Abstract:
A canopy structure arrangement particularly for conducting repairs on a vehicle has a support frame re-configurable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration; and an expansion support such as a tether to support the frame as it is manually expanded from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration. A ground anchor arrangement provides securing of the canopy structure. The arrangement permits ease of erection of the canopy structure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a canopy and ground anchor structure therefor. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a canopy and ground anchor structure that may be conveniently and quickly erected by a single person and potentially used in relation to vehicle repairs such as windscreen replacement or repair. 
         [0003]    2. State of the Art 
         [0004]    Canopy structures are known for use as shelters for domestic or other uses. Often such canopy structures are re-configurable from a collapsed, stowed configuration, to an expanded configuration providing the maximum extent of coverage when in use. Examples of such expandible canopy structures are disclosed in for example US2004/0084074, US2005/0097829 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,020. These structures although convenient and useful when erected, are difficult to erect, particularly for one person alone. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    An improved arrangement has now been devised. 
         [0006]    According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a canopy structure arrangement including: 
         [0007]    a support frame re-configurable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration; and, 
         [0008]    expansion support means to support the frame as it is manually expanded from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration. 
         [0009]    It is preferred that the support means comprises one or more tethers secured to the frame. The one or more tethers, when secured act to inhibit contraction to the collapsed configuration. The one or more tethers are preferably detachable from the frame at one or more preferably both ends. 
         [0010]    The one or more tethers are preferably extendible, most preferably being resilient. Elasticized bungee tethers have been shown to be effective in this respect. 
         [0011]    It is preferred that the one or more tethers are stretched between spaced portions of the frame to exert a biasing force tending to expand the frame or inhibit contraction to the collapsed configuration. 
         [0012]    Typically the support frame includes a scissor type linkage arrangement which is articulated to permit re-configuration between the collapsed and expanded configurations. The tethers are beneficially stretched between spaced portions of the scissors linkage frame to exert a biasing force tending to expand the frame. 
         [0013]    Desirably the structure is mounted on rotatable support members. This makes one person erection of the canopy support frame a significantly easier task, particularly in combination with use of the expansion support means, by way of the tethers or otherwise. It is preferred that the rotatable support members are provided with selectively actuatable brake means. This ensures that following erection the canopy does not move easily of its own accord under the influence of gravity on a slope or wind action. 
         [0014]    Typically, the canopy support frame includes elongate support posts extending upwardly from the ground. Desirably the support posts are extendible, and may for example be telescopic. 
         [0015]    It is preferred that a ground anchor arrangement is provided to anchor the canopy support frame. Desirably the ground anchor arrangement is configured to be weighted down by means of an item positioned under the canopy. In certain embodiments the invention is particularly suited for use as a shelter to permit vehicle repairs to be conducted. In such embodiments the ground anchor arrangement is configured to be weighted down by means of a vehicle positioned under the canopy. 
         [0016]    The ground anchor arrangement preferably includes docking means for securing or retaining in a releasable fashion, one or more portions of the canopy support frame. The docking means preferably retains the upwardly extending support posts of the canopy support frame. 
         [0017]    Beneficially, the ground anchor arrangement includes a ground frame having a pair of spaced elongate side frame rails arranged to rest on the ground, and a transverse connection extending between the side frame rails. 
         [0018]    The ground frame is preferably provided with one or more ground engaging platform elements enabling anchoring of the arrangement. Where the arrangement is secured by means of the weight of a vehicle, the vehicle wheels preferably rest on the platforms, thereby anchoring the ground frame and the connected canopy support frame. 
         [0019]    The one or more platform elements are beneficially detachable from the frame to be repositionable with respect to the ground frame. The platform elements and the ground frame are desirably provided with respective complementary engaging formations arranged to permit engagement of the or each platform element in a plurality of different positions. It is preferred that the position of the platform element across the width space between opposed side frame rails can be varied. This enables vehicles with different wheel spacing distances to be used to anchor the arrangement. 
         [0020]    According to a further aspect, the invention provides a ground anchor arrangement for use in combination with a canopy having a support frame, the ground anchor being configured to be weighted down by means of an item (particularly a vehicle) positioned under the canopy. 
         [0021]    It is preferred that the arrangement includes docking means for securing or retaining in a releasable fashion, one or more portions of the canopy support frame. 
         [0022]    Other preferred features of the ground anchor arrangement are as defined in relation to the first aspect of the invention, and also as elucidated with respect to the embodiment described in relation to the drawings. 
         [0023]    According to a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of anchoring a canopy, the method comprising setting a ground anchor arrangement in place connected to a support frame of the canopy; and moving a vehicle into position below the canopy to weigh down the ground anchor. 
         [0024]    In accordance with the various aspects of the invention, a canopy is provided that is easily erected from a collapsed state even by one person alone. Also an ingenious anchor arrangement may be utilized to enable an item (such as a vehicle) positioned beneath the canopy to weigh down the anchor and canopy. 
         [0025]    Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the provided figures. 
