Adjustable strap for assembling canopy

Abstract

An strap for assembling a canopy includes a first strap part with a first end and a second end, a second strap part with a first end and a second end, a fastening device with a fixing member, a guide member, and a stopping member, a first attaching device fixed at the second end of the first strap part for attaching the first strap part to a beam of the canopy, and a second attaching device fixed at the second end of the second strap part for attaching the second strap part to another beam of the canopy. The first end of the first strap part is fixed with the fixing member and the first end of the second strap part winds through the fastening device, to make the second strap part to engage with the fastening device frictionally. A canopy can be assembled strongly using the adjustable straps.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related to an adjustable strap for assembling canopy. More specifically, the invention is related to an adjustable strap for assembling canopy, which enables to build a canopy that is more resistant against external shear or tensile force applied to the beams. The invention is also related to an adjustable strap for assembling, which is easy to tighten and loosen in assembling and disassembling.

The canopy has been well known form of permanent or temporary shelter through the history. American Indian's tepee, Mongolian ger, and Mid-Asian nomadic tribal yurt are the original models of the modern canopies for camping or other temporary outdoor activities. These days, the canopy is getting larger and larger in some area of application. For example, a canopy for a large-scale gathering can hold more than 1000 people in a luxurious makeshift indoor decoration including round tables, wall candlesticks, full-size chandeliers, and air-conditioners. As the structure gets bigger and bigger and more and more peripheral equipments are added, the mechanical vulnerability of the canopy increases naturally. Mostly, the beams and frames are made of light and tough metals like aluminum, and the canopy is strong and resistant enough against compressive forces. The most serious defect of the beamed frame of the canopy, however, is the tendency of collapsing due to disjointed beams by a tensile force applied along the assembled segmented beams.

Accordingly, a need for an efficient and reliable way or device for solving the problems has been present. This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A strap for assembling a canopy having a plurality of beams includes a first strap part, a second strap part, a fastening device, a first attaching device, and a second attaching device.

The first strap part includes a first end and a second end, and the second strap part includes a first end and a second end. The first strap part and the second first strap part are resistant to tensile force.

The fastening device includes a fixing member, a guide member, and a stopping member. The first end of the first strap part is fixed with the fixing member and the first end of the second strap part is guided through a slot provided between the fixing member and the guide member and then through a slot provided between the guide member and the stopping member so that the second strap part follows the first end to pass the first slot and the second slot to wind around the guide member and abut on the stopping member, to make the second strap part to engage with the fastening device frictionally.

The first attaching device is fixed at the second end of the first strap part for attaching the first strap part to one of the beams of the canopy, and the second attaching device is fixed at the second end of the second strap part for attaching the second strap part to another one of the beams of the canopy.

The fastening device is made of plastic. The fastening device tightens the strap that holds two of the beams of the canopy through the frictional contact between the straps and the fastening device.

The first attaching device and the second attaching device are made of metal. Each of the attaching devices includes a thread at the end, which is adapted to be secured into a threaded hole provided in the beam of the canopy.

The beam of the canopy includes a plurality of detachable segmented parts.

In another embodiment of the invention, a canopy includes a plurality of structural beams including roof support beams, vertical support beams connected to the corresponding roof support beams, and horizontal support beams for proving spaces between two neighboring roof support beams, and a plurality of adjustable straps.

Many other innovations, features, and advantages will be evident with the following description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a canopy assembled with adjustable straps according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the adjustable strap;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fastening device;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fully assembled canopy; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a canopy without a roof sheet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 2 shows an adjustable strap 10 for assembling the canopy 100 having a plurality of beams 20. The adjustable strap 10 includes a first strap part 12, a second strap part 14, a fastening device 16, a first attaching device 18 fixed at the second end of the first strap part 12, and a second attaching device 19 fixed at the second end of the second strap part 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first strap part 12 includes a first end 11 and a second end 13. The second strap part 14 includes a first end 15 and a second end 17. The first strap part 12 and the second strap part 14 are resistant to tensile force.

As shown in FIG. 3, the fastening device 16 includes a fixing member 32, a guide member 34, and a stopping member 36. The first end 11 of the first strap part 12 is fixed with the fixing member 32 and the first end 15 of the second strap part 14 is guided through a first slot 33 provided between the fixing member 32 and the guide member 34 and then through a second slot 35 provided between the guide member 34 and the stopping member 36 so that the second strap part 14 follows the first end 15 to pass the first slot 33 and the second slot 35 to wind around the guide member 34 and abut on the stopping member 36, to make the second strap part 14 to engage with the fastening device 16 frictionally.

The first attaching device 18 is fixed at the second end 13 of the first strap part 12 for attaching the first strap part 12 to one of the beams 20 of the canopy 100 referring to FIG. 1, and a second attaching device 19 is fixed at the second end 17 of the second strap part 14 for attaching the second strap part 14 to another one of the beams 20 of the canopy 100.

Preferably, the fastening device 16 is made of plastic. The fastening device 16 tightens the straps 12, 14 that holds two of the beams 20 of the canopy through the frictional contact between the straps 12, 14 and the fastening device 16.

Preferably, the first attaching device 18 and the second attaching device 19 are made of metal. Each of the attaching device 18, 19 can include a thread at the tip, which is adapted to be secured into a threaded hole provided in the beam 20 of the canopy 100.

The beam 20 of the canopy 100 includes a plurality of detachable segmented parts.

