US20030213513A1

US20030213513A1 - Expandable framework structure for a canopy

Info

Publication number: US20030213513A1
Application number: US10/147,310
Authority: US
Inventors: Steen Eriksen; Stig Gamborg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-05-17
Filing date: 2002-05-17
Publication date: 2003-11-20

Abstract

A framework structure adapted to be folded and stored in a collapsed state and erected in an expanded state on a support surface. The framework structure includes a support structure consisting of a number of legs, each having a firm upper mount with at least one pivot and a slidable lower mount with at least one other pivot, a peripheral structure of a number of scissors each having four rods connected in pairs between their ends by pivots and further connected in pairs at upper and lower end parts by upper and lower pivots, respectively, and a central structure having rods connected with the scissors at one or more of the pivot connections of the scissor rods. The upper and lower free end parts of the rods of each scissor are formed with a bore each engaging a pivot of the upper or lower mounts of a leg, respectively, whereby the pivot is attached to the mount with means having a clearance to the rod and the rod end part is axially fixed to the pivot. The framework structure is very suitable for canopies where the cylindrical contact surfaces between the scissor rod ends and the associated pivots ensure against lateral and torsional deflection of the scissors when the canopy is loaded by e.g. wind or snow.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention generally relates to improvements in framework structures which are adapted to be folded and stored in a collapsed state and erected in an expanded state on a support surface and also to a method for assembling this framework.

More specifically, the invention is related to improvements in a framework structure comprising a support structure consisting of a number of legs, each having a firm upper mount with at least one pivot and a slidable lower mount with at least one other pivot, the pivots being adapted for pivotally connecting an end part of a rod of the frame work structure, a peripheral structure consisting of a number of scissors, each having at least four rods connected in pairs between their ends by pivots and further connected in pairs at upper and lower end parts by upper and lower pivots, respectively, and a central structure having a post assembly with an upper and lower mount, each having at least one pivot adapted for pivotally connecting an end part of a rod of the frame work structure.

Still more specifically, the invention is related to improvements in a framework structure comprising a support structure consisting of a number of legs, each having a firm upper mount with at least one pivot and a slidable lower mount with at least one other pivot, a peripheral structure consisting of a number of scissors having each four rods connected in pairs between their ends by pivots and further connected in pairs at upper and lower end parts by upper and lower pivots, respectively, and a central structure having rods connected with the scissors at one or more of the pivot connections of the scissor rods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A framework structure of the kind named above is employed to a great extent for supporting a fabric covering, thereby forming a canopy for protecting against wind and rain.

The load from e.g. the wind is transmitted to the framework structure and among other things the central structure of this, whereby the rods of the central structure connected with the scissors are acting on these with lateral and torsional forces.

The mounts and the pivots therefore need to be formed in such a way that the scissor rods are not deflected or twisted.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,356 describes a canopy with an expandable framework structure. Each mount is formed with sockets for receiving an end part of a scissor rod. A fastening pin, inserted through flushing bores of the rod and the socket, forms the pivot. The socket has side walls forming planar contact surfaces with the end part of the scissor rod, which furthermore is sized for tight engagement with the contact surfaces, thereby restraining and resisting lateral and torsional deflections of the scissor rod.

At the beginning, where such tight engagement exists between the planar contact surfaces of the socket and the end part of the scissor rod, this mount assembling functions as wanted. But after folding and expanding the framework structure a number of times, the construction will be worn, whereby the tight engagement between the planar contact surfaces is replaced by edge contacts between the two parts leading to heavy wear of the mount assembly which now no more is able to secure the scissor rods against being deflected and/or twisted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention now provides an expandable framework structure for e.g. a canopy, which has a simple and reliable construction.

This expandable framework structure includes mounts with pivots for pivotally connecting end parts of at least some of the rods forming the structure, such that the connections continuously are able to at least substantially ensure that the rods are not deflected or twisted when the frame work structure is loaded.

The invention also provides a simple and reliable assembling of rod ends and pivots for using in an expandable framework structure.

In addition, the invention provides pivotal connections between the scissor rod ends and the legs of a framework structure, which continuously are able to at least substantially ensure that the scissor rods are not deflected or twisted when the frame work structure is loaded.

