Patent Publication Number: US-7708339-B2

Title: Canopy frame particularly applicable to deck chairs, garden chairs, beach chairs and the like

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present Utility Model refers to a canopy frame particularly applicable to deck chairs, garden chairs, beach chairs and the like and most particularly a canopy frame that is easy to be assembled, disassembled and carried by the user wherever and whenever they like which can also be used in a simple way to protect oneself from the sun or the wind. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE PRIOR ART 
   Within the prior art in the subject there are traditional garden umbrellas or parasols similar to the ordinary umbrellas as well as other frames especially designed to be used as a complement to tents of different sizes and construction which are assembled at the front of the tents as an extension. 
   It would be redundant to make more detailed comments on said umbrellas and complementary frames for tents since they have been in the market for many years and as it will be stated further on, they are not relevant antecedents to the state-of-the-art canopy frame which is the object of the present utility model. 
   Among the most remarkable advantages of this canopy frame particularly applicable for deck chairs, garden chairs, beach chairs and the like, it is worth mentioning apart from the fact that it is undoubtedly a novelty and comfortable to use, it is easy to assemble by simply coupling its parts and mainly the fact that the user can adapt its position at any time according to the direction of the sunrays without moving the frame and/or the chair. 
   In fact, as the direction of the sunrays changes during the day, you just need to move the retractable cover on the upper part of the frame and it can be done by any person regardless of their physical strength which is a remarkable advantage to the ordinary parasols. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The reason for this present utility model is to provide a canopy frame particularly applicable for deck chairs, garden chairs, beach chairs and the like being a frame which can be easily assembled and disassembled in the place itself to be used and carried by the user. It comprises a primary set of rods which define the corresponding side poles which are extended like an arc on opposite sides of the chair or deck chair and separated between each other by a distance which is at least the width or the length of said chair under the frame and a secondary set of rods which are the corresponding mounting supports of said poles to the chair or deck chair, and it is mounted, in a retractable way, on at least one segment of the length of said side poles and between them there is at least one cover which is able to partially or fully prevent the sunrays from hitting the space occupied by the chair or deck chair. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     To understand and show the object of the present utility model more clearly it has been illustrated in different pictures which represent the most suitable ways to manufacture it, only as an example in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a prospective front view of the canopy frame which is the object of the present utility model. 
       FIG. 2  is a prospective back view of the canopy frame which is the object of the present utility model shown in Picture  1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a detailed version of the bottom of a garden or beach chair and the way in which the canopy frame is fixed to it. 
       FIG. 4  shows the pieces and the sets with which the canopy frame, object of this present utility model, is assembled. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Describing in the first place  FIGS. 1 and 2  it can be seen that this canopy frame marked with the general reference number  1  and applied to this example to an R deck chair, has a primary set of rods which define the respective side poles ( 2 ), which extend in an arc on each side and over said R deck chair and a secondary set of rods with which mounting supports ( 3 ) are defined for said poles ( 2 ) and the fixing of frame ( 1 ) to the R deck chair. As shown, the side poles ( 2 ) are separated from each other by a distance that widely allows for the space occupied by the R deck chair under frame ( 1 ). Each of said side poles ( 2 ) is defined by a succession of flexible rod segments ( 4 ) coupled like an axle with tubular pieces  5  “male &amp; female” preferably threaded. 
   At the same time, the mounting supports ( 3 ) comprise pairs of rods respectively located on opposite sides of the R deck chair and matching the location of the tips of each side pole ( 2 ). Each of said mounting supports ( 3 ) comprises a horizontal segment ( 6 ) where a first tip ( 7 ) that can be coupled to the R deck chair and a second tip ( 8 ) that can be coupled to the corresponding tip of the matching side pole ( 2 ) are defined. Said second tip ( 8 ) of the mounting supports ( 3 ) is defined by a tubular segment ( 9 ) essentially perpendicular to the horizontal segment ( 6 ) where the corresponding tip of the side pole ( 2 ) fits. 
   On top of the upper pair of the side poles ( 2 ) there is a retractable cover ( 10 ) between them made of canvas, a shade cloth or any other cover capable of partially or fully preventing the sunrays from reaching the space occupied by the R deck chair. It is worth pointing out that, as will soon be understood, although said cover ( 10 ) is shown in the picture at the top and in the middle of the frame ( 1 ) in practice it can be placed in any other positions along the poles ( 2 ) according to what the user needs of prefers with regard to the direction of the sunrays from which they want to protect themselves as well as the direction of the wind if applicable. For this purpose, said retractable covering ( 10 ) is fixed to both side poles ( 2 ) from its opposite tips ( 11 ) by means of knots defined by “hoop and loop” fabric strips ( 12 ). In this way, the cover ( 10 ) can be easily retracted at will from one position into another. 
   Additionally in order to make the frame ( 1 ) more mechanically resistant in case of medium or strong winds, it is fastened by means of a set of ropes ( 13 ) which stabilize the side poles ( 2 ). Said ropes ( 13 ) have a primary tip ( 13   a ) or upper tip fixed to the corresponding side pole ( 2 ) and a secondary tip ( 13   b ) or lower tip fixed to the ground by means of a stake ( 17 ). Besides, as a complementary frame stabilizer ( 1 ) extra stakes are supplied to fix it to the ground from the side poles ( 2 ) mounting supports ( 3 ). Said stakes ( 18 ) are shown in picture  4  which will be further referred to. 
   In  FIG. 3  the construction specifications of the mounting supports ( 3 ) for its coupling to the R deck chair can be clearly seen. In fact, as illustrated, showing the deck chair in opposite sides thereof respective T ground supporting rods. Tip ( 7 ) of rods ( 6 ) is fixed to the corresponding T rod by means of a coupling piece ( 14 ) that has a fixable primary segment ( 15 ) to said tip ( 7 ) for example, by means of a screw or cylindrical bolt and a secondary segment ( 16 ) essentially a split pipe, on which the T rod rests. In this way, the structure ( 1 ) as a whole, is also well fixed against the ground because of the weight of the R deck chair itself and even more, when there is a user sitting or lying there. 
   In  FIG. 4  where the set of pieces that form the frame which is the object of this present utility model is shown, the shape of the flexible rods ( 4 ) that as a whole define each of the side poles ( 2 ) the rigid rods ( 6 ) that define each of the mounting supports ( 3 ) together with the coupling pieces ( 14 ) can clearly be seen as well as the shape of the stakes ( 17 ) to fix to the ground the stabilizing ropes ( 13 ) and the stakes ( 18 ) that can be used additionally to fix the frame against the ground coupling the rigid rods ( 6 ) to the concave tip ( 19 ) of said stakes ( 18 ).