AU661914B2

AU661914B2 - Support structure for a shelter cover

Info

Publication number: AU661914B2
Application number: AU44740/93A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jean-Louis Odore
Original assignee: JEAN LOUIS ODORE
Current assignee: JEAN LOUIS ODORE
Priority date: 1992-08-18
Filing date: 1993-08-18
Publication date: 1995-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 2013-08-18
Also published as: AU4474093A

Description

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I

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990^ 6 0

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: JEAN-LOUIS ODORE JEAN-LOUIS ODORE WRAY ASSOCIATES, Primary Industry House, Terrace, Perth, Western Australia, 6000.

239 Adelaide Attorney code: WR invention Title: "Support Structure for a Shelter Cover" Details of Associated Provisional Applications: Nos: PL4174 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- "M'!ffkVgM THIS INVENTION relates to a shelter for use on a vehicle.

When one is travelling on the road for work or holiday purposes, there is sometimes a need to spend the night or rest in the countryside. Typically tents are used for such purposes. The disadvantages with tents is that they have to be set up in a manner which is usually time consuming and sometimes tiring for the weary traveller. The present invention will seek to provide a support structure for a shelte, cover which is attachable to the roof of a vehicle, so that a shelter or enclosure can be constructed readily and easily. In addition the invention will seek to provide a support wherein the shelter is free standing without need for supporting upright poles, so that the vehicle may be mobile with the shelter in place if desired.

Thus in one form the invention resides in a shelter assembly for use on a vehicle, the shelter assembly comprising a support structure having a pair of elongate a support members, associated with the support members is a support means for supporting the support structure on the vehicle and being attachable thereto, the support members being movable between a first position in which the support members are in a folded condition with respect to the support means and a second position in which the support members extend outwardly from the vehicle, and a shelter cover adapted to be supported on the support members when in the second position.

The support means may take the form of a truss assembly which may be removably or fixedly attached to the top portion of said vehicle. The support means may comprise a longitudinal member the ends of which are each connected to a transverse member.

AOL 1,I CAb~ U1 3 Preferably the support members are in the form of a pair of arms which are hingedly connected to each end of the truss assembly.

It is preferable that each support member is in the form of a truss comprising an upper elongate rod and a lower elongate rod interconnected by cording. The upper member and lower member may be made integral at one end of the support member. Each transverse member is in a corresponding relationship with a support member.

The support members may be hingedly connected to the support means. Preferably each support member is hingedly connected to its corresponding trans erse member. It is also preferable that the height of the hinge connection be sufficient to support the support members when in an 15 extended condition.

ee° When in the first position the support members may be folded along the longitudinal member such that the support members at least partially overlap each other.

When in the second position the support members are preferably transverse to the vehicle.

Preferably a bridging member may be located between the support members in order to further support the shelter cover. The shelter cover may comprise a flexible covering.

The shelter cover may also be provided with a peripheral wall. The peripheral wall may comprise one or more wall sections. Preferably, the peripheral wall provides an enclosure.

The invention will be better understood by the following description of one specific embodiment in which: 4 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the shelter assembly in a folded condition on a vehicle; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the shelter assembly in an extended condition on a vehicle; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the shelter assembly with a shelter cover in place; and Figure 4 is the view of Figure 2 provided with storage means for the shelter cover.

The embodiment is directed to a shelter assembly comprising a support structure generally indicated by the numeral 10 as best depicted in Figures 1 and 2, showing, by way of example, use on a truck 20 having a carry tray by way of example only.

The shelter assembly 10 comprises support means in the form 15 of a truss assembly generally indicated at 12 made up of two transverse members 14 and a longitudinal member 16 which is connected to the transverse members 14 at one end thereof.

The tray portion 18 of the truck 20 is provided with U-shaped support bars 22 each being capable of receiving one of the transverse members 14. The transverse members 14 may be welded or otherwise affixed to the support bars 22 of the truck 20. Alternatively if the truck were to be provided with a covered body section the support structure 10 would be capable of being mounted either removably or fixedly to the roof of the body portion.

On the side of the truss assembly 12 provided with the longitudinal member 16, the shelter assembly 10 is provided with a pair of support members in the form of elongate arms 24. Each arm 24 is in the form of a truss and comprises an upper elongate rod 34 and a lower elongate rod 36 which are made integral at one end of the arm 24 to provide a curved portion 38. The other end of the arms is provided with a cylindrical socket 40 the reason for which will be explained shortly. The rods 34 and 36 are interconnected by cording 44. The arms 24 are hingedly connected to the truss assembly 12 at the junction where each transverse member 14 connects the longitudinal member 16 so that each arm 24 corresponds to a transverse member 14.

