Disney patents retractable canopy that folds into its own support column
Disney has patented a canopy system that uses cables and motorized columns to deploy or retract a roof. The design allows the canopy to fold into an inner chamber within the main support column when not in use, saving space.
In the filing’s own words
A canopy system includes a canopy, cables respectively connected to the canopy, and a plurality of columns spaced from one another. The columns include a canopy column and at least two cable columns. Each column has a drive assembly arranged to wind-in, wind-out, or hold in place respective ones of the cables. The drive assemblies are controllable in a coordinated manner to wind-in, wind-out, or hold in place their respective ones of the cables to deploy or retract the canopy to one of a plurality of positions, including a deployed position in which the canopy provides covered protection and a retracted position in which the canopy is, at least in part, retracted within an inner chamber defined by the canopy column.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A canopy system, comprising: a canopy; cables respectively connected to the canopy; and a plurality of columns spaced from one another and including a canopy column and at least two cable columns, each one of the plurality of columns having a drive assembly arranged to wind-in, wind-out, or hold in place respective ones of the cables, wherein the drive assemblies are controllable in a coordinated manner to wind-in, wind- out, or hold in place their respective ones of the cables to deploy or retract the canopy to one of a plurality of positions, including a deployed position in which the canopy provides covered protection, a retracted position in which the canopy is, at least in part, retracted within an inner chamber defined by the canopy column, and a maintenance position in which the canopy is angled with respect to a horizontal reference plane with at least two corners of the canopy being arranged in respective lowered positions and at least one corner of the canopy being arranged in an elevated position.
Facts
- Company
- Disney (Disney Enterprises, Inc.)
- Official title
- Deployable canopy system
- Patent number
- US12735913B2
- Application number
- 18823390
- Filed
- Sep 3, 2024
- Granted
- Sep 15, 2026
- Inventors
- 8
- Claims
- 17
Classified under
E04H 15/322 Buildings & constructionE04H 15/60 Buildings & constructionSummaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.