ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 4 -- United States Patent no. 12,317,976, issued on June 3.
"Shade structure assemblies and components" was invented by Zhun-an Ma (Ningbo, China).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A rib end connector, a plug to receive a rib socket, or a rib to be coupled with an upper or lower hub of a shade structure is provided that has a pin connection portion that has a first end configured to be disposed in a channel of an umbrella or other shade structure hub. The apparatus has a second portion opposite the first portion, a first side surface, and a second side surface. A circumferential width of the pin connection portion is defined between the first and second lateral surfaces. A p...