Center hub slide-way portable enclosure system

Abstract

The tops of a series of structural supports pivot around a central hub slide-way. The supports each have expansible top roof sections and lower wall sections. The supports pivot from a nested storage array to an axially expanded frame array. An attached material forms a ceiling cover with or without a sidewall or floor covering for a quick and compacted portable canopy and/or enclosure. A zipper separates the cover material into two sections to allow pivoting of the structural supports during setting up and storing away.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to portable canopies, shaded shelters, awnings, tents and more specifically it relates to a center hub slide-way enclosure system with a top center hub slide-way having a series of structural supports to pivot around the hub, pivoting from a storage position with all the structural supports together to a structural forming position with the structural supports fanned out to form a roof and walls of a portable structure for providing outdoor comfort to individuals out in open areas and/or adjacent to a building structure.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

Portable enclosure devices that have sun, wind and insect protection for individuals have been in use for years. Canopies, awnings and tents have individual components needing to be assembled separately of which takes a long time to assemble and disassemble. In addition, conventional portable canopies, tent enclosures and awnings are not suitable to be stored away in a compact position with the combination of the frame, a ceiling cover, sidewall covering, and optional floor attached all together. In addition, portable canopies, tents and awnings are unable to provide the aesthetics or diversity to be used adjacent to a building structure and/or be able to stand alone on it's own out in open areas.

Examples of patented devices which may be related to the present invention include U.S. Pat. No. 1,326,006; U.S. Pat. No. 2,928,404; U.S. Pat. No. 3,195,275; U.S. Pat. No. 3,333,376; U.S. Pat. No. 3,461,626; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,475.

In these respects, the pivotable hub slide-way enclosure system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and functions of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a quick and cost efficient portable slide-way enclosure that can be stored in a compacted position.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of portable enclosure devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new center hub slide-way enclosure system construction and function wherein the same can be utilized for providing outdoor comfort quickly as a building extension enclosure adjacent to a building and/or a stand alone enclosure out in open areas.

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and unique center hub slide-way enclosure system that has features that result in a new portable enclosure system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art retractable enclosure devices, either alone or in any combination thereof.

