GB2468795A

GB2468795A - A ground anchor arrangement for use with an expandable canopy

Info

Publication number: GB2468795A
Application number: GB1008783A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Finck; Christopher John Davies; Andro Segers
Original assignee: Belron Hungary Kft Zug Branch
Current assignee: Belron Hungary Kft Zug Branch
Priority date: 2005-09-16
Filing date: 2005-09-16
Publication date: 2010-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 2025-09-16
Also published as: WO2007031768A2; GB0519031D0; GB201008783D0; WO2007031768A3; GB2430207B; US20090301537A1; EP1937916A2; GB2468795B; GB2430207A

Abstract

The anchor arrangement 11 for use in combination with a canopy having a support frame, and configured to be weighted down by means of an item placed underneath the canopy, the arrangement comprises a docking part for securing or retaining portions of the canopy frame in a releasable fashion. The frame is preferably reconfigurable between collapsed and expanded configurations and may include support posts 2 and side rails 12, 13. The item may be placed onto detachable ground engaging platform elements 22 to enable the anchoring. The elements can be configured into a number of positions, for example varying the width between elements. Movement of the frame is prevented when the docking part is engaged with wheels, which preferably have brakes, on the support posts. Also claimed are a canopy structure arrangement and a method for anchoring the canopy by driving a vehicle underneath the canopy to weigh down the ground anchor.

Description

Canopy and Ground Anchor Structure The present invention relates to a canopy and ground anchor structure therefor.

Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a canopy and ground anchor structure that may be conveniently and quickly erected by a single person and potentially used in relation to vehicle repairs such as windscreen replacement or repair.

Canopy structures are known for use as shelters for domestic or other uses. Often such canopy structures are re-configurable from a collapsed, stowed configuration, to an expanded configuration providing the maximum extent of coverage when in use. Examples of such expandible canopy structures are disclosed in for example LJS2004/0084074, U52005/0097829 and US -B-6206020. These structures although convenient and useful when erected, are difficult to erect, particularly for one person alone.

An improved arrangement has now been devised.

According to the present invention there is provided a ground anchor for use in combination with a canopy having a support frame, as defined by the accompanying claims. In addition, there is also provided according to the present invention a canopy structure and a method for anchoring the same, as defined by the accompanying claims.

A canopy structure arrangement includes: a support frame re-configurable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration; and, expansion support means to support the frame as it is manually expanded from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration.

It is preferred that the support means comprises one or more tethers secured to the frame. The one or more tethers, when secured act to inhibit contraction to the collapsed configuration. The one or more tethers are preferably detachable from the frame at one or more preferably both ends.

The one or more tethers are preferably extendible, most preferably being resilient. Elasticated bungee tethers have been shown to be effective in this respect.

It is preferred that the one or more tethers are stretched between spaced portions of the frame to exert a biassing force tending to expand the frame or inhibit contraction to the collapsed configuration.

Typically the support frame includes a scissor type linkage arrangement which is articulated to permit re-configuration between the collapsed and expanded configurations. The tethers are beneficially stretched between spaced portions of the scissors linkage frame to exert a biassing force tending to expand the frame.

Desirably the structure is mounted on rotatable support members. This makes one person erection of the canopy support frame a significantly easier task, particularly in combination with use of the expansion support means, by way of the tethers or otherwise. It is preferred that the rotatable support members are provided with selectively actuatable brake means.

This ensures that following erection the canopy does not move easily of its own accord under the influence of gravity on a slope or wind action. -3..

Typically, the canopy support frame includes elongate support posts extending upwardly from the ground. Desirably the support posts are extendible, and may for example be telescopic.

A ground anchor arrangement is provided to anchor the canopy support frame. Desirably the ground anchor arrangement is configured to be weighted down by means of an item positioned under the canopy. In certain embodiments the invention is particularly suited for use as a shelter to permit vehicle repairs to be conducted. In such embodiments the ground anchor arrangement is configured to be weighted down by means of a vehicle positioned under the canopy.

The ground anchor arrangement includes docking means for securing or retaining in a releaseable fashion, one or more portions of the canopy support frame. The docking means preferably retains the upwardly extending support posts of the canopy support frame.

Beneficially, the ground anchor arrangement includes a ground frame having a pair of spaced elongate side frame rails arranged to rest on the ground, and a transverse connection extending between the side frame rails.

The ground frame is preferably provided with one or more ground engaging platform elements enabling anchoring of the arrangement. Where the arrangement is secured by means of the weight of a vehicle, the vehicle wheels preferably rest on the platforms, thereby anchoring the ground frame and the connected canopy support frame.

