Patent Publication Number: US-6708707-B2

Title: Collapsible canopy support

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of a U.S. Provisional Application serial No. 60/351,964 filed Jan. 25, 2002. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates in general to a collapsible support structure and canopy, and more specifically involves a strong, rigid structure with the center of the ceiling being higher than the peripheral support structure. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional collapsible shelters have several shortcomings. They have lateral side structure that does not provide adequate stiffness to resist side forces such as wind. Thus, in heavy wind, they tend to move or oscillate. Such movement is annoying and can lead to wear and failure. If the ceiling support members of conventional collapsible supports are loaded, such as by roof loads or by hanging items below, the ceiling members either buckle downward and/or bow out the side lateral support structure; both undesirable. Conventional collapsible supports have low support structure in the center of the ceiling. This may cause claustrophobic feeling in persons under the canopy. Conventional collapsible supports do not support a canopy such that it readily sheds water or debris. Additionally, they are not structurally strong enough to support loads suspended from the center structure. 
     Therefore, there has been a need for a collapsible support for a canopy providing rigid ceiling support that will carry roof loads and interior loads without failure or without buckling the side structure. 
     Therefore, there has been a need for a collapsible support for a canopy providing stiffness to the lateral side structures such at they do not move or oscillate in heavy wind. 
     Preferably, such a cover also provides a ceiling having a high center that is strong enough to support loads from the center structure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is a collapsible canopy support and it generally comprises a peripheral structure and a central structure. The peripheral structure comprises four telescopingly collapsible legs, each having a sliding member slidingly connected thereto and four pairs of X-configured truss structures connecting said legs. Each X-configured truss structure includes a first link including a proximal end pivotally connected to a leg upper portion top end, a distal end pivotally connected to the distal end of the first link of the other X-configured truss structure of the pair, and a center portion therebetween; and a second link including a proximal end pivotally connected to the leg sliding member, a distal end pivotally connected to the distal end of the second link of the other X-configured truss structure of the pair, and a center portion therebetween pivotally connected to the center portion of the first link. 
     The central structure connects between opposite side X-configured truss structure pairs and is supported thereby. The central structure generally includes a center post assembly supported by two pairs of orthogonal center trusses. Each pair of center trusses is connected to the center of opposite side X-configured truss structure pairs and is supported thereby. 
     The center post assembly includes a telescoping center post that is adjustable in length and a center slider member adapted to slide over the center post. A slider stop stops further downward movement of the slider member. 
     Each center truss includes a long link, an outer link, and an inner link. The long link is longer than half the width of the support and is longer than the first link and includes an outer end pivotally connected to said distal ends of the first links and an inner end pivotally connected to the center slider member. The outer link includes an outer end pivotally connected to the distal ends of the second links and an inner end pivotally connected to the midsection of the long link such that the length of the outer link plus the length of the outer portion of the long link approximates the combined length of the first link and said second link from their proximal ends to their pivot connection 
     The inner link is less than half the length of said first link and includes an outer end pivotally connected to the midsection of the long link and an inner end pivotally connected to the lower portion of the center post. 
     The canopy periphery is attached to the peripheral structure so as to tension the canopy over the center post assembly. 
     The features and advantages of the invention will be readily understood when the detailed description thereof is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partially cut away perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the collapsible canopy of the invention, with a portion of the canopy shown in phantom. 
     FIG. 2 is a partially cut away side elevation sectional view of the central structure of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the top end of a leg of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a leg slider collar of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged side sectional view of the center post assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the telescoping member of the center post of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the center slider member of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the peripheral structure of the canopy support of FIG. 1 in a collapsed condition; the other sides being identical. 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional side elevation view of a portion of the central structure of the canopy support of FIG. 1 in collapsed condition; an orthogonal section being identical. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to drawing FIGS. 1-4, FIG. 1 is a partially cut away perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the collapsible canopy support  10  of the invention in the erect position. Support  10  is configurable from a collapsed position to an erect position. Support  10  generally comprises a peripheral structure  20  and a central structure  60 , including a center post assembly  61 , for supporting a canopy  15 . 
     FIG. 2 is a partially cut away side elevation sectional view of central structure  60  of FIG.  1 . FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the top end  23  of a leg  21  of FIG.  1 . FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a leg slider collar  35  of FIG.  1 . 
     Peripheral structure  20  includes four legs  21 , four sliding collars  35 , and four pairs  40 P of X-configured truss structures  41  connecting legs  21 . 
