Patent Publication Number: US-9404282-B2

Title: Canopy leg hold down plate

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a method to ground secure and wind stabilize portable collapsible canopy units. More specifically, this invention relates to a canopy leg hold down plate. 
     Portable collapsible canopy units such as the ones disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,240,940 and 5,244,001, provide outdoor sun protection and inclement weather shelter for people and their belongings at picnics, fairs, campgrounds, markets and other gatherings. Windy conditions require canopy units be anchored to the existing pavement or ground for general safety, and to reduce legal liability in case a canopy unit becomes airborne. Canopy unit manufacturers furnish metal pegs which are intended to be driven into the ground through one or two holes within each canopy frame leg welded attached footplate, and tie-down cords for additional ground anchorage. Other methods for anchoring canopy units include plastic coated concrete discs with an open ended slot to allow them to straddle the canopy frame leg and rest on top of the canopy frame leg welded attached footplate; leg weight cases which can be filled with a variety of weight material (U.S. Pat. No. 8,714,174) steel plates (U.S. Pat. No. 6,981,680) which can be staked to the ground or asphalt; anchor framework weights (U.S. Pat. No. 5,737,883) and sand/material filled fabric bag anchor leg weights. These various weights are heavy and difficult to transport. There are water/material filled bucket leg weights (U.S. Pat. No. 8,439,058) also available for anchoring canopy units, but this system require the canopy support legs be elevated to the top of the buckets, which is unsightly, raises the canopy unit&#39;s height and center of gravity. Also, there is a canopy anchor pad system (U.S. Pat. No. 8,312,888). This system requires bolting or hook strapping steel plates with attached pads to the canopy frame legs and applying secondary weights on top of the plates and pads. This system&#39;s placement and displacement is more time intensive than the present invention, and requires a safety flap to cover the bolt attachment which the present invention does not. 
     Therefore, the principle objective of the present invention is to provide a canopy unit anchoring device that effectively anchors the canopy unit. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a canopy unit anchoring device that facilitates placement and displacement time of the canopy unit anchor device. 
     Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a canopy unit anchoring device that facilitates decorative occupation recognition styling of the canopy unit anchor device. 
     Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a canopy unit anchoring device that is a recyclable plastic material or a partially recyclable plastic material canopy unit anchor device. 
     Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a canopy unit anchoring device that increases safety of the canopy unit anchor device. 
     Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a canopy unit anchoring device that increases safety at outdoor events. 
     Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a canopy unit anchoring device that decreases legal liability for canopy unit owners at outdoor events. 
     Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a canopy unit anchoring device that is a cost effective canopy unit anchor device. 
     Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a canopy unit anchoring device that facilitates transporting of the canopy unit anchor device. 
     Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a canopy unit anchoring device that facilitates storage of the canopy unit anchor device when not in use. 
     Lastly, another objective of the present invention is to provide a canopy unit anchoring device that offers a combination of weighting and ground pegging of the canopy unit anchor device. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The canopy leg hold down plate device a pressure molded plastic planar plate which pivotally completely encloses a portion of each canopy support leg and covers the majority of the top of each leg&#39;s welded attached footplate by use of a portion of the planar plate and either a portion of the locking block swing gate or a portion of the locking block slide gate. Secondary weight may be placed on the top patterned area and optional grounding pegs may be driven through the plate&#39;s bored holes, thereby, either individually or in combination, anchor the canopy unit to any surface. The plate may be molded into various decorative, unique and occupation recognition shapes, such as: a human foot, shoe, animal paw, clawed bird foot, clawed reptilian foot, flower or tree silhouette. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is shown on sheet numbered 1-9 as a front page perspective view of a portable collapsible canopy unit with four canopy leg hold down plates attached to the canopy frame legs with optional secondary weight on each canopy leg hold down plate; and 
         FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5  are shown on sheets numbered 2-9, 3-9, 4-9, 5-9 as plan view top, plan view bottom, elevation view and perspective view, respectively, of the canopy leg hold down plate with a recessed locking block swing gate as it fully encloses a portion of the canopy frame leg and covers the majority of the top of the leg&#39;s welded attached footplate; and 
         FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9  are shown on sheets numbered 6-9, 7-9, 8-9, 9-9 as plan view top, plan view bottom, elevation view and perspective view, respectively, of the canopy leg hold down plate with a locking block slide gate as it fully encloses a portion of the canopy frame leg and covers the majority of the top of the leg&#39;s welded attached footplate. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows in general a portable collapsible canopy unit  10  that includes a fabric canopy  11  which is supported by a collapsible metal frame  12 . The collapsible metal frame  12  has multiple canopy frame legs  13 , each with a leg welded attached footplate  15 . These canopy units are designed for quick and easy placement and displacement, are lightweight to transport and conveniently stored. Removable and enclosing each canopy frame leg  13  and covering the majority of the top of each welded attached footplate  15  is a canopy leg hold down plate  14 , made of pressure molded plastic, preferably recycled plastic, material, measuring about six (6) inches in width, about (20) twenty inches in length and about one-half (½) inch in thickness, which when used with a secondary weight  16  and/or ground pegging anchorage force to the existing pavement or ground  9 . Secondary weight  16  may be placed on each canopy leg hold down plate  14 . 
       FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5  show in detail canopy leg hold down plate  14  made of pressure molded plastic, preferably recycled plastic, material which comprises a top patterned area  22  and bottom patterned area  23 , both areas having a pressure molded plastic diamond tread pattern  26  to reduce lateral movement of the secondary weight  16  and to reduce lateral movement against the existing pavement or ground  9 . 
     The canopy leg hold down plate  14  has a leg insertion channel  17 , about fourteen (14) inches in length, to provide for the insertion of a canopy frame leg  13 , and a channel terminus hole  18  to partially enclose the canopy frame leg  13  and partially cover the top of the leg&#39;s welded attached footplate  15 . The canopy leg hold down plate  14  has a locking block swing gate  20  which pivots within a molded recessed area  24  on the bottom patterned area  23 . The locking block swing gate  20  is attached by, and pivots on, a plastic or metal rivet  19  attached through the canopy leg hold down plate  14  to allow for open and close positioning within the molded recessed area  24 . In the open position, the locking block swing gate  20  is turned parallel to the leg insertion channel  17  within the molded recessed area  24 . The locking block swing gate  20  is turned perpendicular to the leg insertion channel  17  to its closed position within the molded recessed area  24 . Closed positioning allows the locking block swing gate  20  and the canopy leg hold down plate  14  to completely enclose the canopy frame leg  13  and cover the majority of the top of the leg&#39;s welded attached footplate  15 . 
     The canopy leg hold down plate  14  has several bored holes  21  through the top patterned area  22  and bottom patterned area  23  to provide pegging anchorage to the existing ground  9 . The top patterned area  22  is of size and shape to accept a plurality of secondary weights  16 . 
     The canopy leg hold down plate may be molded into various decorative shapes different from the shape presented. For attractiveness, uniqueness and occupation recognition, the plate may be molded as a human foot, shoe, animal paw, clawed bird foot or clawed reptilian foot, flower or tree silhouette. 
     In practice, when the canopy unit  10  is set up, an individual or individuals place one canopy leg hold down plate  14  on each canopy frame leg  13  in accordance with the following procedures. The locking block swing gate  20 , pivoting on the plastic or metal rivet  19 , is turned parallel to the leg insertion channel  17  within the molded recessed area  24  for open positioning. The canopy leg hold down plate  14  is placed around the canopy frame leg  13  by inserting the said canopy frame leg  13  into the leg insertion channel  17  and then, the canopy leg hold down plate  14  is slid to the channel terminus hole  18 . The locking block swing gate  20 , pivoting on the plastic or metal rivet  19 , is turned perpendicular to the leg insertion channel  17  within the molded recessed area  24  to the closed position. This fully encloses the canopy frame leg  13  and covers the majority of the top of the leg&#39;s welded attached footplate  15 . 