The hinge connection is achieved by the provision of a pin 41 located at the end of the transverse member 14 which connects the arms 24 via the sockets 40 for pivotal movement.

Due to this hinged connection the arms 24 are moveable between a first position in wlich the arms 24 are in a 000. folded condition such that they are both generally parallel 15 with the longitudinal member 16 so that the arms 24 overlap one another as best depicted in Figure 1; and a second position wherein the arms 24 extend transverse to the longitudinal member 16 so that they extend outwardly from the truck *0 4 When extended the arms 24 are transverse to the truck body and are maintained in this condition by means of the truss assembly 12. i A bridge member in the form of a V-shaped rib 26 is locatable to extend between the arms 24 such that the V S 25 portion of the rib 26 extends upwards. The arms 24 are provided with means for receiving the ends of the rib 26 for f example, sockets (not shown) located substantially midway on the arms 24. An additional rib 28 of linear configuration is locatable between the arms 24 at their ends as seen in Figure 2, Li 6 Stoppers (not shown) may be provided adjacent the pin and socket 40 arrangement to ensure that the arms 24 are not able to be swung out from the truss assembly past an angle of 900.

As shown in Fig. 3, the shelter assembly 10 further includes a shelter cover to provide a roof, the cover being in the form of a flexible awning 42 which is supported on the arms 24. Moie particularly, the awning 42 is configured to extend over the arms 24 when in the extended condition.

Preferably the rib 28 is located at the end of the awning 42 so that when the awning 42 is extended over the arms 24 the rib 28 is able to be located at the ends of the arms 24 so as to hold the awning 42 in place.

As seen in Figure 4 the truss assembly 12 is provided with a 15 closable cylindrical container 30 which is suitably dimensioned to receive a rolled up awning (not shown). It is preferable that one end of the awning be securely attached to the container 30 to assist in keeping the awning 42 in place on the shelter assembly In use the truck 20 is first brought into a stationary position at the desired location. The arms 24 at this stage will be a folded condition as seen at Figure 1. The arms 24 are then swung outwardly of the truck 20 so that they are substantially perpendicular or transverse to the longitudinal member 16. The stoppers will ensure that the arms 24 are not swung out past 90 The awning 42 is then unrolled from the container 30 and made to extend over the arms 24 and rib 28 is affixed to the curved ends of the arms 24. The V-shaped rib 26 is then loc, ted on the arms 24 from below the awning 42 to provide additional head room. If desired a peripheral wall for the shelter can be attached to extend along the arms 24 and rib 28.

-7 7 It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

e o ilr r ~r o Irr

Claims

1. A shelter assembly for use on a vehicle, the shelter assembly comprising a support structure having a pair of elongate support members, associated with the support members is a support means for supporting the support structure on the vehicle and being attachable thereto, the support members being movable between a first position in which the support members are in a folded condition with respect to the support means and a second position in which the support members extend outwardly from the vehicle, and a shelter cover adapted to be supported on the support members when in the second position.

2. A shelter assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a truss assembly attachable to said vehicle.

3. A shelter assembly as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein said support means comprise a longitudinal member each end of which is connected to a transverse member. A shelter assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the support members comprise a pair of arms hingedly connected to said truss assembly. to A shelter assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein each support member is hingedly connected to a respective one of the transverse members.

6. A shelter assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein in said first position the support members are folded along the longitudinal member such that the support members at least partially overlap each other. -9-

7. A shelter assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein in the second position the support members extend transversely of the fore-and-aft axis of said vehicle. 8 A shelter assembly as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein said hinge connection is able to support the support members when in an extended condition.

9. A shelter assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein a bridging member is locatable between the support members in order to further support said shelter cover. A shelter assembly as substantially herein described with reference to the accompany drawings. .4. i' "DATED this EIGHTEENTH day of AUGUST 1993 JEAN-LOUIS ODORE Applicant. WRAY ASSOCIATES Perth, Western Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant 1 ,IIct ABSTRACT A shelter assembly for use on a vehicle comprising a support structure having a pair of elongate support members. Associated with the support members is support means for supporting the support structure on a vehicle. The support members are moveable between a first position wherein the support members are in a folded condition, and a second position wherein the support members extend outwardly from said vehicle A shelter cover adapted to be supported by the support members when in the second position. 4 a li i f