Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
  • E04H15/00—Tents or canopies, in general
  • E04H15/32—Parts, components, construction details, accessories, interior equipment, specially adapted for tents, e.g. guy-line equipment, skirts, thresholds
  • E04H15/34—Supporting means, e.g. frames
  • E04H15/44—Supporting means, e.g. frames collapsible, e.g. breakdown type
  • E04H15/48—Supporting means, e.g. frames collapsible, e.g. breakdown type foldable, i.e. having pivoted or hinged means
  • E04H15/50—Supporting means, e.g. frames collapsible, e.g. breakdown type foldable, i.e. having pivoted or hinged means lazy-tongs type
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
  • E04H15/00—Tents or canopies, in general
  • E04H15/32—Parts, components, construction details, accessories, interior equipment, specially adapted for tents, e.g. guy-line equipment, skirts, thresholds
  • E04H15/34—Supporting means, e.g. frames
  • E04H15/44—Supporting means, e.g. frames collapsible, e.g. breakdown type
  • E04H15/46—Supporting means, e.g. frames collapsible, e.g. breakdown type telescoping and foldable

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to folding, collapsible structures, and more particularly relates to a collapsible shelter structure having an elevated canopy.
• Temporary shelters that can be easily transported and rapidly set up at emergency sites can be particularly useful in providing temporary care and housing. Such shelters can also be useful for non-emergency outdoor gatherings, such as for temporary military posts, field trips, and the like.
• One known quickly erectable, collapsible shelter includes a framework of X-shaped linkages, telescoping legs, and a canopy covering the framework.
• the legs of that shelter are capable of telescoping to about twice their stowed length, and the framework of X-shaped truss pairs is capable of horizontal extension between the legs to support a canopy.
• the framework can be constructed of lightweight material, and the telescoping legs can be extended to raise the framework of the shelter.
• One modern type of tent structure provides a lightweight roof structure with four roof rods joined together at the center by a head connector member, with each of the roof rods formed of two rod members interconnected by intermediate pivot connecting members.
• the roof rods are supported on top of a base structure formed by four legs and scissors-type linkages connected to a top fixed connector and a lower sliding connector of each leg.
• Each intermediate pivot connecting member between the individual rod members of the roof rods confines upward rotation of the rod members to an upmost, upwardly arching position, but allows the roof rods to be folded downwardly when the tent is collapsed.
• Reinforcing linking rods provided at the corners of the roof structure are coupled at one end to the lower sliding connectors on the legs, and are slidingly coupled at the other end to the roof rods, to assist in stabilizing the roof rods in the upwardly arched position when the shelter is fully unfolded and extended.
• the slidable coupling of the corner linking rods must slide over a considerable length of the roof rods, which can lead to abrasion and wear of the roof rods and eventually interfere with the sliding of the linking rods during setting up and taking down of the structure, without providing any significant reinforcing strength or vertical support of the roof structure when the shelter is fully unfolded and extended.
• Lightweight shelters with raised roof structures are particularly useful for holding gatherings in inclement weather, to provide needed headroom and shed precipitation and debris, but raised roof structures can be particularly vulnerable to downward forces placed on a roof structure by strong winds.
• One approach to providing a lightweight shelter with a raised roof structure has been to make the roof structure flexible so that it can move between a raised, upwardly arching configuration when weather permits, and a lowered, downwardly arching configuration, if the downward component of the wind is sufficiently strong, to automatically present a reduced profile to strong winds when necessary.
• the present invention provides for an improved, lightweight erectable canopy shelter with a reinforced raised roof structure that is strengthened and stabilized to permit the roof structure to remain in a raised configuration in order to provide adequate headroom and adequately shed debris and precipitation, and to resist downward wind pressures on the roof structure.
• the present invention accordingly provides, in one preferred embodiment, for an improved, lightweight and quickly erectable canopy shelter with a reinforced roof structure.
• the roof structure of the shelter is supported by a plurality of legs having upper and lower ends connected together by an extendible perimeter assembly of link members.
• the perimeter assembly of link members comprises pairs of link members being pivotally connected together in a scissors linkage configuration so as to be extendable from a first collapsed position extending horizontally between adjacent pairs of legs to a second extended position extending horizontally between the adjacent pairs of legs.
• a slider member is slidably mounted to each of the legs, and in a presently preferred aspect, the legs of the shelter comprise telescoping upper and lower sections, with the slider members mounted to upper sections of the legs.
