U.S. patent application number 09/910770 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-23 for portable car port.
Invention is credited to Nguyen, Thomas.
Application Number | 20030015232 09/910770 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25429296 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030015232 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nguyen, Thomas |
January 23, 2003 |
Portable car port
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, the portable carport
10 comprises small diameter longitudinal members 14, large diameter
longitudinal members 15, fixed lateral members 20, small diameter
vertical legs 25, large diameter vertical legs 26, waterproof
covering material 27, anchoring members 31, t-joints 40, and
flexible removable rods 50. All components are assembled so as to
shelter a typical vehicle 12.
Inventors: |
Nguyen, Thomas; (St. Peters,
MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Henry W. Cummings
3313 W. Adams St.
St. Charles
MO
63301
US
|
Family ID: |
25429296 |
Appl. No.: |
09/910770 |
Filed: |
July 23, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/87 ;
135/88.01; 135/88.05; 135/88.06 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 6/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/87 ;
135/88.01; 135/88.05; 135/88.06 |
International
Class: |
E04H 015/00; E04H
015/06 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A portable carport comprising: A foldable, storable waterproof
cover; a frame for the portable carport; and means for attaching
said waterproof cover to said frame for the portable carport.
2. A portable carport according to claim 1 wherein said means of
attaching said waterproof cover comprises a plurality of flexible
rods.
3. A portable carport waterproof cover according to claim 1 which
includes comprises a plurality of sewn pockets on its underside for
the purpose of accepting the flexible rods.
4. A portable carport according to claim 3 including a flexible rod
and waterproof cover assembly which is secured to longitudinal
adjustable members by a plurality of sockets.
5. A portable carport according to claim 4 including longitudinal
members which comprise a small diameter member which slides
adjustably inside a large diameter member, each having a plurality
of holes.
6. A portable carport according to claim 5 including longitudinal
members whose relative position to one another is secured by a
locking pin passing through a set of holes in each member.
7. A portable carport according to claim 5 including longitudinal
members that are connected to non-adjustable lateral members and
vertical members by means of t-joints secured by locking pins.
8. A portable carport according to claim 7 including vertical
members which comprise a small diameter member which slides
adjustably inside a large diameter member, each having a plurality
of holes.
9. A portable carport according to claim 8 including vertical
members whose relative position to one another is secured by a
locking pin passing through a set of holes in each member.
10. A portable carport according to claim 8 including vertical
members whose lower members are inserted into and affixed to
anchoring members by means of locking pins.
11. A. portable carport according to claim 10 including anchoring
members which can be variably anchored to the ground by means of
stakes or by having the weight of a vehicle bearing upon them.
Description
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a portable shelter, or carport for
a vehicle.
II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,236 discloses a portable carport which
attaches to a vehicle and depends upon a vehicle to maintain its
size and shape. It cannot act as a standalone shelter; the carport
must be disassembled prior to moving the vehicle.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,300 discloses a portable carport which
also attaches directly to a vehicle or object to be sheltered. It
cannot act as a standalone shelter; the carport must be
disassembled prior to moving the vehicle.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,477 discloses a portable carport which
also attaches directly to a vehicle or object to be sheltered. It
cannot act as a standalone shelter; the carport must be
disassembled prior to moving the vehicle.
III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A. Objects of the Invention
[0006] One object of the present invention is to provide a means to
shelter a vehicle or other equipment from sun, dust, or bad
weather.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to be portable,
meaning that it can be used in virtually any location.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to be adjustable
in both length and height, enabling it to fit into a variety of
locations.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to allow it to be
anchored by either driving stakes into the ground, or by allowing
the weight of the vehicle to bear upon the anchoring members.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to be easily
storable in a relatively small space.
[0011] B. Summary
[0012] This invention comprises a portable shelter, or carport for
a vehicle.
[0013] The invention enables someone to erect an adjustable,
semi-permanent shelter virtually anywhere to cover a vehicle or
other equipment.
[0014] In accordance with the present invention, the portable
carport 10 comprises small diameter longitudinal members 14, large
diameter longitudinal members 15, fixed lateral members 20, small
diameter vertical legs 25, large diameter vertical legs 26,
waterproof covering material 27, anchoring members 31, t-joints 40,
and flexible removable rods 50. All components are assembled so as
to shelter a typical vehicle 12.
[0015] When not in use, the shelter may be disassembled and stored
in a relatively small space.
IV. THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention,
showing it in use with a typical vehicle, and the usage of
anchoring members.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a top and front view of a segment of the
longitudinal members, showing the sockets for the flexible
removable rods.
[0018] FIG. 3 shows details of several components of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows detail of adjustable telescoping members
(longitudinal and vertical).
V. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] In accordance with the present invention, the portable
carport 10 comprises small diameter longitudinal members 14, large
diameter longitudinal members 15, fixed lateral members 20, small
diameter vertical legs 25, large diameter vertical legs 26,
waterproof covering material 27, anchoring members 31, t-joints 40,
and flexible removable rods 50. All components are assembled so as
to shelter a typical vehicle 12.
[0021] Small diameter longitudinal members 14 are made of hollow
metal, plastic, or other suitable material, and are sized to slide
variably inside of large diameter longitudinal members 15, which
are also made of hollow metal, plastic, or other suitable material.
The position of the small diameter longitudinal members 14 relative
to the large diameter longitudinal members 15 is fixed by means of
locking pins 17 being placed in holes 16, securing the member
segments to one another.
[0022] Small diameter vertical legs 25 are made of hollow metal,
plastic, or other suitable material, and are sized to slide
variably inside of large diameter vertical legs 26, which are also
made of hollow metal, sturdy plastic, or other suitable material.
The position of the small diameter vertical legs 25 relative to the
large diameter vertical legs 26 is fixed by means of locking pins
17 being placed in holes 23, securing the leg segments to one
another.
[0023] Locking pins 17 are commercially available and are made of
metal or other suitable material. Anchoring members 31 are made of
metal, plastic, or other suitable material. T-joint 40 is made of
metal, plastic, or other suitable material, and has the purpose of
attaching the vertical legs, lateral, and longitudinal members to
one another. Holes in the t-joint 40 accept locking pins 17 to keep
all members firmly attached.
[0024] Anchoring members 31 comprise body portion 36 and socket
portion 37, which is welded to body portion 36. Body portion 36
contains a hole 39 to permit the anchoring member 31 to be affixed
to the ground by stake 45. Body portion 36 is long enough to permit
the wheel of a vehicle 12 to rest upon it, anchoring the carport to
the ground. Socket portion 37 is sized to accept the lower end of
one of the small diameter vertical legs 25, which is secured to the
socket portion 37 with a locking pin 17 through holes 38.
[0025] Waterproof covering material 27 is made of plastic, canvas,
nylon, or any other material which allows compact storage, but is
capable of resisting rain, sun, wind, etc. Flexible removable rods
50 are made of plastic, metal, wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber, or
other suitable material rigid enough to give a firm shape to the
waterproof covering material 27, but flexible enough to allow easy
assembly. Flexible removable rods 50 are inserted in pockets 30
under waterproof covering material 27. The ends of the flexible
removable rods 50 are then inserted into sockets 55 in the
longitudinal members, keeping the waterproof covering material 27
above and attached to the lateral and longitudinal members. The
length of the flexible removable rods impart a slight upward bow to
the waterproof covering material 27. Sockets 55 are made of metal,
plastic, or other material suitable of retaining the flexible
removable rods 50. Sockets 55 are affixed to the longitudinal
members by various means depending upon the material used.
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