ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 23 -- United States Patent no. 12,366,086, issued on July 22.
"Foldable canopy" was invented by Jim Sun (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The folding canopy provides a portable, user-friendly structure designed for single-person operation. It features telescoping support legs with three rolling feet equipped with wheels for mobility and one stationary foot with a high-friction surface to assist during deployment and folding. A cable and pulley system, operatively connected to a handle, enables deployment and retraction without requiring the user to step underneath the canopy. As the handle is pulled, the tensioned cable draws a central lower hub...