     Legs  21  are mainly comprised of square metal tube. Each leg  21  includes an upper portion  22  and a lower portion  30 . Upper portion  22  has a top end  23  and a central portion  26  below top end  23 . As best seen in FIG. 3, top end  23  includes flanges, such as clevis flanges  24 . Four sliding members, such as collars  35 , are slidingly connected to leg central portion  26 . As best seen in FIG. 4, sliding collars  35  include flanges, such as clevis flanges  36 . Although collars  35  are shown and described, other sliding devices coupling the structural members in a similar functional relationship are known and may be used instead of collars  35 . Each leg  21  includes means, such as abutment or detent button  28 , well known in the art, which is spring biased and protrudes from leg  21  through a bore  37  in sliding collar  35  for maintaining sliding collar  35  in the erect position or may be pushed inward to disengage from sliding collar  35  for moving sliding collar  35  to the collapsed position. 
     Leg lower portion  30  engages the ground. Preferably, upper portion  22  and lower portion  30  are telescoping such that lower portion  30  is the inner portion and retracts into upper portion  22  in the collapsed position, as seen in FIG.  8 . Releasable locking means, such as detent button  32 , as is well known in the art, on lower portion  30  maintains lower portion  30  in the erect position and is pressed to retract lower portion  30  into upper portion  22 . A foot flange  33  on bottom end of leg lower portion  30  spreads out the weight on the ground. A pair of bores  34  through foot flange  33  receive ground anchors, such as pegs or tie downs. 
     Side structures  40 , each comprising a plurality of X-configured truss structures  41 , such as pairs  40 P of X-configured truss structures  41 , connect pairs of adjacent legs  21  and hold the upper portion of legs  21  parallel. Each X-configured truss structure pair  40 P joins two adjacent legs  21 , such as legs  21 A,  21 B of first adjacent pair and legs  21 C,  21 D of second adjacent pair. Each X-configured truss structure  41  comprises two structural members: a first link  45  and a second link  55 . First link  45  includes a proximal end  46 , a distal end  48 , and a center portion  47  therebetween. As best seen in FIG. 2, proximal end  46  is pivotally connected to flange  24  on a leg upper portion top end  23 . Distal end  48  is pivotally connected to distal end  48  of first link  45  of the other X-configured truss structure  41  of pair  40 P. Second link  55  includes a proximal end  56 , a distal end  58  and a center portion  57  therebetween. Proximal end  56  is pivotally connected to flange  36  on leg sliding member  35 . Distal end  58  is pivotally connected to distal end  58  of second link  55  of the other X-configured truss structure  41  of pair  40 P. First link  45  and second link  55  are pivotally connected, such as by a pivot pin  59 , such as at midpoints  49 , to form an X. Each X-configured truss structure  41  has lateral ends  50  each comprising an upper end of one link and a lower end of the other link. At least one lateral end  50  is a joining lateral end  50 J wherein the upper end and the lower end respectively are pivotally connected to an upper end and a lower end of a joining lateral end  50 J of another X-configured truss member. Each side structure  40  includes a pair of leg X-configured truss structures; one leg X-configured truss structure being attached to each leg  21 . A lateral end  50  of each leg X-configured truss structure being a leg lateral end  50 L wherein the upper end is pivotally connected to leg upper portion top end  23  and the lower end is pivotally connected to leg sliding member  35 . Returning momentarily to FIGS. 3 and 4, flanges  36  on leg slider collar  35  are laterally offset from flanges  24  on leg top end  23  so that links  45 ,  55 , remain parallel in top view. Preferably, all links  44 ,  55  are the same length. Legs  21  and four pairs  40 P of X-configured trusses  41  support the periphery  16  of canopy  15 . 
     Central structure  60  connects between opposite side X-configured truss structure pairs  40 P and is supported thereby. Central structure  60  generally comprises a center post assembly  61  and two pairs of center trusses  80  supporting center post assembly  61 . Central structure  60  is best described with respect to FIGS. 2,  5 ,  6 , and  7 . FIG. 2 is a partially cut away side elevation sectional view of central structure  60  of FIG.  1 . FIG. 5 is an enlarged side sectional view of center post assembly  61  of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the telescoping member  68  of the center post of FIG.  5 . FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the center slider member  75  of FIG.  5 . 
     Center post assembly  61  includes center post  62  and center slider member  75 . Center post  62  is a square metal tube that has a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal bores  63  therethrough and includes a lower portion  64  and an upper portion  67 . Lower portion  64  includes a plurality of flanges, such as clevis flanges  65 ; and has a lower terminus  66 . 