To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a series of structural supports attached to a central hub slide-way which pivot around it to fan out into an expandable frame, and a tent-like canvas ceiling covering with sidewalls suspended from the frame. Each of the expansible structural support frame members preferably comprises a lower extension member connected to an upper extension member. A covering preferably comprised of a flexible outdoor sun protected fabric and with netting or screen window-type openings and/or wind protection fabric for allowing protection of the outdoor elements. A flooring covering comprised of flexible outdoor fabric is preferably attached to the bottom of the sidewall covering.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described herein after and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a center hub slide-way enclosure having a quick and simple set up and store away system for outdoor comfort to individuals adjacent to a building structure and/or standing alone out in open areas in a cost effective manner.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a light-weight portable slide-way enclosure system for easy transfer to and from the desired placement of the enclosure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a center hub slide-way enclosure system that is stored away in a small compact position with the support members, ceiling, sidewall and flooring coverings as a single unit to fit in or as a backpack.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a center hub slide-way enclosure system that can be operated for open and closed positions easily by a single person when adjacent to a building structure and be operated for set up and stored away positions by two people when the enclosure is standing alone out in open areas.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a center hub slide-way enclosure system that can be conveniently stored against a building structure during in season usage when installed adjacent to a building structure and/or can be stored in a small compact bag when using the slide-way enclosure system adjacent to a building structure and/or when stand alone out in open areas.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a center hub slide-way enclosure system that can be utilized in various ways such as using it like a portable canopy in a backyard, a retractable awning adjacent to a building structure, a tent and/or a portable booth for trade shows are just few examples.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fully extended frame of structural supports around the center hub slide-way forming a free-standing portable tent-like enclosure with a roof, sidewall cover, and floor attached to the frame according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the partially extended frame of structural supports around the center hub slide-way of FIG. 1 without the ceiling and sidewall cover attached to the frame for a lower structural frame;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the frame of structural supports around the center hub slide-way of FIG. 2 with the structural supports fully extended in height to form a higher structural frame;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the structural supports of FIG. 3 pivoted together contacting each other for storage and transport;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the structural supports of the present invention with the supports completely retracted and pivoted together contacting each other for storage and transport and an alternate slideway hub configuration;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the structural supports of the present invention with alternate structural supports retracted and bent and pivoted together contacting each other for storage and transport and the alternate slideway configuration of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate frame of structural supports around a center hub slide-way with the end structural supports attached to an outside of an existing structure over an entrance with the structural supports pivoted out into a support array and having a roof and sidewall cover attached to the frame to form a collapsible extension of the enclosed space of the existing building according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the alternate frame of structural supports of FIG. 7 with the structural supports and roof and sidewall cover pivoted closed with an equal number of structural supports stored against the building on both sides of the entrance to the building;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the alternate frame of structural supports of FIG. 7 with the structural supports and roof and sidewall cover pivoted closed with all of the structural supports stored against the building on one side of the entrance to the building;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fully extended frame of four structural supports around an alternate center hub slide-way forming a canopy or free-standing portable tent-like enclosure with only a roof attached to the frame according to the present invention and a zipper separating the roof into two sections to allow pivoting of the structural supports during assembly and disassembly;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the center slide-way hub of the present invention showing the tops of the structural supports slidable in the slide-way hub with the four structural supports pivoted together for storage along a flat portion of the slide-way;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the center slide-way hub of FIG. 11 showing the tops of the structural supports slidable in the slide-way hub with two of the four structural supports pivoted together along a flat portion of the slide-way an the other two structural supports pivoted outwardly;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the center slide-way hub of FIG. 11 showing the tops of the structural supports slidable in the slide-way hub with all four structural supports pivoted outwardly as in a fully extended structure, such as the free-standing structure of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional of the preferred embodiment of the center slide-way hub of FIG. 11 showing a top of one the structural supports slidable in the wide-bottom, narrow-top slide-way with a wide extension on the end of the structural support holding the structural support slidably within the slide-way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1-9, a center hub slide-way portable enclosure system comprises a collapsible and expansible frame 10, 10A, and 10B comprising a plurality of structural supports 11 and 11A each pivotally connected to a center hub slide-way 30 and 30A so that the structural supports pivot slidably in the slide-way 31 and 31A encircling the center hub to pivot radially apart to form a structure and pivot together for storage, and a cover material 20 and 20A attachable to and removable from the structural supports.

In FIGS. 1-4 and 7-9, the center hub slide-way 30 is formed by two spaced circular shaped or horseshoe shaped or other shaped discs 32A and 32B interconnected at a center portion by a center hub 33 leaving a circular slide-way 31 encircling the center hub between the spaced circular discs with the ends 42 of the structural supports pivotally attached to the center hub 33 so that the structural supports are pivotable around the center hub slide-way 30 in a variety of configurations. In FIGS. 5, 6, and 10-14, a preferred embodiment of the center hub slide-way 30A comprises a slide-way formed as a groove slide-way 31A with a wide interior space 39 and narrow top opening 38, as shown in FIG. 14, so that a wide extension 45 formed by a threaded attachment 46 or other attachment to the bent end of the structural support 42 retains the bent over end 48 of the structural support top 42 within the slide-way 31A because the extension 45 will not fit through the narrower top 38 formed by the two sides 37 of the groove slide-way 31A.

In FIGS. 4-6, a storage position is formed with the structural supports 11 and 11A pivoted together contacting each other for storage and transport. In FIG. 4, the structural supports 11 are shown pivoted together will the structural supports fully extended to the maximum length. In FIG. 5, the structural supports 11 are completely retracted in length and pivoted together contacting each other for storage and transport with the structural supports all pivoted together on a flat side of a horseshoe shaped center hub slide-way 30A hub configuration. In FIG. 6, an alternate embodiment of the structural supports 11A is shown with the structural supports 11A retracted and bent at a hinged connection with hinged structural supports or chain-corded pole connection 41B with chain-corded structural supports in the roof portion and pivoted together contacting each other for storage and transport with the structural supports all pivoted together on a flat side of a horseshoe shaped center hub slide-way 30A hub configuration.

In FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a full structural frame position is formed with all of the structural supports 11 pivoted out in a radially spaced array with a maximum radial distance between each the series of structural supports for forming a stand alone structure, which is shown with an attached cover material 20 in FIG. 1.

The center hub slide-way 30 enables the storage and radial expansion of the plurality of structural supports 11 quickly and easily by pivoting the support structures together and apart around the center hub slide-way 30.

The plurality of structural supports 11 each comprise a minimum of one expandable structure comprising a lower portion 50 having engagement with an external ground surface on a distal end and engaged with an upper portion 40 on a proximal end and an upper portion 40 having engagement with the lower portion 50 on a distal end and engagement with the center hub slide-way 30 on a proximal end.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the structural supports 11 comprises a roof section 40 extending outwardly from the center hub slide-way 30, substantially horizontal at a slight downward angle for drainage, and an interconnected side wall section 40 extending downwardly from the roof section in an orientation angled slightly inwardly from the vertical at the top to create a stable base with the structural supports pivoted radially out. The structural supports are preferably formed of a rigid lightweight tubing such as aluminum tubing with the tubing bent to form the two sections.

Both the roof section 40 and the side wall section 50 of the structural supports 11 each comprise a means for expanding the length of the section. In FIG. 2, the means for extending the length of the section comprises adding an extension element, such as roof extension element 42 interconnected by a threaded or other type of roof section coupling 41 to the roof section 40 and side wall extension element 52 interconnected by a threaded or other type of side wall extension coupling 51 to the side wall section 50. Alternately, the means for extending the length of the section may comprise telescoping elements in each section which would interconnect where the extension couplings are located so that roof extension 42 would fit telescopically into roof section 40 and side wall extension 52 would fit telescopically into side wall section 50. In FIG. 6 another alternate means for expanding and contracting the structural supports 11A comprises bending the structural supports at a hinge point 41A.

In FIGS. 1 and 7-9, the cover material 20 is attachable to the structural supports 11 to form a portable structure to function as a stand alone self-supported structure with the structural supports all pivoted out in a full radially spaced array, as in FIG. 1, and to function as a building extension shelter with the two end structural supports 11 contacting a building 60 on both sides of a doorway 61 and the other structural supports 11 pivoted out in a radially spaced array with an attached cover material 20.

The cover material may comprise just a roof cover material 20B attached to the roof sections 40 of the structural supports, as shown in FIG. 10, or a roof cover attached to the roof sections 40 of the structural supports and a contiguous side wall covering attached to the side wall sections 50 of the structural supports, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7-9. In FIG. 1, an optional floor cover 25 may be attached to the bottom of the side wall covering by stitching or snaps or mating hook and loop fastener elements or other means. The cover material 20 preferably comprises at least one opening section comprised of two panels 23A and 23B interconnected by a zipper 21 which may extend up to the roof covering portion, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7-9. The cover material 20 preferably further comprises at least one and preferably a plurality of viewing sections 22, with one between each pair of spaced structural supports 11, comprised of a panel having an opening therethrough covered by a see-through flexible outdoor material 26, including the entrance opening panels 23A and 23B each with a screened opening. The cover material is fabricated of a flexible outdoor material, such as canvas, waterproofed nylon, netting, flexible fabric screening, or other flexible outdoor material which is windproof, sun-proof, and insect preventive and is sufficiently durable to withstand weather conditions.

The cover material 22 preferably hangs from or rests on the structural supports by a series of hangers 24 attached to the cover material and looped around the structural supports 11, wherein each of the hangers 24 preferably comprises a pair of strips of material attached to the cover material and interconnected around a structural support by a mating hook and loop fastener. This allows quick and easy attachment and removal of the cover material 22 to the structural supports 11. Alternately each of the hangers comprises a loop of material forming each of the hangers 24 attached to the cover material with the structural support 11 inserted through the loop of material.

The cover material 20 is preferably fabricated of a weather proof canvas material or rubberized fabric or other weather proof material.

