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating different manners of securing the outer end of the boom to anchors;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the apparatus illustrating the sail in a lowered position; and

FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating a boom and sail having been removed from the mast with a flag being supported at the upper end of the mast.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.
The on-shore sail shade apparatus of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10. Apparatus 10 includes a vertically disposed mast 12 having an upper end 14 and a lower end 16. The lower end 16 of mast 12 is secured to a hollow, tubular mast support 18 which is preferably embedded in the ground or concrete material 19 as seen in FIG. 2. The mast support could also be a floor anchor, fastening plates, clamps, brackets and footings as long as the mast which is secured thereto may be rotated in a 360° fashion. Mast 12 preferably includes an annular shoulder 20 extending therefrom which rests upon the upper end of support 18 as also seen in FIG. 2. Preferably, mast 12 is rotatably received within support 18.
A clevis 22 is secured to mast 12 closely adjacent shoulder 20. Bracket 24, or similar structure, is secured to mast 12 above clevis 22. Cleat 26 is also secured to mast 12 and is adapted to have the halyard 28 secured thereto. Pulleys 30 and 32 are rotatably mounted at the upper end of mast 12 and have the halyard 28 extending therearound. One end of halyard 28 has a slide or other type of connector 34 secured thereto.
The numeral 36 refers to a boom having an inner end 38 and an outer end 40. Inner end 38 is pivotally secured to clevis 22, about a horizontal axis by means of pin 42. The numeral 44 refers to a generally triangularly-shaped flexible sail having a foot portion 46, a luft portion 48 and a leech portion 50. Preferably, sail 44 is comprised of a breathable or air permeable material to permit some air to pass therethrough while still providing the needed shade. Further, sail 46 is preferably comprised of a material which will accept signage and advertising print thereon.
Foot portion 46 of sail 44 is secured to boom 36 by rings or loops 52 or other suitable fasteners. The outer end of foot portion 46 is selectively removably fixed to foot portion 46 to maintain foot portion 46 in a generally taut manner. The upper end of luft portion 48 is attached to the connector 34 by means of a snap, buckle or loop 54.
The outer end of boom 44 is selectively removably secured to an anchor 56 by a rope or by a rope and pulley device 58 to maintain boom 36 in its desired position. Anchor 56 may take many shapes or configurations. Anchor 56 could be of a screw type as seen in FIG. 4 or could be embedded or recessed in the ground or patio as indicated by the reference numeral 56′. The anchor could also be a weight such as indicated by the reference numeral 56″. Further, the anchor could be a cleat such as indicated by the reference numeral 56′″. The anchors are located at various positions relative to the mast 12 so that the boom 36 and sail 44 may be selectively positioned to provide the desired shade at different times of the day.
FIG. 3 illustrates a pair of the apparatuses 10 mounted on a patio or the like. The sails 44 of the apparatuses may be selectively positioned to provide the necessary shade by rotating the masts 12 to the proper position and then anchoring the outer ends of the booms 36 to the anchors 56. Preferably, the mast 12 is comprised of a plurality of mast sections which may be connected together to aid in the ease in the erection and lowering of the same. When the sail is not being used, it may be lowered to the position illustrated in FIG. 5. Further, the boom 36 and the sail 44 may be removed from the mast 12 so that a flag 60 may be supported upon the mast 12 at the upper end thereof as illustrated in FIG. 6. A flag 60 could be replaced by other things such as banners, etc.
Thus it can be seen that a novel on-shore sail shade apparatus has been provided with the foot portion of the sail being located close to the ground so that the angle of the sun's rays will not pass therebelow. It can therefore be seen that the apparatus of this invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.
Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

Claims

1. An on-shore sail shade apparatus, comprising:

a mast support associated with a supporting surface;

an upstanding mast having upper and lower ends;

said lower end of said mast being selectively secured to said mast support;

an elongated, horizontally disposed boom having inner and outer ends;

said inner end of said boom being secured to said mast closely adjacent said lower end thereof;

a flexible, vertically disposed, generally triangularly-shaped sail, having a generally horizontally disposed foot portion with inner and outer ends, a vertically disposed luft portion, having upper and lower ends, extending upwardly from the inner end of said foot portion, and a leech portion extending downwardly and outwardly from said upper end of said luft portion to said outer end of said foot portion;

said foot portion of said sail being secured to said boom whereby said foot portion of said sail is positioned closely adjacent the supporting surface;

said upper end of said luft portion of said sail being secured to said mast adjacent said upper end thereof;

said boom being horizontally rotatably movable between various positions to enable said sail to be positioned in various shading positions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mast is rotatably secured, about a vertical axis to said mast support and said boom is fixed to said mast for rotation therewith.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said mast is selectively removably received by said mast support.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mast support is embedded in said supporting surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said boom is selectively removably secured to said mast.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said boom is secured in various positions by means extending between said outer end of said boom and an anchor.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said anchor is embedded in said supporting surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said boom is maintained in its various positions by a weight operatively connected to said outer end thereof.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for raising and lowering said sail with respect to said mast.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sail is constructed of an air permeable material.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sail and said boom are selectively removably secured to said mast so that a flag may be supported on said mast when said sail and said boom are removed from said mast.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sail and said boom are selectively removably secured to said mast so that an advertising member may be supported on said mast when said sail and said mast are removed from said mast.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mast is comprised of a plurality of mast sections.

14. In combination:

a residential or commercial area in which shade is desired;

said area including a supporting surface;

a mast support associated with a supporting surface;

an upstanding mast having upper and lower ends;

said lower end of said mast being selectively secured to said mast support;

an elongated, horizontally disposed boom having inner and outer ends;

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said mast is rotatably secured, about a vertical axis to said mast support and said boom is fixed to said mast for rotation therewith.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein said mast is selectively removably received by said mast support.

17. The combination of claim 14 wherein said mast support is embedded in said supporting surface.

18. The combination of claim 14 wherein said boom is secured in various positions by means extending between said outer end of said boom and an anchor.

19. The combination of claim 18 wherein said anchor is embedded in said supporting surface.

20. The combination of claim 14 wherein said boom is maintained in its various positions by a weight operatively connected to said outer end thereof.