US3868155A

US3868155A - Foldable and storable enclosure

Info

Publication number: US3868155A
Application number: US424293A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert E Cherubini
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-12-13
Filing date: 1973-12-13
Publication date: 1975-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-25

Abstract

A foldable and storable table cover having a foldable frame of a design which folds into a minimum size package and which when erected utilizes the fabric cover to stiffen the structure.

Description

United States Patent Cherubini Feb. 25, 1975 [54] FOLDABLE AND STORABLEENCLOSURE 272,875 2/1883 Ggrdon et a1 312/284 526,942 10 1894 R d 135 5 E 1761 lnvenm" Albert 'E 766 692,501 2/1902 B31136; 135 /5.1 -1 Heath, 01110 43055 716,231 12/1902 Hoffmann 150/49 1,608,242 11/1926 Sava 135/4 R [22] 1973 2,649,102 8/1953 McDonough 135/1 R [21] Appl. No.: 424,293 2,806,477 9/1957 Fritsche 135/4 R 52 US. c1 312/2s4,5/113, 135/4 R, Primary Examiner-Jada" Franklin 135/5 E 135/71 R, 150/49 220/ 20 /4532, ASSISMMI ExammerConrad Berman [51] Int. Cl A47g 19/30 I, 206/4532 A foldable and storable table cover having a foldable frame of a design which folds into a minimum size [56] References Cited package and which when erected utilizes the fabric UNITED STATES PATENTS cover to stiffen the structure. 84,381 11/1868 Seaman 135/7.1 R 8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 113,323 4/1871 Moffitt 13 5/7.1 A

PATENTED I 3868-1555 sum 2 ([2 v r 1 FOLDABLE AND STORABLEENCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to portable enclosures of the type comprising a metal frame having a cloth or plastic sheet covering thereon to protect its contents from the weather, etc., and more particularly to table top covers for protecting food, etc. thereon.

Travelers and outdoorsmen utilize portable structures of the type above described for temporary protection against the weather and insects. These structures must be light and portable; and the need has long existed for structures of this type which can quickly be erected and disassembled. in a minimum of time, and which in the disassembled state has dimensions which are as small as possible.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is the provision of a new. and improved structure of the above-mentioned type having a folding frame which occupies a minimum of space in the folded condition.

A further object is the provision of anew and improved structure of the above-mentioned type for use on a table top for the protection of food, etc. thereon,

, and the cover of which can be quickly installed, and

quickly opened and closed.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates from the following description of preferred embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an oblique drawing ofa cover top for a table embodying principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an oblique drawing of the frame of the cover shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the frame shown in FIG. 2, but with the top longitudinal member removed;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the frame shown in FIG; 3 after the opposite end hoops have been folded down to complete the first stage ofthe folding operation for the frame;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the frame shown in FIGS 2, 3. and 4, but with the center hoops folded outwardly to complete the second stage of the folding operation;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the frame moved into a Z- shape which takes place during a third stage of the folding operation; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the frame shown in FIGS. 2 through 6, but in their final folded condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiment of portable structures shown in the drawings generally comprises aframe F which is so designed that it is kept rigid by the flexible canvas cover C once the cover is slid over the frame and is secured to the base of the frame. The frame F base members. The lower ends of the two centrally. lo-

four hoop-shaped members 14 that are made of the same type of bar as is the base formed by the members 10 and 12. The upper portion 16 of each hoop-shaped member 14 is semicircular and thedownwardly extending legs 18 therefrom are generally straight and have a length that is approximately two-thirds of the length of the front and rear base bars 12. The bottoms of the left and right end hoop-shaped members are pivotally connected to the U-shaped base members 10 a short distance away from the transverse legs 20 of the U-shaped cated hoops are pivoted about the same axes, and by the same fasteners which connect the base bars l2to the U-shaped base members 10. In the preferred embodiment, the legs 18 of the center hoop-shaped members 14 are positioned inwardly of the base bars 12, in order that the frame can fold into its most compact position as will later be described. The frame F iscompleted by a top stringer 22 that is connected to the top of each of the hoop-shaped members 14 by means of.-

suitable fasteners not shown, and which extend through a hole 24 at the top of each hoop-shaped member: 14. The top stringer 22 serves the function'of holding the hoop-shaped members in their spaced apart condition but is so flexible that it cannot by itself brace the hoopshaped members in their erected condition.

