US20150090309A1 - Reinforced Frame Structure - Google Patents

Reinforced Frame Structure Download PDF

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Publication number
US20150090309A1
US20150090309A1 US14/042,086 US201314042086A US2015090309A1 US 20150090309 A1 US20150090309 A1 US 20150090309A1 US 201314042086 A US201314042086 A US 201314042086A US 2015090309 A1 US2015090309 A1 US 2015090309A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
frame structure
shelter
members
pivotally connected
ridge member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US14/042,086
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English (en)
Inventor
Oliver Ma
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US14/042,086 priority Critical patent/US20150090309A1/en
Priority to PCT/US2014/058479 priority patent/WO2015048810A1/fr
Publication of US20150090309A1 publication Critical patent/US20150090309A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H15/00—Tents or canopies, in general
    • E04H15/32—Parts, components, construction details, accessories, interior equipment, specially adapted for tents, e.g. guy-line equipment, skirts, thresholds
    • E04H15/34—Supporting means, e.g. frames
    • E04H15/44—Supporting means, e.g. frames collapsible, e.g. breakdown type
    • E04H15/48—Supporting means, e.g. frames collapsible, e.g. breakdown type foldable, i.e. having pivoted or hinged means
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H15/00—Tents or canopies, in general
    • E04H15/32—Parts, components, construction details, accessories, interior equipment, specially adapted for tents, e.g. guy-line equipment, skirts, thresholds
    • E04H15/34—Supporting means, e.g. frames
    • E04H15/44—Supporting means, e.g. frames collapsible, e.g. breakdown type
    • E04H15/48—Supporting means, e.g. frames collapsible, e.g. breakdown type foldable, i.e. having pivoted or hinged means
    • E04H15/50—Supporting means, e.g. frames collapsible, e.g. breakdown type foldable, i.e. having pivoted or hinged means lazy-tongs type

Definitions

  • Portable shelters typically employ a cloth or plastic material attached to a light-weight, highly foldable skeleton or frame structure.
  • the cloth provides a roof and/or walls for the shelter, and the frame structure provides support for the cloth, for example, the frame structure includes legs to elevate the roof and a system of trusses to support the roof and to generally stabilize the shelter.
  • the frame structure often incorporates a compound, scissor-like, arrangement of a light-weight, tubular material such as aluminum.
  • the frame structure is often designed so that the roof is supported solely by legs positioned near the perimeter of the roof.
  • shelters do not typically employ an interior supporting post or leg such as a leg or post positioned in the center of shelter.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,676 to Lynch, U.S. Pat. No. 7,367,348 to Tsai, and, and U.S. Pub. No. 20120048319 to Dotterweich, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference, are examples of such portable shelters.
  • the frame structure When in its expanded configuration, the frame structure generally forms a top portion having an elongated top ridge member and four downwardly-angled ridge members. Each end of the top ridge member is connected to an inner end of two ridge members, while the outer ends of each ridge member are connected to legs. As described in more detail below, the top ridge member and ridge members are composed of various trusses and connector/cap members that allow the ridge members to pivot or not pivot, in various directions, allowing the frame structure to be folded to its collapsed configuration and unfolded to its expanded position.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a frame structure
  • FIG. 2 is an end view of a frame structure
  • FIG. 3 is a top view of a frame structure
  • FIG. 4 is a top view of a partially expanded frame structure
  • FIG. 5 is a side view of a collapsed frame structure
  • FIG. 6 is a side view of a pivoting spacer
  • FIGS. 7-10 are various views of a pivoting cap member that connects to three truss members, each pivoting at non-parallel angles to each other;
  • FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a connector
  • FIG. 12 is a side view of a frame structure with a cover.
  • FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a frame structure 100 which has an expanded configuration ( FIGS. 1-3 ) over which a flexible cover or canvas can be attached, and a collapsed configuration ( FIG. 5 ) which allows for compact storage.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the frame structure 100 in a partially expanded position so as to better illustrate the folding pattern and direction of each of the truss members.
  • the structure 100 allows for an increased structure size (e.g., at least 40-50%) over structures with a similar number and size of components.
  • the present design allows for a reduced number of components/materials over prior art design without sacrificing the strength of the structure.
  • the frame structure 100 When in its expanded configuration, the frame structure 100 generally forms a top portion having an elongated top ridge member 101 and four downwardly-angled ridge members 103 , seen best in FIG. 3 .
  • Each end of the top ridge member 101 is connected to an inner end of two ridge members 103 , while the outer ends of each ridge member 103 are connected to legs 120 .
  • the top ridge member 101 and ridge members 103 are composed of various trusses and connector/cap members that allow the ridge members 101 , 103 to pivot or not pivot, in various directions that allow the frame structure 100 to be folded to its collapsed configuration and unfolded to its expanded position.
  • the top ridge is formed by two first truss members 104 that are connected to each other's inner ends via spacer 102 , thereby allowing the first truss members 102 to pivot downwardly relative to each other.
  • the spacer 102 also prevents the outer ends of the first truss members 104 from pivoting upward, to a location above the top of the spacer 102 .
  • the spacer 102 can be better seen in FIGS. 6 and 11 .
  • the outer ends of the first truss members 104 are each connected, via the cap member 106 , to two second truss members 108 .
  • the cap member 106 as best seen in FIGS. 7-10 , has a first connection area 106 A on its top surface for pivotally connecting to the first truss member 104 , and two secondary connection areas 106 B on its bottom surface for pivotally connecting to the second truss member 108 .
  • the first connection area 106 A is preferably configured to prevent the first truss member 104 from pivoting beyond a lower surface of the cap member 106
  • the second connection areas 106 B are configured to prevent the second truss members 108 from pivoting upwards beyond an upper surface of the cap member 106 .
  • first connection area 106 A and the second connection areas 106 B are oriented so as to not to be linearly aligned with each other (i.e., the areas are positioned in a substantially triangular orientation) and further oriented in a generally Y shape.
  • the second truss members 108 are pivotally coupled, via spacer 110 , to a third truss member 112 .
  • the spacer 110 is shaped similar to spacer 102 .
  • the third truss member 112 is supported by a leg member 120 via two further connections points.
  • the first is a pivotal connection to connector member 114 which is located at the top of the leg 120 .
  • the second support is provided by fourth truss member 112 , which pivotally connects near a mid-portion of the third truss member 112 and to a sliding connector 118 .
  • the sliding connector 118 moves or slides between a location near the top of the leg member 120 in the expanded position and near the bottom of the leg member 120 when in the collapsed configuration.
  • the frame structure 100 preferable has a rectangular shape with elongated sides ( FIG. 1 ) and shorter sides ( FIGS. 2 ).
  • the elongated side includes a fifth truss member 124 and a sixth truss member 122 that are connected to each other in a scissor-like arrangement.
  • the truss members 122 , 124 are also connected to seventh truss member 126 and eight truss member 126 , respectively, which similarly form a scissor-like arrangement with each other.
  • the sixth truss member 122 is pivotally coupled to connector 114 , while the fifth truss member 124 is connected to the sliding connector 118 .
  • the shorter sides form a similar arrangement to that of the elongated side, but two-less truss members. Specifically, ninth truss member 130 connects to connector 114 , tenth truss member 132 connects to sliding connector 118 , and both truss members 130 , 132 connect to each other in a scissor-like arrangement.
  • pivoting arrangements described herein may employ a bolt, screw, pin, or other suitable means for attachment known in the art.
  • the truss members move in a number of different directions.
  • the spacer member 102 allows the first truss members 104 to pivot downwardly at their inner ends, while the cap member 106 allows the truss members 104 to pivot upwardly at their outer ends (relative to the cap member 106 ).
  • the cap member 106 allows the inner ends of second truss members 108 to pivot downwards, while the spacer 110 allows the outer ends of the second truss members 108 to pivot at an upward angle relative to the top of the spacer 110 .
  • the inner end of the third truss members 112 pivot at a downward angle, while their outer ends pivot upwardly relative to the connector 114 .
  • the frame structure 100 collapses to a size that is generally smaller and more compact than prior designs.
  • One reason for this, as previously discussed, is that the overall design of the frame structure 100 requires less truss members than prior designs, such as that shown in previously incorporated U.S. Pub. No. 20120048319. Additionally, all of the truss members of the present frame structure 100 can be closely folded together against each other, including the two first truss members 102 and spacer 102 , resulting in a highly compact and relatively square collapsed configuration that better facilitates being shipped or otherwise transported.
  • FIG. 12 illustrates the frame structure 100 with a cover 140 disposed over the top of the structure 100 .

