Freestanding collapsible shelter

• US 8,056,573 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2009
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sunny Fold, LLC
• Original Assignee: Foldable Stuff, LLC
• Inventors: Panigot, Joseph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson; Danielle
• Application Number:
  US12/401,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20100229907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 135/143, 135/144, 135/146, 135/147, 135/156, 135/153
• US Class Current: 135/147
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/48 foldable, i.e. having pivoted or hinged means E04H15/405 and E04H15/46 takes precedence

Abstract

A freestanding, collapsible shelter is disclosed. The shelter includes a roof structure having a roof hub, a ridge poles pivotable from a deployed position to a stowed position, gable poles pivotable from a deployed position to a stowed position. The shelter further includes a freestanding leg section that supports the roof structure over a supporting surface when the shelter is disposed in its deployed position. The shelter may also include a canopy.

Claims

1. A freestanding, collapsible shelter comprising:

a roof structure including;

a roof hub defining a roof hub axis,

a first ridge pole having a proximal end pivotally coupled to the roof hub and a distal end, wherein the first ridge pole pivots from a deployed position in which the first ridge pole is oriented generally aligned with the roof hub axis to a stowed position in which the first ridge pole is oriented generally orthogonal to the hub axis,

a second ridge pole having a proximal end pivotally coupled to the roof hub and a distal end, wherein the second ridge pole pivots from a deployed position in which the second ridge pole is oriented generally aligned with the roof hub axis to a stowed position in which the second ridge pole is oriented generally orthogonal to the hub axis,

a first connection element coupled to the distal end of the first ridge pole,

a second connection element coupled to the distal end of the second ridge pole,

a first gable pole and a second gable pole each pivotally coupled to the first connection element, wherein the gable poles pivot from a deployed position, in which the first and second gable poles are oriented at an angle with respect to the roof hub axis, to a stowed position, in which the first and second gable poles are oriented generally orthogonal to the roof hub axis,

a third gable pole and a fourth gable pole each pivotally coupled to the second connection element, wherein the gable poles pivot from a deployed position, in which the third and fourth gable poles are oriented at an angle with respect to the roof hub axis, to a stowed position, in which the third and fourth gable poles are oriented generally orthogonal to the roof hub axis,

a ridge pole strut extending from the first ridge pole to the first gable pole, the ridge pole strut being pivotally coupled to the first ridge pole and the first gable pole; and

a freestanding leg section comprising a plurality of leg members operable to support the roof structure over a supporting surface when the shelter is disposed in its deployed position.

2. The shelter of claim 1, wherein, in the deployed position:

the first gable pole and the second gable pole are oriented at one of an obtuse angle and an acute angle with respect to a plane including the roof hub axis; and

the third gable pole and the fourth gable pole are oriented at one of an obtuse angle and an acute angle with respect to plane including the roof hub axis.

3. The shelter of claim 2, wherein, in the deployed position:

the plane including the roof hub axis is generally horizontal;

the first gable pole and the second gable pole are each oriented at an acute angle with respect to the plane including the roof hub axis; and

the third gable pole and the fourth gable pole are each oriented at an acute angle with respect to the plane including the roof hub axis.

4. The shelter of claim 1, wherein:

the first connection element comprises an upper section hinged to a lower section such that the lower section pivots with respect to the upper section;

the upper section of the first connection element is connected to the distal end of the first ridge pole; and

the first and second gable poles are pivotally coupled to the lower section of the first connection element.

5. The shelter of claim 4, wherein:

the second connection element comprises an upper section hinged to a lower section such that the lower section pivots with respect to the upper section,

the upper section of the second connection element is connected to the distal end of the second ridge pole, and

the third and fourth gable poles are pivotally coupled to the lower section of the second connection element.

6. The shelter of claim 1, wherein the first and second connection elements each includes a pair of angularly spaced flange stops operable to limit pivoting of the gable poles along a plane including the flange stops.

7. The shelter of claim 6, wherein the flange stop prevents the gable poles from pivoting more than 90°

.

8. The shelter of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of leg members are pivotally coupled to a corresponding gable pole via a pole joint.

9. The shelter of claim 8, wherein:

the pole joint comprises an upper portion set at an angle with respect to a lower portion;

the upper portion receives a respective gable pole;

the lower portion receives a respective leg member;

the leg member is pivotally coupled within the lower portion of the pole joint; and

the lower portion of the pole joint comprises a wall opening that permits the passage of the leg member and permits the selective pivoting of the leg member into and out of the lower portion.

10. The shelter of claim 1, wherein the roof section further comprises:

a first gable strut extending from the first gable pole to the second gable pole;

a second gable strut extending from the third gable pole to the fourth gable pole;

wherein the gable struts are configured to support and stabilize the gable poles when oriented in their deployed positions.

11. The shelter of claim 1, wherein:

the roof hub comprises;

a bottom plate assembly, and

a top plate disposed over and separable from the bottom plate assembly; and

the roof hub defines a channel aligned with the roof hub axis, and wherein both the first and second ridge poles are partially received in the roof hub channel.

12. The shelter of claim 11, wherein the roof hub further comprises a shaft oriented generally perpendicular to the roof hub axis, wherein at least one of the bottom plate assembly and the top plate is adapted to slide along the shaft.

13. The shelter of claim 12, wherein the roof hub permits the pivoting of the ridge poles from the deployed position to the stowed position when the top plate is disposed in spaced relation from the bottom plate assembly.

