Instant gazebo
An instant gazebo is provided which is movable between an open and closed position quickly and which is side supported to allow maximum flexibility for placement of furniture in the gazebo. The gazebo includes an openable and closable canopy to which is connected a screen enclosure which extends completely around the periphery of the canopy. The screen enclosure may remain attached to the canopy in both the open and closed positions of the gazebo. The preferred actuation mechanism for the gazebo includes an elongated curved support arm which slides through a hollow sleeve carried at the top of a supporting mast. The support arm slides through the hollow sleeve as the gazebo is opened or closed. After the support arm is raised by the user, a hand crank is actuated to open the canopy. A rotatable mast support allows the gazebo to be easily rotated about the axis of the mast.
This application claims the benefit of and priority from Republic of China patent application No. 200420020535.7 filed on Feb. 27, 2004; Republic of China patent application No. 200420021457.2 filed on Mar. 25, 2004; and U.S. provisional application No. 60/575,080 filed on May 27, 2004.
BACKGROUND AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a gazebo which may be quickly deployed and then quickly returned to a secure storage position. More particularly, the invention provides, for the first time, a side supported and fully screened or enclosed gazebo capable of being opened or closed in a matter of ten to fifteen seconds.
The need for improved, quickly deployed gazebos is clear. The prior art includes gazebos requiring several hours by a skilled person to erect and to dismantle, requiring tools and numerous connecting devices. Some states require building permits for structures that require two hours or more to either erect or dismantle.
The prior art also includes numerous umbrella designs utilizing a central support mast or shaft typically anchored by a table through which the mast or shaft extends. Various insect screens are known in the art which are draped over the center-supported umbrella or suspended from the edges of the umbrella canopy. These center-supported and screened umbrellas have several inherent problems overcome by the side supported (or cantilevered support) aspect of the present invention. First, the requirement of a table to support and stabilize the umbrella severely limits the furniture usable under the canopy. Secondly, the umbrella typically must be erected before insect screens are put in place. Thirdly, the insect screens must typically be removed before the umbrella is closed and stored.
Side supported or cantilevered umbrellas are also known in the prior art. However, the applicants are unaware of such umbrellas that include insect screens capable of remaining attached to the umbrella as the umbrella is opened and closed.
The present invention provides an “instant gazebo” which combines for the first time a side-supported or cantilevered umbrella together with insect screens which may remain attached to the umbrella as it is opened and closed.
The present invention provides for the first time a side-supported and fully screened, or enclosed, insect-proof gazebo which may be deployed easily from its storage position by anyone in a matter of ten to fifteen seconds. The gazebo is returned to a closed, secure storage position in the same amount of time. No tools are required. No special skill is required. No building permits are required.
The present invention also provides, for the first time, a side supported gazebo with a rotatable mast support, allowing the user to easily rotate the gazebo and mast around the vertical axis of the mast by simply depressing a foot pedal.
The “instant gazebo” of the present invention may include different actuation and support mechanisms, some of which are described below.
In one embodiment, a “banana” shaped support arm is simply raised by the user from its storage position to its deployed position. After the support arm is raised, the canopy is opened by turning a hand crank.
In a second embodiment, a single hand crank is utilized with a support mechanism as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,882. This mechanism is more complex than the “banana” shaped articulating arm, but allows the device to be opened and closed with a single crank.
The present invention can be utilized with insect screens or solid fabric side walls, or a combination of both.
A primary object of the invention is to provide a screened or enclosed gazebo that can either be opened or closed in ten to fifteen seconds by a single person using no tools.
A further object is to provide a screened or enclosed gazebo supported from the side to allow the use of any arrangement of furniture within the gazebo.
A further object is to provide a gazebo which may be easily rotated about the vertical axis of the mast.
Another object is to provide a low cost “instant gazebo” in which an inexpensive, banana shaped arm is used as a key part of the support mechanism.
Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and drawings, wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The canopy can have a variety of designs. The design illustrated in
The actuation mechanism 10 is described more fully below and in Chinese patent application No. 200420020535.7 filed on Feb. 27, 2004 and in Chinese patent application No. 200420021457.2 filed on Mar. 25, 2004, both of which are incorporated herein by reference as though set forth in full. The actuation mechanism 10 includes a mast 15 supported by a support base 18. Base 18 is anchored to a deck or patio by connectors or anchor bolts known in the art. Base 18 may be of various designs including the generally X-shaped base illustrated in
An articulating arm 20 has a first end 22 pivotally mounted at pivot point 21 near the central region of mast 15. The first end 22 of arm 20 is connected to a locking mechanism 80 described below. The second or free end 23 of arm 20 is connected to and pivotally carries the first end 33 of elongated, curved support arm 30. The second end 23 of articulating arm 20 also carries hand crank 27. Hand crank 27 is used to open the canopy after the user raises the elongated, curved support arm 30 to its second position shown in
In the preferred embodiment shown in
In order to return the instant gazebo 5 from its deployed position shown in
The screen enclosure 70 extends fully around canopy 40 and includes eight separate panels, four of which are visible in
As shown in
In accordance with the invention, the panels that form the complete enclosure 170 may be insect screen panels or may be solid fabric panels or a combination of both.
An optional feature of the invention is the screening enclosure 170 may be attached to canopy 140 by a series of zippers shown as 171a and 172a.
A locking mechanism or locking means 80 is shown generally in
As shown best in
The invention includes an optional rotatable mast support means 300 shown in
The rotatable mast support 300 includes a locking means shown generally as 360. Locking means 360 includes depressible foot pedal 361, a first tooth (or plurality of teeth) 363 is carried by foot pedal 361, and a second plurality of teeth 365 is carried around the periphery of the lower surface of rotatable, circular plate 330. To disengage the locking means 360, the user depresses foot pedal 361. To engage locking means 360, the user simply releases foot pedal 361. A biasing spring 364 drives foot pedal 361 upwardly, whereby tooth 363 on pedal 361 engages teeth 365 on circular plate 330. The rotatable mast support 300 is preferably made of steel. Circular plate 330, including teeth 365, is a single piece of cast metal and includes an integrally cast, downwardly extending shaft 331 which is pressed into opening 318a in the center of base 318.
The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best use the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications suited to the particular use contemplated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the following claims.
Claims
1. An instant gazebo readily movable between an open and closed position, comprising:
- a support base,
- a mast carried by said support base,
- an articulating arm having a first end pivotally mounted to said mast and having a second end,
- an elongated, curved support arm having a first end pivotally connected to said second end of said articulating arm and having a second end,
- a hollow sleeve carried by said mast, said elongated, curved support arm extending through said hollow sleeve,
- a canopy carried by said second end of said elongated, curved support arm,
- a screen enclosure connected to said canopy and extending completely around the periphery of said canopy,
- said articulating arm and said elongated, curved support arm being movable between a first, closed position in which said support arm is generally vertical and said canopy is closed and hangs adjacent said mast, and a second position in which said elongated, curved support arm is generally horizontal and in which said canopy is closed but is spaced from said mast, and
- crank means for opening and closing said canopy and said screen enclosure.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising locking means carried by said mast for preventing rotation of said articulating arm relative to said mast.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said locking means comprises:
- a rotatable handwheel,
- a plurality of radially extending teeth carried by said first end of said articulating arm, and
- a second plurality of radially extending teeth that move into and out of engagement with said first plurality of teeth in response to rotation of said handwheel.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said canopy is side supported in both its first closed position and in its second fully deployed position.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said canopy is rectangular and wherein said screen enclosure includes two screen panels zipped together along each side of said rectangle, whereby said screen panels may be readily unzipped and tied back at each corner of said rectangle.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said screen enclosure includes one or more walls that are solid, unscreened fabric.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mast has a vertical axis and further comprising rotatable mast support means for allowing said instant gazebo to rotate around said vertical axis of said mast.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said rotatable mast support means comprises:
- a fixed base,
- a mast support sleeve for slidably carrying said mast, and
- bearing means carried by said fixed base for rotatably carrying said mast support sleeve.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising locking means for preventing rotation of said rotatable mast support means.
10. An instant gazebo readily movable between an open and closed position, comprising:
- a support base,
- a mast carried by said support base,
- a canopy,
- a screen enclosure connected to said canopy and extending completely around the periphery of said canopy,
- canopy support means for supporting said canopy from the side of said mast, said canopy support means being movable between first closed position in which said canopy is generally vertical, folded and lies adjacent said mast, and a second extended position in which said canopy may be fully opened, and
- actuation means for moving said canopy between said open and closed positions.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 24, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 20, 2005
Inventors: Ronald Merritt (Bay Point, CA), Jian Yong Xie (Linhai)
Application Number: 11/065,642