U.S. patent application number 10/224808 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-26 for covering assembly.
Invention is credited to Tseng, Chuen-Jong.
Application Number | 20040035454 10/224808 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31886881 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040035454 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tseng, Chuen-Jong |
February 26, 2004 |
Covering assembly
Abstract
A covering assembly includes a plurality of upright legs, and
upper and lower canopy units. The lower canopy unit is mounted on
top of the legs, and is formed with a ventilation opening. The
upper canopy unit is mounted on top of the lower canopy unit, and
is disposed above the ventilation opening. The upper canopy unit
has a size sufficient to shield the ventilation opening while
allowing air to be vented through the ventilation opening.
Inventors: |
Tseng, Chuen-Jong; (Chiayi
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LADAS & PARRY
224 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE, SUITE 1200
CHICAGO
IL
60604
US
|
Family ID: |
31886881 |
Appl. No.: |
10/224808 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/121 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 15/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/121 |
International
Class: |
E04H 015/34 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A covering assembly comprising: a covering frame which includes
at least two upright frame units, each of which includes a pair of
upright legs with upper ends, and a lower canopy support rod
interconnecting said upper ends of said legs, said lower canopy
support rod having a pair of lateral rod sections connected
respectively to said upper ends of said legs, and an intermediate
rod section interconnecting said lateral rod sections, each of said
lateral rod sections inclining downwardly from said intermediate
rod section toward the corresponding one of said legs, each of said
upright frame units further including an upper canopy support rod
which is mounted on top of said intermediate rod section of said
lower canopy support rod and which is spaced-apart from said
intermediate rod section of said lower canopy support rod, said
covering frame further including a plurality of horizontal bars
extending transversely between said lower canopy support rods of
said upright frame units; a lower canopy member disposed on and
spanning said lower canopy support rods of said upright frame
units, said lower canopy member including lateral canopy portions
disposed on said lateral rod sections of said lower canopy support
rods of said upright frame units, and at least one ventilation
opening formed between said lateral canopy portions; and an upper
canopy member disposed on and spanning said upper canopy support
rods of said upright frame units, said upper canopy member being
disposed above said ventilation opening and having a size
sufficient to shield said ventilation opening while permitting air
to be vented through said ventilation opening.
2. The covering assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of
said lateral canopy portions of said lower canopy member includes a
lower canopy sheet which spans an adjacent pair of said lateral rod
sections of said lower canopy support rods of said upright frame
units, said ventilation opening being formed between said lower
canopy sheets.
3. The covering assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower
canopy support rod of each of said upright frame units is formed
with a pair of mounting tubes which extend upwardly from said
intermediate rod section, said upper canopy support rod of each of
said upright frame units being formed with a pair of mounting posts
which extend downwardly and which are inserted into said mounting
tubes, respectively, for mounting said upper canopy support rod on
said lower canopy support rod.
4. The covering assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper
canopy support rod has downwardly inclining lateral portions which
are disposed respectively above said lateral rod sections of said
lower canopy support rod.
5. The covering assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper
canopy support rod has a length longer than the width of said
ventilation opening and measured along a longitudinal direction of
said lower canopy support rod.
6. The covering assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
covering frame further includes a reinforcing unit extending
transversely between said upper canopy support rods of said upright
frame units, said reinforcing unit including: a regulating seat
having two opposite ends, each of which is formed with a threaded
hole, said threaded holes in said opposite ends being coaxial with
each other; a pair of connecting members, each of which has a
threaded shank portion extending threadedly into said threaded hole
in a respective one of said opposite ends of said regulating seat,
and a ring portion connected to said threaded shank portion; and a
pair of wires, each of which has an inner end hooked at said ring
portion of a respective one of said connecting members, and an
outer end mounted on said upper canopy support rod of a respective
one of said upright frame units; said regulating seat being
operable to rotate relative to said connecting members about an
axis of said threaded holes to cause said threaded shank portions
of said connecting members to thread in and out of said threaded
holes so as to adjust tension of said wires.
7. The covering assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
covering frame further includes a pair of reinforcing units, each
of which extends transversely between an adjacent pair of said
lateral rod sections of said lower canopy support rods of said
upright frame units, each of said reinforcing units including: a
regulating seat having two opposite ends, each of which is formed
with a threaded hole, said threaded holes in said opposite ends
being coaxial with each other; a pair of connecting members, each
of which has a threaded shank portion extending threadedly into
said threaded hole in a respective one of said opposite ends of
said regulating seat, and a ring portion connected to said threaded
shank portion; and a pair of wires, each of which has an inner end
hooked at said ring portion of a respective one of said connecting
members, and an outer end mounted on a respective one of said
lateral rod sections of said lower canopy support rods; said
regulating seat being operable to rotate relative to said
connecting members about an axis of said threaded holes to cause
said threaded shank portions of said connecting members to thread
in and out of said threaded holes so as to adjust tension of said
wires.