generally comprises a pair of U-shaped base members I0 the legs of which extend towards each other. The base members I0 are spaced apart by a pair of front and rear base bars I2 that are made of the same bar stock as are the members 10. The bars 12 are positioned adjacent the inside of the legs of the U-shaped base members 10 and are pivoted thereto by means of suitable fasteners not shown. The frame also comprises As will now be seen, the ends of the frame as formed by the transverse leg 20 of the base members 10 and by the adjacent end hoop-shaped members 14, are gener ally planar. The cover C has a top which is semicylindrical to fit down tightly upon the upper portion of the. hoops l4, and has planar end portions which fit tightly againstthe ends of the hoop-shaped members 14. The ends of the cover fasten about the transverse leg 20 of the U-shaped member 10. The front and rear of the cover C is made by extensions which fit around the legs of the base members 10 and have snaps which are snapped into fasteners that are carried by the cover immediately above the base members 10. In like fashion, the ends of the cover fold around the bottom of the transverse legs 20 and have snaps which are snapped into fasteners in the cover immediately above the transverse leg 20. The cover, therefore, once snapped into place cannot be pulled vertically from the base members l0; and when the cover is so snapped into postion, the hoops 14 cannot rotate out of their vertical posi- -tion. It will be seen that the diagonal distance between the top of the legs 14 on one end hoop and the transverse leg 20 on the opposite end must increase when the hoops are rotated away from the transverse leg 20,

and that the cover member C prevents this from hap pening. Likewise the cover prevents rotation of the hoops in the opposite direction, since the diagonal distance between the left hand loop and the right hand transverse leg 20 must increase and this is prevented by the cover C.- It will further be seen that since the cover extends underneath the base members 10 and 12, it forms a type of gasket relative to the surface of the table which keeps out bugs, dirt, water, etc..

ingoiaerdtion is accomplished as shown "in Fl'G:.- 4 folding thefleft and right nd hoop members 14;in-

wardly to take aposition beneath the] planeof the has? members l'fi aiid 12.-Thereafter"th, cnterfhoops l4 are foldedoutwardly as shbwhiniFlGflSlO a positio'h wherei they lay fupo n theftra'nsyerse leg 2013f the shaped members 10. The next stage of'thelfoldihg, open] 'a tionis aiccohiplishd byqtajking one ofithe U -shaped members and foldihg it upwardly into l configuration as shown in FIG. 6. In the operation "shown ii'hFlG fi the left hand U-shapedm'e'mber l with the inner and tiontshown iii FIG. '6 is cohtinued tuntil the Us ha. p'e d members lfl iare brought down intoggngagomentjwith 1 each other to bring the frii'm'e in its fully Collapsed con? dition. In the embodiment; shown in' FIG; '7, thxrighlt handh'o'op l4 extendsdownwardlyj nd the top thereof 1 is abutted by the, basement hers I 2 which are inclined? slightlyJas is necessary whehthe basemembers are: on top of'each othersln theu followin g dtescriptionythof hoops will be designated @as 1, 2," 3, and 4 can be thought ofas'roccurringin sequencexfroin oithefr'the left} or right hand side of theifrdme zAssumihgthat'hoop 4a is the'right har d'hoop asshown in F10 '2; iitwillbetin T the bottom position a sFshown'in FIG. 7,,Hoops Z andflg:

'oute rcleft hand, hoops 14 folded above a d below the 1 baso'mernbgrs 10 respectively, is shownrlbcirig swu'ng over the righthand U'sha'ped member 10.Th-e opera- 1;

able detaihyl do notwishto be limitdto the particular v I I 7 embodimentslshown and doscitibdahditismyihten i tion tofcoikerherobyrall hovel;a daptzitions,PmodificaJ I mofWhicltrkzomi=3, withih the ff 'practice' of those skilledinthe artfto -whicihthe iniiom tioh relatffis; and which fall twithifnithe purview: of the 1 tion s, a d arrangements 7 followihg clalmsL s,

front and jear center framofb ars; iifld whereby" said 3 are laying ontop of eachothe'r andle xtend slightIyupwardly and to theright. Thosehoopsil are in the Y samolplane with hoop 3 laying against the transv rs e 7 leg of the right hand U-shapedmembcr IOQBecausloK' v "f'the' bottom endof hoop 1 is inline with the tbgsemm-Q t her '12, itrhu'st be bowed slightly so as-tofjcloaror pass I around hoop ,1 This caiileasilyibe donesiiice" the entire clind'ubwardly into 'thedeftandthe top thereof restsi against th transverse leg'ZQ offth left ha nclU' -shapedg memb er 10. in the folded cohdition thelframe is approximately a squa r tsh opo arid't he cover, likewise can be folded up into a gon c rtxlly sq u are shape thgt fitstin sideof the fOrlde d-frtlmfii It can, therefore, boseen that i the colla'psod structure will fit into this smallest possible space sihc'e'it does not have a foldd length whichli s ap 7' preciablyqg roater than itsfolddiwidthaBocausefltablo'sf: I V

t have a minim um width ofapproximately' 26-irihcs, an

idealtable co v eris provided by a frarnehavinga width 'of24s, inches, hoop f spacin'gs of approximately 20 7 inches, and straight legipo'rtions on thho'ops ,ofapproximately 12 inchesfThis gives ah erected stru cture s of approxim atly 2 feet by Stfet and a folded structure thatflis approximately lifeet square, i

frani'eonbe folded toio eupy 'a, minimum'of 'space lby t foldingfsaid fir st' andfounth hoopslinvyardly;sid sec f ond and thirdjhoopsfbLitwardly; 'ahd fs'aidj base 5 m a r s ,oollapsed l -lshope wi'thjthe leftar'idtjg'htg df m e s i i tions closely adjacent each other.