In FIG. 7, an alternate frame of structural supports 11 around a center hub slide-way 30 has the end structural supports attached to an outside of an existing structure 60 on each side of an entrance 61 with the other structural supports 11 pivoted out into a support array having a cover material 20A forming a roof and sidewall cover attached to the frame to form a collapsible extension of the enclosed space of the existing structure 60.

FIG. 8 shows the alternate frame of structural supports 11A of FIG. 7 with the structural supports pivoted closed with an equal number of structural supports 11 and half of the cover material 20A stored against the building 61 on each side of the entrance 61 to the building 60. Alternately, FIG. 9 shows the alternate frame of structural supports 11A of FIG. 7 with the structural supports pivoted closed with all of the structural supports 11 and cover material 20A stored against the building 60 on one side of the entrance 61.

In FIG. 10, a fully extended frame of four structural supports 11 around an alternate center hub slide-way 30A are axially spaced apart to form a free-standing portable tent-like enclosure with only a roof cover material 20B attached to the frame.

In FIGS. 11-14, a preferred embodiment of the center hub slide-way 30A shows the tops 42 of the structural supports slidable in a groove slide-way 31A with the four structural supports tops 42 pivoted together for storage along a flat portion of the horse-shoe shaped slide-way. The center hub slide-way 30A comprises a groove slide-way 31A having a wide groove interior, as shown in FIG. 14, and a narrow groove opening encircling the center hub and further comprising a lateral extension 45 of a top end 42 of each of the structural supports. The lateral extension 45 fitting slidably within the wide groove interior 39 and the lateral extension 45 is configured wider than the groove opening 38 so that a pair of opposing sides 37 of the groove opening retain the lateral extension 45 within the groove slide-way 31A. A top end of each of the structural support tops 42 has a threaded opening therein and the lateral extension 45 may comprise a head of a threaded fastener attached within the threaded opening.

FIG. 12 shows the tops 42 of the structural supports slidable in the slide-way hub with two of the four structural supports pivoted together along a flat portion of the slide-way an the other two structural supports pivoted outwardly.

FIG. 13 shows the tops 42 of the structural supports slidable in the slide-way hub with all four structural supports pivoted outwardly as in a fully extended structure, such as the free-standing structure of FIG. 10.

In use to set up the portable center hub slide-way enclosure system of the present invention two different embodiments require two different procedures. The steps for setting up a stand alone enclosure are as follows:

• 1) Take enclosure out of bag/backpack, which may be used for storage.
• 2) Telescope out (or fold out or attach chain-corded) ceiling poles or structural supports to their full extended length. It could be more than one tear but drawings only show one.
• 3) With two people: Each person grabs poles from each side of the upside down ‘L’ shaped closed position and start walking/fanning all poles (with covers attached) out towards one another on the opposite end until the two people meet each other resulting in a fully fanned out enclosure.
• 4) One person zips the zipper of the ceiling cover closed down to the bottom of the ceiling cover (FIG. 10) and/or to the bottom of the sidewall cover (FIG. 1).
• 5) Telescope up (or fold out or attach chain-corded) sidewall (leg) poles to their full extended length.
• 6) If a floor covering is used; close the zipper(s) on the floor cover. Reverse the above for storing away.

The steps for setting up a portable center hub slide-way enclosure as a connected extension of a building structure: are as follows:

• 1) Take enclosure out of bag/backpack.
• 2) Telescope out ceiling poles sections of the structural supports, then sidewall (leg) poles sections of the structural supports.
• 3) Attach one pole to the building structure if storing in an upside down ‘L’ shape or attach one pole from each widths end if storing in an upside down ‘U’ shape (see drawings in next email.)
• 4) There will be a strap that wraps around ‘all poles’ that is attached to the building structure so all poles are secured in place when stored adjacent to building.
• 5) One person unleashes the strap(s) and grabs the poles and walks outward so enclosure fans out to a full open position.
• 6) Latch the last pole to the side of the building when using the upside down “L” shape form for full open position. When using the upside down “U” shape form, then two people fan poles towards one another and then have one person zip the ceiling cover closed and if side wall used zip that closed.

