Prior art — US Patent 8104492

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 8104492, each patent citation will be examined for its details, a brief description, and potential anticipation of claims under 35 U.S.C. § 102. The analysis focuses on Claim 1 of US8104492, which defines an umbrella with a main pole, a sliding member with a locking mechanism, an umbrella canopy, an arm connecting the canopy to the sliding member, a brace attached to an upper portion of the pole and the arm, and a winding mechanism mounted to the sliding member for operating the canopy.

Here are the prior art references cited in US8104492:

1. US5284171A

Full Citation: US5284171A, Liu Chin Hsiang, "Sunshade opening and supporting device"
Publication Date: 1994-02-08 (Publication date)
Priority Date: 1992-12-07 (Priority date)
Brief Description: This patent describes a sunshade with a central pole, a canopy, and a mechanism for opening and closing the canopy. It generally focuses on the opening and supporting device for the sunshade.
Potential Anticipation of Claims: This patent, as a general sunshade with an opening and supporting device, may anticipate the basic elements of an umbrella, main pole, and canopy as broadly defined in Claim 1. However, the specific features of US8104492, such as the sliding member for angle adjustment, the winding mechanism mounted to the sliding member, and the brace connecting to the pole above the sliding member, are not clearly present in a generic "sunshade opening and supporting device" without further detail.

2. US5960806A

Full Citation: US5960806A, Steiner; Walter, "Parasol"
Publication Date: 1999-10-05 (Publication date)
Priority Date: 1996-02-14 (Priority date)
Brief Description: The available search result for "US5960806A patent description" did not yield information relevant to a parasol, instead returning results for "Single dose dental adhesive delivery system" or "Variable-aperture screen". Therefore, a specific brief description for a "Parasol" by Steiner; Walter could not be reliably obtained from the search.
Potential Anticipation of Claims: Without a reliable description of the "Parasol" from the search, a detailed anticipation analysis is not possible. However, given its title, it likely covers basic parasol elements such as a pole and canopy.

3. US5937882A

Full Citation: US5937882A, Harbaugh; Kenneth A., "Umbrella with side support for tilting and opening"
Publication Date: 1999-08-17 (Publication date)
Priority Date: 1998-04-09 (Priority date)
Brief Description: This patent describes an offset umbrella design, specifically mentioned in US8104492's background section as an "improvement on this design" [cite: the full patent text provides this]. It utilizes a cantilever arrangement to suspend the canopy to the side of the main pole and allows for adjustment of the canopy's angle. The background of US8104492 also states that this type of umbrella "utilize a crank mechanism both for raising and lowering the canopy and for adjusting the angle of the canopy. The crank mechanism is mounted to the main pole, and the rope moves along a complex path with many turning points." [cite: the full patent text provides this].
Potential Anticipation of Claims: This reference is highly relevant as it describes an offset umbrella with canopy angle adjustment. It anticipates the general concept of an offset umbrella with a main pole, canopy, and an arm. However, US8104492 aims to improve upon the complex rope path and winding force issues of prior art like US5937882A by providing a winding mechanism mounted to the sliding member and a simplified line path. Therefore, while it anticipates many elements of Claim 1, it likely does not anticipate the specific arrangement where the winding mechanism is mounted to the sliding member and moves with it, and thus does not anticipate the improved mechanism for raising/lowering the canopy and adjusting its angle independently as claimed in US8104492.

4. US6478037B2

Full Citation: US6478037B2, Pai Tung, "Foldable sunshade with a tiltable canopy"
Publication Date: 2002-11-12 (Publication date)
Priority Date: 2001-01-03 (Priority date)
Brief Description: This patent describes a foldable sunshade with a canopy that can be tilted. Without further details from the search, it's presumed to disclose mechanisms for folding and tilting a sunshade canopy.
Potential Anticipation of Claims: This patent likely anticipates the general features of a main pole, canopy, and a mechanism for tilting (adjusting the angle) the canopy. Depending on the specifics of its "tiltable canopy" mechanism, it could potentially anticipate the broad concept of "wherein the angle of the umbrella canopy with respect to the main pole can be controlled by moving the sliding member along the main pole" if a sliding member is used for tilting. However, the unique combination of the winding mechanism being mounted on the sliding member for opening/closing the canopy, distinct from the angle adjustment, might not be anticipated.

5. US20020121297A1

Full Citation: US20020121297A1, Li Wanda Yiing, "Operation device for outdoor umbrella"
Publication Date: 2002-09-05 (Publication date)
Priority Date: 2001-03-02 (Priority date)
Brief Description: This patent application describes an operation device for an outdoor umbrella. Without a detailed description from the search, it is broadly understood to disclose a mechanism for operating an umbrella.
Potential Anticipation of Claims: This reference likely anticipates generic aspects of umbrella operation. However, whether it specifically combines a sliding member for angle adjustment with an integrally mounted winding mechanism for canopy operation as defined in Claim 1 of US8104492 is unclear without further details.

