Abstract:
A portable canopy is attachable to the roof rack of a vehicle and designed to unfold outwardly over the rear of the vehicle supported in a cantilevered fashion from the roof rack. The canopy does not require separate legs or other ground support other than the roof rack of the automobile.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/341,137, filed Mar. 29, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Canopies and awnings are utilized at a variety of different events. Tailgaters frequently set up temporary canopies. But, these take up interior space of the vehicle to transport them to the event. Because they must be supported on four legs, they interfere with movement of traffic. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is premised on the realization that a canopy or awning can be supported from the luggage rack of a vehicle to provide shading behind the vehicle and further be stored and transported on the luggage rack. More particularly, the luggage rack of the present invention is supported on the luggage rack and unfolds from the stored position on the luggage rack out over the back of the vehicle and does not require separate legs to support the canopy. The system is designed to be deployed from the rear of a vehicle by a single person and thus provide a shaded area for tailgating or recreational uses. Preferably, the canopy has a generally triangular configuration. 
     The objects and advantages of the present invention will be further appreciated in light of the following detailed description and drawings in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention with its environment in phantom; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the frame used in the present invention in an extended position; 
         FIGS. 3A-3F  illustrate how the frame is folded from an extended position to a storage position; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the rear mounting feet partially in cross section; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one of the hinges used in the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second hinge used in the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is perspective view of a third hinge; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a fourth hinge; 
         FIG. 9  is a view of the canopy of the present invention in a stowed position encased in a cover. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in the attached drawings, the present invention is a canopy  10  designed to attach to the roof rack  12  of a car or sports utility vehicle  14 . 
     The canopy  10  includes a frame  16  and a cover  18  fixed to the frame. The canopy can be formed from many different materials. One material particularly suitable is a rip stop nylon such as taffeta nylon. The frame members are simply tubes and can be steel, aluminum or plastic reinforced with fiberglass or carbon fiber. 
     The frame  16  includes a base frame portion  20  which includes first side frame member  22 , second side frame member  24 , and an end frame member  26 . The three of these when in an extended position, as shown  FIG. 1 , form a generally triangular shape. The base frame portion  20  also includes first and second internal frame members  28  and  30 . Extended from the base frame portion  20  is a raised frame portion  32  which is formed from first and second raised members  34  and  36 . The frame is completed with first, second, third, fourth and fifth straps  37 - 41 , as explained hereinafter. 
     The first and second side members  22  and  24  are connected at their proximal ends  42  and  44  (nearest the front of the car) by a hinged connector  46  which allows the first and second side members to rotate relative to each other as demonstrated by arrow  47 . Distal ends  48  and  50  of side members  22  and  24  are, in turn, connected at hinges  52  and  54  to end frame member  26 . 
     The first and second side frame members  22  and  24  are generally mirror images of each other. Each is formed by two sections connected at a hinge. As shown, the first and second side frame members include proximal sections  66   a  and  66   b  and distal sections  68   a  and  68   b  which are pivotally connected together by a three-way hinge  70   a  and  70   b.    
     First and second raised members  34  and  36  are likewise hingedly connected to three-way hinges  70   a  and  70   b  at first ends and at opposite ends are pivotally connected to each other at hinge  72 . Internal frame members  28  and  30  are also hingedly connected at hinge  70   a  and  70   b  at the first ends and at opposite ends are connected at a hinge  76  which is a part of the end frame member  26 . 
     End frame member  26  is formed from 4 separate sections or poles  78 ,  80 ,  82  and  84 . Pole  78  is connected at one end to hinge  52  and at the second end to hinge  86 . In turn, pole  80  extends from hinge  86  to hinge  76 . Pole  82  extends from hinge  76  to hinge  88 . Finally, pole  84  extends from hinge  88  to hinge  54 . Thus, the four poles  78 ,  80 ,  82  and  84  form the end frame member  26 . 