• the pairs of link members of the extendible perimeter assembly preferably comprise first and second link members, with the first link member having an outer end pivotally connected to the upper end of a leg, and the second link member having an outer end pivotally connected to a slider member of a leg, and with the pairs of link members connected together at their inner ends.
• the roof structure of the shelter is preferably provided by a canopy assembly comprised of a plurality of pole members having their outer ends pivotally mounted to the upper ends of the legs so as to extend across the shelter, and to be movable between a lowered position when the shelter is in its folded and unextended configuration, and a raised, upwardly arching position when the shelter is unfolded and extended, in which position a canopy cover may be placed over the roof structure of the canopy shelter.
• the outer ends of the pole members are pivotally connected to the upper ends of the legs by pivoting link members that pivot between a lowered position when the shelter is unextended, and a raised position extending above the legs when the shelter is extended. In the extended configuration, the pivoting link members can advantageously rotate outwardly to accommodate downward forces exerted on the roof structure and transmitted outwardly by the pole members.
• the pole members are pivotally coupled at their inner ends to a central hub connector, and each of the pole members comprises a plurality of pole sections hingedly coupled together permitting inward, downward folding of the pole members to a folded configuration, and limiting upward unfolding of the pole members to a fully extended configuration.
• corner support strut members are also advantageously provided for reinforcing and stabilizing the pole members of the canopy assembly when the shelter is unfolded and extended.
• the outer ends of the support strut members are pivotally mounted to the extendible perimeter assembly of link members adjacent to the legs.
• the support strut members may be pivotally mounted to a crank rotatably mounted to a telescoping shaft connected between two adjacent link members connected to a leg.
• the support strut members may be pivotally connected to a link member adjacent to a leg.
• the support strut members are permanently pivotally connected to the pole members, and the support strut members may be formed of telescoping sections.
• the corner support struts rotate upwardly to support the pole members
• the inner ends of the strut members each have a support bracket permanently pivotally connected to a corresponding pole member to support the pole member in the raised, upwardly extending position.
• the present invention represents important benefits over the prior art.
• a pivotal link at the outer ends of the roof rods where they meet the top of the legs direct outward force on the top of the legs is subsantially reduced from vertical force applied to the roof compared to prior art designs. This substantially improves the ability of the structure to absorb such forces without deflection of the primary support structure.
• the termination of the support struts at a location offset from the slider provides important benefits to the stability of the structure during erection and when the canopy is fully erected.
• Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the quickly erectable canopy shelter of the invention
• Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the quickly erectable canopy shelter of Fig. 1 in a folded configuration
• Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the quickly erectable canopy shelter of Fig. 1 in a folded configuration
• Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the quickly erectable canopy shelter of Fig. 1 in a partially extended configuration
• Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an upper corner portion of the quickly erectable canopy shelter of the invention of Fig. 1 in a partially extended configuration;
• Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the upper corner portion of the quickly erectable canopy shelter of Fig. 1 as illustrated in Fig. 5;
• Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the quickly erectable canopy shelter of Fig. 1 in a fully extended configuration
• Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the upper corner of the quickly erectable canopy shelter of Fig. 1, in a fully extended configuration, and showing a preferred mounting of the lower end of a support strut member;
• Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the upper corner of the quickly erectable canopy shelter of Fig. 1, in a fully extended configuration, and showing an alternate preferred mounting of the lower end of a support strut member;
• Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the upper comer of the quickly erectable canopy shelter of Fig. 1, in a fully extended configuration, and showing an alternate mounting of a support strut member;
• Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of the quickly erectable canopy shelter of Fig. 1 in a fully extended configuration, showing downward flexing of the roof structure due to a downward force;
• Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of the upper corner of the quickly erectable canopy shelter of Fig. 1, in a fully extended configuration, and showing the outward rotation of the pivoting link members to absorb outward transmission of downward forces on the roof structure by the pole members.
• the invention provides for a quickly erectable canopy shelter 20 having a plurality of legs 22, each having an upper end 24 and a lower end 26, as shown in Fig. 1, showing the quickly erectable canopy shelter of the invention in a folded, unexpended configuration.
• the lower end of each leg also preferably has foot 27 with an aperture 29 for securing the feet to a substrate surface.
• the collapsible shelter preferably has four legs, but can also have three, five, or more legs.
• the legs are also preferably hollow.
• Each leg also preferably has an upper section 28 and a telescoping lower section 30, with a slider member 32 slidably mounted to the upper section of each of the legs.
• the telescoping lower sections preferably include a spring loaded detent pin (not shown) for indexing in a corresponding aperture (not shown) in the corresponding upper section of the legs.
