Folding Canopy
A folding canopy has a canopy top made of flexible sheet material; and a canopy frame. The canopy top is adapted to attach onto the canopy frame, and the canopy frame includes a number of members. A pair of left cross support bars have a first left cross support bar, and a second left cross support bar. The first left cross support bar is pivotally connected to the second left cross support bar. A pair of right cross support bars includes a first right cross support bar, and a second right cross support bar. The first right cross support bar is pivotally connected to the second right cross support bar.
The present invention is in the field of folding canopies.
DISCUSSION OF RELATED ARTA variety of folding canopies have been used for providing shade. One of the most common folding canopy designs sold today has a square foot print. Shade can also be provided with tents having flexible members.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA folding canopy has a canopy top made of flexible sheet material; and a canopy frame. The canopy top is adapted to attach onto the canopy frame, and the canopy frame includes a number of members. A pair of left cross support bars have a first left cross support bar, and a second left cross support bar. The first left cross support bar is pivotally connected to the second left cross support bar. A pair of right cross support bars includes a first right cross support bar, and a second right cross support bar. The first right cross support bar is pivotally connected to the second right cross support bar.
A pair of left legs are pivotally connected together so that the pair of left legs form an angle between them in a deployed position. The pair of left legs form a left apex, and the pair of left legs are pivotally connected to the first left cross support bar and the second left cross support bar. A pair of right legs are pivotally connected together so that the pair of right legs form an angle between them in a deployed position. The pair of right legs form a right apex, wherein the pair of right legs are pivotally connected to the first right cross support bar and the second right cross support bar. A horizontal support frame connects between the pair of right legs and the pair of left legs. The horizontal support frame is pivotally connected to the pair of right legs and pivotally connected to the pair of left legs.
The horizontal support frame is collapsible into a folded position from a deployed position. The horizontal support frame includes four bars made of hollow metal. The four bars are joined by pivot connection to each other and to the pair of left legs and to the pair of right legs. The horizontal support frame connects to the pair of left cross support bars and to the pair of right cross support bars and a right lower outside junction and at a left outside junction.
The horizontal support frame connects to the pair of right legs at the right apex, and the horizontal support frame connects to the pair of left legs at the left apex. A left center post connects to the left apex, and a right center post connects to the right apex. They pair of left legs are pivotally connected to the left center post at the left apex and the pair of right legs are pivotally connected to the right center post at the right apex. The left center post is substantially vertically oriented, and the right center post is substantially vertically oriented.
A right extension sleeve can be sliding mounted to the right center post lower section. The right extension sleeve has a pair of right sleeve struts. The pair of right sleeve struts are connected to the pair of right legs. A left extension sleeve can be sliding mounted to the left center post lower section. The left extension sleeve has a pair of left sleeve struts, and the pair of left sleeve struts are connected to the pair of left legs.
A right center post lower cap and a right extension grommet can bound a range of travel of the right extension sleeve between a right upper bound defined by the right extension grommet and a right lower bound of the right-center post lower cap. A left center post lower cap and a left extension grommet can bound a range of travel of the left extension sleeve between a left upper bound defined by the left extension grommet and a left lower bound of the left center post lower cap.
The following callout list of elements references the elements of the drawings.
- 20 Canopy Frame
- 21 First Cross Support Bar
- 22 Support Bar To Support Leg Joint
- 23 Connecting Bar
- 24 Center Post
- 25 Center Post Pivotal Connection
- 26 Second Cross Support Bar
- 27 Support Leg
- 28 Horizontal Support Frame
- 29 Lower Outside Junction
- 31 Left inside Junction
- 32 Upper Junction
- 33 Lower Junction
- 34 Right Inside Junction
- 35 Right Third Pivot
- 36 Foot Supports
- 37 Right Pair Of Cross Support Bars
- 41 First Pivot
- 42 Left Third Pivot
- 43 Telescopic Extension Grommet
- 44 Center Post Upper Section
- 45 Upper Portion Of The Support Legs
- 46 Sleeve Struts
- 47 Extension Sleeve
- 48 Center Post Lower Cap
- 49 Center Post Lower Section
- 50 Canopy Fabric
The present invention has a canopy fabric 50 supported by a canopy frame 20. The canopy frame 20 preferably includes eighteen parts and many formed as linkages that pivot relative to each other or are in telescopic sliding configuration relative to each other. Pivoting connections are preferably made by rivets. A variety of bushings, joints and caps connect the linkages together. The linkages are preferably made of hollow and metal members while the bushings, joints and caps are preferably made of steel and plastic. The size of the folding canopy may provide about a 6 m2 footprint of shade and the canopy fabric can be made in a variety of different colors.
The plurality of linkage assemblies can also have subassemblies that can be called a frame since can be relatively rigid or optionally lock together. Locking together to form a formal ‘frame’ as defined in civil engineering or not locking together to maintain a linkage assembly is an optional feature of the present invention. The present invention stays open or stays closed in the fully deployed position or in the folded position.
