Collapsible canopy structure

• US 4,641,676 A
• Filed: 01/23/1984
• Issued: 02/10/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: KD Kanopy Incorporated (Aeroturbine Energy Corp.)
• Original Assignee: James P. Lynch
• Inventors: Lynch, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US06/573,070
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 135/90, 135/109, 135/110, 135/DIG. 2, 135/106, 135/107, 135/111, 135/112, 135/113, 52/109
• US Class Current: 135/145
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/50 lazy-tongs type

Abstract

A portable canopy structure may be erected from a collapsed state to an expanded state that shelters a desired surface. The canopy structure includes a dome-like covering that is held in position by a support framework having a plurality of upright support members that are interconnected by a plurality of scissor assemblies. Each upright support member slideably mounts a slide bracket, and a rigid bracket is mounted at its top. The scissor assemblies are connected to these brackets. Preferably the structure is in the form of a parallelepiped, and an internal scissor assembly extends between two facing side scissor assemblies which interconnect the upright supports. The covering extends across the tops of the supports and has side panels which depend downwardly from its perimeter, and the internal scissor assembly supports a central post that helps support the covering. A screen may be positioned around the support structure and may be connected to and be downwardly dependent from the side panels. Guy cords may be provided for the upright support members.

Claims

1. A collapsible canopy shelter adapted to be erected on the ground at a desired location, comprising:

four upright corner support members defining a parallelepiped, each corner support member having a top section and a bottom ground-engaging end;

a slide bracket slideably received on each corner support member and movable therealong;

an edge scissor assembly interconnecting adjacent ones of said corner support members whereby two pairs of facing scissors assemblies are formed, each said edge scissor assembly oriented in a generally vertical plane and interconnecting the slide brackets and the top sections of its associated corner support members and operative to move its respective corner support members away from one another into an expanded position when its said slide brackets are moved toward the tops of their respective corner support members and to move its respective corner support members toward one another into a collapsed position when its said slide brackets are moved toward the bottom ends of their respective corner support members;

an internal scissor assembly extending between and connected to at least one pair of facing scissors assemblies and operative to expand and contract in response to expansion and contraction of said one pair of facing scissors assemblies;

releaseable latch means on each said corner support member for releaseably retaining its respective slide bracket in at a location corresponding to the expanded position;

a flexible covering sized to extend across the top sections of said corner support members when they are in the expanded position to define a top surface of said parallelepiped; and

an upright interior post engaged with and supported by said interior scissor assembly whereby the expansion of the internal scissor assembly allows said interior post to be positioned to positively support a central portion of flexible covering against the internal scissor assembly when said canopy shelter is in the expanded position, said internal scissor assembly including a socket moveable toward said flexible covering when the corner supports are moved into the expanded positon and a sleeve member connected thereto, said post received by said sleeve and positively engaged by said socket whereby said post is held in position against said central portion of said covering.

2. A collapsible canopy shelter adapted to be positioned on the ground, comprising:

a plurality of upright corner support members each having a top and bottom and oriented to define vertical edges of a selected geometric configuration;

a slide bracket slideably mounted on each of said corner support members and moveable therealong;

an edge scisor assembly interconnecting adjacent ones of said corner support members, each respective edge scissor assembly oriented in a generally vertical plane and having one portion pivotally secured to the top of its associated corner support members and another portion pivotally secured to the slide bracket of its associated corner support members, said edge scissor assemblies operative to expand and contract whereby its associated corner support members are caused to move away from and toward one another to vary the dimensions of said geometric configuration, said canopy shelter being in an expanded position when said corner support members are moved away from one another and in a collapsed position when said corner support members are moved toward one another;

an internal scissor assembly extending across said geometric configuration and connected between at least two of said edge assemblies and operative to expand and contract in response to expansion and contraction of said edge scissor assemblies, said internal scissor assembly including a lower socket and an upper sleeve secured to said internal scissor assembly;

first releasable latch means on each said corner support members for releasably retaining its respective slide bracket adjacent the top of its respective corner support member to retain said canopy shelter in the expanded position;

a flexible covering extending across the top of said corner support members and sized to cover the upper surface of said geometric configuration when said canopy shelter is in the expanded position; and

an upright interior post secured to the internal scissor assembly and operative to positively support a central portion of said flexible covering when said canopy shelter is in the expanded position, said post slideably received in said upper sleeve and positively supported by said lower socket whereby said lower socket holds said post against the central position of the flexible covering when said canopy shelter is in the expanded position.

3. A collapsible canopy shelter adapted to be positioned on the ground, comprising:

a plurality of upright corner support members each having a top and bottom and oriented to define vertical edges of a selected geometric configuration;

a slide bracket slideably mounted on each of said corner support members and moveable therealong;

an edge scissor assembly interconnecting adjacent ones of said corner support members, each respective edge scissor assembly oriented in a generally vertical plane and having one portion pivotally secured to the top of its associated corner support members and another portion pivotally secured to the slide bracket of its associated corner support members, said edge scissor assemblies operative to expand and contract whereby its associated corner support members are caused to move away from and toward one another to vary the dimensions of said geometric configuraiton, said canopy shelter being in an expanded position when said corner support members are moved away from one another and in a collapsed position when said corner support members are moved toward one another;

an internal scissor assembly extending across said geometric configuration and connected between at least two of said edge assemblies and operative to expand and contract in response to expansion and contraction of said edge sicssor assemblies;

first releasable latch means on each said corner support members for releasably retaining its respective slide bracket adjacent the top of its respective corner support member to retain said canopy shelter in the expanded position;

a flexible covering extending across the tops of said corner support members and sized to cover the upper surface of said geometric configuration when said canopy shelter is in the expanded position, said covering including a top panel extending across said upper surface and side panels connected to said top panel and extending downwardly alongside surfaces of said geometric configuration;

means along the lower edge of said side panels for releaseably securing said side panels to said corner support members; and

an upright interior post secured to the internal scissor assembly and operative to positively support a central portion of said flexible covering when said canopy shelter is in the expanded position.

4. A collapsible canopy shelter according to claim 3 wherein said means for releaseably securing said side panels includes a flexible cord extending around an upper portion of each corner support member in the expanded position and includes releaseable connectors mounted on said side panels and adpated to receive said flexible cord.

5. A collapsible canopy shelter according to claim 4 wherein said slide bracket includes a mounting ring adapted to secure said flexible cord thereto.