GB2178771A - Picnicing or sunbathing enclosure - Google Patents

Abstract

The enclosure comprises a damp proof base 1 for placement on the ground, secured to side walls 2-5 which enclose the base to shelter the enclosed area from the wind. The enclosure can be rolled and/or folded away when not in use. The base and side walls are preferably of flexible sheet material and 12 supported by rigid or semi-rigid members 6, 7 coupled by push-fit connectors 8, 9. Permanent openings are provided for drainage purposes and pegs or stakes are provided for anchoring the enclosure to the ground. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Enclosures for outdoor recreational activities The main aim of this invention is to improve the physical comfort of people participating in certain outdoor recreational activities such as sunbathing and picnicing.

The present invention lies in sunbathing or picnicing within an enclosure comprising a damp proof basefor placement on the ground,the base being secured to upstanding walls which enclose a sunbathing or picnic area of the base to shelter the enclosed area from the wind, and the enclosure being such that itcan be rolledand/orfoldedawaywhen not in use.

The invention includes an enclosureforthe purpose specified.

The enclosure may be of rigid construction, e.g.

with hinged panels of plastics, plywood or other rigid material, but preferably the base and side walls are of flexible sheet material, with the side walls being supported by rigid orsemi-rigid support members.

The enclosure preferably includes permanent openings such as slits or holes for drainage purposes.

Pegs or stakes may be provided for anchoring the enclosuretotheground.

Byway of example, there nowfollows a morede- tailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of one form of enclosure, Figure2 is a perspective view of another form of enclosure, and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a furtherform of enclosure.

The enclosure of Figure 1 comprises a rectangular base 1 formed of a flexible damp proof membrane which is secured by stitching to four side walls 2 - 5 of wind proof but not necessarily damp proofflexible material.

The side walls 2 - 5 are supported by a lightweight rigid framework formed of horizontal rods 6 that provide upper and lower rectangularframes 6a and 6b respectively, separated by vertical spacing rods 7.

Rods 6 and 7 are coupled by push-fit connectors inthe form of corner tees 8 and straight tees 9. The rods of the lower frame 6b are located within sown sleeves 10 along the lower edges of the side walls. The side walls are also provided with flaps 11 which are folded about the upperframe 6a and secured by press studs 12.

Thejunction between the base 1 and walls 2 - 5 is provided with slits or holesfordrainage purposes.

Pegs 13 are provided to anchor theframeworkto the ground.

The user placesthe enclosure ontheground, e.g.

on the beach, lawn or other grassed area, and the user can sunbathe or picnic within it with the walls 2-5 providing protection from the wind. The enclosure can also be used as a tidyforthe personal belongings ofthe user, particularly in public recreational areas.

When not in use the rods 6 and 7 are pulled from connectors 8 and 9 and the whole enclosure is rolled up orfolded away.

The enclosure of Figure 2 again has a base 1 and side walls 2 - 5 of similar material, buttheframework is replaced by ground stakes 14 located in vertical sleeves 15. Drainage openings are again provided.

In the enclosure of Figure 3, the base 1 and side walls 2 - 5 contain a supporting framework which comprises two identical side frames 16, 17. Each side frame includes a pair of base rods 18 hinged together at 19 and hinged to vertical corner rods 20. Stays 21 are hinged to the tops of corner rods 20 and have a sliding connection with base rods 18. The frames 16, 17 are spaced by removable cross bracings 22. Drainage openings and anchoring pegs are again provided. When not in use the bracings 22 are removed and the stays 21 are slid along the base rods 1 8 to wards hinge 19. Base rods 18 are then folded downwards enabling the enclosure to be rolled up.

If required, the base 1 may be provided by an inflatable envelope as in an air bed.

1. An enclosureforsunbathing orpicnicing,com- prising a damp proof basefor placement on the ground, the base being secured to upstanding walls which enclose an upwardly open sunbathing or picnic area of the base to shelter the enclosed area from the wind, and the enclosure being such that it can be rolled and/orfolded away when not in use.

2. An enclosure as specified in Claim 1, in which the base and side walls are offlexible sheet material and the side walls are supported by rigid orsemi-rigid support members.

3. An enclosure as specified in Claim 2, in which the sheet material is provided with sleeves which receive the support members.

4. An enclosure as specified in Claim 3, in which the support members are coupled together by pushfit connectors.

5. An enclosure as specified in Claim 4, in which the connectors include corner tees and straight tees.

6. An enclosure as specified in any of Claims 3 to 5, in which the support members are coupled together so as to form upper and lowerframessepa- rated by upright members.

7. An enclosure as specified in Claim 6, in which the upper and lowerframes are located in the sleeves and the sleevesforthe upperframe areformed by flapswhicharefolded overthesupport members and releasably secured.

8. An enclosure as specified in any preceding claim, in which the support members are external to the sheet material.

9. An enclosure as specified in Claim 2, in which the support members are hinged together.

10. An enclosure as specified in Claim 1,2 or9, in which the support members are located within the sheet material.

11. An enclosure as specified in any preceding claim, in which pegs or stakes are provided for anchoring the enclosure to the ground.

