U.S. patent application number 10/201515 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-18 for cabana structure.
Invention is credited to Cooper, Sandy.
Application Number | 20040050413 10/201515 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31990273 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040050413 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cooper, Sandy |
March 18, 2004 |
Cabana structure
Abstract
A portable and collapsible cabana structure is provided to
enable ease of carrying to the beach or pool site, ease of assembly
and ease of collapse, after use, to again enable ease of
portability. The main body of the cabana structure is provided by
three rectangular panels, the first of which is generally vertical,
downwardly from approximately half to two-thirds of the height of
the assembled cabana, to the ground, at the rear thereof; the
second rectangular panel slopes upwardly and forwardly of the
cabana from the first panel toward the front of the cabana; and,
the third rectangular panel extends generally horizontally from the
front of the second panel toward the front of the cabana. Viewing
the structure from the front of the cabana, the left and right
sides thereof are each made up of three triangular panels, the
middle panel of which enables the admission to the cabana of air
and light. To provide structural efficacy to each of the
above-mentioned panels, a plurality of critical stiffening poles
fit securely in channels and pockets provided by the panels, which
are usually made of sheet plastic or synthetic material.
Inventors: |
Cooper, Sandy; (Milford,
CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Stanley J. Yavner
Suite 203
120 North Main Street
New City
NY
10956
US
|
Family ID: |
31990273 |
Appl. No.: |
10/201515 |
Filed: |
July 24, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/143 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 15/48 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/143 |
International
Class: |
E04H 015/48 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A portable and collapsible cabana structure intended for
carrying, when collapsed, in a carrying bag, comprising top and
back panels and sides, defining a front opening, said panels and
sides each being formed by skin; said skin defining channels,
through which stiffening poles are placed to provide structural
stability, one of said channels formed with said skin in each of
said sides, through which a critical stiffening pole is placed;
each of said sides forming with said skin a separated pair of
pockets, into each of which a critical stiffening pole end is
placed for purposes of tautness and stability for the entire
structure.
2. A cabana structure according to claim 1, wherein said top and
back panels are generally rectangular in shape and said sides are
comprised of triangular panels.
3. A cabana structure according to claim 2, wherein said
rectangular panels define sewn channels along one of their long
sides through each of which channels is placed, when said structure
is fully assembled, one of said stiffening poles, in two parts,
each part being fixed in line with the other part, for each
stiffening pole.
4. A cabana structure according to claim 3, wherein at the ends of
each of such stiffening poles is a right angle double receptor,
said receptor having two legs arranged at right angles to each
other, with one of said legs in line with said parts and the other
leg being in line with stiffening poles between said triangular
panels and at the edges of said sides, and affixed thereto.
5. A cabana structure according to claim 3, wherein said top and
back stiffening poles have said two parts fixed and separable at
approximately the midpoint of the long sides of said
rectangles.
6. A cabana structure according to claim 4, wherein said legs which
are in line with said stiffener poles of said sides, are separable
from said stiffener poles of said sides.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to portable and collapsible
beach and/or pool-side cabana huts, and more particularly to such
huts which provide tautness for the sides thereof and yet which can
be collapsed for providing portability and ease of assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is common to think of a cabana or a cabana hut as a
relatively permanent structure found normally at pool and beach
clubs. Such permanent structures offer the ability of the user to
sit or lie down at the beach, camping or at a pool. With respect to
sitting or lying down in collapsible or portable structures, other
than a tent-like structure, no existing portable structures have
the structural ability to effectively provide the option of use on
a beach, camping, at a picnic or at pool-side, as does the present
invention.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to
provide a structurally efficacious cabana, which is collapsible and
thereby portable;
[0004] A further and more particular object is to provide a
collapsible and portable cabana structure, which is light-weight
and easy to assemble and disassemble; and
[0005] A still further object of the present invention is to
provide a portable and collapsible cabana which presents the
capability of being large enough in size to provide room for two
users to do those things commonly done at the beach, camping,
picnic and at pool-side, and yet which is sturdy enough to
withstand beach winds and other like beach hazzards.
[0006] These and other objects of the present invention are
provided in a portable, easily assembled and disassembled structure
which is generally comprised of nine panels, the first three of
which are larger than the others and rectangular in shape to form
in sequence the back, the sloping top and the top front of the
cabana structure. The other six panels are triangular in shape and
three are fully connected to the edges at the left side of the
aforementioned three rectangular panels; and the other three are at
the right side edges, also fully connected to the first three
rectangular panels. The six triangular panels are isosceles
triangles and connected to the adjacent triangular panel, fully
along the edge of one of the two equal sides. The point connecting
the two equal sides of each triangle are coincident, for each
triangle, with the two other triangular panels, at which point
there is a means for anchoring the cabana in the sand or grass.