It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1. A center hub slide-way portable enclosure system comprising:

a center hub slide-way formed by a center hub having a passageway completely encircling the center hub;

a plurality of structural supports each movably attached by a connection to the center hub at a top end of each of the structural supports so that the structural supports are pivotably slidable in the slide-way around the center hub in a variety of configurations including a storage position with the structural supports pivoted together contacting each other for storage and transport and a full structural frame position with all of the structural supports pivoted out in a radially spaced array for forming a support structure;

a cover material attachable to the structural supports to form a portable shelter to function as a stand alone self-supported structure with the structural supports all pivoted out in a full radially spaced array when set up and to function as a building extension shelter with two of the structural supports attached to an external structure and the other structural supports pivoted out in a radially spaced array when set up, the cover material attached to the structural supports when the structural supports are pivoted together for storage.

2. The center hub slide-way portable enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the center hub slide-way comprises a groove having a wide groove interior and a narrow groove opening encircling the center hub and further comprising a lateral extension of a top end of each of the structural supports, the lateral extension fitting slidably within the wide groove interior and the lateral extension configured wider than the groove opening so that a pair of opposing sides of the groove opening retain the lateral extension within the groove.

3. The center hub slide-way portable enclosure system of claim 2 wherein a top end of each of the structural supports has a threaded opening therein and the lateral extension comprises a head of a threaded fastener attached within the threaded opening.

4. The center hub slide-way portable enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the center hub slide-way comprises two spaced circular discs interconnected at a center portion by a center post leaving a circular slide-way encircling the center post between the spaced circular discs and the top end of each of the structural supports is attached by a pivotable connection to the center post.

5. The center hub slide-way portable enclosure system of claim 1 wherein each of the structural supports comprises a roof section extending outwardly from the center hub slide-way and an interconnected side wall section extending downwardly from the roof section.

6. The center hub slide-way portable enclosure system of claim 5 wherein both the roof section and the side wall section each comprise a means for expanding the length of the section.

7. The center hub slide-way portable enclosure system of claim 6 wherein the means for extending the length of the section comprises adding an extension element interconnected to the section.

8. The center hub slide-way portable enclosure system of claim 6 wherein the means for extending the length of the section comprises telescoping elements in each section.

9. The center hub slide-way portable enclosure system of claim 5 wherein the cover material comprises a roof cover attached to the roof sections of the structural supports.

10. The center hub slide-way portable enclosure system of claim 5 wherein the cover material comprises a roof cover attached to the roof sections of the structural supports and a contiguous side wall covering attached to the side wall sections of the structural supports.

11. The center hub slide-way portable enclosure system of claim 10 further comprising a floor cover attached to the side wall covering, the floor cover comprising at least two sections interconnected by a zipper for separation of the sections during assembly and disassembly.

12. The center hub slide-way portable enclosure system of claim 10 wherein the cover material further comprises at least one opening section comprised of two panels interconnected by a zipper to allow entry and to allow the panels to separate to allow pivoting of the structural supports during assembly and disassembly.

13. The center hub slide-way portable enclosure system of claim 10 wherein the cover material further comprises at least one viewing section comprised of a panel having an opening therethrough covered by a see-through outdoor flexible material.

14. The center hub slide-way portable enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the cover material attaches to the structural supports by a series of hangers attached to the cover material and looped around the structural supports.

15. The center hub slide-way portable enclosure system of claim 14 wherein each of the hangers comprises a pair of strips of material attached to the cover material and interconnected around a structural support by a connector.

16. The center hub slide-way portable enclosure system of claim 14 wherein each of the hangers comprises a loop of material attached to the cover material with the structural support inserted through the loop of material.

17. The center hub slide-way portable enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the center hub slide-way is a structure enabling the storage and radial expansion of the plurality of structural supports.

18. The center hub slide-way portable enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of structural supports each comprise a minimum of one expandable structure comprising a lower portion having engagement with an external ground surface on a distal end and engaged with an upper portion on a proximal end and an upper portion having engagement with the lower portion on a distal end and engagement with the center hub slide-way on a proximal end.

19. The center hub slide-way portable enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the cover material comprises a flexible outdoor material.