Patent Publication Number: US-6209611-B1

Title: Collapsible cover apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to coverings and more particularly pertains to a new collapsible cover apparatus for mounting to a wheel chair to protect the occupant of the wheel chair from the weather. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of coverings is known in the prior art. More specifically, coverings heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,987; U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,740; U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,170; U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,479; U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,057; and U.S. Des. Patent No. 319,202. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new collapsible cover apparatus. The inventive device includes a covering member. The covering member comprises a plurality of panels integrally coupled to each other. A frame includes a pair of frame support bars. Each of the frame support bars is elongate and each of the frame support bars is releasably couplable to a wheel chair. A plurality of brackets are slidably mounted in the frame support bars. A plurality of covering support bars support the covering. Each of the covering support bars generally has a U-shape which includes a base portion, a first leg portion and a second leg portion. Each of the leg portions has a free end that is fixedly coupled to one of the brackets. A fastening means fastens the cover member to the frame. The fastening means is fixedly coupled to an inside surface of the panels and fixedly coupled to each of the covering support bars. 
     In these respects, the collapsible cover apparatus according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of mounting to a wheel chair to protect the occupant of the wheel chair from the weather. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of coverings now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new collapsible cover apparatus construction wherein the same can be utilized for mounting to a wheel chair to protect the occupant of the wheel chair from the weather. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new collapsible cover apparatus apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the coverings mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new collapsible cover apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art coverings, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises G a covering member. The covering member comprises a plurality of panels integrally coupled to each other. A frame includes a pair of frame support bars. Each of the frame support bars is elongate and each of the frame support bars is releasably couplable to a wheel chair. A plurality of brackets are slidably mounted in the frame support bars. A plurality of covering support bars support the covering. Each of the covering support bars generally has a U-shape which includes a base portion, a first leg portion and a second leg portion. Each of the leg portions has a free end that is fixedly coupled to one of the brackets. A fastening means fastens the cover member to the frame. The fastening means is fixedly coupled to an inside surface of the panels and fixedly coupled to each of the covering support bars. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new collapsible cover apparatus apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the coverings mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new collapsible cover apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art coverings, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new collapsible cover apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new collapsible cover apparatus which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new collapsible cover apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such collapsible cover apparatus economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new collapsible cover apparatus which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new collapsible cover apparatus for mounting to a wheel chair to protect the occupant of the wheel chair from the weather. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new collapsible cover apparatus which includes a pair of frame support bars. Each of the frame support bars is elongate and each of the frame support bars is releasably couplable to a wheel chair. A plurality of brackets are slidably mounted in the frame support bars. A plurality of covering support bars support the covering. Each of the covering support bars generally has a U-shape which includes a base portion, a first leg portion and a second leg portion. Each of the leg portions has a free end that is fixedly coupled to one of the brackets. A fastening means fastens the cover member to the frame. The fastening means is fixedly coupled to an inside surface of the panels and fixedly coupled to each of the covering support bars. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new collapsible cover apparatus that mounts on a wheel chair and has a covering which may be removed from the frame. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new collapsible cover apparatus that has a frame which has cover member support bars which slide between a collapsed position and erected position. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a new collapsible cover apparatus according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the frame of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the frame in a collapsed position of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic back view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the covering member of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line  7 — 7  of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new collapsible cover apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the collapsible cover apparatus  10  generally comprises an apparatus that is removably mountable to a wheel chair  11 . The wheel chair  11  has a pair of generally horizontal seat support bars  12  and a pair of generally vertical back rest  13  support bars. 
     The apparatus has covering member  14 . The covering member contains a plurality of panels. A first  16  of the panels has four edges  21 . A second panel  17 , a third panel  18 , fourth panel  19  and a fifth panel  20  each has an edge integrally coupled to one of the edges  21  of the first panel  16 . The first  16 , second  17  and third  18  panels generally lie along a straight line and the first  16 , fourth  19  and fifth  20  panels generally lie along a straight line when the panels lie in a plane as shown in FIG.  6 . Each of the panels is generally flexible. Each of the panels has a generally rectangular shape. The panels each have an opening  22  therein. The fourth panel  19  has a pair of apertures  23  therein for receiving the handles of the wheel chair. The apertures  23  are positioned between the opening  22  in the fourth panel  19  and an edge of the fourth panel opposed to the first panel. The fifth panel  20  generally has a length twice as long as the fourth panel  19  and a free edge  24  adapted to releasably couple to the foot rest of the wheel chair  11 . FIG. 6 depicts the fifth panel  20  in a rolled-up position. 
     A plurality of shields  26  covers the openings  22  in the panels and act as window. Each of the shields  26  is fixedly coupled to one of the panels. The shields  26  are preferably flexible and transparent. Each of the shields ideally comprises an elastomeric material or a plastic. 
     A frame  30  includes a pair of frame support bars  32 . Each of the frame support bars  32  is elongate having a first end  34  and a second end  36 . Each of the frame support bars  30  has a slot  38  therein. The slot  38  extends between the first  34  and second  36  ends of the frame support bars  32 . 
     A plurality of brackets  40  each has a base portion  42  and a protruding member  44 . Each of the base portions  42  is slidably mounted in the slots  38  of the frame support bars  32 . Preferably three of the brackets  40  are mounted in each of the frame support bars. Each of the protruding members  44  extends away from the frame support bars  32 . 
     A plurality of covering support bars  46  support the covering member  14 . Each of the covering support bars  46  generally has a U-shape. Each of the support bars  46  has a base portion  48 , a first leg portion  50  and a second leg portion  52 . Each of the leg portions has a free end  54 . The base portions  48  are bowed away from the free ends  54  of the leg portions. The free ends  54  of the first leg portion  50  are hingedly coupled to one of the protruding members  44  slidably mounted in a first of the frame support bars  32 . The free ends  54  of the second leg portions  52  are hingedly coupled to one of the protruding members  44  slidably mounted in a second of the frame support bars  32 . 
     A securing means releasably secures the frame support bars to the wheel chair  11 . The securing means comprises a pair of elongate members  56 . Each of the elongate members  56  has a first end  57  and a second end  58 . Each of the first ends  57  of the elongate members  56  is fixedly coupled to one of the frame support members  32 , and each of the elongate members  56  is generally located in a central portion of the frame support members  32 . The elongate members generally extend in an opposite direction of the protruding members  44 . Each of the second ends  58  of the elongate members is releasably secured to one of the seat support bars  12  of the wheel chair  11  using conventional clamps. 
     Each of a pair of clamping means  59  is fixedly coupled to one of the second ends  36  of the frame support bars  32 . The clamping means  59  are releasably coupled to one of the back rest support bars  13  of the wheel chair  11 . The clamping means  59  are conventional clamps. 
     A fastening means fastens  60  the cover member  14  to the frame  30 . The fastening means  60  is fixedly coupled to an inside surface of the first  16 , second  17  and third  18  panels. The fastening means  60  is fixedly coupled to each of the covering support bars  46 . The fastening means  60  is generally located on the covering support bars  46  such that the fastening means  60  on the cover member  14  is aligned with the fastening means on the covering support bars. Ideally, the fastening means  60  is a hook and loop fastening means. 
     In use, the frame is mounted on the wheel chair. In bad weather, the covering supports are placed in a vertical position and the covering member is placed on the covering supports. The windows in the covering member allow the occupant of the wheel chair to still be able to see while being protected from wind and precipitation. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, 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 and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.