I i V f r fportiofn between th While they inyentionhasjbeendescribed in considor- The frame of olainy T he frame of blait'n lgwhrin said froiitnd roar ,7 ztaritegrv base bars [are lobate'd; inside of said] U-haped basesectionsm,

3; The time of claim A 1'for'attachnienttotheftoblof oach hoop'rwhen 'the hoops f 1 tare i'na vertical]positionrrelativ ltothohaseqstiotioris; Y s, A 7.' Th ;fram ofclairhffi havin-g a giovcr'f ittirlg the? erectedframe andmmeddovi over awh d aqdfgsf J I M ften'ed to saidbasbars and 'seotioos 7 same frame: ofnclaiin siwh ete n height; greater thglrii theldistance hetii/eomthepivotalf axi siofsaid 'U-shaped basesectiorisdnd the coimcotirig I 250f U16 UShalied base sections i I 7 frame (for {sa ta blooyer and thQlike comprising:shifta idri'ghtfgenerzillyfleshabfld,ha sof q '{iiOtlS positioned with thciry lgsfextendirlgtoward and s spaced fromea cjh othmifrdntidndrear criter base bars t s r {with respective endsof oath comer b'aiypivotallys conf nested tQ-the ends ofrespectiye frohtjaind rea r legszof' I ,i said left andrightU shapd basessectioiis;firshsecond; 1 third and fourth ih vortedhowszwith tholowsrendsfof'" thefirstbow being pit-tried'torespeotive legs of said, left i U-shapedt'bas:sebtioh; with tho lower endsoffsaid I V i fourth bow beihgupihned to' rspsctivlegsof said right. t l s U-shapedTbdS vSCtiimgjar diwithfwthr: front; and rear 1 s lowor rids of. saiidiseqond arid third bows bein -pivot; lallyvcorincted tosaid b asemombersadjacent,saidVpiV-== otal connections at thel l eft 21ndrighte nds of respectiv Y V "wherein said scondfandq; v third hoops aretlocatd detofsaid'centerjbasofbarsfi i I H f whorin s aid second and 7 third hoops have acommoopivotalaxis Wlithfthatfbol 7 [tween saidhase"bars'aitd gU-shapod sejctio sp tl f; StT'heframe ofClaim kwhorihaid:hoops havo gon-f i Ierally "straightiogs that 3116 "gelitirzilly p'e rpendicularmto said pivotalaxsfordheighttha iSf pproximately two ts havti I ti r

Claims

1. A foldable frame for a table cover and the like comprising: left and right generally U-shaped base sections positioned with their legs extending toward and spaced from each other; front and rear center base bars with respective ends of each center bar pivotally connected to the ends of respective front and rear legs of said left and right U-shaped base sections; first, second, third and fourth inverted bows with the lower ends of the first bow being pinned to respective legs of said left U-shaped base section, with the lower ends of said fourth bow being pinned to respective legs of said right U-shaped base section, and with the front and rear lower ends of said second and third bows being pivotally connected to said base members adjacent said pivotal connections at the left and right ends of respective front and rear center frame bars; and whereby said frame can be folded to occupy a minimum of space by folding said first and fourth hoops inwardly, said second and third hoops outwardly, and said base into a collapsed Z-shape with the left and right end frame sections closely adjacent each other.

2. The frame of claim 1 wherein said front and rear center base bars are located inside of said U-shaped base sections.

3. The frame of claim 2 wherein said seCond and third hoops are located inside of said center base bars.

4. The frame of claim 3 wherein said second and third hoops have a common pivotal axis with that between said base bars and U-shaped sections.

5. The frame of claim 4 wherein said hoops have generally straight legs that are generally perpendicular to said pivotal axes for a height that is approximately two-thirds of the length of said base bars..

6. The frame of claim 1 having a removable stringer for attachment to the top of each hoop when the hoops are in a vertical position relative to the base sections.

7. The frame of claim 6 having a cover fitting the erected frame and pulled down over said hoops and fastened to said base bars and sections.

8. The frame of claim 5 wherein said hoops have a height greater than the distance between the pivotal axis of said U-shaped base sections and the connecting portion between the legs of the U-shaped base sections.