12. An enclosure as specified in Claim 11 as appended to Claim 3, in which the support members are located in upright sleeves and form stakes for anchoring the enclosure to the ground.

13. An enclosure as specified in any preceding claim, provided with permanent drainage openings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (15)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Enclosures for outdoor recreational activities The main aim of this invention is to improve the physical comfort of people participating in certain outdoor recreational activities such as sunbathing and picnicing. The present invention lies in sunbathing or picnicing within an enclosure comprising a damp proof basefor placement on the ground,the base being secured to upstanding walls which enclose a sunbathing or picnic area of the base to shelter the enclosed area from the wind, and the enclosure being such that itcan be rolledand/orfoldedawaywhen not in use. The invention includes an enclosureforthe purpose specified. The enclosure may be of rigid construction, e.g. with hinged panels of plastics, plywood or other rigid material, but preferably the base and side walls are of flexible sheet material, with the side walls being supported by rigid orsemi-rigid support members. The enclosure preferably includes permanent openings such as slits or holes for drainage purposes. Pegs or stakes may be provided for anchoring the enclosuretotheground. Byway of example, there nowfollows a morede- tailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of one form of enclosure, Figure2 is a perspective view of another form of enclosure, and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a furtherform of enclosure. The enclosure of Figure 1 comprises a rectangular base 1 formed of a flexible damp proof membrane which is secured by stitching to four side walls 2 - 5 of wind proof but not necessarily damp proofflexible material. The side walls 2 - 5 are supported by a lightweight rigid framework formed of horizontal rods 6 that provide upper and lower rectangularframes 6a and 6b respectively, separated by vertical spacing rods 7. Rods 6 and 7 are coupled by push-fit connectors inthe form of corner tees 8 and straight tees 9. The rods of the lower frame 6b are located within sown sleeves 10 along the lower edges of the side walls. The side walls are also provided with flaps 11 which are folded about the upperframe 6a and secured by press studs 12. Thejunction between the base 1 and walls 2 - 5 is provided with slits or holesfordrainage purposes. Pegs 13 are provided to anchor theframeworkto the ground. The user placesthe enclosure ontheground, e.g. on the beach, lawn or other grassed area, and the user can sunbathe or picnic within it with the walls 2-5 providing protection from the wind. The enclosure can also be used as a tidyforthe personal belongings ofthe user, particularly in public recreational areas. When not in use the rods 6 and 7 are pulled from connectors 8 and 9 and the whole enclosure is rolled up orfolded away. The enclosure of Figure 2 again has a base 1 and side walls 2 - 5 of similar material, buttheframework is replaced by ground stakes 14 located in vertical sleeves 15. Drainage openings are again provided. In the enclosure of Figure 3, the base 1 and side walls 2 - 5 contain a supporting framework which comprises two identical side frames 16, 17. Each side frame includes a pair of base rods 18 hinged together at 19 and hinged to vertical corner rods 20. Stays 21 are hinged to the tops of corner rods 20 and have a sliding connection with base rods 18. The frames 16, 17 are spaced by removable cross bracings 22. Drainage openings and anchoring pegs are again provided. When not in use the bracings 22 are removed and the stays 21 are slid along the base rods 1 8 to wards hinge 19. Base rods 18 are then folded downwards enabling the enclosure to be rolled up. If required, the base 1 may be provided by an inflatable envelope as in an air bed. CLAIMS

1. An enclosureforsunbathing orpicnicing,com- prising a damp proof basefor placement on the ground, the base being secured to upstanding walls which enclose an upwardly open sunbathing or picnic area of the base to shelter the enclosed area from the wind, and the enclosure being such that it can be rolled and/orfolded away when not in use.

2. An enclosure as specified in Claim 1, in which the base and side walls are offlexible sheet material and the side walls are supported by rigid orsemi-rigid support members.

3. An enclosure as specified in Claim 2, in which the sheet material is provided with sleeves which receive the support members.

4. An enclosure as specified in Claim 3, in which the support members are coupled together by pushfit connectors.

5. An enclosure as specified in Claim 4, in which the connectors include corner tees and straight tees.

6. An enclosure as specified in any of Claims 3 to 5, in which the support members are coupled together so as to form upper and lowerframessepa- rated by upright members.

7. An enclosure as specified in Claim 6, in which the upper and lowerframes are located in the sleeves and the sleevesforthe upperframe areformed by flapswhicharefolded overthesupport members and releasably secured.

8. An enclosure as specified in any preceding claim, in which the support members are external to the sheet material.

9. An enclosure as specified in Claim 2, in which the support members are hinged together.

10. An enclosure as specified in Claim 1,2 or9, in which the support members are located within the sheet material.

11. An enclosure as specified in any preceding claim, in which pegs or stakes are provided for anchoring the enclosure to the ground.

12. An enclosure as specified in Claim 11 as appended to Claim 3, in which the support members are located in upright sleeves and form stakes for anchoring the enclosure to the ground.

13. An enclosure as specified in any preceding claim, provided with permanent drainage openings.

14. Sunbathing or picnicing within an enclosure as specified in any preceding claim.

15. An enclosure substantially as described with reference to Figure 1,2 or 3 of the drawings.