The frame includes a first cross support bar 21 connecting with a second cross support bar 26 that are parallel and vertically oriented when folded up, but parallel and horizontally oriented when a deployed position. The first cross support bar 21 connects with the second cross support bar 26 at a connecting bar 23. The connecting bar 23 limits the rotational motion of the cross support bars and maintains a straight horizontal profile of the first cross support bar 21 and the second cross support bar 26. The connecting bar 23 is attached to the first cross support bar by a pair of rivets so that it does not move or rotate relative to the first cross support bar.
The lower outside junction preferably is a double swivel connection to either the connecting bar 23, the first cross support bar 21, or to the second cross support bar 26. The double swivel could provide a first swivel in the plane of the horizontal support frame, and also provide a second swivel in the plane of the folding support legs. The lower outside junction could also be a ball joint, but the double swivel connection is preferred.
A center post 24 receives a center post pivotal connection 25 to a pair of support legs 27. The pair of support legs 27 fold together and apart. The pair of support legs 27 start off as parallel in the folded position and then have an angle and angled position. The pair of support legs 27 or pivotally mounted to the center post 24 at an upper end of the center post 24. The center post pivotal connection 25 has a first pivot connecting to the first leg, a second pivot connecting to a second leg, and a third pivot normal to the first pivot and the second pivot.
The third pivot connects to a horizontal support frame 28. The horizontal support frame is preferably made of four elongated members connected at an upper end at the left third pivot and the right third pivot 35. The left third pivot and the right third pivot are approximately equivalent and approximately mirror images of each other. The horizontal support frame 28 has a pair of inside junctions of pivotal connection. The first inside junction is the left inside junction 31 and the second inside junction is the right inside junction 34. The inside junctions provide pivotal connection of the members of the horizontal support frame. The horizontal support frame also includes an upper junction 32 and a lower junction 33. The horizontal support frame connects to one of the cross support bars such as the second cross support bar 26 at a lower outside junction 29. The junctions of the horizontal support frame 28 are formed in a plane.
The foot supports 36 provide grip and are rested on the ground. The foot supports 36 are connected to lower support legs that can be telescopic extended from the pair of support legs 27 when in a deployed position. After use, the lower support legs can be retracted into the pair of support legs 27.
The right pair of cross support bars 37 can be the same as or inverted from the left pair of cross support bars 21, 26. Depending upon external forces anticipated, the horizontal support frame could be connected to the right pair of cross support bars at the second cross support bar on the right side and connected to the left pair of cross support bars at the first cross support bar on the left side. The horizontal support frame could be connected to both the right pair of cross support bars and to the left pair of cross support bars.
The center post 24 has a center post upper section 44 and a center post lower section 49 connected at a extension grommet 43. The left third pivot 42 is connected to an upper portion of the center post upper section 44 to provide pivoting of the horizontal support frame 28. The horizontal support frame is not literally always a frame since it has pivoting motion and therefore it is like a four bar mechanism that locks to become a frame when in a deployed position. The horizontal support frame only becomes a rigid frame in the deployed position. The extension sleeve 47 fits around the center post lower section to provide sliding control of the center post lower section. The sleeve struts 46 are pivotally connected between the extension sleeve 47 and the upper portion of the support legs 45. The support legs 27 are therefore connected to the center post at the sleeve struts 46 and also to the first pivot 41. The extension sleeve 47 rides along the center post 24 up and down like riding on a track of an elevator. A center post lower cap is positioned on the center post 24 to cap the opening of the hollow metal tube of the center post. The center post lower cap may have a button for engaging with the extension sleeve when the extension sleeve goes to a lower position during a folded position. The center post lower cap is preferably made a plastic material. The center post lower cap 48 and the extension grommet 43 may define an upper and lower bound of travel for the extension sleeve 47.
In a deployed position, as seen in
Optionally, the pair of sleeve struts can be formed as a chain or rope. Other tension only members is can be formed as chain or rope, but it is preferred to use rigid members on all parts to avoid binding and tangles.
The canopy top can be made of a traditional fabric material, or a non-woven fabric, or a roll plastic sheet having no woven fibers or threads. The canopy fabric can be made of a translucent material, or a transparent material. The canopy fabric can have openings for allowing sunlight to pass through. The canopy fabric can be made opaque and having colored stripes.
Optionally, the center post has a height and direction that is adjusted to abut or snap connect to the cross support bars to support the cross support bars and to limit the motion of the cross support bars. The cross support bars are shown in the outermost layer to the left and right and the legs and center post are shown in the innermost layer inside the outermost layer. Optionally, the center post does not touch the cross support bars.
Persons of ordinary skill in the art may find obvious modifications of the above detailed description of the preferred embodiments. The scope of the invention is to be defined only by the following claims.
