Reinforced Frame Structure

Abstract

A frame structure, in its expanded configuration forms a top portion having an elongated top ridge member and four downwardly-angled ridge members. Each end of the top ridge member is connected to an inner end of two ridge members, while the outer ends of each ridge member are connected to legs. The top ridge member and ridge members are composed of various trusses and connector/cap members that allow the ridge members to pivot or not pivot, in various directions, allowing the frame structure to be folded to its collapsed configuration and unfolded to its expanded position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The evolution of light-weight, easily erected and economical portable shelters has led to the increasing commercial and private use of these structures. Portable shelters typically employ a cloth or plastic material attached to a light-weight, highly foldable skeleton or frame structure. The cloth provides a roof and/or walls for the shelter, and the frame structure provides support for the cloth, for example, the frame structure includes legs to elevate the roof and a system of trusses to support the roof and to generally stabilize the shelter. The frame structure often incorporates a compound, scissor-like, arrangement of a light-weight, tubular material such as aluminum. In order to maximize the usable area under a shelter, the frame structure is often designed so that the roof is supported solely by legs positioned near the perimeter of the roof. Stated alternatively, shelters do not typically employ an interior supporting post or leg such as a leg or post positioned in the center of shelter. U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,676 to Lynch, U.S. Pat. No. 7,367,348 to Tsai, and, and U.S. Pub. No. 20120048319 to Dotterweich, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference, are examples of such portable shelters.

Unfortunately, the design objectives of internally unsupported roofs and light-weight and foldable frame structures, often results in portable shelters that are unstable in wind and that suffer from sagging or collapsing roofs and peaks. What is needed in the art is a frame structure for a portable shelter that provides increased stability and prevents sagging and collapsing while maintaining the design objectives of maximizing usable space, foldability, and light-weight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

When in its expanded configuration, the frame structure generally forms a top portion having an elongated top ridge member and four downwardly-angled ridge members. Each end of the top ridge member is connected to an inner end of two ridge members, while the outer ends of each ridge member are connected to legs. As described in more detail below, the top ridge member and ridge members are composed of various trusses and connector/cap members that allow the ridge members to pivot or not pivot, in various directions, allowing the frame structure to be folded to its collapsed configuration and unfolded to its expanded position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, features and advantages of which embodiments of the invention are capable of will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of embodiments of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a side view of a frame structure;

FIG. 2 is an end view of a frame structure;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a frame structure;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a partially expanded frame structure;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a collapsed frame structure;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a pivoting spacer;

FIGS. 7-10 are various views of a pivoting cap member that connects to three truss members, each pivoting at non-parallel angles to each other;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a connector;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a frame structure with a cover.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a frame structure 100 which has an expanded configuration (FIGS. 1-3) over which a flexible cover or canvas can be attached, and a collapsed configuration (FIG. 5) which allows for compact storage. FIG. 4 illustrates the frame structure 100 in a partially expanded position so as to better illustrate the folding pattern and direction of each of the truss members. Generally, the structure 100 allows for an increased structure size (e.g., at least 40-50%) over structures with a similar number and size of components. In other words, the present design allows for a reduced number of components/materials over prior art design without sacrificing the strength of the structure.

When in its expanded configuration, the frame structure 100 generally forms a top portion having an elongated top ridge member 101 and four downwardly-angled ridge members 103, seen best in FIG. 3. Each end of the top ridge member 101 is connected to an inner end of two ridge members 103, while the outer ends of each ridge member 103 are connected to legs 120. As described in more detail below, the top ridge member 101 and ridge members 103 are composed of various trusses and connector/cap members that allow the ridge members 101, 103 to pivot or not pivot, in various directions that allow the frame structure 100 to be folded to its collapsed configuration and unfolded to its expanded position.

The top ridge is formed by two first truss members 104 that are connected to each other's inner ends via spacer 102, thereby allowing the first truss members 102 to pivot downwardly relative to each other. The spacer 102 also prevents the outer ends of the first truss members 104 from pivoting upward, to a location above the top of the spacer 102. The spacer 102 can be better seen in FIGS. 6 and 11.

The outer ends of the first truss members 104 are each connected, via the cap member 106, to two second truss members 108. The cap member 106, as best seen in FIGS. 7-10, has a first connection area 106A on its top surface for pivotally connecting to the first truss member 104, and two secondary connection areas 106B on its bottom surface for pivotally connecting to the second truss member 108. The first connection area 106A is preferably configured to prevent the first truss member 104 from pivoting beyond a lower surface of the cap member 106, while the second connection areas 106B are configured to prevent the second truss members 108 from pivoting upwards beyond an upper surface of the cap member 106. Additionally, the first connection area 106A and the second connection areas 106B are oriented so as to not to be linearly aligned with each other (i.e., the areas are positioned in a substantially triangular orientation) and further oriented in a generally Y shape.

The second truss members 108 are pivotally coupled, via spacer 110, to a third truss member 112. Preferably the spacer 110 is shaped similar to spacer 102.

The third truss member 112 is supported by a leg member 120 via two further connections points. The first is a pivotal connection to connector member 114 which is located at the top of the leg 120. The second support is provided by fourth truss member 112, which pivotally connects near a mid-portion of the third truss member 112 and to a sliding connector 118. The sliding connector 118 moves or slides between a location near the top of the leg member 120 in the expanded position and near the bottom of the leg member 120 when in the collapsed configuration.

