GB2418211A - Shelter with seat, convertible into shelter for barbeque - Google Patents

Abstract

A shelter for outdoor use has a back wall (2), side structures (3) and a roof structure (1), with an internal seat (6) which can be moved between a stowed position, making space for a barbeque, and a seating position. The side structures (3) have side panels (10) which are movable between an upright position and a level support position. In the upright position, the panels (10) provide protection to the seating area from the side of the shelter and in the level position they provide a suitable surface for barbeque utensils and equipment. The roof structure (1) is constructed of two upwardly inclined panels joined in an apex and incorporates a ventilation means allowing fumes from a barbeque to escape. This arrangement provides a means by which outdoor cooking can be enjoyed in all weather, whilst still providing an attractive outdoor sheltered seat.

Description

SHELTER FOR OUTDOOR USE

The invention relates to a shelter for outdoor use, particularly, but not exclusively for use in gardens.

Inclement weather restricts outdoor use of barbeques and it is not uncommon for barbeques to be used in garages, carports or sheds.

However, this can detract from the pleasure of outdoor cooking.

An object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor shelter, which can be used with a barbeque without detracting from the pleasure of outdoor cooking.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a shelter for outdoor use having an internal seat and at least one side panel, the seat being movable between a seating position and a stowed position providing space for a barbeque, and the panel being movable between a generally upright sheltering position and a level support position.

With this arrangement the shelter can be used, for example, in the manner of a garden arbour to provide an attractive sheltered seat with the seat in a level position and the side panel in a generally upright position; when required, the seat can be stowed to give space within the shelter for a barbeque and the panel can be moved into a level position to provide support for food, cooking implements or the like.

The shelter may consist of a back wall, two opposing side structures and a roof structure and is preferably open at the front.

The back wall may be constructed from a lower solid section e.g. formed from side by side laths, and an upper openwork section e.g. trellis or lattice.

Alternatively, the back wall may be constructed from a single panel, which may be an openwork or solid panel.

The two side structures of the shelter may be fixed perpendicularly to opposite vertical edges of the back wall. The two side structures may be constructed from a frame consisting of two vertical supports, the top end regions of which may be connected by a top horizontal beam, with an additional connecting lower horizontal beam between bottom end regions of the vertical supports. The frames may be open frames at least partially closable by the (or each) said side panel. Alternatively part, or all of the frame may be closed or closable by any suitable additional structure, for example an additional fixed panel or panels or the like.

Other arrangements are possible. Thus, for example, there may be a plurality of side structures, which may be connected in an angular fashion to create a part-polygon shaped shelter.

The roof structure may comprise two upwardly inclined panels joined at an apex. The panels may rest on the aforesaid top horizontal beams of the two opposing side structures.

The roof structure may include a ventilation means.

Preferably, the ventilation means consists of at least one vent incorporated into at least one of the upwardly inclined panels of the roof structure. The ventilation means may be incorporated into any one of or a combination of the apex of the roof structure, the back wall or the side structures.

Most preferably, the vent takes the form of a gap or gaps along at least part of the apex of the roof structure. This gap is preferably covered.

The cover may comprise an inverted V-shaped cover mounted above the gap or gaps by supports. The supports may take the form of upright struts extending from each of the inclined roof panels in the apex region.

Alternatively, the vent may take the form of a pipe or other suitable structure.

With this arrangement, the ventilation means will allow fumes produced by a barbeque, to escape through the roof structure.

The internal seat is preferably pivotally movable between the stowed and seating positions. Preferably also, the seat is generally upright in the stowed position and level in the seating position. In the seating position the seat may be supported by the aforesaid lower horizontal wooden beams of the opposing side structures. In the stowed position, the seat may rest against the back wall.

The seat may be of the form of an elongate bench particularly of rectangular form made from interconnected side-by-side laths.

Other movable mounting arrangements for the seat are also possible.

Preferably the shelter has an open bottom, particularly between the aforesaid back wall and side structures, whereby a barbeque can stand directly on a ground surface between the back wall and the side structures.