8. A covering frame comprising: at least two upright frame units,
each of which includes a pair of upright legs with upper ends, and
a lower canopy support rod interconnecting said upper ends of said
legs, said lower canopy support rod having a pair of lateral rod
sections connected respectively to said upper ends of said legs,
and an intermediate rod section interconnecting said lateral rod
sections, each of said lateral rod sections inclining downwardly
from said intermediate rod section toward the corresponding one of
said legs, each of said upright frame units further including an
upper canopy support rod which is mounted on top of said
intermediate rod section of said lower canopy support rod and which
is spaced-apart from said intermediate rod section of said lower
canopy support rod; and a plurality of horizontal bars extending
transversely between said lower canopy support rods of said upright
frame units.
9. The covering frame as claimed in claim 8, wherein said lower
canopy support rod of each of said upright frame units is formed
with a pair of mounting tubes which extend upwardly from said
intermediate rod section, said upper canopy support rod of each of
said upright frame units further having a pair of downwardly
extending mounting posts which are inserted into said mounting
tubes, respectively, for mounting said upper canopy support rod on
said lower canopy support rod.
10. The covering frame as claimed in claim 8, wherein said upper
canopy support rod has downwardly inclining lateral portions which
are disposed respectively above said lateral rod sections of said
lower canopy support rod.
11. The covering frame as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a
reinforcing unit extending transversely between said upper canopy
support rods of said upright frame units, said reinforcing unit
including: a regulating seat having two opposite ends, each of
which is formed with a threaded hole, said threaded holes in said
opposite ends being coaxial with each other; a pair of connecting
members, each of which has a threaded shank portion extending
threadedly into said threaded hole in a respective one of said
opposite ends of said regulating seat, and a ring portion connected
to said threaded shank portion; and a pair of wires, each of which
has an inner end hooked at said ring portion of a respective one of
said connecting members, and an outer end mounted on said upper
canopy support rod of a respective one of said upright frame units;
said regulating seat being operable to rotate relative to said
connecting members about an axis of said threaded holes to cause
said threaded shank portions of said connecting members to thread
in and out of said threaded holes so as to adjust tension of said
wires.
12. The covering frame as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a
pair of reinforcing units, each of which extends transversely
between an adjacent pair of said lateral rod sections of said lower
canopy support rods of said upright frame units, each of said
reinforcing units including: a regulating seat having two opposite
ends, each of which is formed with a threaded hole, said threaded
holes in said opposite ends being coaxial with each other; a pair
of connecting members, each of which has a threaded shank portion
extending threadedly into said threaded hole in a respective one of
said opposite ends of said regulating seat, and a ring portion
connected to said threaded shank portion; and a pair of wires, each
of which has an inner end hooked at said ring portion of a
respective one of said connecting members, and an outer end mounted
on a respective one of said lateral rod sections of said lower
canopy support rods; said regulating seat being operable to rotate
relative to said connecting members about an axis of said threaded
holes to cause said threaded shank portions of said connecting
members to thread in and out of said threaded holes so as to adjust
tension of said wires.
13. A covering assembly comprising: a plurality of upright legs
adapted to extend upwardly from a ground surface; a lower canopy
unit mounted on top of said legs and formed with a ventilation
opening; and an upper canopy unit mounted on top of said lower
canopy unit and disposed above said ventilation opening, said upper
canopy unit having a size sufficient to shield said ventilation
opening while allowing air to be vented through said ventilation
opening.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a covering assembly, more
particularly to a covering assembly with a ventilation opening to
enhance ventilation of the space within the covering assembly, and
to a covering frame thereof.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a conventional covering assembly
which includes a covering frame 11 and a canopy 13 (shown by
phantom lines in FIG. 2) mounted on the covering frame 11 to shade
an interior space 100 of the covering assembly from sunlight, rain
or snow. The covering frame 11 includes a plurality of upright legs
111, a plurality of canopy support rods 112 extending between upper
ends of corresponding pairs of the legs 111, and a plurality of
horizontal bars 12 extending transversely among the canopy support
rods 112. The canopy 13 spans the canopy support rods 112, and
extends to cover a top side and two opposite lateral sides of the
covering frame 11. The conventional covering assembly, however,
suffers from a drawback in that moisture and heat can hardly escape
from the space 100. The space 100 is typically poorly ventilated,
especially during hot and humid weather conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
a covering assembly with a ventilation opening to enhance
ventilation of the space within the covering assembly.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
covering frame for use in the covering assembly of the present
invention.