Still further, the invention provides a simple and reliable method for pivotally connecting end parts of at least some of the rods forming the expandable framework structure.

According to the invention the end parts of at least some of the rods forming the expandable framework structure are formed with a bore engaging a pivot attached to a mount with means having a clearance to the rod end part, which is axially fixed to the pivot thereby forming a simple and reliable pivotal connection between the two parts where the pivot of each mount forms one of the two contact surfaces while the bore in the rod end part forms the other contact surface.

As the contact surfaces are cylindrical instead of being planar as in the construction of the above cited U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,356, a solid and reliable bearing is formed for pivotally attaching the rod end part to the pivot of the mount and at the same time continuously ensuring that the rod is not deflected when the framework structure is loaded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which: [0016]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a framework structure according to the invention used for a canopy, [0017]
FIG. 2 is a side view of a first embodiment of a mount with a pivot for pivotally connecting a leg of the frame structure shown in FIG. 1 with an associated rod by means of an adapter, [0018]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a first stage of assembling the adapter and the pivot of FIG. 2, [0019]
FIG. 4 shows the same in another assembling stage, [0020]
FIG. 5 shows the same in a third assembling stage, [0021]
FIG. 6 shows the adapter and pivot in assembled condition, [0022]
FIG. 7 shows the adapter assembled with the associated rod, [0023]
FIG. 8 is a side view of a second embodiment of a mount with a pivot for pivotally connecting a leg of the frame structure shown in FIG. 1 with an associated rod by means of an adapter, [0024]
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a first stage of assembling the adapter and the pivot of FIG. 8, [0025]
FIG. 10 shows the adapter and pivot in assembled condition, [0026]
FIG. 11 shows the same but with the associated scissor rod ready to be assembled with the adapter, and [0027]
FIG. 12 shows the adapter assembled with the associated rod,[0028]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, where the frame work structure comprises scissors and legs for supporting the structure, the upper and lower free end parts of the rods of each scissor are formed with a bore each engaging a pivot of the upper or lower mounts of a leg, respectively, whereby the pivot is attached to the mount with means having a clearance to the rod and therod is axially fixed to the pivot. [0029]
When loading the framework structure, the scissors are acted upon by forces having lateral and/or torsional components trying to deflect and twist the rods of the scissors. This problem is at least substantially overcome by the above named construction of the pivots and the scissor end parts, especially when the bore of the end part of a scissor rod is engaging the associated pivot of a mount of a leg with a tight fit. [0030]
A pivot of a mount can advantageously be part of a U-formed clamp attached to or formed integrally with the mount. [0031]
The rod can in this case be a pipe furnished with an elastic adapter which is longitudinally slit into two halves connected at an area opposite the mount and is formed with the bore for the pivot. [0032]
This construction enables the adapter to be opened such that the pivot is allowed to be placed in the bore of the adapter, which then is inserted in the opening of the hollow rod and secured by means of a fastener pin in this position. [0033]
For keeping the adapter in the correct axial position on the pivot, this can be formed with an annular slot while there in the bore of the adapter is formed a key engaging the slot. [0034]
In another embodiment, the pivot can be part of an L-formed hook attached to or formed integrally with the mount. The end part of a rod can easily be placed on such pivot. [0035]
In this case, the rod can be furnished with an adapter formed with a key in the bore for engaging an annular slot in the pivot for fixing the axial position on the pivot of the rod end part. [0036]
The axial position can also be secured by means of circlips which, on either side of the end part of the scissor rod, engage annular slots formed complementarily in the pivot. [0037]
FIG. 1 shows the [0038] framework structure 1 of a canopy having an only partly shown fabric covering 2, which in the figure is shown with a dash-dot line. The framework structure 1 consists mainly of a support structure 3, a peripheral structure 4 and a central structure 5.
The [0039] support structure 1 consists of four telescoping legs 6 each having a firm upper mount 7 and a sliding lower mount 8.
The peripheral structure consists of four [0040] scissors 9 each having four rods 10, which are connected in pairs between their ends by pivots 11 and further connected in pairs at upper and lower end parts by upper and lower pivots 12 and 13.
The free [0041] upper end part 14 at each side of each scissor 9 is pivotally connected with a firm upper mount 7, while the free lower end part 15 at each side of each scissor is pivotally connected with a lower mount 8 placed slidably on the associated leg 6.
The [0042] central structure 5 comprises a known top post assembly 16 from which central rods 17 extend to and are pivotally connected with the lower scissor end parts at the lower pivot 13 of these.
From the [0043] central rods 17, other central rods 18 extend to and are pivotally connected with the upper scissor end parts at the upper pivot 12 of these.
When loading the framework structure, the two [0044] central rods 17 and 18 are acting on the associated scissor with forces each having a lateral component trying to impart the scissor rods with lateral and torsional deflections.
This problem is more or less eliminated by means of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 2 showing, as an example, the [0045] lower mount 8 slidably placed on the leg 6.
The shown mount has two pivots, each pivotally connecting an scissor rod end. The right one—seen in the figure—is seen from the side, while the left one is seen in a cross-section taken through the associated pivot. [0046]
In this case the free lower [0047] scissor end part 15 is furnished with an adapter 19 of an elastic material such as an appropriate plastic.
