US2784779A

US2784779A - Collapsible wind-break

Info

Publication number: US2784779A
Application number: US477659A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stearl E Knipfer; Lajza Edward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-12-27
Filing date: 1954-12-27
Publication date: 1957-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 1974-03-12

Description

March 12, 1957 s. E. KNIPFER ET AL COLLAPSIBLE WINDBREAK 2 shetsrsheet 1 Filed Dec. 27, 1954 Siear/ E. Kn/pfer Edward La za IN VEN TORS March 1957 s. E. KNIPFER ETAL- COLLAPSIBLE! WIND-BREAK 2 Sheeis-Shee Filed Dec. 27, 1954 m w m E 9 Edward -Lajza IN V EN TORS United States Patent 2,784,779 COLLAPSIBLE WIND-BREAK Stearl E. Knipfer and Edward Lajza, Tomahawk, Wis.

Application December-27, 1954, Serial No. 477,659 Claims. or. 160-135),

This invention relates generally to an improved windbreak and more particularly to a portable collapsible structure adapted for use as a shelter on beaches, in the woods, open fields or on the ice during ice fishing whereever a wind-break is necessary.

The principal object of this invention 'is to provide a wind-break in the form of a shield having a plurality of relatively bendable sections including means for securing thereto support elements which are operative to retain the relatively foldable sections substantially rigid as well as to support the wind-break in a substantially upright position.

Another object of invention is to provide in a windbreak including relatively foldable sections means for securing said sections relatively rigid with respect to each other and supporting them in a substantially upright condition.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a collapsible wind-break which includes relatively foldable sections and means for retaining said sections in a substantially rigid condition and supported in a substantially upright position, means for readily presenting said collapsible wind-break in a relatively compact and readily transportable unit.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a readily detachable fastening means for securing support members to a collapsible wind-break.

And still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved portable collapsible wind-break of the character described which is durable, adjustable, simple in construction positive in operation, economical to manufacture and highly efficient and serviceable in use.

These together with other objects and advantages will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the collapsible windbreak in an erected position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the collapsible windbreak in collapsed or portable condition;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2 and showing the reinforced edges of the wind-break panels;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of one of the extensible support elements which are secured between an outer and inner panel of the wind-break with portions being broken away, including a portion of the wind-break panel to which the support element is attachable;

Figure 5 is a further enlarged view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 4 showing the novel fastener means for the extensible support element;

Figures 6 and 7 are further enlarged views taken substantially on line 6-6 and 7-7, respectively, of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the detachable securing means which prov-ides a rigid connection between the inner panels of the wind-break.

2,784,779 Patented Mai. 12, 1957 The wind-break is indicated generally at 10 and includes

inner panels

12 and 14 and

outer panels

16 and 18 which are made of a suitable material such as water resistant corrugated cardboard, a stiff water treated fabric or compressed fiber glass which may be: of a suitable color for camouflage purposes for duck hunters, for example, or a white color for use on the beach to have the higest reflective qualities. It is to be noted that the panels are formed from an integral sheet element wherein the hinge or foldable connections are an integral part of the panels being merely suitable creases therein. These creases are indicated by reference character 20. The collapsible wind-break is supported by detachable and extensible supports 22 which are secured between an inner and outer panel preventing relative movement therebetween when the device is in an erected position. Securing elements 24 are provided between the relatively foldable inner panels to make them relatively rigid when the device is in an erected position.

Provided along the outer edges of the entire collapsible wind-break are suitable edge reinforcing elements 26, as most clearly seen in Figure 3, for example. This reinforcing edge portion may be of plastic or aluminum material, for example, and is pressed into the panel, as seen in Figure 3, to provide a finished and attractive edge.

The inner panel securing elements 24 are most clearly seen in Figures 1 and 8, wherein the securing elements are secured to one of the panel members by a chain 28 or by any suitable means for the prevention of the loss thereof. The securing elements 24 consist of a U-shaped member which has a pair of parallel leg portions and an upper connecting portion 32. The connecting portion 32 is of a width to provide a relatively manual press fit when inserted transversely on the upper and lower edges of the

inner panels

12 and 14 as clearly shown in Figure 1. Obviously, the device may be utilized with but a single securing element 24.

Suitable grommets 34 are provided in the panels to add strength thereto and to provide anchoring means for the extensible supports 22, see for example Figure 5.

The extensible supports 22 are secured in the grommets 34 by means of connectors 36 most clearly seen in Figure 5. As seen in Figure 5 the extensible supports 22 include an upper flat portion 38 which is formed by' flattening the tubular elements from which the extensible support is constructed and which has an aperture 40 therethrough of a size similar to that through the grommet. The flattened portion 38 when secured to the panel,

such as'panel 18 shown in Figure 5, has a suitable washer- 42 adjacent thereto which is contacted by compression spring 44. A pin 46 including an enlarged head 48 abuts the opposite end of the spring 44. The pin 46 includes a transversely disposed pivot pin 50 at the end opposite the enlarged head 48. The pivot pin 50 extends across inwardly extending slot 52 in the end thereof which has pivotally mounted thereon a securing element 54. The pivotal securing element 54 has disposed between it and the grommet 34 when the connector element is functioning to connect the extensible support 22 to the panel 18, as seen in Figure 5, a suitable washer 56.. When serving the function of a connector, it will be noted, the securing element 54 includes portions 58 which are engageable with the adjacent surface of the washer 56. As clearly shown by the phantom lines in Figure 5, removal of the connectors 36 is accomplished by applying pressure on the enlarged head 48 overcoming the pressure of the compression spring 44 permitting clockwise movement of the securing element 54 so that it can be withdrawn through the grommet 34 and the washers and fiat portion 38 of the extensible support. Ordinarily the fasteners 36 in only the outer panels are removed permitting the extensible support 22, after being collapsed,

tojcontinue tosbesecuredto the wind-break in a manner clearly shown in Figure.,2. I