[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a
covering assembly includes a covering frame, a lower canopy member
and an upper canopy member. The covering frame includes at least
two upright frame units, each of which includes a pair of upright
legs with upper ends, and a lower canopy support rod
interconnecting the upper ends of the legs. The lower canopy
support rod has a pair of lateral rod sections connected
respectively to the upper ends of the legs, and an intermediate rod
section interconnecting the lateral rod sections. Each of the
lateral rod sections inclines downwardly from the intermediate rod
section toward the corresponding one of the legs. Each of the
upright frame units further includes an upper canopy support rod
which is mounted on top of the intermediate rod section of the
lower canopy support rod and which is spaced-apart from the
intermediate rod section of the lower canopy support rod. The
covering frame further includes a plurality of horizontal bars
extending transversely between the lower canopy support rods of the
upright frame units. The lower canopy member is disposed on and
spans the lower canopy support rods of the upright frame units. The
lower canopy member includes lateral canopy portions disposed on
the lateral rod sections of the lower canopy support rods of the
upright frame units, and at least one ventilation opening formed
between the lateral canopy portions. The upper canopy member is
disposed on and spans the upper canopy support rods of the upright
frame units. The upper canopy member is disposed above the
ventilation opening, and has a size sufficient to shield the
ventilation opening while permitting air to be vented through the
ventilation opening.
[0008] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a
covering frame includes at least two upright frame units and a
plurality of horizontal bars. Each of the upright frame units
includes a pair of upright legs with upper ends, and a lower canopy
support rod interconnecting the upper ends of the legs. The lower
canopy support rod has a pair of lateral rod sections connected
respectively to the upper ends of the legs, and an intermediate rod
section interconnecting the lateral rod sections. Each of the
lateral rod sections inclines downwardly from the intermediate rod
section toward the corresponding one of the legs. Each of the
upright frame units further includes an upper canopy support rod
which is mounted on top of the intermediate rod section of the
lower canopy support rod and which is spaced-apart from the
intermediate rod section of the lower canopy support rod. The
horizontal bars extend transversely between the lower canopy
support rods of the upright frame units.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a covering frame of a
conventional covering assembly;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the conventional covering
assembly, where a canopy is illustrated in phantom lines;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a covering frame
of a first preferred embodiment of the covering assembly according
to the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the first preferred
embodiment, where an upper canopy and a lower canopy are
illustrated in phantom lines;
[0014] FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary exploded perspective view
showing how an upper canopy support rod is mounted on a lower
canopy support rod;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a covering frame of a
second preferred embodiment of the covering assembly according to
the present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 7 illustrates a reinforcing unit of the second
preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first preferred embodiment
of the covering assembly according to the present invention is
shown to include a covering frame 10, a lower canopy member 20, and
an upper canopy member 22.
[0018] The covering frame 10 includes a plurality of upright frame
units 3 which are arranged in parallel. A plurality of parallel
upper and lower horizontal bars 4, 4' extend transversely between
the upright frame units 3 for interconnecting the same.
[0019] Each of the upright frame units 3 includes a pair of upright
legs 31 with lower ends adapted to be supported on a ground
surface, and a lower canopy support rod 32 interconnecting upper
ends of the legs 31. The lower canopy support rod 32 includes a
pair of lateral rod sections 323 connected to the upper ends of the
legs 31, respectively, and an intermediate rod section 321
interconnecting the lateral rod sections 323. The intermediate rod
section 321 is curved, and has a higher central portion and lower
opposite end portions connected to the lateral rod sections 323,
respectively. Each of the lateral rod sections 323 inclines
downwardly from the intermediate rod section 322 toward a
corresponding one of the legs 31. The intermediate rod section 321
is formed with a pair of upwardly extending mounting tubes 322 at
the opposite end portions thereof, as best shown in FIG. 5.
[0020] Each of the upright frame units 3 further includes an upper
canopy support rod 33 which is mounted on top of the intermediate
rod section 321 of the lower canopy support rod 32 and which is
spaced apart from the intermediate rod section 321. The upper
canopy support rod 33 has a generally inverted V-shaped
configuration with a tip portion 334 and two lateral portions 332
which incline downwardly from the tip portion 334 and which are
disposed respectively above the lateral rod sections 323 of the
lower canopy support rod 32. Referring to FIG. 5, the upper canopy
support rod 33 is formed with a pair of mounting posts 331 that
extend downwardly and respectively from the lateral portions 332 of
the upper canopy support rod 33 and that are inserted respectively
into the mounting tubes 322 for mounting the upper canopy support
rod 33 on the lower canopy support rod 32.
