CA2989866C - Mobile patio - Google Patents

Abstract

A mobile patio may be deployed in an on-street vehicle parking space for use as a temporary passive seating area for the public or patrons of a business. The mobile patio comprises a frame having a receiver for a hook arm, a winch hook or the like of a transporter. A flooring deck is supported on the frame and the frame has a plurality of rail post sockets defining the perimeter of the mobile patio. A corresponding plurality of rail posts are secured in the rail post sockets and topped with a rail. Vertical panels are fixed spanning the rail posts. In an alternate embodiment designed to work with transporters that operate with cable and winch systems the receiver is disposed on a receiver bracket. A method of deploying the mobile patio is provided.

Description

MOBILE PATIO
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates to mobile patio or deck structures which can be installed for seasonal use and then removed.
BACKGROUND

[0002] If the downtown core of an urban area is fully occupied, not just during the work day, but during leisure hours it is often a safer neighbourhood and is kept in better repair by owners and occupants. City counselors and business improvement associations are constantly seeking ways to make their downtown cores vibrant places in which citizens live, work and play. One way to improve the livability of urban areas is to permit businesses to provide services on open patios along the streets. The open patios provide pleasant places for pedestrians to stop and gather to shop, eat and drink, or just people watch.

[0003] Many urban streets have no yards in front of businesses and only narrow sidewalks. In this situation there may not be enough room for owners to install patios in front of their businesses, since municipal bylaws typically require businesses to maintain a clear passage on the sidewalk to safely accommodate pedestrian traffic.

[0004] Some municipalities permit business owners to rent the vehicular parking space in front of their business on an extended basis and allow them to construct patios on the parking spaces. In many areas the use of parking spaces for patios is only feasible during certain seasons. Pedestrians are unlikely to want to linger on patios during inclement weather. Moreover, in areas which experience snow and ice in the winter it is necessary to keep streets clear of parked vehicles and other obstructions in order to facilitate salting and snow removal on the streets.
Patios permanently built in parking spaces would certainly obstruct snow removal efforts. Accordingly, patios constructed on vehicular parking spaces could only be used on a seasonal basis and would have to be removed in the off season.

[0005] Patios in parking spaces need to be adequately cordoned off from pedestrian and vehicular traffic. For this reason on-street patios need to have fences or barrier walls, which in turn necessitate the use of anchoring structures to prevent them from being blown over or toppling over. These requirements mean that the construction of a seasonal patio space becomes an expensive and time consuming endeavour. After patio season is over, the patio structure would have to be dismantled and then stored until the next season. Space may be at a premium in a storefront business and there may be no room to store an entire patio structure complete with anchoring devices.

[0006] There is a need for a patio which can be deployed in an on-street parking space in a simple and efficient manner.

[0007] Further, there is a need for a patio which does not require demolition after patio season is over, but which instead can be easily removed from an on-street parking space and stored off site in the off season.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A mobile patio comprises a frame having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side. The frame has a receiver for a hook arm or a winch hook for lifting the mobile patio onto or off of a transporter; and a flooring deck supported on the frame. The mobile patio has a plurality of wheels detachably mounted to the frame for lifting and shifting the mobile patio onto or off of a transporter. The mobile patio is deployed in an on-street vehicle parking space for use as a temporary passive seating area for the public or patrons of a business.

[0009] The receiver is detachable from the frame when the receiver is not in use.
The receiver is disposed on a receiver mount. The receiver mount comprises a body supporting the receiver at a first end thereof, and the body has an anchor at a second end thereof. The frame of the mobile patio defines an anchor channel to receivingly engage the anchor of the receiver mount.

[00010] In an alternative embodiment, the receiver is disposed on a receiver bracket. The receiver bracket comprises an elongated body having means for fastening to the frame. The receiver comprises an opening defined by the elongated body.

[00011] The frame of the mobile patio defines a plurality of rail post sockets disposed adjacent the first end, the second end, and the first side of the frame. A
corresponding plurality of rail posts are secured in the plurality of rail post sockets, and a rail attached to the plurality of rail posts. A plurality of vertical panels is fixed to the frame spanning the rail posts.

[00012] The mobile patio further comprises a plurality of leveling feet attached to the frame. The mobile patio further comprises a plurality of wheels detachably mounted to the frame.