The adapter has a [0048] head 20 with a bore 21 and a neck 22 for inserting in the pipe-formed end part 15 of the associated scissor rod 10. The neck is fixed in the pipe-formed end part by means of a fastener such as a pin or screw 23.
A longitudinal slit or [0049] notch 24 extends from the bore 21 to the end face of the neck 22 splitting this part of the adapter into two halves 25 and 26. This notch or slit can be curved or preferably can be configured in the shape of a V.
The [0050] head 19 of the adapter is moreover formed with a notch 27, which extends from the bore, which furthermore is formed with two keys 28 fitted into an annular slot 29 formed in each of the two pivots 30 on the mount 8, thereby axially securing the adapter in relation to the pivot.
The [0051] pivot 30 forms part of a U-formed clamp 31 having two legs 32 and 33 which are attached to the mount 8 or are formed integrally with this. The adapter is placed on the pivot with a relatively tight fit and a clearance to both the legs of the U-formed clamp, thereby ensuring that all forces acting on the associated scissor rod are exclusively transmitted from the cylindrical contact surface of the bore of the adapter to the cylindrical contact surface of the pivot part of the clamp.
Such assembling with cylindrical contact surfaces is not inclined to be worn out, as is the case when the assembling has planar contact surfaces. Therefore, the assembling of the invention is continuously able to at least substantially ensuring that the scissor rods are not deflected or twisted. [0052]
FIGS. [0053] 3-7 show in successive operation stages how the construction shown in FIG. 2 is assembled.
In FIG. 3, the opened [0054] adapter 19 is being pulled over the pivot 30 with its two halves 25 and 26 placed on either side of the pivot. The adapter is easily allowed to be opened because it is made of an elastic material, as e.g. a suitable plastic, and is formed with the notch 27 extending from the bore 21.
In FIG. 4, the [0055] bore 21 of the adapter 19 has reached the pivot 30.
In FIG. 5, the [0056] adapter 19 is being turned around the pivot 30.
In FIG. 6, the [0057] adapter 19 has been closed. A scissor rod 10 in form of a pipe is ready for being assembled with the adapter.
In FIG. 7, the [0058] adapter neck 22 is inserted into the hollow rod end part 15. A screw 23 for fixing the neck in position in the rod end part is being inserted into flushing bores 34 and 35 in the rod end part 15 and adapter neck 22, respectively.
FIG. 8 shows another embodiment for a pivotal assembling of a rod end part and a pivot on a mount of a framework structure. This embodiment corresponds to the embodiment described above and shown in FIGS. [0059] 2-7. The same reference numbers are therefore used for similar parts.
The [0060] pivot 36 forms part of an L-formed hook 37 attached to or formed integrally with the mount 8. The adapter 38 has a head 39 with a bore 40 for engaging the pivot 36 and a neck 41 for fixing the adapter in the pipe-formed rod end part 15.
On either side of the adapter is, in the [0061] pivot 36, formed an annular slot 42. Two circlips 43 are placed in the annular slots for axially securing the adapter on the pivot 36.
FIGS. [0062] 9-12 show in successive operation stages how the construction shown in FIG. 8 is assembled.
In FIG. 9, the [0063] adapter 38 is ready to axially being moved into position on the pivot 36. One of the circlips 43 has already been placed in the associated annular slot 42 in the pivot 36 while the other one subsequently will be placed in the other annular slot.
The [0064] adapter 38 is brought into correct position in FIG. 10 abutting the already placed circlip 43. The other spring 42 ring is ready for being placed in the other annular slot 42 for thereby axially fixing the adapter on the pivot.
This operation is completed in FIG. 11 in which it is seen that the [0065] rod end part 15 is ready for being assembled with the adapter.
The assembling has taken place in FIG. 12 where a [0066] screw 23 for fixing the neck in position in the rod end part is being inserted into flushing bores 34 and 35 in the rod end part 15 and adapter neck 41, respectively.
When the pivot is formed as part of an L-formed hook, the construction shown in FIGS. [0067] 2-7 can alternatively be used instead for the construction shown in FIGS. 8-12. In this case, the adapter need not be opened proportionally much for positioning the key in the associated slot in the pivot.
The adapter of the construction shown in FIGS. [0068] 2-7 can alternatively be axially secured on the pivot by means of circlips in the same way as shown in FIGS. 8-12.
In an alternative embodiment of the adapter, the neck of this can be hollow whereby the rod end part is assembled with the adapter neck by being fixed inside this. [0069]
When using a pivot, which forms part of an L-formed hook, it is possible to assemble the rod end part with the pivot by forming the bore directly in the end part without using an adapter. [0070]
As mentioned before, each of the legs has a firm upper mount and a lower slidable mount. The distance between the pivot and the associated mount is in a preferred embodiment greater for the lower mount than for the upper mount, thereby obtaining the advantage that the legs are slanting outwards such that the support area of the framework structure on the support area is enlarged. [0071]
The framework structure is above described on basis of the mounts being placed on the legs. The mounts can, however, within the scope of the invention be placed in other places of the framework structure. [0072]
For instance, the [0073] post assembly 16 of the central structure of the framework structure also has an upper and lower mount 44 and 45, each having four pivots for pivotally connecting an end part of a rod of the frame work structure, namely the upper mount 44 pivotally connecting the central rod 17 and the lower mount pivotally connecting another central rod 46.
The framework structure of the invention is especially very suitable for canopies but can of course be used for any other object. [0074]
Also, the framework structure does not need to have the specific construction shown in FIG. 1 but can, within the scope of the invention, have any other appropriate construction. [0075]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A framework structure which is adapted to be folded and stored in a collapsed state and erected in an expanded state on a support surface, comprising