[0021] Referring back to FIG. 3, each of the upper horizontal bars
4 extends transversely between the intermediate rod sections 321 of
the lower canopy support rods 32 of an adjacent pair of the upright
frame units 3. Each of the lower horizontal bars 4' extends
transversely between an adjacent pair of the lateral rod sections
323 of the lower canopy support rods 32 of a corresponding pair of
the upright frame units 3.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the lower canopy member 20 is
mounted on and spans the lower canopy support rods 32 of the
upright frame units 3, and includes two lateral canopy portions 21
disposed on opposite lateral sides of the upper horizontal bars 4.
In the present embodiment, each of the lateral canopy portions 21
is in the form of a lower canopy sheet which spans an adjacent pair
of the lateral rod sections 323 of the lower canopy support rods
32. If necessary, each of the lateral canopy portions 21 may be
made longer so as to extend along the corresponding legs 31 to
shield lateral sides of the covering frame 10. A ventilation
opening 215 is formed on top of the lower canopy member 20 between
the lateral canopy portions 21, i.e., between the lower canopy
sheets. The lower canopy member 20 and the lower canopy support
rods 32 cooperatively constitute a lower canopy unit.
[0023] The upper canopy member 22, in the form of an upper canopy
sheet, is mounted on and spans the upper canopy support rods 33 of
the upright frame units 3, and is disposed immediately above the
ventilation opening 215. The upper canopy member 22 and the upper
canopy support rods 33 cooperatively constitute an upper canopy
unit, which is disposed above the lower canopy unit. The length of
each upper canopy support rod 33 is longer than the width of the
ventilation opening 215 as measured along a longitudinal direction
of the lower canopy support rods 32. The upper canopy member 22 has
a size sufficient to shield a top side of the ventilation opening
215 from sunlight, rain or snow, while permitting air to be vented
through the ventilation opening 215. Heat and moisture are thus
allowed to escape from the interior space 101 (see FIG. 4) of the
covering assembly to thereby improve the condition of air in the
space 101.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 6, in a second preferred embodiment of
this invention, a plurality of reinforcing units 5 are provided
among the upright frame units 3 to reinforce the structure of the
covering frame 10 and to help support the upper and lower canopy
members 22, 20.
[0025] Each of a first set of the reinforcing units 5 extends
transversely between the tip portions 334 of the upper canopy
support rods 33 of an adjacent pair of the upright frame units 3.
Each of a second set of the reinforcing units 5 extends
transversely between an adjacent pair of the lateral rod sections
323 of a corresponding pair of the upright frame units 3.
[0026] Each of the reinforcing units 5 includes a regulating seat
51, a pair of connecting members 52, and a pair of wires 53. FIG. 7
is illustrated in terms of the reinforcing unit 5 that extends
between the upper canopy support rods 33 of an adjacent pair of the
upright frame units 3.
[0027] The regulating seat 51 has an elongated ring-shaped
structure with two opposite ends formed with coaxial threaded holes
511, which have screw threads (not shown) that extend in opposite
directions. Each of the connecting members 52 has a threaded shank
portion 521 extending threadedly through a respective one of the
threaded holes 511, and a ring portion 522 connected to the
threaded shank portion 521. Each of the wires 53 has a hooked inner
end 531 hooked at the ring portion 522 of a respective one of the
connecting members 52, and an outer end 532 extending into an
engaging hole 333 formed in the tip portion 334 of a respective one
of the upper canopy support rods 33 for engaging the respective one
of the upper canopy support rods 33. Rotation of the regulating
seat 51 in a certain direction relative to the connecting members
52 about an axis of the threaded holes 511 causes the threaded
shank portions 521 of the connecting members 52 to thread
simultaneously into the threaded holes 511, thereby moving the
connecting members 52 close to each other and thereby increasing
tension of the wires 53. Rotation of the regulating seat 51 in an
opposite direction relative to the connecting members 52 about the
axis of the threaded holes 511 causes the threaded shank portions
521 of the connecting members 52 to thread simultaneously out of
the threaded holes 511, thereby moving the connecting members 52
away from each other and thereby relaxing the wires 53. Therefore,
by operating the seat 51, the total length of the reinforcing unit
5 between the outer ends 532 of the wires 53 can be adjusted,
thereby adjusting the tension of the reinforcing unit 5 to provide
the desired reinforcing effect.
[0028] It has thus been shown that, with the provision of the
ventilation opening 215, heat and moisture are allowed to escape
from the interior space 101 of the covering assembly so that the
interior space 101 can be kept at a well-ventilated state. With the
two-layered canopy structure, the ventilation opening 215 can be
shielded by the upper canopy member 22 from sunlight, rain or snow,
thus maintaining the desired shielding effect.
[0029] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *