System and Method for a Portable Wind Break Device
Embodiments of the invention provide a portable wind break device which incorporates lightweight staking devices or mounting supports, poles that allow attachment of flexible panels, such as fabric panels, and reinforcing supports which reinforce each panel section, making a modular unit as a whole. The portable wind break device permits ease of portability, set up, take down, and provides wind protection and privacy for people, animals, or anything that would benefit from protection from the wind or privacy. Additionally, the portable wind break device permits easy cleaning, and assembly without tools.
This application is a continuation of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/787,398, filed Mar. 6, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/607,300, filed Mar. 6, 2012, and entitled “Portable Wind Break Device,” which are hereby incorporated by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCHNot Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to a portable wind break device with improved portability, assembly and stability.
Portable wind break devices are useful to block weather elements such as wind, sun and rain, and to provide privacy or concealment. Therefore, portable wind break devices have useful applications in public or private areas and in areas of varying weather patterns. Portable wind break devices are typically made of a fabric supported in a generally upright position by poles that are attached to the fabric by methods such as sewing or heating. The poles are generally of sufficient length to have a protruding end that can be pushed into the ground to stand the wind break device upright. This configuration, however, often limits use of portable wind break devices to areas with ground soft enough to receive the protruding ends of the poles, yet firm enough to form a secure connection with the protruding ends. Additionally, portable wind break devices are not properly securable in an upright position while being used on a man-made surface, such as a deck, a patio or pavement. Further, conventional portable wind break devices suffer from a limited use of practical applications, thereby limiting the benefit and user of the product to a position of having to sit on or near the ground.
Further, conventional wind break devices typically include some form of folding, portable sun and/or windscreen which can be erected or stowed. Such devices usually incorporate a collapsible metal rod frame over which a canvas or plastic material cover can be attached. These devices are, however, relatively cumbersome and not particularly well adapted for single handed erection nor are they very stable to withstand the rigors of high winds.
There is a need, therefore, for a portable wind break device which can be quickly and easily erected by one person without the use of tools, will be effective and stable when mounted on a surface for use in strong winds, and that is adaptable in shape and size, offering flexibility for various applications and settings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a portable wind break device for blocking wind. The portable wind break device includes a plurality of connecting poles that each include a first channel, a second channel and a receiving aperture. The portable wind break device further comprises a panel which includes a first bead and a second bead that extend along an edge portion of the panel. The first bead and the second bead are configured to be received by the first channel of a first connecting pole and the second channel of a second connecting pole, respectively. Further, the portable wind break device includes a reinforcing support which has coupling elements that engage the plurality of connecting poles and the panel, thereby providing opposing pressure to the portable wind break device.
In another embodiment, the portable wind break device includes a first connecting pole and a second connecting pole where each of the first and second connecting poles includes a first channel, a second channel and a receiving aperture. The wind break device further includes a panel which includes a first bead and a second bead. The first bead extends along and is coupled to a first vertical edge portion of the panel. The second bead extends along and is coupled to a second vertical edge portion. The first bead is configured to be received by the first channel of the first connecting pole, and the second bead is configured to be received by the second channel of the second connecting pole. The wind break device also includes a reinforcing support which includes a first end and a second end. The first end includes a first coupling element, and the second end includes a second coupling element, such that the first coupling element engages the first connecting pole and the second coupling element engages the second connecting pole, thereby providing an opposing pressure between the first connecting pole and the second connecting pole.
In another embodiment, a method for assembling a portable wind break device is disclosed. The method includes inserting a first connecting pole and a second connecting pole into a first staking pole and a second staking pole, each of the first connecting pole and the second connecting pole including a first channel, a second channel and a receiving aperture. The method further includes sliding a first bead into the first channel of the first connecting pole and sliding a second bead into the second channel of the second connecting pole, respectively, the first bead extending along and is coupled to a first vertical edge portion of a panel, and the second bead extending along and is coupled to a second vertical edge portion of the panel. The first connecting pole and the second connecting pole are joined with a first end and a second end of a reinforcing support. The first end includes a first coupling element and the second end includes a second coupling element. The first connecting pole is then engaged with the first coupling element and the second connecting pole is engaged with the second coupling element, such that the reinforcing support provides an opposing pressure between the first connecting pole and the second connecting pole.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood upon consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use embodiments of the invention. Various modifications to the illustrated embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles herein can be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from embodiments of the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are not intended to be limited to embodiments shown, but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. The following detailed description is to be read with reference to the figures, in which like elements in different figures have like reference numerals. The figures, which are not necessarily to scale, depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the invention. Skilled artisans will recognize the examples provided herein have many useful alternatives and fall within the scope of embodiments of the invention.
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As described above, the portable wind break device 10 provides several advantages over conventional wind break devices. The present portable wind break device 10 permits easy installation and is adaptable to many applications from sporting events to fishing. For any reason in which wind and/or privacy protection may be desired, the portable wind break device 10 allows people to benefit from it even while standing. Additionally, the disclosed invention permits ease in lightweight portability and adaptability for a multitude of surfaces, as well as ease in assembly and disassembly since no tools are required.
Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.
Claims
1. A portable wind break device comprising:
- a plurality of connecting poles, each of the plurality of connecting poles including at least a first channel and a receiving aperture;
- a panel including a first bead and a second bead, the first bead extending along at least a portion of a first edge portion of the panel, the second bead extending along a second edge portion of the panel, the first bead configured to be received by the at least a first channel of one of the plurality of connecting poles and the second bead configured to be received by another the at least a first channel of another one of the plurality of connecting poles; and
- a reinforcing support including at least a first coupling element and a second coupling element, the first coupling element to couple to the one of the plurality of connecting poles and the second coupling element to couple to the another one of the plurality of connecting poles, the reinforcing support thereby providing tension to the panel between the first edge portion of the panel and the second edge portion of the panel between two of the plurality of the connecting poles.