Claims
1. A folding canopy comprising:
- a. a canopy top made of flexible sheet material; and
- b. a canopy frame, wherein the canopy top is adapted to attach onto the canopy frame, wherein the canopy frame further comprises: i. a pair of left cross support bars including a first left cross support bar, and a second left cross support bar; wherein the first left cross support bar is pivotally connected to the second left cross support bar; ii. a pair of right cross support bars including a first right cross support bar, and a second right cross support bar; wherein the first right cross support bar is pivotally connected to the second right cross support bar; iii. a pair of left legs pivotally connected together, wherein the pair of left legs form an angle between them in a deployed position, wherein the pair of left legs form a left apex, wherein the pair of left legs are pivotally connected to the first left cross support bar and the second left cross support bar; iv. a pair of right legs pivotally connected together, wherein the pair of right legs form an angle between them in a deployed position, wherein the pair of right legs form a right apex, wherein the pair of right legs are pivotally connected to the first right cross support bar and the second right cross support bar; v. a horizontal support frame connecting between the pair of right legs and the pair of left legs, wherein the horizontal support frame is pivotally connected to the pair of right legs and pivotally connected to the pair of left legs.
2. The folding canopy of claim 1, wherein the horizontal support frame is collapsible into a folded position from a deployed position.
3. The folding canopy of claim 1, wherein the horizontal support frame comprises four bars made of hollow metal and wherein the four bars are joined by pivot connection to each other and to the pair of left legs and to the pair of right legs.
4. The folding canopy of claim 1, wherein the horizontal support frame connects to the pair of left cross support bars and to the pair of right cross support bars and a right lower outside junction and at a left outside junction.
5. The folding canopy of claim 1, wherein the horizontal support frame connects to the pair of right legs at the right apex, and wherein the horizontal support frame connects to the pair of left legs at the left apex.
6. The folding canopy of claim 1, further comprising a left center post connecting to the left apex, and further comprising a right center post connecting to the right apex, wherein the pair of left legs are pivotally connected to the left center post at the left apex and wherein the pair of right legs are pivotally connected to the right center post at the right apex, wherein the left center post is substantially vertically oriented, and wherein the right center post is substantially vertically oriented.
7. The folding canopy of claim 6, wherein the horizontal support frame is collapsible into a folded position from a deployed position.
8. The folding canopy of claim 6, wherein the horizontal support frame comprises four bars made of hollow metal and wherein the four bars are joined by pivot connection to each other and to the pair of left legs and to the pair of right legs.
9. The folding canopy of claim 6, wherein the horizontal support frame connects to the pair of left cross support bars and to the pair of right cross support bars and a right lower outside junction and at a left outside junction.
10. The folding canopy of claim 6, wherein the horizontal support frame connects to the pair of right legs at the right apex, and wherein the horizontal support frame connects to the pair of left legs at the left apex.
11. The folding canopy of claim 6, further comprising a right extension sleeve that is sliding mounted to the right center post lower section, wherein the right extension sleeve has a pair of right sleeve struts, wherein the pair of right sleeve struts are connected to the pair of right legs, and further comprising a left extension sleeve that is sliding mounted to the left center post lower section, wherein the left extension sleeve has a pair of left sleeve struts, wherein the pair of left sleeve struts are connected to the pair of left legs.
12. The folding canopy of claim 11, wherein the horizontal support frame is collapsible into a folded position from a deployed position.
13. The folding canopy of claim 11, wherein the horizontal support frame comprises four bars made of hollow metal and wherein the four bars are joined by pivot connection to each other and to the pair of left legs and to the pair of right legs.
14. The folding canopy of claim 11, wherein the horizontal support frame connects to the pair of left cross support bars and to the pair of right cross support bars and a right lower outside junction and at a left outside junction.
15. The folding canopy of claim 11, wherein the horizontal support frame connects to the pair of right legs at the right apex, and wherein the horizontal support frame connects to the pair of left legs at the left apex.
16. The folding canopy of claim 11, further comprising a right center post lower cap and a right extension grommet to bound a range of travel of the right extension sleeve between a right upper bound defined by the right extension grommet and a right lower bound of the right-center post lower cap; further comprising a left center post lower cap and a left extension grommet to bound a range of travel of the left extension sleeve between a left upper bound defined by the left extension grommet and a left lower bound of the left center post lower cap.
17. The folding canopy of claim 16, wherein the horizontal support frame is collapsible into a folded position from a deployed position.
18. The folding canopy of claim 16, wherein the horizontal support frame comprises four bars made of hollow metal and wherein the four bars are joined by pivot connection to each other and to the pair of left legs and to the pair of right legs.
19. The folding canopy of claim 16, wherein the horizontal support frame connects to the pair of left cross support bars and to the pair of right cross support bars and a right lower outside junction and at a left outside junction.
20. The folding canopy of claim 16, wherein the horizontal support frame connects to the pair of right legs at the right apex, and wherein the horizontal support frame connects to the pair of left legs at the left apex.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 20, 2011
Publication Date: Mar 21, 2013
Inventor: Jian Yun Gao (Qingdao)
Application Number: 13/237,127
