CANOPY
A canopy including a flexible cover and a framework. The cover carries two rods, one secured to each of the opposite sides of the cover. Each of the rods has a gear attached to each of its ends. Brackets attached to the four corners of the framework each include a socket sized to receive the rod end, and, also, each bracket includes a pawl. When the rod is positioned in the socket, the gear on the rod is aligned with the pawl on the bracket to complete a ratchet tensioning mechanism that can be operated to progressively tighten the cover over the framework. To install the cover, the cover is rolled up on the rods and placed on the framework. The cover is then unrolled from the rods towards opposite sides of the framework where the rods are secured in the bracket sockets, tightened by the ratchet mechanisms, and secured by a locking pin. The operation is simply reversed when the cover is to be stored on top of the framework, or removed for storage elsewhere.
The present invention relates to the field of canopies, and more particularly to a canopy cover, and a method of selectively attaching the canopy cover to a framework.
Canopies are well known and used in many forms to provide shelter from the sun or rain. Canopies with flexible covers made of fabric or vinyl are used in certain applications where it is necessary to install and remove the cover periodically. For example, canopies for boat shelters are generally removed in the off season and folded for storage. Also, in coastal regions, removal of the canopy cover is required when a storm is predicted.
As can been by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,706,420, 5,038,517, 5,564,234, 7,621,581, 20080231069, 20100164246 the prior art is replete with myriad and diverse canopy constructions.
While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and practical canopy cover, and a method of installing a canopy cover on a framework.
As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a longstanding need for a new and improved canopy and the provision of such a construction is a stated objective of the present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONBriefly stated, the present invention provides a canopy including a flexible cover and a framework. The cover carries two rods, one secured to each of the opposite sides of the cover. Each of the rods has a gear attached to each of its ends. Brackets attached to the four corners of the framework each include a socket sized to receive the rod end, and each bracket also includes a pawl. When the rod is positioned in the socket, the gear on the rod is aligned with the pawl on the bracket to complete a ratchet tensioning mechanism that can be operated to progressively tighten the cover over the framework. To install the cover, the cover is rolled up on the rods and placed on the framework. The cover is then unrolled from the rods towards opposite sides of the framework where the rods are secured in the bracket sockets, tightened by the ratchet mechanisms, and secured by a locking pin. The operation is simply reversed when the cover is to be stored on top of the framework, or removed for storage elsewhere.
These and other attributes of the invention will become more clear upon a thorough study of the following description of the best mode for carrying out the invention, particularly when reviewed in conjunction with the drawings wherein:
As can be seen by reference to the drawings, and in particularly for
The canopy 10 includes a framework 20 having base supports 22 and a top covering support 24 suspended above the base supports 22. For example, in
As best shown in
A cover 50 is sized to extend over the top covering support 24 down past the lower corners of the valances 28 (
As best shown on in
The method of removing the cover 50 from the framework 20 is illustrated in
Although only an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.
Claims
1. A canopy, comprising:
- a framework including a top covering support having a first outer edge, and a second outer edge spaced from the first outer edge;
- a first pair of rod receiving brackets attached to the first outer edge of the covering support;
- a second pair of rod receiving brackets attached to the second outer edge of the covering support;
- a cover sized to extend over the covering support between the first and second outer edges of the covering support, the cover having a first outer portion and a second outer portion;
- a first rod attached to the first outer portion of the cover, the first rod being sized to be selectively received in the first pair of brackets; and
- a second rod attached to the second outer portion of the cover, the second rod being sized to be selectively received in the second pair of brackets;
- wherein each of the first and second pairs of brackets include tensioning mechanisms disposed to operably engage and pull an outer portion of the cover; and
- wherein the tensioning mechanisms include gears attached to the first and second rods, and wherein each of the first and second pairs of brackets includes a socket and a pawl, each socket being disposed to receive one of the first and second rods, and each pawl being aligned with a gear of one of the first and second rods when the first and second rods are received in the sockets of the first and second pairs of the brackets, thereby forming a ratchet tensioning mechanism.
2.-3. (canceled)
4. The canopy of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second pairs of brackets include locking mechanisms disposed to engage and secure the first and second rods to the covering support.
5.-6. (canceled)
7. The canopy of claim 4, wherein each of the locking mechanisms includes a pin disposed to prevent movement of the pawl when the pawl engages the gear of the ratchet tensioning mechanism.
8. The canopy of claim 7, wherein the pin is disposed to extend through aligned openings in the pawl and the bracket.
9. The canopy of claim 31, wherein each of the first and second rods include end portions and in intermediate portion; wherein each end portion includes an outermost flattened surface for receiving a tightening tool, a surface in from the flattened surface for receiving the gears, and a surface in from the gear surface to be received in the bracket sockets; and wherein the cover is attached to the intermediate portion.
10. The canopy of claim 9, wherein the tightening tool is a crank.
11.-12. (canceled)
13. A method of selectively attaching the cover of the canopy of the claim 9, comprising the steps of:
- rolling up the cover on the intermediate portions of the first and second rods;
- positioning the cover on the top covering support;
- unrolling the cover from the first rod;
- attaching the first rod to the first pair of brackets by positioning the rod end portions in the sockets of the first pair of brackets, so that the gears on the first rod are aligned with the pawls on the first pair of brackets, thereby forming the ratchet tensioning mechanisms;
- unrolling the cover from the second rod;
- attaching the second rod to the second pair of brackets by positioning the rod end portions in the sockets of the second pair of brackets, so that the gears on the second rods are aligned with the pawls on the second pair of brackets, thereby forming the ratchet tensioning mechanisms; and
- progressively moving the ratchet tensioning mechanism to tighten the cover over the top.
14. The method of claim 13, further including the step of engaging the locking mechanism to retain the tensioning mechanism in a selected position.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the pin is inserted through the aligned holes in the pawl and the bracket.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 1, 2017
Publication Date: Dec 6, 2018
Inventor: Jon W. Devitt (Ida Grove, IA)
Application Number: 15/610,952