GB2376000A

GB2376000A - Portable shelter for attachment to a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2376000A
Application number: GB0212445A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Finn Magnus Sunde
Original assignee: WINBOND INTERNAT Ltd
Current assignee: WINBOND INTERNAT Ltd
Priority date: 2001-05-30
Filing date: 2002-05-30
Publication date: 2002-12-04
Also published as: GB0112987D0; GB0212445D0

Abstract

This invention relates to a portable shelter, and in particular to a shelter which can be connected to a motor vehicle, for providing shelter over another motor vehicle. The invention has a primary utility as a shelter enabling the replacement of another vehicle's windscreen in sheltered conditions. The invention comprises a portable shelter including a flexible canopy, the flexible canopy comprising a roof 44 and two side walls 46, the shelter including a housing (16 figure 1) within which the collapsed canopy can be stored, the housing being adapted for securement to the rear end of a motor vehicle. The canopy may be supported by a frame 32 and wheeled stanchions (22,30 figure 2). The housing may comprise of two parts thus allowing the canopy to be located above the roof level of the motor vehicle to which it is secured (see figures 4 to 6).

Description

PORTABLE SHELTER AND FITTED MOTOR VEHICLE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a portable shelter, and in particular to a shelter which can be connected to a motor vehicle, for providing shelter over another motor vehicle.

The invention has a primary utility as a shelter enabling the replacement of another vehicle's windscreen in sheltered conditions, and the following description will relate primarily to such utility. However, the use of the portable shelter for other applications, such as roadside repair of a motor vehicle, for example, are not thereby excluded.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Many vehicle windscreens (or windshields) are bonded by way of adhesive to the vehicle body. Such method of application is becoming increasingly widespread due to the increasing provision of driver and passenger air-bags, it being a requirement that the windscreen be bonded to the vehicle body when an air-bag is fitted since it is known that an air-bag when inflating can forcibly remove a windscreen secured by a traditional rubber gasket.

It is known for windscreens to become damaged and to require replacement, and it is a feature of bonded windscreens that the adhesive can only be applied in dry conditions, i. e. the adhesive will not bond to a wet or damp surface. This does not cause a significant concern to windscreen fitting services having a building or other covered enclosure in which to carry out the windscreen replacement. However, it is a major concern if the windscreen is required to be replaced in the open, or otherwise in a location exposed to the environment, since the windscreen can only effectively be replaced if the environment is dry.

It is becoming an increasing desire of customers requiring a replacement windscreen that the replacement be effected at a location to suit the customer, so that the customer does not need to visit the covered enclosure of the fitting service. The customer may desire that a mobile windscreen replacement service be provided, to attend to his or her vehicle in a workplace car park, for example, rather than the customer perhaps having to take time off work to visit the covered enclosure. Also, the damage to the windscreen may be so severe that the vehicle cannot be driven safely until the windscreen is replaced, necessitating replacement of the windscreen away from the covered enclosure.

The ability reliably to replace a vehicle's windscreen away from the covered enclosure of the fitting service would have major advantages for the fitting service also, since that service would either not need a covered enclosure (with the facility and overhead cost of providing such enclosure), or would only require a smaller covered enclosure (with a reduced facility and overhead expense).

DISCLOSURE OF THE PRIOR ART Portable shelters which can provide temporary shelter from the environnment are known, and in one form comprise an awning or canopy, for instance to protect the area to the side of a caravan. Typically, the awning is rolled up after use onto a spindle located adjacent to the top of the side of the caravan. Such an awning provides only a roof, however, and if sides or walls are required these must be assembled separately.

Another portable shelter, in the form of a tent which can be erected at a required location, is also known. One such shelter is sold under the trade name"Quickshade"by Equalizer Industries Inc. , 1304 West Industrial Boulevard,

Round Rock, Texas 78681, U. S. A. That shelter is sold for the purpose of providing a substantially dry environment within which a vehicle windscreen can be replaced, and can be carried in the vehicle of a mobile windscreen replacement operator. The shelter comprises a substantially rigid, ground-engaging frame which can be erected around the customer's vehicle, and over which can be placed a flexible waterproof cover.