With regard to the aforesaid side panel, this may be movably connected in relation to an open part of the respective aforesaid side structure so that in the generally upright position it covers at least partially, such open part. The side panel may be movable upwards or downwards into the said upright position.

Preferably, the side panel may be pivotally movable between the generally upright and the level positions. This may be achieved by a pivotal connection, particularly to the aforesaid respective side structures, preferably in a central region of the side structure. At least one strut may be provided for holding the side panel in a level position and this may be movably connected to the underside of the side panel and the free end may engage with an aperture provided by the aforesaid lower horizontal beam.

In the level position the side panel preferably projects outwardly of the shelter.

Preferably, there are two side panels, one on each opposing side 1 0 structure.

Preferably, the structure is made wholly or partially of wood, but other materials may also be used.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front view of one form of a shelter in accordance with the invention in a position of use providing space for a barbeque; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the shelter of Figure 1.

As shown in figure 1, a shelter in the form of a wooden garden arbour has a back wall 2, two opposing side structures 3 and a roof structure 1.

The back wall 2 consists of a lower panel 5 and an upper panel 4. In this arrangement, the upper panel 4 may be a trellis.

The two opposing side structure structures 3 may be connected to the back wall 2 at opposite vertical edges. Both of the opposing side structures 3 are constructed as a frame with two vertical supports 7 connected by an upper horizontal beam 8 and a lower horizontal beam 9.

The upper horizontal beam 8 connects the vertical supports 7 at the upper ends. The lower horizontal beam 9 connects the vertical supports 7 at a position near to the bottom of the vertical supports 7, corresponding to a selected seating height X. The side structure frame is open between the vertical supports 7 and the beams 8, 9, except when the side panel 10 as herein described below, is in the generally upright position.

The roof structure 1 is constructed of two upwardly inclined panels joined at an apex so as to provide a gap at least partly along the apex of the roof structure, both of which rest upon and may be connected to the horizontal beams 8 of both opposing side structures 3. An elongate inverted V-shaped cover 1a is mounted on the upright supports 1b, above the gap along the length of the apex.

A seat 6 is pivotally connected at its rear ends, to the respective rear vertical supports 7 of the two opposing side structures 3.

The seat can be pivoted up and down about its pivotal connections between the level and stowed position.

When in the level position, the seat 6 rests generally horizontally upon a surface 12 of both lower horizontal beams 9 of the two opposing side structures 3. When in an upright position, the seat 6 is pivoted into a substantially vertical position to rest against the back wall 2. The seat may be inclined slightly rearwardly and/or a clip may be provided to hold the seat in the stowed position.

Both of the two opposing side structures 3 include a side panel 10.

Each side panel 10 is a rectangular structure, which is pivotally connected at one end, to the vertical supports 7 at a height corresponding to, or greater than the length Y of the side panel 10.

The side panel 10 can be pivoted up and down between a level position at which it extends generally horizontally outwardly away from the side structure and a generally upright position at which it extends between the vertical supports.

At least one strut 11 is movably connected at one end, to the underside of each side panel 10, and a free end of the strut engages with a u- shaped aperture provided by the lower horizontal beam 9. The strut is fixable relative to the panel and beam with the side panel 10 in the horizontal position so as to hold the panel securely in position.

When desired the strut can be released to allow the panel to drop down to the generally upright position. If desired a clip or the like may be provided to hold the panel stowed in this position.

The shelter can be constructed from materials used for garden arbours, such as wood laths, trellis panels etc and can have the attractive appearance of a garden arbour.

With the seat in the level position and the side panels pivoted downwardly, the shelter can be used as a sheltered arbour seat in a conventional manner.

With the seat pivoted upwardly and stowed, a space is defined between the back wall and the side structures in which a barbeque can stand on the ground surface and be sheltered by the arbour roof.

In this position the side panels can be pivoted upwards and held generally horizontally to provide supplementary surfaces for cooking implements and food. The ventilation gap allows the fumes produced by the barbeque to escape through the roof structure whilst the cover prevents rain from interfering with the barbeque. Therefore, the arbour can be used both as an attractive shelter and as a barbeque station.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment, which are described by

way of example only.

