Folding shelter

• US 4,971,089 A
• Filed: 12/22/1988
• Issued: 11/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bruce W. Braman
• Original Assignee: Bruce W. Braman
• Inventors: Braman, Bruce W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Raduazo, Henry E.
• Application Number:
  US07/288,488
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 135/90, 135/96, 135/901, 135/900, 297/184, 248/188.9, 182/200, 182/201
• US Class Current: 135/90
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/66 Means to protect against weather
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/666 of enclosure type with side panels

Abstract

This folding shelter has a canopy that can be attached to a folding chair, and removed easily for portability. Struts engaging the back structure of the chair support the canopy under a degree of tension. The canopy has a top panel and depending side and back panels, the latter being detachably secured to the back structure of the chair. Preferably, retractable bearing plates are provided at the lower extremities of the legs of the chair. An optional skirt panel is also provided extending around at least three sides of the chair, and attachable to the side and back panels, with auxiliary support extending from the chair to position the lower rear extremities of the skirt panel.

Claims

1. A folding shelter including a chair having opposite sides and a back structure, and a canopy positioned above said chair, wherein the improvement comprises:

upper and lower spaced strut means extending from and having a connection to said back structure and to said canopy on each of the opposite sides of said chair, each of said strut means being connected to the back of said chair at a single point spaced from the point of connection of the other of said strut means to said back, said connections being capable of transferring bending moment.

2. A shelter as defined in claim 1, wherein said lower strut means are relatively resilient members attached to said canopy at points spaced from said upper strut means, and said strut means are adapted to establish tension in said canopy between said spaced points.

3. A shelter as defined in claim 2, wherein said lower strut means are engageable with said back structure at a plurality of vertically spaced points to selectively position said canopy at various attitudes.

4. A shelter as defined in claim 2, wherein said canopy includes a top panel and depending side panels joined thereto at junctions, and has opposite upper stiffening rods defining said junctions of said top and side panels, said upper strut means being connected to said upperstiffening rods.

5. A shelter as defined in claim 4, wherein said canopy includes axial coupling means receiving the ends of said upper strut means and upper stiffening rods.

6. A shelter as defined in claim 4, wherein said canopy includes lower stiffening rods defining lower edges of said side panels, and said lower strut means is connected to said lower stiffening rods.

7. A shelter as defined in claim 1, wherein said back structure includes opposite substantially vertical side rails each having an axial recess in the upper end thereof, and a radial groove extending from said recesses, respectively, said upper strut means each having an offset end provided with a configuration adapted to engage said recesses and grooves.

8. A shelter as defined in claim 7, wherein said rails have lateral recesses receiving the ends of said lower strut means below said upper strut means.

9. A shelter as defined in claim 1, wherein said canopy has a back panel attachable to said chair at a position below the upper extremity of said back structure.

10. A shelter as defined in claim 9, wherein said canopy has a top panel and depending side panels, and said back panel is integral with said side panels.

11. A shelter as defined in claim 9, wherein said chair has a seat and spaced substantially vertical rails forming a back support, said back panel is removably secured to said rails adjacent said seat.

12. A shelter as defined in claim 9, wherein said shelter includes a skirt panel surrounding at least three sides of said chair, said skirt panel being detachably secured to said back panel and side panels, and further including skirt strut means extending laterally from said chair to said skirt panel at the bottom thereof.

13. A shelter as defined in claim 1, wherein said upper strut means is relatively stiffer in bending than is said lower strut means.

14. A shelter as defined in claim 12, additionally including ground anchor means adapted to secure said skirt panel at the lower front thereof.

15. In combination with a chair having legs, bearing means for supporting said chair on soft ground, comprising:

a plate, and elongated link means pivotally connected at each of the opposite ends thereof to said plate and to at least one of said legs, respectively, said link means being adapted to position said plate alternatively across the end of said leg, or adjacent said leg above said end.