PORTABLE SHELTER HAVING FRAME WITH MOVEABLY COUPLED CANOPY SUPPORT MEMBERS
A portable shelter includes a canopy and a frame assembly that supports the canopy. The frame assembly includes a lower portion that defines an area and a resiliently flexible canopy support member extending over the area and supporting the canopy over the area. The frame assembly further includes a collapsible coupling with a first end operably coupled to the lower portion and a second end operably coupled to the canopy support member. A distance between the first end and the second end is variable.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/158,921, filed on Mar. 10, 2009. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELDThe present disclosure relates to a portable shelter and, more particularly, relates to a portable shelter having a frame with moveably coupled canopy support members.
BACKGROUNDPortable shelters have been proposed for conveniently providing shade from the sun, for providing shelter from inclement weather, and the like. These shelters can be used as canopies for outdoor gatherings, as temporary awnings that extend from a recreational vehicle, and for other similar uses.
These shelters can include a self-supporting frame and a tarp, canvas, or other foldable roof or canopy that is coupled to and supported by the frame. The frame can be moved between an extended and retracted position. When the frame is in the extended position, the canopy can be unfurled, unfolded, and expanded above the ground surface such that the canopy provides shelter. When the frame is in the retracted position, the canopy can be folded or otherwise retracted to make the shelter more compact and portable.
Although conventional portable shelters have been adequate for their intended purposes, they do suffer from certain disadvantages. For instance, when the frame is in the extended position, the canopy may not be adequately supported by the frame, and as a result the canopy might sag, bunch, bulge, etc. Furthermore, high winds, precipitation, or other loads on the canopy can transfer to the frame of the structure and cause the frame to inadvertently move. Still further, the frame can include many interconnected parts, and the construction of the frame can be complex. As such, assembling the portable shelter, disassembling the shelter, and/or moving the frame between the extended and retracted positions can be difficult and burdensome.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a portable shelter with a frame that can better support the canopy cover. Moreover, there remains a need for a portable shelter that is more stable. Additionally, there remains a need for a portable shelter that can be more easily assembled, disassembled, and moved between its extended and retracted positions.
SUMMARYA portable shelter is disclosed that includes a canopy and a frame assembly that supports the canopy. The frame assembly includes a lower portion that defines an area and a resiliently flexible canopy support member extending over the area and supporting the canopy over the area. The frame assembly further includes a collapsible coupling with a first end operably coupled to the lower portion and a second end operably coupled to the canopy support member. A distance between the first end and the second end is variable.
In addition, a portable shelter is disclosed that includes a canopy and a frame assembly that supports the canopy. The frame assembly is moveable between an extended position in which the canopy is unfurled and a retracted position in which the canopy is furled. The frame assembly includes a lower portion that defines an area, and the frame assembly further includes a resiliently flexible canopy support member extending over the area and supporting the canopy over the area. Also, the frame assembly includes a chain with a plurality of interlocking links. The chain has a first end operably coupled to the lower portion and a second end operably coupled to the canopy support member.
Still further, a portable shelter is disclosed that includes a foldable canopy and a frame assembly that supports the canopy. The frame assembly is moveable between an extended position in which the canopy is unfurled and a retracted position in which the canopy is furled. The frame assembly includes a plurality of upright, rigid legs that define an area between the plurality of legs. Also, the frame assembly includes a plurality of scissoring, pivotally attached, rigid leg supports that extend between and interconnect respective ones of the plurality of legs. Furthermore, the frame assembly includes a plurality of resiliently flexible canopy support members extending over the area and supporting the canopy over the area. The frame assembly additionally includes a plurality of resiliently flexible struts operably coupled to respective ones of the legs and operably coupled to respective ones of the canopy support members. The frame assembly also includes a plurality of chains, each with a plurality of interlocking links. The chains each have a first end operably coupled to respective ones of the legs, and a second end operably coupled to the canopy support member. The chains allow the canopy support members to resiliently flex relative to the legs when the frame assembly is in the extended position.