[00013] A method is provided for deploying a mobile patio to a desired resting position on the ground. The method comprises the steps of providing a transporter having a hook arm or a winch hook; engaging the hook arm or the winch hook with the receiver; lifting the hook arm or the winch hook to lift the frame of the mobile patio; shifting the mobile patio onto the transporter for transport to a desired resting location; shifting the mobile patio off of the transporter at the desired resting position; lowering the hook arm or the winch hook to permit the mobile patio to come to rest on the ground; and, disengaging the hook arm or the winch hook from the receiver.

[00014] Where the receiver is not permanently affixed to the frame, but rather is detachable from the frame when not in use, the method further comprises the preliminary steps of providing a receiver mount comprising a body supporting the receiver at a first end thereof and an anchoring means at a second end thereof;
and attaching the receiver mount to the frame by receivingly engaging the anchoring means of the receiver mount within the anchor channel of the frame.
[0001] In an alternative embodiment, the method further comprises the preliminary steps of providing a receiver bracket comprising an elongated body having means for attaching to the frame, said receiver comprising an opening defined by the elongated body; and attaching the receiver bracket to the frame.
[0002] The method further comprises the preliminary step of mounting the plurality of wheels to the frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG-1 is a perspective view of a mobile patio according to the present invention.
[0004] FIG-2 is a plan view of the frame of a mobile patio according to the present invention.
[0005] FIG-3 is a partial sectional view and elevation of a first side of the mobile patio taken along line B-B of FIG-2.
[0006] FIG-4 is a partial sectional view and elevation of an end of the street patio taken along line A-A of FIG-2.
[0007] FIG-5 is a side view of a receiver mount;
[0008] FIG-6 is an end view of a receiver mount of FIG-5;