     Best seen in FIG. 5, upper portion  67  includes a center post slider stop  71 , such as bolt  72  through one of bores  63 , for preventing sliding member  75  from further sliding down center post  62 . This is critical for structural integrity. Preferably, downward movement of sliding member  75  is stopped such that the supporting pairs  40 P of X-configured truss structures  41  are not bowed outward. Slider stop  71 , in effect, fixes the angle between long link  82  and center post assembly  61  such that central structure  60  will not bow out supporting pairs  40 P if canopy  18  roof is loaded or if long link  82  is loaded. 
     Upper portion  67  includes a telescoping member  68  adapted for sliding into the remainder of post  62 . Telescoping member  68  has an upper end  69  adapted, such as by having a large smooth curved area, for supporting the apex  19  of canopy  15 . Bolt  72  may be passed through bore  63  in telescoping member  68  to maintain telescoping member  68  at a desired height or to change the height to further tension canopy  15 . Of course, many other means may be used to adjust the height of upper end  69 . 
     As best seen in FIG. 7, center slider member  75  is a collar  76  in the exemplary embodiment and includes four pairs of clevis flanges  77 . Center post slider collar  76  is adapted to slide over center post  62  and to be stopped from further downward movement by slider stop  71 , such as stop bolt  72 . Although collar  76  is shown to perform the described function, other sliding pivotal connection means could be used. 
     As best seen in FIG. 1, a pair of center trusses  80  are connected to opposite side X-configured truss structure pairs  40 P and supported thereby. Each center truss  80  comprises three structural members: a long link  82 , an outer link  87 , and an inner link  90 . Long link  82  includes an outer portion  83  having an outer end  84 , an inner end  86 , and a midsection  85  therebetween. Outer end  84  is pivotally connected to distal ends  48  of first links  45  of an X-configured truss structure pair  40 P. Inner end  86  is pivotally connected to flange  77  of center slider member  75 . Preferably, long link  82  is longer than second link  55  and. 
     Outer link  87  includes an outer end  88  and an inner end  89 . Outer end  88  is pivotally connected to distal ends  58  of second links  55  of the X-configured truss structure pair  40 P. Inner end  89  is pivotally connected to midsection  85  of long link  82 , defining the portion of long link  82  peripheral to this pivot as outer portion  83  of long link  82 . Comparing FIGS. 8 and 9, outer link  86  is seen to be dimensioned such that the length of outer link  86  plus the length of outer portion  83  of long link  82  is substantially equal to the combined lengths of links  45 ,  55  between proximal ends  46 ,  56  and pivot pins  59  so as to allow collapse of support  10 . 
     Inner link  90 , seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, includes an outer end  91  and an inner end  92 . Outer end  91  is pivotally connected to midsection  85  of long link  82  central from inner end  86  of long link  82 . Inner end  92  is pivotally connected to clevis flanges  65  on lower portion  64  of center post  62 . 
     As best seen in FIG. 2, in the preferred embodiment in the erect configuration, lower terminus  66  of center post assembly  61  is higher than distal ends  48  of first links  45 . This provides for a higher center to the interior ceiling and more head room and spacious interior to the shelter. Also, as best seen in FIG. 2, in the preferred embodiment in the erect configuration, inner ends  86  of long link  82  are above distal ends  58  of second links  55 . This provides for an arched roof which is structurally stronger than a flat roof and for a domed canopy  15  that more readily sheds precipitation. 
     Canopy  15  includes a periphery  16  and a roof  18 . Canopy  15  is attached, such as by velcro straps  17  on periphery  16  to peripheral structure  20 , such as to upper portion  22  of legs  21  and to distal ends  58  of second links  55 , such that, in the erect configuration, canopy apex  19  is tensioned over center post assembly  61 , thereby pushing center post  62  downward. This downward tensioning, combined with the action of slider stop, provides for a very rigid central structure such that the supporting pairs  40 P of X-configured truss structures are not bowed inwardly or outwardly as loads are placed on canopy roof  18  or on long link  82 . 
     Having described the invention, it can be seen that it provides a very convenient canopy support that can be easily and quickly collapsed and placed in a small space, such as the trunk of an automobile. The center of the ceiling is higher than the periphery to provide a spacious interior. The center structure is rigid to provide load bearing and lateral center support for the lateral peripheral structure. The center post length is adjustable to tension a canopy and provide improved run-off. 
     Although a particular embodiment of the invention, employing four legs  21  and having two pairs  40 P of X-configured truss structures joining legs  21 , has been illustrated and described, it is readily seen that support  10  may be comprised of multiples of these units so as to have more than four legs  21 , more than a pair of X-configured truss members  41  per side structure  40 , and more than a single center post assembly  61 . Thus, various changes may be made in the form, composition, construction, and arrangement of the parts herein without sacrificing any of its advantages. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.