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONExample embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
Also, as will be described, the portable structure 10 can be positioned in an extended configuration, as shown in
As shown in
The legs 16a-16d can be generally elongate, hollow, tubular, and rigid. The legs 16a-16d can also be made out of any suitable material, such as metal. In some embodiments, the legs 16a-16d are made out of aluminum, steel, or the like. The legs 16a-16d can each include a top portion 15 and a bottom portion 17. When the frame assembly 12 is in the extended configuration, as shown in
The frame assembly 12 can also include a plurality of caps 19 that are each disposed on the top portion 15 of a respective leg 16a-16d. The caps 19 can be hollow so as to receive and couple to the top portion 15 of the respective leg 16a-16d. Each cap 19 can also include a projection member 21, as shown in
The frame assembly 12 can further include a plurality of sliders 25. The sliders 25 can be hollow and tubular and can be slidingly received on respective ones of the legs 16a-16d. The sliders 25 can be made out of any suitable material, such as a polymeric material.
Moreover, the frame assembly 12 can include a plurality of leg support members, generally indicated at 18. The leg support members 18 generally extend between, interconnect, and support respective ones of the legs 16a-16d. Thus, the structure 10 can be stable and free standing.
For purposes of discussion, the leg support member 18 extending between legs 16a, 16b will be discussed, and it will be appreciated that the other leg support members 18 can be similarly constructed. The leg support members 18 can be of a scissoring type as will be discussed in greater detail below. However, it will be appreciated that the leg support members 18 can be of any suitable (e.g., fixed) type without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Specifically, each leg support member 18 can include a first member 20 and a second member 22. The first and second members 22 can be rigid and elongate and can be made out of any suitable material, such as steel, aluminum, or another metal. The first member 20 of the leg support member 18 can include a first portion 24, a second portion 26, and a third portion 28. The first portion 24 can be pivotally or hingeably coupled to a cap 19 at one end, and can be hingeably coupled to the second portion 26 at the opposite end. Furthermore, the second portion 26 can be hingeably coupled to the third portion at the opposite end thereof. Still further, the third portion 28 can be hingeably attached to a slider 25 on the opposite end thereof. The first member 20 can also include a plurality (e.g., two) hinge joints 36 with a pin or other suitable member that hingeably couples the first portion 24 to the second portion 26 and the second portion 26 to the third portion 28. Accordingly, the first portion 24 and the third portion 28 are operatively coupled to different legs 16a, 16b, and the first, second, and third portions 24, 26, 28 can hingeably pivot relatively to each other to allow the legs 16a, 16b to move toward each other when the frame assembly 12 moves from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration.
Moreover, the second member 22 of the leg support member 18 can include a first portion 30, a second portion 32, and a third portion 34, which are similar to the portions 24, 26, 28 of the first member 20 of the leg support member 18. Furthermore, the first and second members 20, 22 can include a plurality (e.g., two) of pivot pins 38 that rotatably couple the first and second members 20, 22. As such, the leg support members 18 each fold in a scissoring action to allow the legs 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d to move toward and away from each other when moving the frame assembly 12 between the extended and retracted positions as will be discussed in greater detail below.
Moreover, the frame assembly 12 can include a plurality of reinforcement members 40. Reinforcement members 40 can be made out of any suitable material, such as a polymeric material. As shown in
Additionally, as mentioned above and as shown in
For purposes of brevity, only the canopy support member 42b as shown in
Furthermore, in some embodiments, a resilient cord (not specifically shown) can extend through a hollow passage defined longitudinally through the sections 41a-41c, the tubes 43a, 43b, and the kick joint 46. The cord can bias these components toward each other and provide additional support.
Also, each canopy support member 42a-42d can be hingeably coupled to a central member 44, as shown in
The canopy support members 42a-42d can be disposed on an inner surface of the canopy 14 and can thereby provide support for the canopy 14. Also, the canopy support members 42a-42d can resiliently bias the canopy 14 upwards and outwards away from the lower portion 11 of the frame assembly 12. Thus, the canopy support members 42a-42d can inhibit the canopy 14 from sagging inward due to wind, rain, and the like. Also, the canopy support members 42a-42d can resiliently flex relative to the legs 16a-16d, for instance, under wind or other loads, and once the load is reduced, the support members 42a-42d can return the canopy 14 to its fully deployed state. Thus, the structure 10 is more stable and is more likely to remain upright with the canopy 14 deployed. In addition, the support members 42a-42d can be lightweight, and resiliently flexible, and can easily collapse to allow the structure 10 to more easily move between the extended and the retracted position.