[0009] FIG-7 is an end view of a wheel for detachable mounting to the frame of the mobile patio;
[00010] FIG-8 is a side view of the mobile patio;
[00011] FIG-9 is a side view of a mobile patio wherein the receiver is engaged with the hook arm of a transporter and the hook arm has been lifted; engaging the hook arm or the winch hook with the receiver;
[00012] FIG-10 is a side view of a mobile patio wherein the receiver is engaged with the hook arm of a transporter and the mobile patio is resting on the transporter;
[00013] FIG-11 is a side view of alternate roll-off transporter;
[00014] FIG-12 is a side view of alternate winch and cable transporter; and, 100015] FIG-13 is an elevation of a receiver mount according to an alternate embodiment of the invention.
DETAILD DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[00016] Referring now to the drawings, FIG-1 shows a mobile patio indicated by general reference number 10 deployed on a street 46 in a parking space 48 adjacent a sidewalk. The mobile patio 10 comprises a frame 12 having a first end 14, a second end 16, a first side 18and a second side 20. The mobile patio 10 should be constructed to a size which can fit within a standard municipal on-street parking space 48. Different municipalities may dictate different parking space sizes, so the particular size of a given mobile patio is not material to the present invention. An on-street municipal parking space might typically range in size between 5'x7' [1.52m long by 2.13m wide] at a minimum and 18'x7' [5.8m long by 2.13m wide] at a maximum. The frame 12 is constructed at a size within this range. FIG-2 shows detail of the frame 12, which is preferably constructed from made of metal tubing that is welded together. Most preferably the frame is constructed from all new hot rolled structural steel which should conform to the standards published by CSA Group (formerly the Canadian Standards Association; CSA), CSA Standards G40.21-300W Grade and 350W for class H
hollow structural sections.
[00017] A flooring deck 30 is supported on the frame12. The flooring deck 30 is constructed from conventional outdoor flooring materials, such as flooring planks of wood, pressure treated wood, or composite materials or interconnecting plates or tiles of composite materials. The flooring deck 30 is secured to the frame 12 by conventional fastening means (not shown), and the selection of a particular fastening means would be within the common knowledge of a person skilled in the art.
[00018] The frame 12 has a receiver 22 for a hook arm 24 or a winch hook 26 of a transporter 28. The term transporter 28 is being used here as a general term to cover any type of vehicle which would be capable of moving the mobile patio 10.
Preferred transporters 28 include a moveable hook truck as can be seen in FIG-and FIG-10, or a cable hook roll off truck as seen in FIG-11, or truck with a winch and cable system shown in FIG-13.
[00019] The receiver 22 is essentially a rigid, high strength ring or arched member which can receivingly engage a hook arm 24 or a winch hook 26 or the like to facilitate the lifting and shifting of the frame 12, carrying with it the flooring deck 30, and any railings, wall panels etc. The mobile patio 10 could be constructed to have the receiver 22 formed integrally with the frame 12 or permanently attached thereto. In such instance the frame 12 could be constructed with vertical extensions at the first end 14 or the second end 16, or both ends thereof.
[00020] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the receiver 22 is detachable from the frame 12 when the receiver 22 is not in use. The receiver is disposed on a receiver mount 32. The receiver mount 32 comprises a body 34 supporting the receiver 22 at a first end thereof, and the body 34 has an anchoring means 36 at a second end thereof. Although other structural configurations of the receiver mount 32 are possible and would be within the skill of a person skilled in metal fabricating, the preferred embodiment of the receiver mount is shown in FIG-5 and FIG-6. The receiver mount 22 is constructed as a pair of structural supports 38, 38 angled toward one another to form a V-shape with the receiver 22 welded to each of the structural supports 38, 38 forming the apex. The receiver 22 is angled with respect to the plane of the body 34. A
brace member 40 is fixed between the structural supports 38, 38 to improve stability and rigidity. The anchoring means 36 extends at a substantially 90 degree angle to the body 34 of the receiver mount 32. The anchoring means 36 is sized and positioned to be receivingly engaged in an anchor channel 42 in the frame 12.
For added strength and stability, the body 34 of the receiver mount 22 can be bolted to the frame 12, and tabs 37 are provided on the body 34 for this purpose.
[00021] The anchor channel 42 is best seen in FIG-4. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention there are two anchoring channels 42 spaced apart from one another and centered on the end of the frame. Since FIG-4 is a partial sectional view and shows an elevation of one end of the mobile patio 10, there are only two anchoring channels 42 visible. In fact, the frame 12 is preferably constructed with four anchoring channels, two of which are located on the first end of the frame and two of which are located on the second end of the frame. Since the frame 12 is constructed from steel tubing, the anchoring channels 42 are optimally the open ends of two steel tube beams 44 which run the length of the frame 12. It is advantageous to have anchoring channels 42 positioned at both the first end 14 and the second end16 of the frame 12, as this allows the receiver mount 22 to be attached to either end of the mobile patio 10.
This allows a transporter 28 to access one way streets and to deploy a mobile patio 10 in a parking space 48 on either the right side or the left side of a street 46.
[00022] FIG-12 and FIG-13 show an alternate embodiment of the present invention designed to work with transporters 28 that operate with cable and winch systems. The receiver 22, shown by the arrow in FIG-13, is disposed on a receiver bracket 68. The receiver bracket 68 comprises an elongated body 72 which has means for fastening to the frame 12 of the mobile patio 10. More specifically, the elongated body 72 has tab extensions 76 at either end thereof which can be used for attachment by bolts 74 or other conventional fastening means to either end of the frame 12. In this embodiment, the receiver 22 comprises an opening 70 of sufficient size and shape to receive a winch hook of a cable and winch system on a transporter 28. The opening 70 is defined by the elongated body 72, The receiver bracket 68 is constructed from high strength steel, and when attached to the frame 12 can withstand force exerted by the winch hook 56 on the receiver to shift the mobile patio (aided by wheels 60) onto the transporter.
[00023] The frame 12 of the mobile patio 10 defines a plurality of rail post sockets 50 disposed adjacent the first end14, the second end 16, and the first side 18 of the frame 12 defining the perimeter of the mobile patio10. A
corresponding plurality of rail posts 52 are secured in the plurality of rail post sockets 50, and a rail 54 is attached to the plurality of rail posts 52. A
plurality of vertical panels 56 is fixed to the rail 54 and to the rail posts 52 spanning the rail posts 52. The panels are fixed by conventional fastening means which may include bolts, tongue and groove fastening etc. The selection of a fastening means is typically determined by the type of material used for the vertical panels 56. As shown in FIG-3 and FIG-4 the vertical panels may be constructed of boards (either wooden or composite material). Alternatively, as shown in FIG-1, the vertical panel could be constructed as an expanse of balusters or spindles.
Other vertical panels could be constructed of Plexiglas TM plastic material or tempered glass to provide a less restricted view from patio. These options allow the mobile patio to be constructed to conform to a variety of municipal codes governing the construction of patios. For example, some codes require that the perimeter of the patio be fenced with a guard or protective barrier to prevent users from unexpectedly stepping off the floor deck. The height of the guard may also be set by code, for example, for example not less than 36" [914mm] but no greater than 42" [1070mm]. Still other codes may require a gate, door or other controlled access point if alcohol is being served on the patio.
[00024] The mobile patio 10 further comprises a plurality of leveling feet attached to the frame 12. The leveling feet 58 can be adjusted in length to ensure that there is full contact between the mobile patio 10 and the ground, even where there is uneven terrain. Adjusting the leveling feet 58 also ensures that the flooring deck 30 remains level while the mobile patio is in use.
[00025] The mobile patio10 further comprises a plurality of wheels 60 detachably mounted to the frame 12. The wheels 60 facilitate the shifting of the mobile patio 10 from one place to another as it is deployed and then removed.
The wheels can be seen mounted on the frame 12 in FIG-9 to FIG-11. Detail of a preferred structure of a wheel mount 62 is shown in FIG-7. The wheel mount 62 preferably comprises a shaft 64 which is sized to be retained within the open end (not shown) of one of the metal tubes from which the frame 12 is constructed.
The wheel mount 62 additionally has a mounting bracket 66 to facilitate bolted attachment to the frame 12. The wheels 60 are only attached to the mobile patio while it is being shifted in position or transported to or from a deployment site.