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
US14/042,086 2013-09-30 2013-09-30 Reinforced Frame Structure Abandoned US20150090309A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US14/042,086 US20150090309A1 (en) 2013-09-30 2013-09-30 Reinforced Frame Structure
PCT/US2014/058479 WO2015048810A1 (fr) 2013-09-30 2014-09-30 Structure ossature renforcée

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US14/042,086 US20150090309A1 (en) 2013-09-30 2013-09-30 Reinforced Frame Structure

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20150090309A1 true US20150090309A1 (en) 2015-04-02

Family

ID=52738900

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US14/042,086 Abandoned US20150090309A1 (en) 2013-09-30 2013-09-30 Reinforced Frame Structure

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US20150090309A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2015048810A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20170191285A1 (en) * 2015-12-30 2017-07-06 Xiamen Roadzup Outdoor Products Co., Ltd. Tent rack
US9845614B2 (en) * 2014-06-06 2017-12-19 Xiamen Roadzup Outdoor Products Co., Ltd. Awning mounting rack, the awning and an awning top of the awning mounting rack

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2135961A (en) * 1936-10-22 1938-11-08 Elijah P Chenoweth Tent frame
US5638853A (en) * 1996-03-07 1997-06-17 Tsai; Tony M. L. Tent structure
CN2336047Y (zh) * 1998-05-16 1999-09-01 陈逢春 整体同步展折帐篷
KR200430426Y1 (ko) * 2006-08-01 2006-11-13 장정우 절첩식 천막후레임의 관절구조
US8789551B2 (en) * 2010-08-27 2014-07-29 Oliver Ma Reinforced frame structure

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9845614B2 (en) * 2014-06-06 2017-12-19 Xiamen Roadzup Outdoor Products Co., Ltd. Awning mounting rack, the awning and an awning top of the awning mounting rack
US20170191285A1 (en) * 2015-12-30 2017-07-06 Xiamen Roadzup Outdoor Products Co., Ltd. Tent rack
US10138652B2 (en) * 2015-12-30 2018-11-27 Xiamen Roadzup Outdoor Products Co., Ltd. Foldable tent rack

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2015048810A1 (fr) 2015-04-02

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