Patent ID: 6892503

Claim:
In a frame of elongate rigid cylindrical elements joined together for supporting a fabric canopy or tent, the improvement comprising: a plurality of connectors having at least three tubular receptacles for receiving the elongate rigid cylindrical elements, the connectors having special configurations for forming, in cooperation with the cylindrical elements, a frame having; a) a plurality of spaced-apart vertical support posts; b) a plurality of interconnected trusses supported by said spaced-apart vertical support posts, each truss having an upper element for supporting contact with the fabric underside and a lower chord, with at least one stiffening member connected between the lower chord and the upper element at sites intermediate the spaced-apart vertical support posts for enhancing the rigidity of the trusses to allow for greater distance between the vertical support posts; and c) four corner connectors that receive four of the vertical support posts, and that also join together trusses that are at right angles to each other.