Canopy assembly

• US 8,479,756 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2012
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Day's Bicycle Canopy Shade, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ken J. Bourassa, Tieskotter, Veronica Y.
• Inventors: Tieskotter, Veronica Y., Bourassa, Ken J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hawk, Noah Chandler
• Application Number:
  US13/416,090
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 135/88.03, 135/88.04
• 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

Abstract

A canopy assembly is provided for shading a person while riding a bicycle. The assembly includes a pair of spaced side members and a pair of spaced end members. The end members are coupled to and extend between the side members defining an open frame. A cover is coupled to the frame. A connecting bar has an upper end and a lower end. The upper end of the connecting bar is coupled to the frame. A clamp is coupled to the lower end of the connecting bar frictionally engaging a bicycle whereby the frame is coupled to the bicycle.

Claims

1. A canopy assembly comprising:

a pair of spaced side members;

a pair of spaced end members, said end members being coupled to and extending between said side members defining an open frame;

a cover coupled to said frame;

a connecting bar having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end of said connecting bar being coupled to said frame, said connecting bar being pivotally coupled to said frame;

a clamp coupled to said lower end of said connecting bar, said clamp being configured for frictionally engaging a bicycle whereby said frame is coupled to the bicycle;

a bracing member coupled to said frame, said bracing member supporting said frame in an extended position relative to said connecting bar;

a central member coupled to and extending between said side members of said frame;

a collar rotatably coupled around said central member, an upper end of said bracing member being coupled to said collar; and

an outwardly biased post, said post engaging said collar when said frame is in said extended position whereby rotating of said collar is inhibited.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further including said connecting bar being telescopic.

3. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a lower end of said bracing member having a pair of spaced arms positionable around said connecting bar; and

a bracing pin removably inserted through said arms and said connecting bar whereby said lower end of said bracing bar is releasably coupled to said connecting bar.

4. The assembly of claim 1, further including a plurality of fasteners coupled to said cover, said fasteners coupling said cover to said frame.

5. The assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

each said fastener being strip extending from a perimeter edge of said cover, each strip having complimentary portions of hook and loop fastener thereon; and

a plurality of loops coupled to a bottom surface of said cover each said strip being insertable through an associated one of said loops such that said complimentary portions of hook and loop fastener are engageable whereby said fastener is coupled to said associated loop.

6. The assembly of claim 1, further including a valance coupled to and extending from a perimeter edge of said cover.

7. The assembly of claim 1, further including said connecting bar having a straight upper section and a lower section extending from said straight upper section, said lower section extending forwardly and away from said straight upper section whereby said lower end of said connecting bar is configured for positioning said clamp below a seat of the bicycle when the clamp is coupled to the bicycle.

8. The assembly of claim 7, further including said straight upper section of said connecting bar having a sleeve portion and an insertion portion, said insertion portion being slidably inserted into said sleeve portion.

9. The assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of holes extending through said insertion portion, said holes being positioned in spaced relationship along a length of said insertion portion;

a pair of aligned openings positioned in said sleeve portion, said openings being alignable with a selectable one of said holes; and

a peg removably inserted through said openings and a selected one of said holes whereby a length of said connecting bar is adjustable.

10. The assembly of claim 9, further including a tether coupled between said peg and said sleeve portion of said connecting bar.

11. The assembly of claim 1, further including said clamp being removably coupled to said connecting bar whereby said clamp is configured for remaining coupled to the bicycle when said connecting bar is disengaged from the bicycle.

12. The assembly of claim 1, further including said cover being a mesh screen.

13. A canopy assembly comprising:

a pair of spaced side members;

a pair of spaced end members, said end members being coupled to and extending between said side members defining an open frame;

a cover coupled to said frame, said cover being a mesh screen;

a telescopic connecting bar having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end of said connecting bar being pivotally coupled to said frame, said connecting bar having a straight upper section and a lower section extending from said straight upper section, said straight upper section of said connecting bar having a sleeve portion and an insertion portion, said insertion portion being slidably inserted into said sleeve portion;

a clamp coupled to said lower end of said connecting bar, said clamp being configured for frictionally engaging a bicycle whereby said frame is coupled to the bicycle, said lower section of said connecting bar extending forwardly and away from said straight upper section of said connecting bar whereby said lower end of said connecting bar is configured for positioning said clamp below a seat of the bicycle when the clamp is coupled to the bicycle, said clamp being removably coupled to said connecting bar whereby said clamp is configured for remaining coupled to the bicycle when said connecting bar is disengaged from the bicycle;

a bracing member coupled to said frame, said bracing member supporting said frame in an extended position relative to said connecting bar;

a central member coupled to and extending between said side members of said frame;

a collar rotatably coupled around said central member, an upper end of said bracing member being coupled to said collar;

a lower end of said bracing member having a pair of spaced arms positionable around said connecting bar;

a bracing pin removably inserted through said arms and said connecting bar whereby said lower end of said bracing bar is releasably coupled to said connecting bar;

an outwardly biased post, said post engaging said collar when said frame is in said extended position whereby rotating of said collar is inhibited;

a plurality of fasteners coupled to said cover, said fasteners coupling said cover to said frame, each said fastener being strip extending from a perimeter edge of said cover, each strip having complimentary portions of hook and loop fastener thereon;

a plurality of loops coupled to a bottom surface of said cover each said strip being insertable through an associated one of said loops such that said complimentary portions of hook and loop fastener are engageable whereby said fastener is coupled to said associated loop;

a valance coupled to and extending from said perimeter edge of said cover;

a plurality of holes extending through said insertion portion, said holes being positioned in spaced relationship along a length of said insertion portion;

a pair of aligned openings positioned in said sleeve portion, said openings being alignable with a selectable one of said holes;

a peg removably inserted through said openings and a selected one of said holes whereby a length of said connecting bar is adjustable; and

a tether coupled between said peg and said sleeve portion of said connecting bar.