Once the mobile patio is in its selected position for use the wheel mounts 26 are released from the frame, thereby removing the wheels 60 which can then be stored until needed again.
[00026] A method is provided for deploying a mobile patio 10 to a desired resting position on the ground. The method is carried out in reverse to remove a mobile patio 10 from the location in which it was used so that it can be carried off site and stored until the next season. FIG-8 shows the mobile patio deployed in a resting position. The patio would be in this position during offsite storage prior to being moved to the site where it will be deployed and also when the mobile patio has been deployed for use in a desired resting location. The desired resting position for use may be on street in a vehicular parking space in front of a restaurant, cafe or other business. Alternatively it could be in a parking lot, a plaza, a town square, a yard or other green space. FIG-9 shows the patio in the process of being lifted and shifted on to or off of the transporter, and FIG-10, shows the mobile patio loaded on a transporter.
[00027] The method comprises the steps following steps. The first step is providing a transporter 28 (which as discussed above may be a hook lift truck, a cable hook roll off truck or a vehicle (truck, tractor, etc) with a winch and cable system. The transporter 28 needs to have a hook arm 24 or a winch hook 26.
The next step is engaging the hook arm 24 or the winch hook 26 with the receiver 22 and then lifting the hook arm 24 or the winch hook 26 to lift the frame 12 of the mobile patio10. Of course, lifting the frame 12 also lifts the flooring deck 30, the rail posts 52 and rail 54 along with the vertical panels 56. The mobile patio 10 is then shifted onto the transporter 28 for transportation to desired resting position. The next step is shifting the mobile patio off of the transporter 28 at the desired resting position. The next step is lowering the hook arm 24 or the winch hook 26 to permit the mobile patio 10 to come to rest on the ground, and then disengaging the hook arm 24 or the winch hook 26 from the receiver 22.
[00028] Where the receiver 22 is not permanently affixed to the frame12, but rather is detachable from the frame 12 when not in use, the method further comprises the preliminary steps of providing a receiver mount 32 comprising a body 34 supporting the receiver 22 at a first end thereof and an anchoring means 36 at a second end thereof and attaching the receiver 22 to the frame 12 by receivingly engaging the anchoring means 36 of the receiver mount 32 within the anchor channel 34 of the frame 12.
[00029] In the alternative embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIG-for use with a transporter 28 having a winch and cable mechanism, where the receiver is not permanently affixed to the frame, but rather is detachable from the frame when not in use, the method further comprises the preliminary steps of providing a receiver bracket 68 comprising an elongated body 72 having means for attaching to the frame. In this embodiment the receiver is an opening 70 to receive a winch hook 26 defined by the elongated body 72. The next step is attaching the receiver bracket to the frame of the mobile patio.

