Patent ID: 6708707
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: E04H

Abstract:
A collapsible canopy support comprising:a plurality of legs; each leg including: an upper portion including; a top end; a central portion below said top end; a lower portion for engagement with the ground; and a sliding member slidingly connected to said leg central portion; said plurality of legs including: a first pair of adjacent legs including: a first leg; and a second leg; and a second pair of adjacent legs including: a first leg; and a second leg; a plurality of side structures; each side structure joining two legs and including: a plurality of X-configured truss structures; each X-configured truss structure comprising: a first link including: an upper end; a lower end; and a center portion; a second link including: an upper end; a lower end; and a center portion pivotally connected to said center portion of said first link; such that each X-configured truss structure has lateral ends; each said lateral end comprising an upper end of one said link and a lower end of the other said link; said plurality of X-configured truss structures including: â€ƒa first side structure of a first plurality of said X-configured truss structures connecting said first pair of adjacent legs; at least one said lateral end of each of said first plurality being a joining lateral end wherein said upper end and said lower end respectively are pivotally connected to a said upper end and a said lower end of a joining lateral end of another of said first plurality; said first plurality including a pair of leg X-configured truss structures; one said leg X-configured truss structure being attached to each leg; a lateral end of each said leg X-configured truss structures being a leg lateral end wherein said upper end is pivotally connected to said leg upper portion top end and said lower end is pivotally connected to said leg sliding member; and â€ƒa second side structure of a second plurality of said X-configured truss structures connecting said second pair of adjacent legs; at least one of said lateral ends of each of said second plurality being a joining lateral end wherein said upper end and said lower end respectively are pivotally connected to a said upper end and a said lower end of a joining lateral end of another of said second plurality; said second plurality including a pair of leg X-configured truss structures; one said leg X-configured truss structure being attached to each leg; a lateral end of each said leg X-configured truss structures being a leg lateral end wherein said upper end is pivotally connected to said leg upper portion top end and said lower end is pivotally connected to said leg sliding member; a central structure connecting between said first side structure and said second side structure and supported thereby; said central structure comprising: a center post assembly including: a center post including: a lower portion including; â€ƒa lower terminus; and an upper portion above said lower portion including: â€ƒa slider stop; and a center slider member adapted to slide over said center post and to be stopped from further downward movement by said slider stop; and a plurality of center trusses; each center truss connected to an X-configured truss structure of an associated side structure and supported thereby; each center truss comprising: a long link including: an outer end pivotally connected to a said lower end of the said joining lateral end of its said associated X-configured truss structure; an inner end pivotally connected to said center slider member; and a midsection therebetween; an outer link including: an outer end pivotally connected to a said upper end of the said joining lateral end of its said associated X-configured truss structure; and an inner end pivotally connected to said midsection of its said long link; and an inner link including: an outer end pivotally connected to said midsection of its said long link inside of said inner end of said outer link; and an inner end pivotally connected to said lower portion of said center post; said plurality of center trusses including: a first center truss connected to said first plurality and supported thereby; said first center truss comprising: a long link including: â€ƒan outer end pivotally connected to said lower end of a said joining lateral end of said first plurality; â€ƒan inner end pivotally connected to said center slider member; and â€ƒa midsection therebetween; an outer link including: â€ƒan outer end pivotally connected to said upper end of the said joining lateral end of said first plurality; and â€ƒan inner end pivotally connected to said midsection of said long link of said first center truss; and an inner link including: â€ƒan outer end pivotally connected to said midsection of said long link of said first center truss inside of said inner end of said outer link of said first center truss; and â€ƒan inner end pivotally connected to said lower portion of said center post; and a second center truss connected to said second plurality and supported thereby; said second center truss comprising: a long link including: â€ƒan outer end pivotally connected to said lower end of a said joining lateral end of said second plurality; â€ƒan inner end pivotally connected to said center slider member; and â€ƒa midsection therebetween; an outer link including: â€ƒan outer end pivotally connected to said upper end of the said joining lateral end of said second plurality; and â€ƒan inner end pivotally connected to said midsection of said long link of said second center truss; and an inner link including: â€ƒan outer end pivotally connected to said midsection of said long link of said second center truss inside of said inner end of said outer link of said second center truss; and â€ƒan inner end pivotally connected to said lower portion of said center post.