     Hinges  46 ,  52 ,  54  and  72  are all basically the same having first and second ends that fix to the frame sections and a flat section connected together by a hinge pin. The straps  38 ,  39 ,  40  and  41  are connected to the respective hinges. Straps  38 ,  40  and  41  all connect to the rear portion of hinge  72  and extend to hinges  76 ,  52  and  54 , respectively. They attach to the hinges via the hinge pin or bolt, as shown in  FIG. 6 . Strap  39 , in turn, runs from hinge  72  to hinge  46 . As explained hereinafter, these straps simply provide added support for the cover. 
     Hinge  52  is shown in more detail in  FIG. 6 . This hinge connects frame members  78  and  68   a . The frame members  78  and  68   a  fit into tubular members  82  and  84 . The tubular members  82  and  84  include tear-drop-shaped ends  86  and  88 . The enlarged portion of these tear-drop-shaped members includes aligned apertures  89  which receive a bolt  91  which extends through washer  91   a  and a hole  94  in strap  40 . These bolts extend through the axial opening  90  and are held together with a nut  96 . The tear-drop shaped ends  86  and  88  permit tubular member  82  to rotate in the direction of arrow  98  so that member  82  abuts against member  84  in the folded configuration. 
     Connectors or hinges  70   a  and  70   b  are mirror images of each other. Connector  70   a  is shown in more detail in  FIG. 5 . This connector connects frame member  28 ,  68   a ,  34  and  66   a , allowing them to rotate relative to each other to allow the frame structure to extend folded to an extended position. 
     The connector  70   a  includes four tubular members  100 ,  102 ,  104  and  106 . Frame members  66   a  and  68   a  are connected into tubular members  100  and  102 . These tubular members both include tear-drop-shaped ends  108  and  110  and are connected by a pin  112 . This allows the hinge member  102  to fold 180° up against tubular member  100  with tubular member  104  located between the two. The narrow portion of the tear-drop-shaped member includes an aperture  113  which is adapted to receive a locking pin  114  which holds the structure in the extended position, as is explained hereinafter. 
     Connected to the tear-drop-shaped members  108  and  110  is a double offset U-shaped connector  116 . This includes a first C-shaped collar  118 , which is connected to the members  108  and  110  by pin  112 , allowing free rotation. Connector  116  also includes an upper C-shaped collar  120  which is pivotally connected to member  104  with the pin  122 . This allows the tubular member  104  to rotate in the direction of arrow  124 . Finally, tubular connector  102  includes a connecting portion  126  at its end opposite the tear-drop-shaped portion. Tubular member  106  is pivotally connected to member  126  with pin  128 , again allowing it to rotate in the direction of arrow  130 . This connector  70   a  is a mirror image of connector  70   b  and connector  70   b  is designated with identical numbers. Strap  37  extends between connectors  70   a  and  70   b  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 . 
     The hinge  76  is shown more particularly in  FIG. 8 . This hinge allows frame members  80 ,  84 ,  28  and  30  to be pivotally connected. Each of the frame members  82 ,  80 ,  30  and  28  include a tubular portion with a tear-drop-shaped connector at the end. These are stacked together, as shown in  FIG. 8 , with the offset opening  140  aligned together. These, along with the strap  38 , are held together by a bolt and nut,  142 ,  144 . 
     Finally, hinge  86  is shown more particularly in  FIG. 7 . It should be noted that hinge  88  is identical to hinge  86 . Hinge  86  allows frame members  80  and  78  to be pivotally connected together. Again, these simply include tubular ends  146  and  148  with tear-drop-shaped portions  150  and  152 . Bolt  154  pivotally connects these together. The tear-drop-shaped members  150  and  152  include a second opening  156  which allows for insertion of a locking pin  158 , which holds these frame members together in an extended position. 