The disclosed device has a number of disadvantages, however.

The first disadvantage is that it is relatively unstable, and can easily be moved by even moderate winds. The lightweight nature of the shelter, which is a desirable attribute of its portability, reduces its stability in the presence of wind. Another disadvantage is that it is relatively cumbersome and awkward to erect, and a less diligent operator might be tempted to avoid using it in marginal conditions, i. e. when the environment is only slightly wet, or when rain is likely but has not yet commenced. In such conditions the quality of the adhesive bond might be prejudiced by the failure to use the shelter, particularly if in the latter case rainfall starts before the windscreen has been replaced. Also, the shelter must be assembled and disassembled by hand, and stored within the operator's vehicle. This is an unpleasant task in wet conditions, and the operator will likely get wet whilst carrying the canopy after disassembly, and also much of the contents of his vehicle might get wet when that canopy is placed into his vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an aim of the present invention to provide a portable shelter which can for example be used to shelter a motor vehicle from rain and other environmental conditions whilst the vehicle's windscreen is being replaced, and yet which

avoids or reduces the disadvantages stated above for the prior art portable shelters.

According to the invention, therefore, there is provided a portable shelter including a flexible canopy, the flexible canopy comprising a roof and two side walls, the shelter including a housing within which the collapsed canopy can be stored, the housing being adapted for securement to the rear end of a motor vehicle.

The provision of side walls in addition to the roof provides additional protection from the environment, and also helps to make the erected shelter more rigid and secure. It is preferred that the side walls do not span the distance from the roof to the ground, and in particular it is desired that the side walls be of relatively short vertical dimension, so that an operator can readily duck underneath the bottom edge of a side wall when moving around a motor vehicle located thereunder.

The provision of a housing for the canopy avoids the requirement that the canopy be stored within the operator's vehicle when collapsed, and in particular avoids the possibility that a wet canopy will cause equipment or tools within the operator's vehicle to become wet. In addition, it is preferred that erection and collapsing of the canopy requires no assembly or disassembly of componentry, so that the operator is not required to undertake such assembly and/or disassembly in adverse conditions.

The provision of side walls can prevent the canopy from being wound onto a spindle when collapsed, and it is preferred that the canopy collapses in concertina fashion.

Preferably, the canopy includes a frame member or members to provide support to the canopy when erected.

The canopy can include ground-engaging stanchions to provide vertical support to the erected canopy. The stanchions can carry wheels at their ground-engaging ends.

It is desired that when the portable shelter is in use, it will be erected so as to cover the front end and windscreen of the vehicle requiring the replacement windscreen.

Typically, the housing will be secured to the rear end of a small or medium sized van, the van containing the operator's replacement windscreen (s), adhesive, tools and equipment.

It is therefore intended that the operator's van will carry all of the tools and equipment needed to replace the windscreen of at least one vehicle, and the operator can drive the van to the location (s) of that vehicle or those vehicles. The operator will park the van in front of the customer's vehicle, and the canopy will be extended over the front end (and windscreen) of the customer's vehicle.

It is of course necessary that the canopy be at least as wide as the customer's vehicle (or at least as wide as the windscreen thereof), and it is preferred in some embodiments that the housing will be extendible laterally, i. e. so that the housing can be expanded to its full width prior to use (with the canopy spanning substantially the full width thereof), but can be contracted sideways (with the canopy contracting or collapsing sideways therein) prior to movement of the operator's vehicle. In such embodiments, the operator can use a van which is narrower than the erected canopy without requiring a much wider (and potentially obstructive) housing to be secured thereto.

Desirably, the housing includes a securing part which is movable relative to the remainder of the housing. In such embodiments, the canopy-storing part of the housing can be raised relative to the securing part (which part is secured to the operator's vehicle). This allows the operator to use a vehicle which is relatively low in relation to the customer's vehicle, the canopy being raised (with its

housing part) prior to use so that its roof is above the customer's vehicle.

Desirably, the housing is substantially"U"shaped, and when fitted will be of inverted"U"-shape. The canopy will be similarly shaped, and when erected will provide a partial "tunnel"which can cover the front end (at least) of a customer's vehicle. As above indicated, the side walls of the canopy (and therefore the side walls of the tunnel) should not engage the ground, and in particular should be sized to allow the operator to move underneath whilst he or she is moving around the customer's vehicle. Accordingly, it is not believed to be necessary for the"tunnel"to be sufficiently wide to allow the operator room to move along the sides of the customer's vehicle within the tunnel; instead, it is expected that the tunnel should extend approximately to the side mirrors of the customer's vehicle, for example, which is believed to be sufficient to protect the windscreen area against rain and water ingress.

It is of course desired that the housing be arranged so as not to obscure or restrict access to the operator's vehicle, and in particular the rear doors thereof. Thus, it is expected that when the portable shelter is in use the rear doors of the operator's vehicle will be opened, allowing the operator to gain access to the tools and equipment therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a van fitted with a first embodiment of portable shelter according to the present invention, located in front of a customer's vehicle;

Fig. 2 is a view as Fig. 1, with the portable shelter partly erected; Fig. 3 is a view as Fig. 1 with the portable shelter substantally fully erected; Fig. 4 is a side view of a van fitted with a second embodiment of portable shelter according to the present invention, located in front of a customer's vehicle; Fig. 5 is a view as Fig. 4, with the portable shelter partly erected; and Fig. 6 is a view as Fig. 4 with the portable shelter substantally fully erected.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 shows the operator's vehicle or van 10, fitted with an embodiment of portable shelter according to the present invention, parked in front of a customer vehicle 12. In this embodiment the operator provides a mobile windscreen replacement service, and the customer requires replacement of the windscreen 14 of his vehicle 12.

The van 10 carries a housing 16 within which can be stored a canopy 20 (Figs. 2,3). The canopy is collapsed in the embodiment of Fig. 1, and is in a condition for transportation, i. e. the canopy 20 is secured within the housing 16 and the van 10 may safely be driven.

As better seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the canopy 20 can be stored within the housing 16 in concertina fashion, and can be withdrawn from the housing by a certain distance substantially corresponding to the fully erected condition of Fig. 3.

The canopy 20 is made of a material sufficiently flexible to allow the concertina folding thereof; however, the material is sufficiently rigid not to require support along its full length. Thus, in this embodiment it is not necssary to provide a supporting framework for the whole of the canopy, but as shown support means are nevertheless provided to support a proportion of the canopy. The support means in this embodiment comprise a pair of wheeled stanchions 22 (only one of which is seen), and a roof-rail 24. The wheeled stanchions 22 are secured to the"free"end 26 of the canopy, and move with the free end, to provide support therefor, as the canopy is erected and collapsed. The stanchions are hinged (not shown), to allow the wheel 30 of each stanchion 22 to be moved out of engagement with the ground, and preferably to allow the stanchions 22 and wheels 30 to be located within the housing 16 when the canopy 20 is collapsed.

The roof-rail 24 comprises a rod 32 which can be moved into and out of a tube 34, the tube 34 being secured to the roof 36 of the van 10. The rod 32 carries connectors 40 and 42.

Connector 40 is secured adjacent the free end of the rod 32, and the connectors 42 are slidable therealong. The connectors 40,42 are connected to respective portions of the canopy, and support those portions when the canopy is fully or partly erected.

In this embodiment only a single roof-rail 24 is provided, adjacent to the centre-line of the van 10 and canopy 20, Alternatively, two or more roof-rails can be provided to give support across the roof 44 of the canopy, as desired.