The first end 15 of the second strap part 14 includes a ring 49 for holding. The ring 49 facilitates to tighten the straps 12, 14 by providing a secure holding part for pulling with hands or elongated hooking tools.

The adjustable strap further includes a sliding band 48 to hold the first end 15 of the second strap part 14.

FIG. 1 shows an assembled frame structure of a canopy 100.

In another embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, a canopy 101 or 102 includes a plurality of structural beams 20 including roof support beams 21, vertical support beams 22 connected to the corresponding roof support beams 21, and horizontal support beams 23 for providing spaces between two neighboring roof support beams 21, and a plurality of adjustable straps 10.

The canopy 101, 102 includes foot plates 26 fixed at the bottom of the vertical support beams 22, and connecting hubs 24 for connecting two or more beams 20 at crossing points.

The canopy 101, 102 further includes roof covering sheets 40 having holes 46 provided along the edge, and side covering sheets 42 having holes 46 provided along the edge.

The canopy 101, 102 further includes holding strings 44 for fixing the two covering sheets 42 along the edges with the beams 20 in between;

The fastening device 16 of the adjustable strap 10 is preferably a buckle. The fastening device 16 tightens the straps 12, 14 that hold two of the structural beams 20 of the canopy through the frictional contact between the straps 12, 14 and the fastening device 16 by jerk-and-pulling motion of the first end 15 of the second strap part 14.

The attaching device 18, 19 is preferably a hook.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A strap for assembling a canopy having a plurality of beams comprising:

a) a first strap part comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first strap part is resistant to tensile force;

b) a second strap part comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the second strap part is resistant to tensile force;

c) a fastening device comprising a fixing member, a guide member, and a stopping member, wherein the first end of the first strap part is fixed with the fixing member and the first end of the second strap part is guided through a slot provided between the fixing member and the guide member and then through a slot provided between the guide member and the stopping member so that the second strap part following the first end passes the first slot and the second slot, winds around the guide member and abuts on the stopping member, whereby making the second strap part to engage with the fastening device frictionally;

d) a first attaching device fixed at the second end of the first strap part for attaching the first strap part to one of the beams of the canopy; and

e) a second attaching device fixed at the second end of the second strap part for attaching the second strap part to another one of the beams of the canopy.

2. The adjustable strap for assembling a canopy of claim 1, wherein the fastening device is made of plastic.

3. The adjustable strap for assembling a canopy of claim 2, wherein the fastening device tightens the strap that holds two of the beams of the canopy through the frictional contact between the straps and the fastening device.

4. The adjustable strap for assembling a canopy of claim 1, the first attaching device and the second attaching device are made of metal.

5. The adjustable strap for assembling a canopy of claim 4, wherein each of the attaching devices comprises a thread at the end which is adapted to be secured into a threaded hole provided in the beam of the canopy.

6. The adjustable strap for assembling a canopy of claim 5, wherein the beam of the canopy comprises a plurality of detachable segmented parts.

7. The adjustable strap for assembling a canopy of claim 1, wherein the first end of the second strap part comprises a ring for holding.

8. The adjustable strap for assembling a canopy of claim 1 further comprising a sliding band.

9. A canopy comprising:

a) a plurality of structural beams; and

b) a plurality of adjustable strap comprising 1) a first strap part comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first strap part is resistant to tensile force; 2) a second strap part comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the second strap part is resistant to tensile force; 3) a fastening device comprising a fixing member, a guide member, and a stopping member, wherein the first end of the first strap part is fixed with the fixing member and the first end of the second strap part is guided through a slot provided between the fixing member and the guide member and then through a slot provided between the guide member and the stopping member so that the second strap part following the first end passes the first slot and the second slot, winds around the guide member, and abuts on the stopping member, whereby making the second strap part to engage with the fastening device frictionally; 4) a first attaching device fixed at the second end of the first strap part for attaching the first strap part to one of the beams of the canopy; and 5) a second attaching device fixed at the second end of the second strap part for attaching the second strap part to another one of the beams of the canopy,

wherein the adjustable straps hold tight and strengthen the structure of the canopy.

10. The canopy of claim 9, wherein the structural beams comprise roof support beams, vertical support beams connected to the corresponding roof support beams, and horizontal support beams for proving spaces between two neighboring roof support beams.

11. The canopy of claim 9 further comprising:

a) foot plates fixed at the bottom of the vertical support beams; and

b) connecting hubs for connecting two or more beams at crossing points.

12. The canopy of claim 9 further comprising:

a) roof covering sheets comprising holes provided along the edge; and

b) side covering sheets comprising holes provided along the edge.

13. The canopy of claim 9 further comprising holding strings for fixing the two covering sheets along the edges with the beams in between;

14. The canopy of claim 9, wherein the fastening device is made of plastic.

15. The canopy of claim 14, wherein the fastening device tightens the strap that holds two of the structural beams of the canopy through the frictional contact between the straps and the fastening device.

16. The canopy of claim 9, the first attaching device and the second attaching device are made of metal.

17. The canopy of claim 16, wherein each of the attaching devices comprises a thread at the end which is adapted to be secured into a threaded hole provided in the structural beam of the canopy.

18. The canopy of claim 17, wherein the structural beam of the canopy comprises a plurality of detachable segmented parts.

19. The canopy of claim 9, wherein the first end of the second strap part comprises a ring for holding.

20. The canopy of claim 9 further comprising a sliding band.