14. The shelter of claim 11, wherein:

the each ridge pole comprises a pole butt disposed at the proximal end; and

the pole butt comprises an enlarged pole section having an angled or rounded terminal end.

15. The shelter of claim 1, wherein the roof structure defines a gabled roof.

16. The shelter of claim 1, further comprising a canopy coupled to the roof structure.

17. The shelter of claim 1, wherein:

the ridge pole strut comprises a first ridge pole strut; and

the roof structure further includes a second ridge pole strut extending from the second ridge pole to the third gable pole, the second ridge pole strut being pivotally coupled to the second ridge pole.

18. The shelter of claim 17, wherein:

the first ridge pole strut comprises;

a proximal end pivotally coupled to the first ridge pole, and

a distal end pivotally coupled to the first gable pole; and

the second ridge pole strut comprises;

a proximal end pivotally coupled to the second ridge pole, and

a distal end pivotally coupled to the first gable pole.

19. The shelter of claim 1, wherein the ridge pole strut comprises a first segment and a second segment pivotally coupled to the first segment.

20. The shelter of claim 19, wherein each ridge pole strut further comprises a strut sleeve adapted to slide along the ridge pole strut.

21. The shelter of claim 1, wherein the ridge pole strut is hinged to the first ridge pole via a hinge plate.

22. The shelter of claim 1, wherein:

the ridge pole strut comprises a first ridge pole strut; and

the roof structure further comprises;

a second ridge pole strut extending from the first ridge pole to the second gable pole, the second ridge pole strut being pivotally coupled to the first ridge pole,

a third ridge pole strut extending from the second ridge pole to the third gable pole, the third ridge pole strut being pivotally coupled to the second ridge pole, and

a fourth ridge pole strut extending from the second ridge pole to the fourth gable pole, the fourth ridge pole strut being pivotally coupled to the second ridge pole.

23. The shelter of claim 22, wherein each ridge pole strut comprises:

a proximal end coupled to a corresponding ridge pole and a distal end coupled to a corresponding gable pole; and

a first segment pivotally coupled to a second segment.

24. A method of folding a freestanding, collapsible shelter from a deployed configuration to a stowed configuration, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining a freestanding, collapsible shelter comprising;

a roof structure including;

a roof hub defining a roof hub axis,

a first ridge pole having a proximal end pivotally coupled to the roof hub and a distal end, wherein the first ridge pole pivots from a deployed position, in which the first ridge pole is generally aligned with the roof hub axis, to a stowed position, in which the first ridge pole is oriented generally orthogonal to the roof hub axis,

a second ridge pole having a proximal end pivotally coupled to the roof hub and a distal end, wherein the second ridge pole pivots from a deployed position, in which the second ridge pole is generally aligned with the roof hub axis, to a stowed position, in which the second ridge pole is oriented generally orthogonal to the roof hub axis,

a first connection element coupled to the distal end of the first ridge pole,

a second connection element coupled to the distal end of the second ridge pole,

a first gable pole and a second gable pole each pivotally coupled to the first connection element, wherein the first and second gable poles pivot from a deployed position, in which the first and second gable poles are oriented at an angle with respect to the roof hub axis, to a stowed position, in which the first and second gable poles are oriented generally orthogonal to the roof hub axis,

a third gable pole and a fourth gable pole pivotally coupled to the second connection element, wherein the third and fourth gable poles pivot from a deployed position, in which the third and fourth gable poles are oriented at an angle with respect to the roof hub axis, to a stowed position, in which the third and fourth gable poles are oriented generally orthogonal to the roof hub axis, and

a ridge pole strut extending from the first ridge pole to the first gable pole, the ridge pole strut being pivotally coupled to the first ridge pole and the first gable pole; and

a freestanding leg section comprising a plurality of leg members operable to support the roof structure over a surface when the shelter is disposed in its deployed position;

(b) pivoting the first and second gable poles from their deployed position to their stowed position;

(c) pivoting the third and fourth gable poles from their deployed position to their stowed position; and

(d) folding the first and second ridge poles from their deployed position to their stowed position.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein:

the first connection element comprises an upper section hinged to a lower section such that the lower section pivots with respect to the upper section;

the upper section of the first connection element is connected to the distal end of the first ridge pole;

the first and second gable poles are pivotally coupled to the lower section of the first connection element;

the second connection element comprises an upper section hinged to a lower section such that the lower section pivots with respect to the upper section;

the upper section of the second connection element is connected to the distal end of the second ridge pole;

the third and fourth gable poles are pivotally coupled to the lower section of the second connection element; and

the method further comprises;

(e) pivoting the first and second gable poles such that they are generally parallel,

(f) pivoting the lower section of the first connection element to position the first and second gable poles along a plane oriented generally parallel to the roof hub axis,

(g) pivoting the third and fourth gable poles such that they are generally parallel, and

(h) pivoting the lower section of the second connection element to position the third and fourth gable poles along a plane oriented generally parallel to the roof hub axis.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein:

the roof hub comprises;

a bottom plate assembly;

a top plate disposed over and separable from the bottom plate assembly, and

a channel aligned with the roof hub axis, and wherein both the first and second ridge poles are partially received in the roof hub channel; and

the method comprises;

(e) separating the top plate from the bottom plate assembly, and

(f) pivoting the first and second ridge poles from a deployed position, in which the proximal end of the poles are housed within the channel, to a stowed position, in which the proximal ends of the ridge poles are removed from the channel.