The one or more platform elements are beneficially detachable from the frame to be repositionable with respect to the ground frame. The platform elements and the ground frame are desirably provided with respective complementary engaging formations arranged to permit engagement of the or each platform element in a plurality of different positions. It is preferred that the position of the platform element across the width space between opposed side frame rails can be varied.

This enables vehicles with different wheel spacing distances to be used to anchor the arrangement.

According to an embodiment of the invention there is provided a ground anchor arrangement for use in combination with a canopy having a support frame, the ground anchor being configured to be weighted down by means of an item (particularly a vehicle) positioned under the canopy. The arrangement includes docking means for securing or retaining in a releaseable fashion, one or more portions of the canopy support frame.

Other preferred features of the ground anchor arrangement are as defined in relation to the first aspect of the invention, and also as elucidated with respect to the embodiment described in relation to the drawings.

According to a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of anchoring a canopy, the method comprising setting a ground anchor arrangement in place connected to a support frame of the canopy; and moving a vehicle into position below the canopy to weigh down the ground anchor.

In accordance with the various aspects of the invention, a canopy is provided that is easily erected from a collapsed state even by one person alone. Also an ingenious anchor arrangement may be utilised to enable an item (such as a vehicle) positioned beneath the canopy to weigh down the anchor and canopy.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a schematic view of a canopy structure in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view from above of a ground anchor structure in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 is a detail view of the ground anchor anchoring the structure; Figure 4 is a schematic view showing a part of the support frame of the canopy structure in a relatively collapsed configuration: and, Figure 5 is a schematic view showing the part of the support frame of figure 4 in a relatively expanded configuration.

Collapsible canopy structures are disclosed in for example US2004/0084074, US2005/0097829 and US -E-6206020. The canopy 1 of the present invention may be similarly constructed in that it comprises a support frame having four telescopic corner posts 2 (only one is shown in figure 1) and an upper scissor frame linkage 3 in the region of the roof area 4. A fabric cover 5 extends over the roof area frame 3. Various arrangements of scissor frame linkage may be used depending upon the precise design and this is not particularly important to the present invention, other than that scissor type linkages provide a convenient means of realising an expandible linkage frame structure.

The canopy 1 is provided with jockey wheels 6 mounted at the respective ground ends of the support posts 2. The wheels are pivotable about the longitudinal axis of the support posts (arrow A) to aid manouverability. The wheels are provided with a manually actuatable brake 7 to lock the wheels against rotation and also pivotal movement about the support posts 2.

In use an operative needs to erect the canopy from a stowed state to an erected state with the canopy extending over its maximum area. This has been difficult to achieve for a single person with known designs.

In order to facilitate erection of the canopy, a plurality of resilient and expandible bungee tethers 9 are connected to the scissor linkage mechanism 3. When not in use the bungee tethers may either be completely removed or may simply remain attached to the frame at one end and be allowed to dangle freely. The bungee tethers therefore need to be detachable from the frame at least one of their ends. The support frame is manually opened from the totally collapsed sate to a slightly expanded state and the bungee tethers stretched to extend in tension between 2 adjacent apexes of the scissors linkage as shown in figure 4. In this configuration the bungees are acting to inhibit the scissors mechanism 3 of the support frame from returning to the collapsed state and indeed will act against mechanical friction and stiffness to tend to bias the frame to the expanded configuration. By means of an operative shaking on a support post 2 it has been found that under the influence of the bungee tethers, the frame expands on the wheels 6 towards maximum expanded state. The technique may be fine tuned to use bungee tethers of shorter length as the support frame expands towards maximum extent. Alternatively non resilient tether straps may be used in a similar manner and tightened incrementally to cause the frame to expand on the wheels 6 toward its maximum expanded state.

The expanded canopy may wheeled to a desired location and then the wheels may be locked in position by means of the brake 7.

The canopy 1 may be used in conjunction with a ground anchor arrangement 11 in order to enable the canopy to be secured by means of the weight of an item positioned below the canopy.

In a specifically envisaged application the canopy may be used to shelter a vehicle during a repair procedure(such as windscreen replacement or repair) The ground anchor arrangement 11 comprises a ground frame having a pair of elongate side rails 12, 13, each assembled in three sections and secured using spring loaded lugs 14. A pair of transverse frame elements 15, 16 extend between the centre section of the side rails 12,13. The transverse frame elements include a central upright spine 17 and flanges 18, 19 extending outwardly from the spine 17. The flanges 18, 19 carry a series of spaced lugs 20. The lugs 20 serve to locate in position resting on the flanges 18,19 respective platform boards 22.