In addition, the frame assembly 12 can include a plurality of struts 48, as shown in
In order to move the frame assembly 12 from the extended configuration (
Furthermore, to move the frame assembly 12 from the retracted configuration (
Now referring to
As shown, the structure 110 can additionally include one or more collapsible couplings 149a, 149b. In some embodiments, the collapsible couplings 149a, 149b can include a chain 150 with a plurality of interlocking links. However, it will be appreciated that the collapsible couplings 149a, 149b can be of any suitable type. The chain 150 can be made out of any suitable material, such as metal, polymer, etc.
The collapsible couplings 149a, 149b can each include a first end 153, which is operably coupled to the lower portion 111 of the frame assembly 112, and a second end 155, which is operably coupled to a respective one of the canopy support members 142a-142d. The chain 150 is collapsible, meaning that the chain 150 is not self-supporting or self-standing. As such, the distance between the first and second ends 153, 155 can vary fairly easily. Thus, the chain 150 can allow the canopy 114 and the canopy support members 142a-142d to resiliently move to better absorb heavy loading dues to wind or the like.
Specifically, as shown in
In addition, as shown in
In some embodiments, the frame assembly 112 can include pivot joint members 151 that each pivotally couple a respective strut 148 to a respective leg support member 118. For instance, the pivot joint members 151 can be generally U-shaped with a first fastener 161 (e.g., a pin) extending through the pivot joint member 151 and the respective leg support member 118. A second fastener 163 (e.g., a pin) can extend through the pivot joint member 151 and the respective strut 148 as well. Accordingly, the strut 148 can pivot relative to the leg support member 118 about the axis of the first fastener 161 as well as the axis of the second fastener 163. In other embodiments, the pivot joint member 151 can be a ball and socket joint, which allows the strut 148 to pivot relative to the leg support member 118 about a plurality of axes. The added mobility provided by the pivot joint member 151 can allow the structure 110 to be more stable as well as allow the structure 110 to move more easily between its extended and retracted positions.
As shown in
Referring now to
As shown, the canopy support members 242a-242d can include a single chain 250 extending between the respective cap 219 and the respective support member 242a-242d. Additionally, a turnbuckle 252 (
Furthermore, as shown in
It will be appreciated that the chains 150, 150′, 250 can advantageously allow a fair amount of movement between the canopy support members 142a-142d, 142a′-142d′, 242a-242d and the other portions of the frame assembly 112, 112′, 212. As such, the canopy 114, 114′, 214 can flex and move relative to the frame assembly 112, 112′, 212 to absorb loads due to wind, precipitation, and the like. The chains 150, 150′, 250 can also allow the canopy support members 142a-142d, 142a′-142d′, 242a-242d to move more easily between the extended and retracted configurations. Also, the struts 148, 148′, 248 can provide robust support for the canopy support members 142a-142d, 142a′-142d′, 242a-242d for maintaining the support members 142a-142d, 142a′-142d′, 242a-242d extended such that the canopy 114, 114′, 214 is less likely to excessively sag.
Now referring to
As shown, the canopy support member 342b can include a plurality of fork members 354. The fork members 354 can be made out of any suitable material, such as metallic, polymeric, or any other suitable material. The fork members 354 are each coupled to the canopy support member 342b at one end, and the fork members 354 branch away from each other and are pivotally coupled to respective ones of the leg support members 318 via pivot joint members 351 of the type described above.
It will be appreciated that features of the embodiments discussed above could be arranged in any suitable combination with each other. For instance, the chains 150, 150′ of the embodiments of
In summary, the frame assembly 12, 112, 212, 312 of the present disclosure can be relatively robust and can withstand substantially strong forces due to gusts of wind, rain, and the like. However, the frame assembly 12, 112, 212, 312 is relatively light weight, thereby allowing the frame assembly 12, 112, 212, 312 to move between the extended and retracted configurations relatively easily, and also allowing the frame assembly 12, 112, 212, 312 to be moved relatively easy. In addition, the canopy 14 can be supported without excessive sagging.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A portable shelter comprising:
- a canopy; and
- a frame assembly that supports the canopy, the frame assembly including a lower portion that defines an area, the frame assembly further including a resiliently flexible canopy support member extending over the area and supporting the canopy over the area, the frame assembly further including a collapsible coupling with a first end operably coupled to the lower portion and a second end operably coupled to the canopy support member, a distance between the first end and the second end being variable.