[00030] The method further comprises the preliminary step of mounting the plurality of wheels to the frame. The preliminary steps are reversed after the mobile patio has been deployed.
[00031] The mobile patio 10 has been designed to function in a modular system. All parts of the system connect to the frame 12 and have been designed for maximum versatility. A variety of different types of vertical panels 56 can be connected to the frame using the rail post sockets, rail posts and rail.
The receiver mount 22 has been designed so that it can be engaged with the frame 12 at either end of the mobile patio 10. The wheel mounts 66 can be installed on removably attached to the frame at either end of the mobile patio.
These features facilitate deployment mobile patio on one way streets and on left hand or right hand sidewalks. It is also possible to connect two or more frames to one another. The two frames are oriented with their second sides 20 facing on another and connected together. The rail post sockets 50 positioned adjacent to the first end 14, second end 16 and first side 18 of each frame will define the positions of the rail p0sts52 and rail 54 around the perimeter of the double sized patio. Vertical panels 56 are mounted onto the rails and rail posts. At a selected position, typically at one of the ends of the frames, no vertical panel is mounted, leaving an opening which can be used to access the patio.
Individual frames can be transported to an in- use location individually and then they can be connected together on site

Claims (18)

WE CLAIM:

1. A mobile patio comprising:
a frame having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side; said frame having a receiver for a hook arm or a winch hook for lifting the mobile patio onto or off of a transporter; and, a flooring deck supported on the frame.

2. The mobile patio of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of wheels detachably mounted to the frame for lifting and shifting the mobile patio onto or off of a transporter.

3. The mobile patio of claim 2, wherein the receiver is detachable from the frame when the receiver is not in use.

4. The mobile patio of claim 3, wherein the receiver is disposed on a receiver mount.

5. The mobile patio of claim 4, wherein the receiver mount comprises a body supporting the receiver at a first end thereof, said body having an anchoring means at a second end thereof.

6. The mobile patio of claim 5, wherein the frame defines an anchor channel to receivingly engage the anchoring means of the receiver mount.

7. The mobile patio of claim 1 or 2, wherein the frame defines a plurality of rail post sockets disposed adjacent the first end, the second end, and the first side of the frame.

8. The mobile patio of claim 7, further comprising a corresponding plurality of rail posts secured in the plurality of rail post sockets; and a rail attached to the plurality of rail posts.

9. The mobile patio of claim 8, further comprising vertical panels fixed to the frame spanning the rail posts.

10. The mobile patio of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a plurality of leveling feet attached to the frame.

11. The mobile patio of claim 2, wherein the receiver is disposed on a receiver bracket.

12. The mobile patio of claim 11, wherein the receiver bracket comprises an elongated body having means for fastening to the frame, said receiver comprises an opening defined by the elongated body.

13. A method of deploying a mobile patio having a frame with a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side; said frame having a receiver for a hook arm or a winch hook for lifting the mobile patio onto or off of a transporter;
and, a flooring deck supported on the frame to a desired resting position on the ground, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a transporter having a hook arm or a winch hook;

engaging the hook arm or the winch hook with the receiver;
lifting the hook arm or the winch hook to lift the frame of the mobile patio;
shifting the mobile patio onto the transporter for transport to the desired resting position;
shifting the mobile patio off of the transporter;
lowering the hook arm or the winch hook to permit the mobile patio to come to rest on the ground; and, disengaging the hook arm or the winch hook from the receiver.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the receiver is not permanently affixed to the frame, but rather is detachable from the frame when not in use, further comprising the preliminary steps of:
providing a receiver mount comprising a body supporting the receiver at a first end thereof and an anchoring means at a second end thereof;
attaching the receiver mount to the frame by receivingly engaging the anchoring means of the receiver mount within the anchor channel of the frame.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the receiver is not permanently affixed to the frame, but rather is detachable from the frame when not in use, further comprising the preliminary steps of:

providing a receiver bracket comprising an elongated body having means for attaching to the frame, said receiver comprising an opening defined by the elongated body;
attaching the receiver bracket to the frame.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the preliminary step of:
mounting the plurality of wheels to the frame.

17. The use of a mobile patio comprising a frame having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side; said frame having a receiver for a hook arm or a winch hook for lifting the mobile patio onto or off of a transporter; a plurality of wheels detachably mounted to the frame for lifting and shifting the mobile patio onto or off of a transporter; and, flooring deck supported on the frame, deployed in an on-street vehicle parking space for use as a temporary passive seating area for the public or patrons of a business.

18. The use of a mobile patio comprising a frame having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side; said frame having a receiver for a hook arm or a winch hook of a transporter, said receiver disposed on a receiver mount comprising a body supporting the receiver at a first end thereof, said body having an anchoring means at a second end thereof and wherein the frame defines an anchor channel to engagingly receive the anchoring means; and, a flooring deck supported on the frame, deployed in an on-street vehicle parking space for use as a temporary passive seating area for the public or patrons of a business.