The extensible supports 22 are constructed of tubular elements, which may be circular or rectangular or any desired cross section, and includes a primary p,ortion260 anda branch portion 62, the function of. whichwillsubsequently bedescribed. The primary branchczof-the. extensiblesupport 22, as clearly seen in. Figures 4 andS, includes the flattened upper portion 38 for connection; to thegrommets 34. The lower portion. of the. primary branchhas telescopically secured'thereto by means of a suitable-clamp member 64 a lower section 66 which terminates in a suitable pointed end 68,- secured in any suitable manner for penetratingthe ice, sand or ground.

The branch portion 62.includes.a lowerflattenedxportion 70 which is secured by means of a clamp element 72. to an intermediate upper port-ion of the primary branch portion of the extensible support 22 as clearly seen in Figures 4 and 6. Itshould be readily observable that the clamp. element 72 is slidably mounted. on the upper branch portion as well as being movable in an arcuate.

pathutherearound and the secondary branch portion 62 is pivotally supported on the fastening element 72 by means ofa suitable pin element 74 which passesthrough the clamp element 72 and the flattened end. 7%) of the second.- ary branch portion 62 and which has threadedly secured to it the wingnut 76. The opposite end of the secondary branch portion 62 is flattened in a manner similar to that of the flattened portion 38 of the primary branch portion, as seen'for example in Figure l and identified by reference character 78. Secured in any suitable manner on the portion 66 of the primary branch portion 60 is a clamp element which includes a bifurcated clamping portion 82 which is of a diameter to accommodate the secondary branch portion62 of the extensible support 22 when the wind-break is collapsed as seen in Figure 2.

The upper and lower portions 84' of the outer windbreakpanels are tapered inwardly as clearly seen in Figures'l and 2. The purpose of such tapering is that when thedevice is in the erected position shown in Figure 1, the

outer panels

16 and 18 extend rearwardly a slight amountand the wind-break is tilted rearwardly toward the extensible supports 22. In this position the tapered edge portions provide a suitable support and a firm-base for the leaning wind-break affording a desirable angle of attack. with reference to the wind which will' be blowing against the wind-break opposite the side thereof thatthe extensible-supports have been placed.

The size of the collapsible wind-break is such that it may be readily transported in the trunk of a car, and in view of the readily collapsible features thereof, and its relative simplicity of construction as well as its-inherent rigidity after erection, it provides the useful and efficient device for the purposes previously mentioned.

Various positional directional terms such as front or.-rear, are used to merely have a rela-tive connota'tion and are not intended to limit the device with respect to any external elements.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the..device.. will.. bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and'changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new-is as follows:

1. A portable collapsible wind-break including a plurality of relatively pivotaLwind-break panels having. a pivotal connection. between adjacentpanels, said panels constituting innerand outer panels, removable connecting means between pairs of inner panels for providing a rigid connection therebetween, combined support and connectingmeans operably connected between an outer and inner panel for providing a rigid connection therebetween and supporting;said-wind1break panelszin. an erect position, anddetachable fasteningzmeansfor detachably connect ing the combined support and connecting means to an outer and inner panel.

2. A. portablewcollapsible:windrbreak as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer. edges "of each of the relatively pivotal wind-break panels includes an integral reinforced edge portion.-

3. In a portable collapsible wind-break as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pivotal connection between adjacent panels includes an integral portion of each adjacent panel having apreformed folded portion therein to permit relative. pivotal movement between said adjacent panels.

4. In a portable collapsible wind-break as set forth in claim 3 wherein. the combined supported connecting means between an: outer and. inner panel includes an extensible: suppornhaving. a surface engaging-portion on a main branch thereof and includinga secondary branch removably secured. tov an intermediate portion thereof,

said main branchand'secondary branch portions beingrelatively and removably secured to an adjacent inner and outer-relatively pivotal panel for securing said relatively pivotal panel in. a substantially rigid condition.

5. In a portable collapsible-wind-break as set forth in claim 4 wherein said main-branch porti'onincludes a telescopically engageableportion therewith for adjustment of the extensible support relativeto the surface being engaged.

References .Cited in thezfile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 696,044 Hoifmann. Mar. 25, 1902 1,280,291 Phelps Oct. 1, 1918 1,974,377 Knutson' Sept. 18, 1934 2,532,378 Starnes Dec. 5, 1950 2,576,384- Bentley Nov. 27, 1951 2,622,298 Macedo Dec. 23, 1952