Automobile display canopy and anchor system

• US 9,010,348 B1
• Filed: 08/05/2014
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donald G. Kite
• Original Assignee: Donald G. Kite
• Inventors: Kite, Donald G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hawk, Noah Chandler
• Application Number:
  US14/452,286
• Time in Patent Office: 259 Days
• Field of Search: 135/88.06, 135/88.13, 296/136.1, 296/136.11, 296/136.13
• US Class Current: 135/88.06
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/08 Trailer awnings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/04 wheeled, hinged, foldable, telescopic, swinging or otherwise movable

Abstract

An automobile display canopy with an anchor system for securing the canopy to the ground using the automobile itself. The general components of the present invention are a collapsible canopy including at least four canopy legs, and four anchor platforms which hold the canopy in place and allow a vehicle to drive onto the plates, thereby securing the entire system to the ground. The anchors may include a single tire stop, signaling to the driver when the wheel reaches a stopping point. An alternative embodiment may include both a front stop and a rear stop. The legs of the canopy must be collapsible. They may telescope or be disassembled temporarily.

Claims

1. A canopy system for accommodating a vehicle, the system comprising:

a rectangular cover including a grommet located at each corner of said cover;

a leg comprising a generally tubular shape, said leg comprised of a first leg portion and a second leg portion, wherein each of said first and second leg portions are identically shaped and sized;

each of said first and second leg portions respectively comprising a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end including a connector receiver having a pin hole, and said distal end including a leg connector having a pin hole;

an anchor comprising a base plate, a toe, and a wheel stop;

said wheel stop comprised from a portion of said base plate which has been laser cut and bent away from said base plate at an angle between 60 degrees and 90 degrees, and wherein said wheel stop is configured to impede a wheel of the vehicle;

a toe portion of said base plate bent at an angle between 30 degrees and 90 degrees, said toe portion including a plurality of mounting bolt holes;

a receiver plate including a plurality of mounting bolt holes corresponding to the bolt holes of said toe portion;

said receiver plate being selectively mounted to said toe portion via a plurality of bolts threaded through said respective bolt holes;

a leg post welded to said receiver plate, said leg post including a pin hole, and said leg post having generally the same size and shape as said leg connector; and

a first connecting pin connecting the connector receiver of said first leg portion to said leg post, a second connecting pin connecting said leg connector of said first leg portion to said connector receiver of said second leg portion, and a third connecting pin connecting said leg connector of said second leg portion to said cover, wherein said leg connector of said second leg portion is inserted through one of said grommets.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the distal end of each said leg portion is swedged, thereby forming said leg connector.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said base plate, said receiver plate, and said leg portions are comprised of aluminum.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein said leg connector comprises a threaded plug, a top face, and a threaded protrusion protruding from said top face;

wherein each said distal end of each said leg portion comprises a threaded receiver adapted for receiving a respective leg connector;

wherein said threaded protrusion is inserted through a respective grommet; and

wherein a nut is threaded onto said threaded protrusion.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein said leg connector comprises a threaded plug, a top face, and a threaded receiver penetrating centrally into said top face;

wherein each said distal end of each said leg portion comprises a threaded receiver adapted for receiving a respective connector;

inserting a threaded bolt through a respective grommet; and

threading a respective threaded bolt into each respective connector at each said threaded receiver.

6. A canopy system comprising:

a rectangular cover including a grommet located at each corner of said cover;

four legs, each leg comprising a generally tubular shape, and each said leg comprised of a first leg portion and a second leg portion, wherein each of said first and second leg portions are identically shaped and sized;

each of said first and second leg portions respectively comprising a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end including a connector receiver having a pin hole, and said distal end including a leg having a swedged shape forming a connector having a pin hole;

four anchors, each comprising a base plate and a wheel stop;

each said wheel stop comprised from a portion of said base plate which has been laser cut and bent away from said base plate at an angle between 60 degrees and 90 degrees, and wherein said wheel stop is configured to impede a wheel of the vehicle;

each said anchor further including a toe portion comprising an end of said base plate bent at an angle between 30 degrees and 90 degrees, each said toe portion including a plurality of mounting bolt holes;

each said anchor further including a receiver plate including a plurality of mounting bolt holes corresponding to the bolt holes of a respective said toe portion;

each said receiver plate being selectively mounted to said respective toe portion via a plurality of bolts threaded through said respective bolt holes;

each said receiver plate including a leg post welded to said receiver plate, said leg post including a pin hole, and said leg post having generally the same size and shape as said each leg connector; and

connecting pins connecting the connector receivers of said first leg portions to respective said leg posts, said leg connectors of said first leg portions to said connector receivers of respective said second leg portions, and said leg connectors of said second leg portions to said cover, wherein said leg connectors of said second leg portions are inserted through a respective one of said grommets.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein each said base plate, each said receiver plate, and each said leg portion are comprised of aluminum.