a support structure having a number of legs, each having a firm upper mount with at least one pivot and a slidable lower mount with at least one other pivot, the pivots being adapted for pivotally connecting an end part of a rod of the frame work structure,

a peripheral structure that includes a number of scissors, each having at least four rods connected in pairs between their ends by pivots and further connected in pairs at upper and lower end parts by upper and lower pivots, respectively, and

a central structure having a post assembly with an upper and lower mount, each having at least one pivot adapted for pivotally connecting an end part of a rod of the frame work structure,

whereby

the rod end part is formed with a bore engaging a pivot of a mount,

the pivot is attached to the mount with means having a clearance to the rod end part, and

the rod end part is axially fixed to the pivot.

2. A framework structure which is adapted to be folded and stored in a collapsed state and erected in an expanded state on a support surface, comprising

a support structure having a number of legs, each having a firm upper mount with at least one pivot and a slidable lower mount with at least one other pivot,

a peripheral structure that includes a number of scissors, each having four rods connected in pairs between their ends by pivots and further connected in pairs at upper and lower end parts by upper and lower pivots, respectively, and

a central structure having rods connected with the scissors at one or more of the pivot connections of the scissor rods, whereby

the upper and lower free end parts of the rods of each scissor are formed with a bore each engaging a pivot of the upper or lower mounts of a leg, respectively,

the pivot is attached to the mount with means having a clearance to the rod, and

the rod end part is axially fixed to the pivot.

