GB2476052A

GB2476052A - A collapsible car garage tent

Info

Publication number: GB2476052A
Application number: GB0921498A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shane Egan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-12-08
Filing date: 2009-12-08
Publication date: 2011-06-15
Also published as: GB0921498D0

Abstract

An apparatus for storing a car is disclosed, comprising a base beam102for inserting into a storage trough, a lid beam104for closing over said trough, at least one hinge103connecting said base beam and said lid beam, a fabric cover108connected to said base beam and said lid beam and at least one truss bar106for supporting said cover. The apparatus fits substantially underground in said trough when collapsed. The apparatus has a flexible fabric cover with aramid or Kevlar, which is supported on the framework formed by the base and lid beams and truss bars and which folds away by a pram hood action. The lid beam may have a handle119and a cross bar110may be provided.

Description

Patent Application of Shane Egan for Retractable garage which stores underground

Background of the Invention

[1] The present invention relates to temporary car storage, and in particular to retractable or folding garages.

[2] Folding garages comprising flexible material are known in the art. For example, JP 11270169 to Shinohara discloses a garage comprising nylon canvas, to protect a vehicle from wind and rain. The garage comprises inverted U-shaped frame pieces made of aluminium or other strong and rigid material, connected via a sheet-like exterior cover constructed from nylon canvas. A front end part is fixed to a structure such as a house, gate or fence, upon which the sheet-like cover is mounted. The frame pieces are connected at intervals to the sheet-like cover. The strength of the structure may be improved by providing ribs on the center part of the garage. Preferably, two nylon canvas sheets are provided, with the frame pieces inserted between them.

[3] Furthermore, CN 2170344 to Jian discloses a light folding car garage. The apparatus comprises a fixed foot, a tarpaulin frame, a tarpaulin, a longitudinal support bar and a transverse support bar. Each part of the car garage is movably connected such that it is easy to fold. The tarpaulin frame and support bars are all manufactured from hard plastic or metal materials. The tarpaulin is manufactured from thermal insulation waterproofing rain proofing materials. The car garage may be a multiplicity of sizes and shapes to fit a multiplicity of car models. The car garage provides protection against sun, rain, snow, frost and dust, protects the car body surface, and has the advantages of being portable, inexpensive, firm and stable.

[4] It is also known in the art to have a retractable garage which is stored underground when not in use. For example, ON 2538909 to Li discloses a concealable folding garage which is stored underground. The invention comprises a hemispherical front and rear wall, a roller roof, and a transmission mechanism. The hemispherical front and rear walls are divided into segments, the segments opening into a fan shape and closing to lie one behind the other. The roof comprises a roller shutter gate type roof having its roller running underground between a far edge of the front wall and the corresponding far edge of the rear wall. The transmission mechanism may comprise a worm and worm gear, or a wheel and chain mechanism, which is mounted to the front and rear walls and roof such that it automatically retracts the roof and folds the walls. Preferably, a segment-shaped underground hollow contains the walls underground when not in use.

Brief Summary of the Invention

[5] It can be seen from the forgoing that a need has arisen for garages which retract to occupy little or no space when not in use. It would be advantageous to have such a garage which was easier to install than the prior art and required less underground space to be prepared for its storage. It would be further advantageous for the garage to comprise strong material for the protection of the car.

[6] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a car garage capable of being stored in a minimal amount of underground space, which is strong and provides protection to the car.

[71! To this end, an apparatus for storing a car is disclosed, comprising: a base beam for inserting into a storage trough; a lid beam for closing over said trough; at least one hinge connecting said base beam and said lid beam; a cover connected to said base beam and said lid beam; and at least one truss bar for supporting said cover; whereby the apparatus fits substantially underground in said trough.

[8] An advantage of the present invention is that it is easy to install, since a minimal amount of underground space is required to store it, at a relatively shallow depth. A further advantage of the invention is that the use of Keviar ensures good protection to the car since it cannot be easily penetrated.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawing [9] The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings, in which: [10] Figure 1 shows the garage of the present invention in use.

[11] Figure 2 shows the underside of the garage in use.

[12] Figure 3 shows the garage of the present invention in storage.

[13] Figure 3 shows the underside of the garage in storage.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[14] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 1-4 wherein like numerals refer to like components, an apparatus for storing a car is disclosed, comprising: a base beam 102 for inserting into a storage trough; a lid beam 104 for closing over said trough; at least one hinge 103 connecting said base beam and said lid beam; a cover 108 connected to said base beam and said lid beam; and at least one truss bar 106 for supporting said cover; whereby the apparatus fits substantially underground in said trough.

[15] The base beam is preferably shaped as shown in the figures, and preferably is manufactured from steel. The base beam provides an anchor in the ground for all the other components to be attached to. The base beam may be cemented, glued, or otherwise attached to the ground or trough, or may be held in place by gravity.

[16] The storage trough is preferably substantially U-shaped, and may be a substantially square U-shape to mirror the folded shape of the garage as shown in the figures, since this is a shape which, when erected, efficiently covers a car with minimal use of materials. The trough is the preferably the minimal size required to store the folded garage as shown in Figures 3 and 4. It should be noted that the trough is not an integral part of the invention but rather the void space required to be formed in the ground, into which the apparatus of the invention is stored. However, the apparatus may be supplied with a trough-shaped component such as a trough liner comprising steel, aluminium, plastic or other material, for protecting the apparatus in storage from water seepage and other damage.