Stakes are also used to anchor the structure at the two back
corners of the cabana. The middle triangular panel on each side of
the structure is made of the same plastic or synthetic light-weight
material envisioned for the whole structure, and includes small
openings to let in air and light. The structure of the cabana of
the present invention is assembled by means of the various channels
provided on the cabana inside of the light-weight plastic or
synthetic material forming the "skin" of the cabana. Into such
channels are fitted poles, and/or other stiffeners, some or all of
which are movable and/or removable to disassemble the cabana for
placement in a carrying bag, also made of light-weight plastic or
synthetic material. Critically, at least two stiffeners are
provided to make the entire structure taut and sturdy by supporting
and expanding the triangular panel sides. Channels may be
non-elongated loops, and the two critical stiffeners end in
pockets.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent by reference to the following
detailed description of the preferred, but nonetheless
illustrative, embodiment of the present invention, with
alternatives and with reference to the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a carrying bag for the
disassembled cabana structure;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the carrying bag and the
disassembled structure of the cabana;
[0010] FIG. 3 shows the unfolding of the disassembled cabana, as
the first step for assembly thereof;
[0011] FIG. 4 shows the second step of unfolding, following the
FIG. 3 unfolding step, for assembling the cabana for use;
[0012] FIG. 5 shows one side of the cabana structure using one set
of three triangular panels, further advancing toward complete
assembly;
[0013] FIG. 6 shows the complete expansion step for the rectangular
panels and the six side triangular panels;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG.
6 and showing the taut-providing critical stiffening poles being
placed into channels to give efficacy to the portable cabana, when
it is assembled;
[0015] FIG. 8 shows the fully assembled cabana with both critical
poles in place, adjacent the side triangular panels of the
structure;
[0016] FIG. 9 shows the detail of the critical pole structure and
assembly at one side of the collapsible cabana;
[0017] FIG. 10 is a sectional view, taken along the line 10-10 of
FIG. 9, showing a representative connecting and stiffening
structure for the intersection of the rectangular with triangular
panels of the cabana;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED, ILLUSTRATIVE AND
REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0018] Referring to the drawings, the carrying bag 10 for a cabana
structure according to the present invension is shown in FIG. 1, as
including a handle 12 or other convenient means for carrying the
disassembled cabana.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows the carrying bag 10, in an exploded view, with
respect to the cabana structure generally designated 14. Critical
stiffening poles 16 are elongated, with a female, inside threaded
opening defined at one end, and a male outside threaded surface at
the other end. Sleeves 18 are usually of a flexible material such
as plastic or rubber and are intended to cover (in a press fit) the
junction point between two critical stiffening poles 16, as would
occur when one stiffening pole is screwed into another. Such a use
of critical stiffening poles 16 and sleeves 18 are shown,
particularly in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9, whereby four critical stiffening
poles 16, and at least two sleeves 18 are used to provide a
tautness and a stability to the entire structure by use of a side
construction, generally designated 20, at each side of the cabana
as is particularly shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings.
[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates the removed cabana structure, with
respect to bag 10, and is to show specifically that the removed
structure 10 is capable of folding and unfolding at its center
point generally designated 22, with the unfolding or initial
assembly step for the cabana structure being in directions shown by
arrows 24 in FIG. 3. The unfolding at center point 22 is
facilitated by means of rigid insert stiffening poles 26 (FIG. 4),
and the use of skin 28 of the cabana structure acting as a hinge,
between insert stiffening poles 26 at the center point.
[0021] Particularly in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, it may be seen that the
assembled cabana structure includes three rectangular panels 30,
32, 34, from front to back of the assembled cabana, each arranged
between insert stiffener poles 26. Each of those insert stiffener
poles for the long sides of rectangular panels 30, 32, 34 is
generally described as in two inline parts, each part being of
approximately equal length. As previously noted, parts of poles 26
extend generally rightwardly and leftwardly in the finished
structure, and before assembly, have a space therebetween at
approximately center point 22. Upon assembly, one of the steps is
to join the two parts of each generally horizontal insert
stiffening pole 26 to the other inline part. This is accomplished,
also as described previously, by reference to the most-forward (in
the orientation of the assembled cabana; e.g. FIG. 6) insert
stiffening pole 26'. That forward pole 26', in two parts, near
center point 22, has a female threaded end and the other part has a
male threaded end. Upon assembly, they are joined by simply
grasping the skin 28 covering the insert pole stiffening area and
moving the two parts of pole 26' to thread one part into the other.
Other stiffening poles 26, bordering the long sides of the
rectangular panels, are assembled in the same manner. Of course,
the skin 28 is permanently sewn to form channels 27 defined by skin
28. Such channels, as to rectangular panels 30, 32, 34 are formed
for holding insert stiffening poles 26 and 26', two parts of a pole
in each panel, a first pole at the most forward (cabana
orientation) long side of panel 30, a second pole at the rearward
long side of panel 30, a third at the rearward long side of panel
32, and a fourth at the bottom-most (see FIG. 6) long side of panel
34, all such channels formed by skin 28. In each panel, an
important step in the assembly is to join the two parts of each
horizontally oriented (see FIG. 6) insert stiffening pole 26. Such
joining is as previously described by threading one part into the
other by the user manipulating such parts by grasping the pole
parts through the portion of the skin 28 used to form channels
27.