For example if desired the gap and cover may be omitted so that there is no gap and/or a pipe or other ventilation may be provided.

Claims (30)

1. A shelter for outdoor use having an internal seat and at least one side panel, the seat being movable between a seating position and a stowed position providing space for a barbeque, and the panel being movable between a generally upright sheltering position and a level support position.

2. A shelter according to claim 1 characterised in that the shelter consists of a back wall, two opposing side structures and a roof structure.

3. A shelter according to claim 1 characterised in that the shelter consists of a back wall, a plurality of side structures, which are connected in an angular fashion and a roof structure to create a partpolygon shaped shelter.

4. A shelter according to claim 2 or 3 characterised in that the shelter is open at the front.

5. A shelter according to any one of claims 2-4 characterised in that the back wall is constructed from a lower solid section and an upper openwork section.

6. A shelter according to any one of claims 2-4 characterised in that the back wall is constructed from a single panel.

7. A shelter according to any one of claims 4-6 characterised in that the two side structures of the shelter are fixed perpendicularly to opposite vertical edges of the back wall.

8. A shelter according to any one of claims 2-7 characterised in that the side structures are constructed from a frame consisting of two vertical supports, the top end regions of which are connected by a top horizontal beam, with an additional connecting lower horizontal beam between bottom end regions of the vertical supports.

9. A shelter according to claim 8 characterised in that the frames of the side structures are open frames at least partially closable by the (or each) said side panel.

10. A shelter according to claim 8 or 9 characterised in that at least part of the frame is closed by an additional fixed panel.

11. A shelter according to any one of claims 2-10 characterised in that the roof structure comprises two upwardly inclined panels joined at an apex.

12. A shelter according to claim 1 1 when dependent on claim 8 characterised in that the panels rest on the top horizontal beams of the side structures.

13. A shelter according to any one of claims 2-12 characterised in that the roof structure includes a ventilation means.

14. A shelter according to claim 13 characterised in that the ventilation means consists of at least one vent incorporated into the roof structure.

15. A shelter according to claim 14 characterised in that the vent takes the form of a gap or gaps between the roof structure panels along at least part of the apex.

16. A shelter according to claim 15 characterised in that a cover is mounted above the gap or gaps.

17. A shelter according to any one of claims 1-16 characterised in that -1 o- the internal seat is pivotally movable between the stowed and seating positions.

18. A shelter according to any one of claims 1-17 characterised in that the seat is generally upright in the stowed position and level in the seating position.

19. A shelter according to any one of claim 8-18 characterised in that in the seating position the seat is supported by the aforesaid lower horizontal wooden beams of the side structures.

20. A shelter according to any one of claims 2-19 characterised in that in the stowed position, the seat rests against the back wall.

21. A shelter according to any one of claims 1-20 characterised in that the seat is of the form of an elongate bench of rectangular form made from interconnected side-by-side laths.

22. A shelter according to any one of claims 1-21 characterised in that the shelter has an open bottom whereby a barbeque can stand directly on a ground surface between the back wall and the side structures.

23. A shelter according to claim 2 or 3 or any claim dependent thereon characterised in that the side panel is movably connected in relation to an open part of the respective aforesaid side structure so that in the generally upright position it covers at least partially such open part.

24. A shelter according to any one of claims 1-23, characterised in that the side panel is movable upwards or downwards into the said upright position.

25. A shelter according to claim 2 or 3 or any claim dependent thereon characterized in that the side panel is pivotally movable between the generally upright and the level positions achieved by a pivotal connection to the aforesaid respective side structures, in a central region of the side structure.

26. A shelter according to any one of claims 1-25 characterized in that at least one strut is provided for holding the side panel in a level position.

27. A shelter according to any one of claims 1-26 characterized in that in the level position the side panel projects outwardly of the shelter.

28. A shelter according to claim 2 or 3 or any claim dependent thereon characterized in that there are two side panels, one on each opposing side structure.

29. A shelter according to any one of claims 1-28 characterized in that it is made wholly or partially of wood.

30. A shelter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.