[17] The lid beam is preferably shaped as shown in the figures and preferably comprises steel. The side of the lid beam which is uppermost when the garage is stored underground is preferably substantially flat, to provide a flat ground surface for walking on and preventing tripping, etc. Preferably, the beam is treated with paint to provide a weatherproof finish.

Alternatively, the beam may be treated by other means known in the art to provide a weatherproof finish, or may comprise weatherproof materials such as engineering polymers.

[181 The lid beam may comprise a handle 115 which may be any handle known in the art although preferably it comprises a hollow and does not protrude from the profile of the lid beam to enable the lid to provide a flat surface when the garage is folded.

Several handles may be provided at different locations to facilitate opening on either side. The handle may protrude slightly to enable a user to lift the apparatus. An advantage of having a handle is that it facilitates erecting and folding the garage.

[19] The approximate internal dimensions of the garage when erected are: 4.8m long, 2.7m wide and 2.3m high. Thus the lid beam and base beam preferably have an internal width of 2.7m and an internal height of 2.4m, although other dimensions may be used to fit particular types of car or other vehicles.

[20] The truss bars preferably comprise aluminium tubes, since this is a lightweight material which will facilitate lifting of the product. Alternatively other materials may be used. The trusses provide shape and structure to the apparatus by supporting the flexible cover. Preferably there are five trusses as shown in the figures, although there may be more or less. An advantage of having five is that it is the least number of trusses which can support the cover in such a shape that it does not come into contact with a car inside the apparatus. The truss bars preferably comprise similar dimensions to the lid and base beams, in order for the structure to fold neatly into a compact space. In particular, the truss beams are preferably 2.7m wide and 2.3m high internally.

[21] The apparatus may further comprise a cross bar 110 comprising steel, to further support the garage. The cross bar is preferably disposed in the centre of the garage when in use, since in this position it will provide the most support. The cross bar is preferably painted or otherwise surface treated to provide weather protection. The cross bar is preferably hinged in the same location as the beams and trusses.

[22] The cross bar may comprise a handle 116 which may be any handle known in the art although preferably it comprises a hollow and does not protrude from the width of the cross bar to enable more compact folding. An advantage of having a handle is that it facilitates erecting and folding the garage.

[23] The at least one hinge is preferably two hinges 103, one at each end of the base and lid beams, pivotably joining the ends of the beams. Preferably, the truss bars are also connected to the hinge, such that the entire structure can be lifted into place by moving a single hinge. Each hinge preferably comprises a steel bracket 112 pivotably mounted on an axle 113, the bracket being mounted to the beams and truss bars. The hinge may further comprise nylon plastic connector lugs 117 pivotably mounted to the axle, for locating the ends of the truss bars therein.

Alternatively other hinges and materials may be used.

[24] Preferably, the beams and truss bars, and cross bar if present, are staggered on the axle of the hinge, such that the apparatus can fold flat for storage, with the beams and trusses lying concentrically rather than on top of each other. It should be noted that, to enable this, consecutive beams and trusses must have slightly different dimensions, that is, those which are connected on the outer sides of the hinges are slightly larger than those connected on the inner sides of the hinges. This can be readily seen in Figures 2 and 4.

[25] The cover is a flexible sheet material cover which can easily flex to fold into the trough when the beams are moved, and stretches over the beams and trusses, following their shape.

Preferably, the cover is manufactured from Kevlar, since this is a flexible sheet material which is extremely strong, as well as slash proof. An advantage of this is that it will protect the car from impact damage, as well as from sun, rain, frost, wind, dirt and the like. Alternatively, fabrics known in the art such as tarpaulin and canvas may be used. An advantage of using flexible sheet material is that the apparatus folds extremely flat for storage.

[26] The cover is preferably attached to the beams and trusses via fabric loops, which are stitched to the cover and threaded through the beams and trusses. This is known in the art for tents and the like. Alternatively the cover may be stitched, glued, nailed or otherwise attached to the beams and truss bars by any means known in the art.

[27] Preferably, the apparatus further comprises an aperture 119 on the lid beam. The aperture is sized to admit a padlock eye 114 screwed or otherwise attached to the ground at the location where the eye meets the ground when the garage is in use.

Preferably the eye folds flat when not in use to avoid being a tripping hazard. The eye can be fed through the aperture as the garage is erected, and a padlock can be used to lock the garage in place.

Claims

Claims 1. An apparatus for storing a car comprising: a base beam for inserting into a storage trough; a lid beam for closing over said trough; at least one hinge connecting said base beam and said lid beam; a cover connected to said base beam and said lid beam; at least one truss bar for supporting said cover; whereby the apparatus fits substantially underground in said trough.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus fits in a substantially U shaped storage trough having two ends; wherein said at least one hinge comprises a hinge at each said end.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cover comprises flexible sheet material, whereby the apparatus occupies minimal underground depth in storage.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cover comprises Keviar whereby the car is protected against impact damage.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a trough liner.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a locking bar.B