The platform boards 22 are of a width to fit between spaced logs 20, and include respective lug receiving slots 21. The platform boards may be removed from the ground frame and repositioned as required. In use a vehicle is driven into position so that a vehicle wheel rests on the platform board 22. In this way the anchor arrangement is secured weighed down by the vehicle.

The canopy 1 is wheeled into position such that the wheels are positioned adjacently outside the side rails 12, 13. The relative spacing of the support posts 2 and side rails 12,13 is therefore important. By virtue of the wheels being outside the slide rails 12, 13 it is ensured that the canopy does not accidentally bump into the vehicle when positioning or moving the canopy. The side rails 12 13 include docking stations 27 at either end for docking with the support posts 2 of the canopy support frame. The docking stations 27 comprise crook or hook elements 28 supported at a level above the upper rim of the wheel 6 of the support post 2. When the post 2 is suitably docked (and the wheel brake applied), the post cannot wheel out of the docking station, and the post is also anchored to the ground anchor 11 because the wheel 6 assembly cannot pass upwardly out of the docking station crook element 28.

The invention provides a convenient canopy structure that is readily extend from a collapsed state even by a single person.

The ground anchor enables the canopy to be conveniently anchored, particularly by means of the weight of an item resting under the canopy.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A ground anchor arrangement for use in combination with a canopy having a support frame, the ground anchor being configured to be weighted down by means of an item positioned under the canopy, and including docking means for securing or retaining in a releaseable fashion, one or more portions of the canopy support frame.
2. A ground anchor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the canopy support frame includes elongate support posts extending upwardly from the ground, the docking means retaining the support posts.
3. A ground anchor arrangement according to any of claims 1 or 2, including a ground frame having a pair of spaced elongate side frame rails arranged to rest on the ground, and a transverse connection extending between the side frame rails.
4. A ground anchor a'rangement according to claim 3, wherein the ground frame is provided with one or more ground engaging platform elements enabling anchoring of the arrangement.
5. A ground anchor arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the one or more platform elements are detachable from the ground frame to be repositionable with respect to the ground frame.
6. A ground anchor arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the platform elements and the ground frame are provided with respective complementary engaging formations arranged to permit engagement of the or each platform element in a plurality of different positions.
7. A ground anchor arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the position of the platform element across the width space between opposed side frame rails can be varied.
8. A ground anchor arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the side frame rails are provided with docking means for securing or retaining ground engaging support posts of the canopy support frame such that the support posts engage the ground when so secured.
9. A ground anchor arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the docking means for securing and retaining the ground engaging support posts of the canopy support frame comprise respective hook frame elements.
10. A canopy structure arrangement including: a canopy; a canopy support frame; and a ground anchor according to any preceding claim.
11. A canopy structure according to claim 10, wherein the support frame includes ground engaging support posts.
12. A canopy structure according to claim 11 wherein the support posts include ground engaging rotatable support members.
13. A canopy according to claim 12, wherein the docking means of the ground anchor is configured such that when the support frame is received by the docking means upward movement of the support frame is prevented by engagement between the docking means and the rotatable support means.
14. A canopy according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the docking means of the ground anchor is configured such that when the support frame is received by the docking means lateral rolling movement of the support frame on the rotatable support means is prevented.
15. A canopy structure according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the rotatable support members are provided with selectively actuatable brake means.
16. A canopy structure according to any one of claims 12 to wherein the support frame is re-configurable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.
17. A canopy structure according to claim 16 wherein the support frame includes expansion support means to support the frame as it is manually expanded from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration.
18. A canopy structure according to claim 16, wherein the support means comprises one or more tethers secured to the frame.
19. A canopy structure according to claim 18, wherein the one or more tethers are detachable from the frame at one or both ends.
20. A canopy structure according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the one or more tethers are extendible.21. A canopy structure according to claim 20, wherein the one or more tethers are stretched between spaced portions of the frame to exert a biassing force tending to expand the frame or inhibit contraction to the collapsed configuration.
21. A canopy structure according to any one of claims 12 to 20, wherein the support frame includes a scissor type linkage arrangement which is articulated to permit re-configuration between the collapsed and expanded configurations.
22. A method of anchoring a canopy, the method comprising: setting a ground anchor arrangement in place; erecting the canopy; connecting a support frame of the canopy ot the ground anchor; and moving a vehicle into position below the canopy such that the vehicle is located on a portion of the ground anchor to weigh down the ground anchor.