3. The framework structure of claim 1, wherein the bore of the rod end part engages the associated pivot of a mount with a tight fit.

4. The framework structure of claim 1, wherein the rod end part is furnished with an adapter formed of an elastic material, and the bore for engaging a pivot of a mount is formed in the adapter.

5. The framework structure of claim 4, wherein the adapter is split into two halves by a slit extending from the bore to the end face opposite the mount.

6. The framework structure of claim 5, wherein the slit follows a curved or V-shaped line.

7. The framework structure of claim 4, wherein the slit is formed in the adapter in the area opposite to the associated mount.

8. The framework structure of claim 1, wherein the pivot of a mount forms part of a U-formed clamp.

9. The framework structure of claim 8, wherein the pivot is formed with at least one annular slot, and that the bore of the adapter is formed with at least one key engaging the at least one annular slot.

10. The framework structure of claim 1, wherein the pivot of a mount forms part of an L-formed hook.

11. The framework structure of claim 4, wherein the pivot of a mount forms part of an L-formed hook.

12. The framework structure of claim 11, wherein the pivot is formed with at least one annular slot, and that the bore of the adapter is formed with at least one key engaging the at least one annular slot.

13. The framework structure of claim 10, wherein the pivot at either side of the rod end part is formed with an annular slot, and that a circlip is placed in each of these slots.

14. The framework structure of claim 12, wherein the pivot at either side of the rod end part is formed with an annular slot, and that a circlip is placed in each of these slots.

15. The framework structure of claim 4, wherein at least the rod end parts are formed as a pipe, and that an end part of the associated adapter is formed complementarily to the opening of the pipe for fitting therein.

16. An assembling of an end part of a rod to a pivot on a mount of a framework structure, comprising

a bore which is formed in the rod end part and fits the pivot,

means for attaching the pivot to the mount with clearances to the rod end part, and

means for axially fixing the rod end part to the pivot.

17. The assembling of claim 16, wherein the means for attaching the pivot to the mount with clearances to the rod end part are the two legs of a U-formed clamp where the bottom of the U is forming the pivot.

18. The assembling of claim 16, wherein the means for attaching the pivot to the mount with clearances to the rod end part is a leg of an L-formed hook while the other leg of the hook is forming the pivot.

19. The assembling of claim 16, wherein the means for axially fixing the rod end part to the pivot comprises at least one annular slot formed in the pivot and at least one key formed in the bore of the rod end part.

20. A method for connecting a pipe-formed end part of a rod to a pivot, which forms part of a U-formed clamp and is formed with at least one annular slot, by means of an elastic adapter formed with a bore for engaging the pivot and at least one key in the bore for engaging the annular slot and which furthermore is split into two halves by a slit extending from the bore to an end face of an end part of the adapter, comprising

opening the adapter,

driving the adapter over the associated pivot with the two halves of the adapter placed on either side of the pivot,

closing the adapter,

driving the adapter end part into the opening of the rod end part, and

fixing the adapter end part in relation to the rod end part.

21. The method of claim 16 which further comprises fixing the adapter end part in relation to rod end part by at least one fastener inserted into flushing bores in the rod end part and the adapter end part, respectively.

22. A method for connecting the end part of a rod to a pivot, which forms part of an L-formed hook and is formed with an annular slot at either side of an end part, comprising

forming in the end part a bore having a tight fit to the pivot,

moving the end part axially into position on the pivot, and

placing a circlip into each of the annular slots.

23. A method for connecting a pipe-formed end part of a rod to a pivot, which forms part of an L-formed hook and is formed with at least one annular slot, by an elastic adapter formed with a bore for engaging the pivot and at least one key in the bore for engaging the annular slot and which furthermore is split into two halves by a slit extending from the bore to an end face of an end part of the adapter, comprising

opening the adapter,

moving the adapter axially into position on the pivot with the at least one key flushing with the at least one annular slot,

closing the adapter,

driving the adapter end part into the opening of the rod end part, and

fixing the adapter end part in relation to the rod.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the adapter end part is fixed in relation to the rod end part by means of at least one fastener, e.g. a pin or a screw inserted in flushing bores in the rod end part and the adapter end part, respectively.

25. A canopy comprising the framework structure according to claim 1.