Mosquito spring net

• US 8,485,209 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2010
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Montessori School of Denver
• Original Assignee: Montessori School of Denver
• Inventors: Imhof, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Danielle
• Application Number:
  US12/693,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20100186792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 135/121, 135/126, 135/128, 135/143, 135/901, 135/902, 220 91- 93, 383/104
• US Class Current: 135/143
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/40 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/54 Covers of tents or canopies

Abstract

A collapsible mosquito spring net assembly includes a support structure having a front support ring, a back support ring, and a spring coil support. A mosquito net covers the support structure. The collapsible mosquito spring net assembly further includes closure elements and a net cover assembly including a net, an elastic element, and an elastic pull for opening and closing the spring net assembly. The collapsible mosquito spring net optionally comprises an outer lower cover. A method for protecting users from exposure to insects includes: providing a collapsible mosquito spring net assembly; setting up the mosquito spring net assembly on the floor, ground, or other surface by releasing the closure elements; and securing the net cover assembly from inside the mosquito spring net assembly by pulling taut the elastic pull.

Claims

1. A collapsible spring net assembly to protect a user from insect bites, comprising:

a support structure comprising a front support ring, a back support ring and a spring coil support;

a mosquito net covering at least a portion of the support structure;

a plurality of closure elements for securing the front support ring to the back support ring; and

a net cover assembly that fits over the front or back support ring comprising (i) a net, (ii) an elastic element, and (iii) an elastic pull that secures the elastic element to the front or back support ring, wherein the elastic element surrounds the front or back support ring and holds the net cover around the ring, thereby preventing mosquitoes and other insects from entering the spring net.

2. The collapsible spring net assembly of claim 1, wherein the support structure has a length of approximately 3 feet.

3. The collapsible spring net assembly of claim 1, wherein the support structure has a diameter of approximately 1.5 feet.

4. The collapsible spring net assembly of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises 9 gauge aluminum wire.

5. The collapsible spring net assembly of claim 1 wherein one end of the mosquito net is permanently closed.

6. The collapsible spring net assembly of claim 1, wherein the closure elements comprise fabric ties.

7. The collapsible spring net assembly of claim 1, further comprising an outer lower cover.

8. The collapsible spring net assembly of claim 7, wherein the outer lower cover is permanently attached to the collapsible spring net assembly.

9. The collapsible spring net assembly of claim 7, wherein the outer lower cover is an independent crib structure.

10. The collapsible spring net assembly of claim 9, wherein the crib structure can be used as a container to carry the collapsible spring net assembly.

11. A method for protecting a user from exposure to insects, the method comprising:

providing a collapsible spring net assembly in a collapsed state;

releasing closure elements on the spring net assembly such that the spring net assembly springs into an expanded position in which an opening is provided at one end of the spring net assembly;

positioning over the opening, after a user enters the spring net assembly, a net cover assembly including a net, an elastic element, and an elastic pull element that fits over the front or back support ring, wherein the elastic element surrounds the front or back support ring and holds the net cover around the ring; and

pulling taut the elastic pull element from inside the spring net assembly to secure the net cover assembly to the spring net assembly to prevent insects from entering.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing an outer lower cover associated with the collapsible spring net assembly.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the outer lower cover is permanently attached to the mosquito net assembly.

14. A collapsible spring net assembly to protect a user from insect bites, comprising:

a support structure comprising a front support ring, a back support ring and a spring coil support;

a mosquito net covering at least a portion of the support structure;

a plurality of closure elements for securing the front support ring to the back support ring;

a net cover assembly that fits over the front or back support ring comprising (i) a net, (ii) an elastic element, and (iii) an elastic pull that secures the elastic element to the front or back support ring, wherein the elastic element surrounds the front or back support ring and holds the net cover around the ring, thereby preventing mosquitoes and other insects from entering the spring net;

an outer lower cover; and

a soft, padded lining attached to the interior of the collapsible spring net assembly.

15. The collapsible spring net assembly of claim 14, wherein the support structure has a length of approximately 3 feet.

16. The collapsible spring net assembly of claim 14, wherein the support structure has a diameter of approximately 1.5 feet.

17. The collapsible spring net assembly of claim 14, wherein one end of the mosquito net is permanently closed.

18. The collapsible spring net assembly of claim 14, wherein the closure elements comprise fabric ties.

19. The collapsible spring net assembly of claim 14, wherein the outer lower cover is permanently attached to the collapsible spring net assembly.

20. The collapsible spring net assembly of claim 14, wherein the outer lower cover is an independent crib structure.