[0022] As was mentioned previously herein, the sides of this cabana
construction are made taut, and are provided with a stability for
themselves and the entire structure by means of critical stiffening
poles 16. Each side construction is made up of three triangular
panels, FIG. 4 showing each moved into assembly position in the
direction of arrows 20' early in the assembly process, and then
spread in the direction of arrow 20", as shown in FIG. 5. That
spreading and the aforementioned tautness and stability are
accorded the assembly by means of the insertion of critical
stiffening poles 16, which slide through channels 36 in the
direction of arrow 38, as shown in FIG. 7 (of course, channels 36
may also be formed as loops, or completely foreshortened channels).
Sleeves 18, which are shown in FIG. 2, as well as FIG. 7, are
flexible, and yet sturdy enough, to align all four critical
stiffening poles 16, for each side construction by press-fitting
those poles 16 for holding end to end, four such poles in a row for
each side. Another construction would be similar to the end to end
threaded joining of insert stiffener poles 26. In any event, the
ends of the four pole alignment, for each side construction,
conveniently fit in sewn pockets 40 clearly shown in FIG. 7. The
triangular panels, designed from bottom to top 42, 44, 46, made
from skin 28, are joined by channels 48 into which are permanently
sewn the same type of insert stiffener poles 26 as were used at the
juncture of rectangular panels. As is shown clearly in FIG. 7, the
lowermost portion of insert stiffener poles 26 are exposed through
a circular cutout 29 of skin 28. The purpose of cutout 29 is to
enable even easier manipulation of poles 26, for instance when
assembling or disassembling the cabana, simply by touching pole 26
in cutout 29 and lifting it out of the pocket 31 for the four poles
26 for that side. Similarly, FIG. 9 shows an alternative for cutout
29 whereby poles 26 protrude below channels 48 sewn at various
places on the skin 28 of the cabana. This also gives access for
removal of poles 26 on each side from the four holding channels
provided by pocket 31.
[0023] Referring particularly to the enlarged intersection of two
rectangular panels with two triangular panels, as shown in FIGS. 9
and 10, a right angle double receptor 52, with internal threading
at each end (alternatively) is used to receive insert stiffening
poles 26, one at each end. At least one pole (preferably the lower
pole, in the orientation of FIG. 9) is disengaged from each right
angle receptor at each of the four intersections (for each side),
again to enable the skin 28 to act as a hinge, in order to fold the
collapsed cabana assembly from the position in FIG. 4, so that it
fits within carrying bag 10. Actually, as shown in FIG. 10, the
right angle receptor 52 has one end internally threaded and one end
externally threaded to receive insert stiffening poles 26 at the
female end thereof.
[0024] Straps 54, 56 of FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are used for staking the
four corners of the cabana to provide even further stability.
[0025] Lastly, alternatively, a further couple of critical
stiffening poles 16 are usable at the center portion (FIG. 6) of
the cabana to enable even more stability and width for the final
assembly. In this event, two or four critical stiffening poles 16
can be used in line with sleeves 18, as was indicated for the other
critical stiffening poles 16 of FIG. 9.
[0026] In order to provide a more complete understanding of the
present invention, a brief set of assembly and disassembly steps
are now provided. In terms of assembly, the cabana structure stored
in carrying bag 10 is removed therefrom, including critical
stiffening poles 16 with sleeves 18. The removed structure is
opened at approximately its midpoint 22 by rotating the two halves
of the structure in the direction of arrow 24 in FIG. 3, using the
skin 28 material as the hinge for such rotations. Again, using skin
28 as the hinges, the side panel constructions 20 are moved in the
direction of arrows 20' of FIG. 4, thereby to provide an inverted
"U" structure. The channels 27 sewn into skin 28 are manipulated
with the four top horizontal insert stiffener poles 26', 26 so that
insert stiffener pole 26', and the other insert stiffener poles 26
are joined at approximately midpoint 22. The bottoms of side
panels' insert stiffener poles are then manipulated to join with
the bottoms of right angle receptors 52, and the same four poles 26
are then placed appropriately within the channels 31 at the front
bottoms of sides 20. Most importantly, critical stiffening poles 16
are joined in line with each other and placed through channel 36
for each side 20 of the structure, appropriately fitting in pockets
40. This provides tautness and strudiness to the entire structure.
Stakes may then be place appropriately through straps 54, 56 to
anchor the entire structure.
[0027] Disassembly for storage and carrying in bag 10 is
accomplished by first disconnecting critical poles 16 from the
sides 20 and then from each other, or in the alternative, bent at
sleeves 18. Either before or after that initial disassembly step,
stakes through straps 54, 56 are removed.
[0028] At the sides of the structure, insert stiffener poles are
removed from pockets 31, and also from right angle double receptors
52, but only from one bottom end of those receptors. Sides 20 are
then folded, first opposite to the direction of arrow 20" (FIG. 5)
to collapse sides 20, in a direction opposite to arrows 20' (FIG.
4), after which the remaining structure is folded at midpoint 22
following disengagement of the parts of poles 26 bordering the
rectangular panels. The entire structure and poles 16 are then
placed into carrying bag 10.
[0029] The foregoing provides a complete description and
understanding of the cabana structure of the present invention; but
the scope of the invention is to be accorded only by the following
claims:
* * * * *