Arched canopy system

• US 7,690,390 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2008
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Linda Susan Hopkins, Melvin Allen Hopkins
• Original Assignee: Linda Susan Hopkins, Melvin Allen Hopkins
• Inventors: Hopkins, Linda Susan, Hopkins, Melvin Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hawk; Noah Chandler
• Application Number:
  US12/008,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20090090405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 135/125, 135/88.01, 135/88.03, 135/88.04, 280/304.3, 280/288.4, 280/727
• US Class Current: 135/88.03
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/08 Hoods protecting the rider
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/083 Frame mounted hoods specially adapted for rider propelled cycles
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/40 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/58 Closures; Awnings; Sunshades

Abstract

A frame is formed of two laterally spaced rods. The rods have forward ends and rearward ends. The frame has a plurality of cross tubes. The cross tubes have opposed ends. The opposed ends are coupled to the rods. Forward retaining components couple the forward ends of the rods to a vehicle forwardly. Rearward components couple the rearward ends of the straps to a vehicle rearwardly. A flexible canopy fabric has pockets receiving the rods and cross tubes.

Claims

1. An arched canopy and vehicle system comprising:

a vehicle having components forwardly and an essentially vertical seat rearwardly, the seat having an upper extent and a lower extent;

a frame formed of two laterally spaced rods having forward ends and rearward ends with a front cross tube, a middle cross tube and a rear cross tube, each cross tube having opposed ends coupled to the rods;

forward retaining components for coupling the forward ends of the rods to the vehicle forwardly and rearward retaining components for attaching the rearward ends of the rods to the seat of the vehicle rearwardly;

a flexible canopy fabric in a generally rectangular configuration with a front edge and an adjacent front pocket receiving the front cross tube and a parallel middle pocket receiving the middle cross tube and a parallel rearward edge with an adjacent rearward pocket receiving the rear cross tube, the front pocket being of a length essentially equal to the length of the front cross tube, the middle pocket being of a length essentially equal to the length of the middle cross tube, the rearward pocket being of a length essentially equal to the length of the rear cross tube, the canopy fabric also having parallel side edges forming parallel side pockets receiving the side rods between the front and rear cross tubes, the side pockets being of a length essentially equal to the length of the side rods, the side pockets also receiving the spaced intersecting locations;

a rectangular viewing panel formed in the canopy fabric between the rear cross tube and the rear edge, the viewing panel being fabricated of a mesh with interstices of sufficient size to allow viewing objects behind the bicycle for safety purposes, the viewing panel also including a rectangular covering panel of flexible opaque material of a size to cover the viewing panel, the covering panel having an upper edge with a strip of hook and loop fasteners and an associated strip of hook and loop fasteners adjacent to the rear cross tube adapted to hold the covering panel over the viewing panel at the discretion of a rider of the bicycle; and

a finger ring coupled to the front edge of the canopy cover at the forward-most extent of the canopy fabric, the finger ring adapted to receive a finger of a rider of the bicycle and pull the front cross tube and canopy cover and side rods forwardly for protection purposes, the front cross tube and canopy cover and side rods adapted to resiliently move rearwardly upon release of the finger ring by the rider of the bicycle.

2. An arched canopy and bicycle system for protecting a rider of a recumbent bicycle from sun and light rain in a safe, convenient and economical manner comprising, in combination:

a recumbent bicycle having handles with essentially vertical bars forwardly and an essentially vertical seat rearwardly, the seat having an upper extent and a lower extent;

a canopy frame formed of two laterally spaced fiberglass rods with limited flexibility and having forward ends with rigid rings positioned forwardly of the vertical bars, the rods having rearward ends attached directly to the seat and positioned rearwardly of the seat with three cross tubes, a front cross tube and a middle cross tube and a rear cross tube above the seat, each of the cross tubes having opposed ends with each end having an aperture receiving the rods at spaced intersecting locations along the rods;

forward retaining straps, each forward retaining strap adjustably encompassing a bar of the bicycle, each forward retaining strap receiving a rigid rings at a forward end of a rod, a rearward lower retaining strap adjustably encompassing the lower extent of the seat and the rearward ends of the rods, a rearward upper retaining strap adjustably encompassing the upper extent of the seat and the rods at a location spaced above the lower extent of the seat, the upper and lower retaining straps having sewn in loops holding the side rods in an arcuate configuration above the bicycle with the highest points of the side rod being located between the middle and rear cross tubes;

a flexible canopy fabric in a generally rectangular configuration with a front edge and an adjacent front pocket receiving the front cross tube and a parallel middle pocket receiving the middle cross tube and a parallel rearward edge with an adjacent rearward pocket receiving the rear cross tube, the front pocket being of a length essentially equal to the length of the front cross tube, the middle pocket being of a length essentially equal to the length of the middle cross tube, the rearward pocket being of a length essentially equal to the length of the rear cross, tube, the canopy fabric also having parallel side edges forming parallel side pockets receiving the side rods between the front and rear cross tubes, the side pockets being of a length essentially equal to the length of the side rods, the side pockets also receiving the spaced intersecting locations;

a rectangular viewing panel formed in the canopy fabric between the rear cross tube and the rear edge, the viewing panel being fabricated of a mesh with interstices of sufficient size to allow viewing objects behind the bicycle for safety purposes, the viewing panel also including a rectangular covering panel of flexible opaque material of a size to cover the viewing panel, the covering panel having an upper edge with a strip of hook and loop fasteners and an associated strip of hook and loop fastener adjacent to the rear cross tube adapted to hold the covering panel over the viewing panel at the discretion of a rider of the bicycle; and

a finger ring coupled to the front edge of the canopy cover at the forward-most extent of the canopy fabric, the finger ring adapted to receive a finger of a rider of the bicycle and pull the front cross tube and canopy cover and side rods forwardly for protection purposes, the front cross tube and canopy cover end side rods adapted to resiliently move rearwardly upon release of the finger ring by a rider of the bicycle.