The frame structure 100 preferable has a rectangular shape with elongated sides (FIG. 1) and shorter sides (FIGS. 2). The elongated side includes a fifth truss member 124 and a sixth truss member 122 that are connected to each other in a scissor-like arrangement. The truss members 122, 124 are also connected to seventh truss member 126 and eight truss member 126, respectively, which similarly form a scissor-like arrangement with each other. The sixth truss member 122 is pivotally coupled to connector 114, while the fifth truss member 124 is connected to the sliding connector 118.

The shorter sides form a similar arrangement to that of the elongated side, but two-less truss members. Specifically, ninth truss member 130 connects to connector 114, tenth truss member 132 connects to sliding connector 118, and both truss members 130, 132 connect to each other in a scissor-like arrangement.

The pivoting arrangements described herein may employ a bolt, screw, pin, or other suitable means for attachment known in the art.

As seen best in FIG. 4, when the frame structure 100 is collapsed from its expanded configuration, the truss members move in a number of different directions. The spacer member 102 allows the first truss members 104 to pivot downwardly at their inner ends, while the cap member 106 allows the truss members 104 to pivot upwardly at their outer ends (relative to the cap member 106). The cap member 106 allows the inner ends of second truss members 108 to pivot downwards, while the spacer 110 allows the outer ends of the second truss members 108 to pivot at an upward angle relative to the top of the spacer 110. Similarly, the inner end of the third truss members 112 pivot at a downward angle, while their outer ends pivot upwardly relative to the connector 114.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the frame structure 100 collapses to a size that is generally smaller and more compact than prior designs. One reason for this, as previously discussed, is that the overall design of the frame structure 100 requires less truss members than prior designs, such as that shown in previously incorporated U.S. Pub. No. 20120048319. Additionally, all of the truss members of the present frame structure 100 can be closely folded together against each other, including the two first truss members 102 and spacer 102, resulting in a highly compact and relatively square collapsed configuration that better facilitates being shipped or otherwise transported.

Finally, FIG. 12 illustrates the frame structure 100 with a cover 140 disposed over the top of the structure 100.

It should be noted that the terms upward and downward are used in this specification and reference an orientation where spacer member 102 is at a top area of the frame structure 100 and the free ends of leg members 120 are at a bottom area of the structure 100.

Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings and descriptions herein are proffered by way of example to facilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.

Claims

1. A portable shelter comprising:

a frame structure foldable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration; said frame structure comprising: a first and second cap member, each pivotally connected to a free end of an elongated ridge member; a first and second angled ridge member, each pivotally connected to said first cap member and oriented in a non-parallel direction relative to said elongated ridge member; a third and fourth angled ridge member, each pivotally connected to said second cap member and oriented in a non-parallel direction relative to said elongated ridge member; and, a plurality of legs, each connected to said first, second, third, and fourth ridge members.

2. The shelter of claim 1, further comprising a cover disposed over said frame structure in said expanded position.

3. The shelter of claim 1, wherein said elongated ridge member further comprises a first and second truss member that are pivotally connected to provide a predetermined limit to upward pivoting movement.

4. The shelter of claim 1, wherein said first cap is configured to limit upward pivoting movement of said first and second angled ridge members beyond a first predetermined point, and limit downward pivoting movement of said elongated ridge member beyond a second predetermined point.

5. The shelter of claim 4, wherein said elongated ridge member further comprises a first and second truss member that are pivotally connected to provide a predetermined limit to upward pivoting movement.

6. The shelter of claim 1, wherein said first and second angled ridge member and said elongated ridge member are connected to said cap member in a Y orientation.

7. The shelter of claim 1, wherein said expanded configuration of said frame structure forms a rectangular footprint.

8. The shelter of claim 1, wherein said frame structure further comprises a plurality of scissor linkages disposed between said plurality of legs.

9. A portable shelter comprising:

a frame structure foldable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration; said frame structure comprising: a first and second cap member, each pivotally connected to a free end of an elongated ridge member forming an upper peak of said frame structure in said expanded configuration; a first and second angled ridge member, each pivotally connected to said first cap member and one of a plurality of leg members; a third and fourth angled ridge member, each pivotally connected to said second cap member and one of said plurality of leg members;

wherein said elongated ridge member and said first, second, third, and fourth angled ridge member are each composed of at least two pivotally connected truss members.

10. The portable shelter of claim 9, wherein said first cap member limits downward movement of said elongated ridge member beyond a first position and wherein said first cap member limits upward movement of said first and second angled ridge members beyond a second position.

11. The portable shelter of claim 9, wherein said elongated ridge member is composed of a first truss member and a second truss member that are pivotally connected to bend downward to form said collapsed configuration.

12. The portable shelter of claim 11, wherein said first, second, third, and fourth angled ridge member each comprise a third and fourth truss members that are pivotally connected to bend upwards to form said collapsed configuration.

13. The portable shelter of claim 9, wherein said first and second cap members each include three mounting locations arranged in a Y orientation.

14. The portable shelter of claim 9, wherein said frame structure further comprises a plurality of scissor linkages connected between said plurality of legs.