• the leg slider members each preferably also have an aperture 33 for indexing with a corresponding spring loaded detent pin 35 of the legs.
• an extendible perimeter assembly 34 of link members connects adjacent legs together.
• the extendible perimeter assembly of link members is formed by pairs of link members 36 pivotally connected together, with the pairs of link members including a first link member 38 and second link member 40.
• the first link member has an outer end 42 pivotally connected to the upper end of a leg
• the second link member has an outer end 44 pivotally connected to a slider member of a leg.
• the pairs of link members are preferably connected together in a scissors configuration so as to be extendable from a first collapsed position extending horizontally between adjacent pairs of legs to a second extended position extending horizontally between the adjacent pairs of legs.
• the pairs of link members are connected together at their inner ends 46.
• a roof structure is provided by a canopy assembly 48 that is supported by the legs.
• the canopy assembly preferably comprises a plurality of pole members 50 having their outer ends 52 mounted to the legs, as is best seen in Figs. 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 12, to extend across the shelter, and that are movable between a lowered position, best shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, and a raised, upwardly extending position, best illustrated in Figs. 7-12.
• Each of the pole members currently preferably comprises a plurality of pole sections 54 pivotally joined together at hinges or joints 56 permitting inward, downward folding of the pole members to a folded configuration, and limiting upward unfolding of the pole members to a fully extended configuration.
• the outer ends of the pole members are not directly connected to the upper ends of the legs as in prior art designs, but are preferably indirectly connected to the upper ends of the legs by a pivoting link member 59 that pivots between a lowered position when the shelter is unextended, and a raised position extending above the legs when the shelter is extended.
• the pivoting link members can advantageously rotate outwardly to accommodate downward forces exerted on the roof structure that are transmitted outwardly by the pole members, as is indicated by the arrows representing the downward movement of the roof structure and the outward rotation of the pivoting link members in Figs. 11 and 12, such as may occur due to wind pressure on the roof structure of the shelter.
• a plurality of support strut members 60 are also provided, as can best be seen in Figs.2, 4, 5 and 7-12, with the outer ends 62 of the support strut members pivotally mounted to the legs below the pole members, and preferably each support strut member is pivotally mounted adjacent to a leg.
• the support struts are pivotally mounted to a crank 61 rotatably mounted to a telescoping shaft 63a,b for rotation about the telescoping shaft.
• the telescoping shaft is mounted, such as by welding, to the outer ends 44 of the second link members 40.
• the outer ends 62 of the support strut members 60 may be pivotally mounted by a bracket 65 affixed, such as by welding or by a bolt, for example, to the outer end 44 of a second link member adjacent to a leg, as is illustrated in Figs. 9 and 12.
• the outer ends 62 of the support strut members 60 may be pivotally mounted to a bracket 67 of a slider member, as shown in Fig. 10.
• the inner ends 64 of the support strut members are connected to support brackets 66 connecting the support strut members to corresponding pole members to support the pole members in a raised, upwardly extending position.
• the support strut members also may be formed of telescoping sections. Referring to Figs. 3, 4, 7 and 11, the inner ends 64 of the pole members are pivotally connected together by a central hub 68.
• a canopy cover (not shown) may be provided over the roof structure of the shelter to provide a gabled roof surface, to shed precipitation and debris. From the exemplary illustrations of the presently preferred embodiments, it may be seen that the present invention provides numerous advantages.
• the indirect pivotal link between the outer end of the roof support rods and the top of the legs prevent the direct application of force to the upper end of the legs due to downward force of the canopy from wind or the like, thus producing a more robust structure capable of absorbing such forces better than prior art designs.
• the use of offset pivots for the roof support struts further stabilize the structure during and after erection and make the structure more stable during and after erection. Also, the elimination of telescoping components reduces the complexity of the structure, simplifies manufacture, and reduces the chances of binding and other resistance to erection compared to pivoting assemblies.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
• Secondary Cells (AREA)
• Air Bags (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (2)

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ID=31713787

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

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• 2002
  • 2002-08-07 AU AU2002323056A patent/AU2002323056A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-08-07 EP EP02757012A patent/EP1527243B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-08-07 DE DE60227292T patent/DE60227292D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-08-07 ES ES02757012T patent/ES2307775T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-08-07 AT AT02757012T patent/ATE399237T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2002-08-07 CA CA2494926A patent/CA2494926C/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-08-07 WO PCT/US2002/025062 patent/WO2004015228A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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