2. The portable wind break device of claim 1, wherein the panel further comprises a window integrated into a top portion of the panel, thereby allowing air to pass through the window.
3. The portable wind break device of claim 1, wherein the panel further comprises a viewing window integrated into a top portion of the panel.
4. The portable wind break device of claim 1, wherein the panel is constructed of a flexible material that is substantially impervious to wind.
5. The portable wind break device of claim 1, wherein the first bead and the second bead are configured to be received by the first channel of at least two of the plurality of connecting poles, allowing the panel to be positioned at any angle relative to the plurality of connecting poles.
6. The portable wind break device of claim 1, wherein the first bead is configured to be received axially by the first channel of the one of the plurality of connecting poles and the second bead is configured to be received axially by the first channel of the another one of the plurality of connecting poles to allow the panel to slide in and out of the plurality of connecting poles for the addition or subtraction of panels from the portable wind break device.
7. The portable wind break device of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing support is constructed of aluminum material.
8. The portable wind break device of claim 1, wherein the first coupling element is disposed on a first end portion of the reinforcing support and the second coupling element is disposed on a second end portion of the reinforcing support.
9. The portable wind break device of claim 8, wherein the first coupling element is circular in shape and the second coupling element is circular in shape allowing the portable wind break device to be adaptable to any angle relative to the plurality of connecting poles.
10. The portable wind break device of claim 1, further comprising a first staking pole and a second staking pole, each staking pole including a first end, a second end and a base plate, the base plate disposed between and coupled to the first end and second end, perpendicular to an axis of each staking pole.
11. The portable wind break device of claim 10, wherein the first end is configured to be engaged by the receiving aperture of the connecting pole and the second end is configured to be inserted into a surface, thereby preventing the portable wind break device from moving.
12. The portable wind break device of claim 1, further comprising a mounting support, the mounting support including a hollow mounting post coupled to a bottom plate, the hollow mounting post including a connecting pole receiving aperture and the bottom plate including at least one securing hole.
13. The portable wind break device of claim 12, wherein the connecting pole receiving aperture is configured to receive an end portion of the connecting pole and the securing hole is configured to assist fastening the portable wind break device to a surface, thereby preventing the portable wind break device from moving.
14. A portable wind break device comprising:
- a first connecting pole and a second connecting pole;
- a panel including a first side edge and a second side edge and a top edge and a bottom edge, the first side edge configured to be coupled to the first connecting pole and the second side edge of the second connecting pole; and
- a reinforcing support including a first coupling element disposed on a first end and a second coupling element disposed on a second end, the first coupling element and the second coupling element to provide a connection between the reinforcing support and the first connecting pole and the second connecting pole, the first coupling element configured to engage an end of the first connecting pole by allowing the end of the first connecting pole to pass through the first coupling element and the second coupling element configured to engage an end of the second connecting pole by allowing the end of the second connecting pole to pass through the second coupling element, and the first connecting pole and the second connecting pole provide tension between the first side edge and the second side edge of the panel.
15. The portable wind break device of claim 14, wherein the first coupling element comprises a first coupling ring, and the second coupling element comprises a second coupling ring; and
- wherein the first coupling ring is positioned around the first connecting pole and the second coupling ring is positioned around the second connecting pole.
16. The portable wind break device of claim 14, wherein the panel includes a top edge portion, the top edge portion including a first length; and wherein the reinforcing support including a second length, the second length being longer than the first length so as to provide the opposing pressure between the first connecting pole and the second connecting pole.
17. The portable wind break device of claim 14 further including a plurality of the connecting poles, a plurality of the panels, and a plurality of reinforcing supports, wherein each connecting pole includes an end portion that is engaged by and passes through a first coupling element of one of the plurality of reinforcing supports and a second coupling element of another one of the plurality of reinforcing supports simultaneously, and wherein the plurality of reinforcing supports provides opposing pressure between the plurality of connecting poles without supporting the plurality of panels retained between the plurality of connecting poles.
18. The portable wind break device of claim 14, wherein the first bead is received axially by the first channel of the first connecting pole and the second bead is received axially by the second channel of the second connecting pole to allow the panel to slide in and out of the first connecting pole and second connecting pole, and to restrict the first bead from being removed laterally from the first channel of the first connecting pole and the second bead from being removed laterally from the second channel of the second connecting pole.
19. A method for assembling a portable wind break device, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) inserting a first connecting pole and a second connecting pole into a first staking pole and a second staking pole, respectively, each of the first connecting pole and the second connecting pole including a a receiving aperture;
- b) engaging a first edge of a panel to the first connecting pole and engaging a second edge portion of the panel to the second connecting pole, respectively; c) joining the first connecting pole and the second connecting pole with a first end and a second end of a reinforcing support, the first end including a first coupling element, the second end including a second coupling element; and
- d) engaging the first connecting pole with the first coupling element and engaging the second connecting pole with the second coupling element, such that the reinforcing support provides a tension to the panel between the first connecting pole and the second connecting pole.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the panel includes a top edge portion, the top edge portion including a first length; and
- wherein the reinforcing support including a second length, the second length being longer than the first length so as to provide the tension between the first connecting pole and the second connecting pole.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 29, 2015
Publication Date: Apr 21, 2016
Inventor: Gregory S. Loos (Johnson Creek, WI)
Application Number: 14/982,404