6. US6945263B2

Full Citation: US6945263B2, Wanda Yiing Li, "Operation device for outdoor umbrella"
Publication Date: 2005-09-20 (Publication date)
Priority Date: 2001-03-02 (Priority date)
Brief Description: This patent appears to be a granted version of US20020121297A1, describing an operation device for an outdoor umbrella.
Potential Anticipation of Claims: Similar to US20020121297A1, this reference likely covers general umbrella operation. The key differentiating features of US8104492 regarding the sliding member carrying the winding mechanism would need to be present for direct anticipation of Claim 1.

7. US20020129847A1

Full Citation: US20020129847A1, Ma Mark J.S., "Parasol opening device"
Publication Date: 2002-09-19 (Publication date)
Priority Date: 2001-03-13 (Priority date)
Brief Description: This patent application describes a device for opening a parasol.
Potential Anticipation of Claims: This reference would likely anticipate mechanisms for opening an umbrella canopy. However, Claim 1 of US8104492 also describes a mechanism for closing the canopy and, crucially, links the canopy's angle adjustment to the sliding member which also carries the winding mechanism. This specific combination may not be present in a general "parasol opening device."

8. US6923193B2

Full Citation: US6923193B2, Shiow-Hui Chen, "Outdoor used stand frame of an umbrella"
Publication Date: 2005-08-02 (Publication date)
Priority Date: 2003-06-24 (Priority date)
Brief Description: This patent describes a stand frame for an outdoor umbrella. Its focus is on the structural support for the umbrella.
Potential Anticipation of Claims: This reference primarily relates to the base and main pole (stand frame) of an umbrella. While it would anticipate the "main pole having a lower end for support by a support surface" element of Claim 1, it is unlikely to detail the specific sliding member, winding mechanism, arm, and brace configuration that enables both opening/closing and angle adjustment as claimed in US8104492.

9. US20050028852A1

Full Citation: US20050028852A1, Reese Benjamin P., "Portable sunshade"
Publication Date: 2005-02-10 (Publication date)
Priority Date: 2003-08-06 (Priority date)
Brief Description: This patent application describes a portable sunshade. As a generic portable sunshade, it would typically include a canopy and a support structure.
Potential Anticipation of Claims: This reference might anticipate the very broad elements of Claim 1 related to a main pole and canopy. However, without specific details on mechanisms for adjusting canopy angle via a sliding member or integrating a winding mechanism onto that sliding member, it is unlikely to anticipate the novel combination of elements in US8104492.

10. US7156114B2

Full Citation: US7156114B2, Chong-Yi Lo, "Angle adjusting device for the canopy of a hang umbrella"
Publication Date: 2007-01-02 (Publication date)
Priority Date: 2005-02-02 (Priority date)
Brief Description: This patent describes a device specifically for adjusting the angle of the canopy of a hang umbrella (likely an offset umbrella). This directly addresses the angle adjustment feature.
Potential Anticipation of Claims: This reference is highly relevant to the "wherein the angle of the umbrella canopy with respect to the main pole can be controlled" aspect of Claim 1. The key question for anticipation is whether its "angle adjusting device" comprises a sliding member on the main pole and, crucially, whether a winding mechanism for canopy operation is mounted to and movable with that sliding member, as is a distinguishing feature of US8104492. If the "angle adjusting device" only adjusts angle and the canopy opening/closing mechanism is separate or located elsewhere, then it may not anticipate the full scope of Claim 1.

11. US20060254628A1

Full Citation: US20060254628A1, Chuen-Jong Tseng, "Standing umbrella"
Publication Date: 2006-11-16 (Publication date)
Priority Date: 2005-05-10 (Priority date)
Brief Description: This patent application describes a standing umbrella.
Potential Anticipation of Claims: This reference is too broad in its description to provide a detailed anticipation analysis. Like other general umbrella patents, it would anticipate basic components but likely lacks the specific combination of a sliding member carrying a winding mechanism for both angle and canopy operation as described in Claim 1 of US8104492.

12. US7886755B2

Full Citation: US7886755B2, Benson Tung, "Side-supporting sunshade"
Publication Date: 2011-02-15 (Publication date)
Priority Date: 2009-02-24 (Priority date)
Brief Description: This patent describes a side-supporting sunshade, which is another term for an offset or cantilever umbrella. Given its later priority date (2009-02-24) compared to US8104492's priority date (2008-05-05), this patent cannot serve as anticipatory prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102.
Potential Anticipation of Claims: This patent cannot anticipate US8104492 under 35 U.S.C. § 102 due to its later priority date.