2. The portable shelter of claim 1, wherein the collapsible coupling includes a chain with a plurality of interlocking links.
3. The portable shelter of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve that encompasses at least a portion of the collapsible coupling.
4. The portable shelter of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the frame assembly includes a plurality of legs that are supported upright, and wherein the lower portion of the frame assembly also includes a plurality of leg supports that interconnect and support respective ones of the legs.
5. The portable shelter of claim 4, wherein the plurality of leg supports each include a plurality of pivotally attached, rigid, elongate members.
6. The portable shelter of claim 4, further comprising a strut with a first end operably coupled to the canopy support member and a second end operably coupled to either one of the plurality of legs or one of the plurality of leg supports.
7. The portable shelter of claim 6, wherein the strut is resiliently flexible.
8. The portable shelter of claim 6, wherein the second end of the strut is pivotally coupled to the one of the plurality of legs or the one of the plurality of leg supports to pivot about a plurality of different axes.
9. The portable shelter of claim 8, wherein the second end is coupled via a ball and socket joint.
10. The portable shelter of claim 6, wherein the strut includes a first strut and a second strut, wherein the first end of the first strut and the first end of the second strut are each operably coupled to the same canopy support member.
11. The portable shelter of claim 1, wherein the collapsible coupling includes a turnbuckle.
12. The portable shelter of claim 1, wherein the frame assembly is moveable from an extended position in which the canopy is unfurled and a retracted position in which the canopy is furled.
13. A portable shelter comprising:
- a canopy; and
- a frame assembly that supports the canopy, the frame assembly being moveable between an extended position in which the canopy is unfurled and a retracted position in which the canopy is furled, the frame assembly including a lower portion that defines an area, the frame assembly further including a resiliently flexible canopy support member extending over the area and supporting the canopy over the area, the frame assembly further including a chain with a plurality of interlocking links, the chain having a first end operably coupled to the lower portion and a second end operably coupled to the canopy support member.
14. The portable shelter of claim 13, wherein the canopy includes a sleeve that encompasses at least a portion of the collapsible coupling.
15. The portable shelter of claim 13, wherein the lower portion of the frame assembly includes a plurality of legs that are supported upright, and wherein the lower portion of the frame also includes a plurality of leg supports that interconnect and support respective ones of the legs.
16. The portable shelter of claim 15, further comprising a strut with a first end operably coupled to the canopy support member and a second end operably coupled to either one of the plurality of legs or one of the plurality of leg supports.
17. The portable shelter of claim 16, wherein the strut is resiliently flexible.
18. The portable shelter of claim 16, wherein the second end of the strut is pivotally coupled to the one of the plurality of legs or the one of the plurality of leg supports to pivot about a plurality of different axes.
19. The portable shelter of claim 13, wherein the collapsible coupling includes a turnbuckle.
20. A portable shelter comprising:
- a foldable canopy; and
- a frame assembly that supports the canopy, the frame assembly being moveable between an extended position in which the canopy is unfurled and a retracted position in which the canopy is furled, the frame assembly including: a plurality of upright, rigid legs that define an area between the plurality of legs; a plurality of scissoring, pivotally attached, rigid leg supports that extend between and interconnect respective ones of the plurality of legs; a plurality of resiliently flexible canopy support members extending over the area and supporting the canopy over the area; a plurality of resiliently flexible struts operably coupled to respective ones of the legs and operably coupled to respective ones of the canopy support members; and a plurality of chains, each with a plurality of interlocking links, the chains each having a first end operably coupled to respective ones of the legs, the chains each having a second end operably coupled to the canopy support member, the chains allowing the canopy support members to resiliently flex relative to the legs when the frame assembly is in the extended position.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 10, 2010
Publication Date: Mar 17, 2011
Applicant: YJIP, INC. (Addison, TX)
Inventor: Tseng Hsiang Lin (Kuala Lumpur)
Application Number: 12/720,932
International Classification: E04H 15/50 (20060101); E04H 15/48 (20060101);