     The canopy leg hold down plate  14  is placed upon the existing pavement or ground  9 , pivotally about the canopy frame leg  13 . Secondary weight  16  may be placed on the top patterned area  22  to provide anchorage force to the bottom patterned area  23 , and provide force to keep the locking block swing gate  20  in the closed position within the molded recessed area  24 . Ground anchorage may be achieved by pegging through the bored holes  21 . A combination of placing secondary weight  16  and pegging through the bored holes  21  may be employed to anchor the canopy unit to the existing ground  9 . 
       FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9  show in detail the canopy leg hold down plate  14  made of pressure molded plastic, preferably recycled plastic, material which comprises a top patterned area  22  and bottom patterned area  23 , both haying a pressure molded plastic diamond tread pattern  26  to prevent lateral movement of the secondary weight  16  and to prevent lateral movement against the existing pavement or ground  9 . 
     The canopy leg hold down plate  14  has a leg insertion channel  17 , about fourteen (14) inches in length, to provide for the insertion of a canopy frame leg  13  and a channel terminus hole  18  to partially enclose the canopy frame leg  13  and partially cover the top of the leg&#39;s welded attached footplate  15 . The canopy leg hold down plate  14  has a separate locking block slide gate  25 . The locking block slide gate  25  engages the leg insertion channel  17  and outer edges of the canopy leg hold down plate  14  and partially slides over the top patterned area  22  and bottom patterned area  23  the length of the leg insertion channel  17  to allow for open and close positioning. Completely sliding the locking block slide gate  25  off of the canopy leg hold down plate  14  allows for open positioning. In the closed position, the locking block slide gate  25  fits into the leg insertion channel  17  and overhangs both outer edges of the canopy leg hold down plate  14  and partially covers the top patterned area  22  and bottom patterned area  23 . Sliding the locking block slide gate  25  along the canopy leg hold down plate  14  until it&#39;s contiguous to the canopy frame leg  13  within the channel terminus hole  18  closes the locking block slide gate  25 , and completely encloses the canopy frame leg  13  and covers the majority of the top of the leg&#39;s welded attached footplate  15 . 
     The canopy leg hold down plate  14  has several bored holes  21  through the top patterned area  22  and bottom patterned area  23  to provide for pegging anchorage to the existing ground  9 . The top patterned area  22  is of size and shape to accept a plurality of secondary weights  16 . 
     The canopy leg hold down plate may be molded into various decorative shapes different from the shape presented. For attractiveness, uniqueness and occupation recognition, the plate may be molded as a human foot, shoe, animal paw, clawed bird foot or clawed reptilian foot, flower or tree silhouette 
     In practice, when the canopy unit  10  is set up, an individual or individuals, place one canopy leg hold down plate  14  on each canopy frame leg  13  in accordance with the following procedures. The locking block slide gate  25  is slid completely off the canopy leg hold down plate  14  for open positioning. The canopy leg hold down plate  14  is placed around the canopy frame leg  13  inserting the canopy frame leg  13  into the leg insertion channel  17  and then, the canopy leg hold down plate  14  is slid so that the canopy frame leg  13  engages the channel terminus hole  18 . The locking block slide gate  25  is aligned with the open end of the leg insertion channel  17  and both outer edges of the canopy leg hold down plate  14  and slid over the top patterned area  22  and bottom patterned area  23  to the channel terminus hole  18  to its closed position. This fully encloses the canopy frame leg  13  and covers the majority of the to of the leg&#39;s welded attached footplate  15 . 
     The canopy leg hold down plate  14  is placed upon the existing pavement or ground  9 , pivotally about the canopy frame leg  13 . Secondary weight  16  may be placed on the top patterned area  22  to provide anchorage force to the bottom patterned area  23 , and to provide force to keep the locking block slide gate  25  in its closed position adjacent to the channel terminus hole  18 . Ground anchorage may be achieved by pegging through the bored holes  21 . Two bored holes  21 , when occupied by ground driven pegs, are designed to keep the locking block slide gate the closed position. A combination of placing secondary weight  16  and pegging through the bored holes  21  may be employed to anchor the canopy unit to the existing ground  9 .