Also, the rod 32, when fully extended from the tube 24, is slightly less than half of the length of the fully erected canopy, and so provides support for slightly less than half the length of the canopy. In other embodiments the rod can be longer and/or can be telescopic so as to support a greater length of the canopy.

It will be understood that the wheeled stanchions 22 and the roof-rail (s) 24 are but two examples of the possible ways of providing support to the canopy. These support means may be used together (as shown in Figs. 1-3), separately, or with other suitable support means, as desired.

It will be understood that the canopy 20 is substantially "U"shaped in end view, comprising a roof 44 and two side walls 46 (only one of the side walls 46 being visible in Figs. 1-3). The roof and side walls, when erected, provide a"tunnel"over a part of the customer's vehicle, and in particular over the windscreen thereof, allowing the operator to remove all or any remaining part of the old windscreen, and replace that with a new windscreen, effectively protected from rain which might be falling. It will be understood that the operator will obtain access to the windscreen area of the customer's vehicle 12 primarily from the side, and the canopy is arranged so that the operator can lean over the customer's vehicle from the side, with the major part of his body under the canopy, but perhaps having his feet and legs outside the canopy. Thus, it is not necessary that the"tunnel"provided by the canopy be wide enough to allow the operator to move along the sides of the vehicle within the tunnel, but merely that the tunnel cover the windscreen and allow the operator to duck underneath the side walls alongside the windscreen.

In the embodiment shown the side walls 46 extend down almost to the height of the bottom of the windscreen 14; whilst this provides good"side"protection for the windscreen area it requires the operator to duck quite close to the ground to pass under the side walls 46. In alternative embodiments, therefore, the height of the bottom edge 50 of the side walls is raised, perhaps close to the top or even above the windscreen 14, allowing the operator greater freedom of movement around the customer's vehicle. This greater freedom of movement is provided at expense of side

protection to the windscreen area, but is expected to be acceptable to most operators, who could for example arrange for the front of both vehicles to face into the prevailing wind so that any rain which is falling is not likely to be blown into the windscreen area.

It will be understood that the canopy will only be erected when required, i. e. when rain is falling or rainfall is possible. It is arranged that the housing 16 does not obscure the rear doors (not seen) of the van 10, so that when the canopy is not used (as when in use) the operator can gain full access to the tools and equipment located within the van 10. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-3 the van also has a side door 52, but it is expected that the rear doors will also require to be accessed, whether or not the canopy 20 has been erected.

In the embodiment of Figs. 4-6 the operator's van is of smaller relative size, and in order that the canopy be at a suitable height the portable shelter has a two-part housing 116. The first part of the housing comprises a base which is secured to the van, whilst the second part locates the canopy. It is arranged that the second part can be raised relative to the first part (as shown in Figs. 2 and 3), whereupon the canopy can be erected at the desired height above the customer's vehicle 12.

It will be understood that the provision of a roof-rail in such an embodiment is practically more difficult to achieve, so that this embodiment does not utilise a roof rail such as 24, but instead has three pairs of wheeled stanchions 122 (only one of each pair being seen) to support the erected canopy.

It is desired that the housing (whether one-part or twopart) be secured to the van 10,110 by adhesive bonding, avoiding the requirement to drill holes or the like into the bodywork of the van.

It will be appreciated that the operator's van, particularly if it is a smaller van such as that of Figs. 4-6 will not be significantly wider (and may be narrower) than the customer's vehicle 12. It would of course be possible to construct the housing 16,116 to be sufficiently wide to accommodate a (wide) canopy able to cover the customer's vehicle. However, such a housing would project significantly beyond the sides of the operator's van, and such projection is not desired (and may not be lawful), as this would significantly reduce the aerodynamic efficiency of the van, and present a potentially dangerous obstruction/projection. Instead, in such cases it is desired that the housing (and the canopy therewithin) be expandable laterally, to increase the width of the housing (and canopy) prior to erection of the canopy.

One means of providing such an expandable housing would be to provide the housing in two separable"halves", the halves being securable together when the van is to be moved, with part or all of the roof of the canopy contracted or collapsed therewithin. However, when it is desired to erect the canopy the housing parts can be moved laterally apart so as laterally to open out the roof of the canopy to its full width, and subsequently to erect the canopy, i. e. to open it out longitudinally.

It is of course desired, and perhaps mandatory in certain countries, that the canopy, and all of its componentry, be secured within the housing whilst the van 10,110 is moving, and also that the housing (and its various parts if multipart) be adequately secured. It can therefore be arranged that the canopy 20 be secured within the housing by secure (but releasable) straps or the like, and that the housing parts (if applicable) be secured by releasable clips, and perhaps key-operated locks.

The drawings show the customer's vehicle 12 facing the rear of the operator's van, so that the windscreen can be replaced. Such an arrangement would also be desirable if the portable shelter was instead to be used by a mechanic or the like who required a substantally dry environment whilst inspecting and perhaps repairing components within the engine bay of the customer's vehicle. Alternatively, of course, the portable shelter can be used whilst the operator is replacing the rear window of the customer's vehicle (it becoming increasingly common that such windows are also adhesively bonded), in which case the rear of the customer's car would face the rear of the operator's van.

In the embodiments shown, the housing 16,116 is secured to the rear of the operator's vehicle, adjacent the rear doors thereof. In other embodiments the housing may be secured to the roof of the operator's vehicle, close to the rear end of the vehicle; in such embodiments, the housing will extend down part of the sides of the vehicle to accommmodate the side walls of the canopy.

Also, in the embodiments shown the side walls 46 are integral with the roof 44, and are formed from a single sheet of material. In other embodiments the side walls are not integral with the roof but are connected thereto. Thus, it is highly desirable that the roof and side walls be integral or connected together so that they are extended and collapsed together.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A portable shelter including a flexible canopy, the flexible canopy comprising a roof and two side walls, the shelter including a housing within which the collapsed canopy can be stored, the housing being adapted for securement to the rear end of a motor vehicle.
2. A portable shelter according to claim 1 in which erection and collapsing of the canopy requires no assembly or disassembly of componentry.
3. A portable shelter according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the canopy collapses in concertina fashion.
4. A portable shelter according to any one of claims 1-3 in which the canopy includes a frame member or members to provide support to the canopy when erected.
5. A portable shelter according to any one of claims 1-4 in which the canopy includes stanchions to provide vertical support to the erected canopy.
6. A portable shelter according to claim 5 in which the stanchions carry wheels at their ground-engaging ends.
7. A portable shelter according to any one of claims 1-6 in which the housing is extendible laterally.
8. A portable shelter according to any one of claims 1-7 in which the housing is of two-part construction, including a securing part which is movable relative to the remainder of the housing.
9. A portable shelter according to any one of claims 1-8 in which the housing is substantially"U"shaped, and when fitted is of inverted"U"-shape.

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10. A portable shelter according to claim 9 in which the canopy is similarly shaped, and when erected provides a partial tunnel.
11. A motor vehicle such as a small or medium sized van having a portable shelter according to claim 1 fitted thereto, the housing being secured to the rear end of the vehicle, the vehicle being adapted to contain a replacement windscreen, and adhesive, tools and equipment for the fitment thereof.
12. A motor vehicle according to claim 11 in which the housing does not obscure or restrict access to the vehicle, and in particular the rear doors thereof.
13. A motor vehicle according to claim 11 or claim 12 in which the side walls of the canopy, when erected, do not span the distance from the roof to the ground.
14. A portable shelter constructed and arranged substantially as described in relation to Figs. 1-3 or Figs. 4-6 of the accompanying drawings.