         [0026]    The invention will now be further described, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a canopy structure in accordance with the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a plan view from above of a ground anchor structure in accordance with the invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a detail view of the ground anchor anchoring the structure; 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view showing a part of the support frame of the canopy structure in a relatively collapsed configuration: and, 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view showing the part of the support frame of  FIG. 4  in a relatively expanded configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]    Collapsible canopy structures are disclosed in for example US2004/0084074, US2005/0097829 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,020. The canopy  1  of the present invention may be similarly constructed in that it comprises a support frame having four telescopic corner posts  2  (only one is shown in  FIG. 1 ) and an upper scissor frame linkage  3  in the region of the roof area  4 . A fabric cover  5  extends over the roof area frame  3 . Various arrangements of scissor frame linkage may be used depending upon the precise design and this is not particularly important to the present invention, other than that scissor type linkages provide a convenient means of realizing an expandible linkage frame structure. 
         [0033]    The canopy  1  is provided with jockey wheels  6  mounted at the respective ground ends of the support posts  2 . The wheels are pivotable about the longitudinal axis of the support posts (arrow A) to aid maneuverability. The wheels are provided with a manually actuatable brake  7  to lock the wheels against rotation and also pivotal movement about the support posts  2 . 
         [0034]    In use an operative needs to erect the canopy from a stowed state to an erected state with the canopy extending over its maximum area. This has been difficult to achieve for a single person with known designs. 
         [0035]    In order to facilitate erection of the canopy, a plurality of resilient and expandible bungee tethers  9  are connected to the scissor linkage mechanism  3 . When not in use the bungee tethers may either be completely removed or may simply remain attached to the frame at one end and be allowed to dangle freely. The bungee tethers therefore need to be detachable from the frame at least one of their ends. The support frame is manually opened from the totally collapsed sate to a slightly expanded state and the bungee tethers stretched to extend in tension between 2 adjacent apexes of the scissors linkage as shown in  FIG. 4 . In this configuration the bungees are acting to inhibit the scissors mechanism  3  of the support frame from returning to the collapsed state and indeed will act against mechanical friction and stiffness to tend to bias the frame to the expanded configuration. By means of an operative shaking on a support post  2  it has been found that under the influence of the bungee tethers, the frame expands on the wheels  6  towards maximum expanded state. The technique may be fine tuned to use bungee tethers of shorter length as the support frame expands towards maximum extent. Alternatively non resilient tether straps may be used in a similar manner and tightened incrementally to cause the frame to expand on the wheels  6  toward its maximum expanded state. In order to collapse the canopy following use, the tethers may be removed or retained attached to the mechanism at one end only. This ensures that there is no biasing force tending to oppose collapsing of the mechanism, which would be the case if the tethers remain attached and energized. 
         [0036]    The expanded canopy may be wheeled to a desired location and then the wheels may be locked in position by means of the brake  7 . 
         [0037]    The canopy  1  may be used in conjunction with a ground anchor arrangement  11  in order to enable the canopy to be secured by means of the weight of an item positioned below the canopy. 
         [0038]    In a specifically envisaged application the canopy may be used to shelter a vehicle during a repair procedure (such as windscreen replacement or repair). 
         [0039]    The ground anchor arrangement  11  comprises a ground frame having a pair of elongate side rails  12 ,  13 , each assembled in three sections and secured using spring loaded lugs  14 . A pair of transverse frame elements  15 ,  16  extend between the center section of the side rails  12 ,  13 . The transverse frame elements include a central upright spine  17  and flanges  18 ,  19  extending outwardly from the spine  17 . The flanges  18 ,  19  carry a series of spaced lugs  20 . The lugs  20  serve to locate in position resting on the flanges  18 ,  19  respective platform boards  22 . The platform boards  22  are of a width to fit between spaced logs  20 , and include respective lug receiving slots  21 . The platform boards may be removed from the ground frame and repositioned as required. In use a vehicle is driven into position so that a vehicle wheel rests on the platform board  22 . In this way the anchor arrangement is secured weighed down by the vehicle. 
         [0040]    The canopy  1  is wheeled into position such that the wheels are positioned adjacently outside the side rails  12 ,  13 . The relative spacing of the support posts  2  and side rails  12 ,  13  is therefore important. By virtue of the wheels being outside the slide rails  12 ,  13  it is ensured that the canopy does not accidentally bump into the vehicle when positioning or moving the canopy. The side rails  12   13  include docking stations  27  at either end for docking with the support posts  2  of the canopy support frame. The docking stations  27  comprise crook or hook elements  28  supported at a level above the upper rim of the wheel  6  of the support post  2 . When the post  2  is suitably docked (and the wheel brake applied), the post cannot wheel out of the docking station, and the post is also anchored to the ground anchor  11  because the wheel  6  assembly cannot pass upwardly out of the docking station crook element  28 . 
         [0041]    The invention provides a convenient canopy structure that is readily extendable from a collapsed state even by a single person, and can conveniently be re-collapsed following use. The ground anchor enables the canopy to be conveniently anchored, particularly by means of the weight of an item resting under the canopy.