     The cover  18 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , covers the entire frame with bottom edges affixed to the outer members of the triangle of the base frame. The cover is simply held in position with straps (not shown) that fit under the frame members. These include hook and pile fasteners which allow the cover to be tightened. The cover also includes a vent flap  162  as well as a plurality of water holes  104 , which prevent water from accumulating in the cover. 
     The base frame maintains the bottom edge of the cover extended, whereas the upper frame portion, in combination with the straps, keeps the cover in a raised position. The straps may include adjustable buckles to allow additional tightening. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the frame is attached to forward and rear staves  90  and  92  of the roof rack  12  with connectors  94   a  and  94   b , and  96   a  and  96   b .  FIG. 4  shows a cross sectional view of one of the connectors  96   a . As shown, this has a base portion  98  which includes a strap  100 . The strap  100  includes preferably hook and pile type fasteners  101  or other type fasteners. As shown, the strap extends under stave  92  around a bar  102  and back upon itself to hold the base portion  98  to the stave  92 . A raised portion  103  extends up from the base portion to a tubular member  104 . Pole or frame section  66 ( a ) is held within tubular member  104 . 
     The base portion is designed so that it can slide on the stave. Also, the orientation of the base relative to the stave can change slightly to allow the base frame member to move, as shown by arrows  47 . This connector is exemplary and any connector that would allow for the movement of the frame members as discussed hereinafter would work adequately. Brackets  94   a  and  b  are the same as brackets  96   a  and  b  except that the raised portions are shorter which causes the base frame to raise from hinge  46  to hinges  52  and  54 . 
       FIGS. 3A-3F  demonstrate how the frame is converted from the extended position to the stored position and, of course, going from the stored position to the extended position is simply the opposite configuration. Initially, the four lock pins are removed from hinges  70 ( a ),  70 ( b ),  86  and  88 . and the frame member  26  is accordioned by pushing in at hinges  86  and  88 , as shown by arrows  166  and  168 . At the same time, lateral pressure is applied to the side frame members, as shown by arrows  170  and  172 , causing side frame members to pivot at hinges  70   a  and  70   b , establishing the configuration as shown in  FIG. 3B . In these drawings, the straps and cover have been removed for clarity. Next, the triangular rear portion  174  is pivoted 180° by pushing up on a pole  176  which is attached to hinge  76  see  FIG. 3C ). This portion folds up onto the raised portion of the frame both of which pivot about hinge  70   a  and  70   b  so that the distal triangular portion  174  rests on the proximal triangular portion  178 . The pole is then rotated onto this section also, as represented by arrow  180  in  3 D. Finally, one side of the frame is pulled toward the other side of the frame, as shown by arrows  182 , bringing the frame together as shown in  FIG. 3F . As this is occurring, the cover will, of course, fold upon itself. Base members  94   a ,  94   b  and  96   a  slide across the staves  90  and  92 . As the frame assumes the final storage position, as shown in  FIG. 3F . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , fabric cover  190  fits over the folded structure and is held in place with fasteners (not shown) such as hook and pile fasteners or snaps. The cover, in turn, holds the frame together in locked position with the mounting brackets  94   a  and  b  and  96   a  and  b  still attached to the luggage rack so that one can drive away with the canopy safely attached to the motor vehicle in a stowed position. 
     This structure provides many different benefits. The canopy easily attaches to the motor vehicle allowing it to be installed quickly and easily. The structure is totally supported by the automobile without separate legs that people may run into and knock over. Because the canopy expands from the front of the motor vehicle towards the back of the automobile, it maximizes the size of the canopy. Further, the general frame structure itself provides for a sturdy, light-weight structure. The canopy can be further modified without departing from the present invention concept. The distal ends can be indirectly connected by a frame member forming a trapezoid or rectangle as opposed to a triangle. But, the cover would still function in the same manner. 
     This has been a description of the present invention along with the preferred method of practicing the present invention. However, the invention itself should only be defined by the appended claims, WHEREIN WE CLAIM: