Canopy support

Abstract

An expandable and collapsible canopy support having telescoping legs, a cantilevered roof truss, a plurality of scissored assemblies, and non-compressible pivoting mounting devices, operating to expand the canopy support for use, and operating to collapse the canopy support for storage. The canopy support comprises scissored assemblies, sliding and stationary pivotal mounts, a center dome assembly, and a cantilevered roof support assembly supporting the apex of a canopy. The preferred embodiment provides increased headroom beneath the canopy support, resistance to lateral deflections and torque on scissor elements during expansion and collapsing of the canopy structure, and resistance to vertical deflection of the canopy support and covering. The corner and center mounts have offset flanges which engage forked sockets on the end of each strut, and are secured by non-compressive bolts to form a freely pivoting support structure for strut assemblies during expanding and collapsing of the framework.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to improvements in framework structures capable of supporting a canopy when placed on top of the framework, and in particular, a canopy support that can be collapsed for storage and expanded when used. Specifically, the present invention relates to a canopy support providing increased headroom, and a non-compressible pivoting mounting mechanism which captures end portions of truss assemblies, and minimizes torque and deflection encountered during deployment and operation.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Collapsible shelters and canopies are well known in the related art. These shelters typically employ an interconnecting framework of struts and mounts which may be collapsed for storage and expanded when their use is required, all with a minimum amount of time and effort. These frameworks typically support a lightweight fabric roof or covering providing shade or protection from the elements. Sophisticated and high quality collapsible structures have been designed based upon scissor assemblies and pivot mounts providing sturdy structures with varying success in resisting lateral and torsional deflections.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,656 issued Aug. 26, 1986, to M. Carter, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,891 issued Dec. 12, 1989, to J. Lynch, both describe portable canopy structures which have a framework that is collapsed into a stored state and expanded for use. The frameworks including a plurality of upright support members with a plurality of edge scissor assemblies forming truss members for the expandable framework. Both include embodiments with a roof support assembly formed from one or more internal scissor assemblies extending between facing sides edge assembles and are received by central mounts. A problem experienced by these structures is that the edge scissor assemblies were subjected to lateral forces during expansion and collapsing. In addition, compression mounts connect the scissor assemblies to the corner supports, which, if tightened, are subject to shearing forces upon lateral deflection. Furthermore, although both provide a domed-like central support structure, the scissor mechanism required for stability and to extend and collapse the structure has a diminishing effect on the headroom under the dome.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,356, issued Jun. 6, 1995, to J. Lynch, addresses several of these defects. A pair of stationary and sliding mounts capture the truss members in channel shaped sockets formed by pair of parallel spaced apart sidewalls. The channel shaped sockets help reduce the shearing effect. However, it is still found that the interconnection of the truss assemblies in a pivotal expandable/collapsible manner to corner and central post supports creates lateral deflections that may snap the truss at the channel socket. In addition, the scissor assembly interconnecting the facing sides edge assembles to the center dome encroaches upon the headroom beneath the dome of the framework. Lynch provides an alternative embodiment to address the issue of reduced headroom by eliminating the scissor assembly in the roof assembly, but the result is reduced canopy support and the need for a spring loaded center post to absorb vertical deflections of the canopy.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,224 issued May 7, 2002, to Carter, attempted to provide a central hub support which did not detract from the interior headroom by utilizing a single hinged truss extending from each of the four corner posts instead of a scissor mechanism. This design suffers from the lack of stability, the single truss subjecting the canopy framework to vertical deflections.

[0008] Hub assemblies and hinge mechanisms for folding or collapsible frames are well known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,308 issued Jun. 16, 1987, to Reilly relates to a corner joint with at least one flange extending thereof. A pivoting support means is provided with a split pin for securing the corner joint to the support means. U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,003, issued Jun. 13, 1989 to Zeigler discloses a hub consisting of a pair of members having radiating arms, each arm pivotally attached to the hub by a flange and slotted mount on the strut and hub respectively. However, these mechanisms do not address the added complexity required when implementing hinged or hub mechanisms for pivoting scissor assemblies.

[0009] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a canopy support solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention is a canopy support comprising scissored assemblies, sliding and stationary pivotal mounts, a center dome assembly, and a cantilevered roof support assembly supporting the apex of a canopy, providing increased headroom beneath the canopy support, resistance to lateral deflections and torque on scissor elements during expansion and collapsing of the canopy structure, and providing resistance to vertical deflection of the canopy support and covering.

[0011] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a new and useful canopy support particularly adapted for expandable shelters.

[0012] It is another object of the invention to provide connecting devices for scissoring elements in truss assemblies which are non-compressive and horizontally aligned, so as to allow a scissor forming element to freely pivot in the same plane therein and minimizing lateral and torsional deformations of the element.

[0013] It is a further object of the invention to provide a center dome assembly which will provide greater headroom beneath the canopy, and is capable of absorbing vertical deflections of the canopy support and covering without loss of structural integrity.

[0014] Still another object of the invention is to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0015] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a canopy support according to the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the canopy support of FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a partially exploded, perspective view of the upper end portion of an upright support member with stationary and slide mounts.

[0019] FIG. 4 is an enlarged-scale, detail perspective view of the roof portion of the canopy support.

[0020] FIG. 5 is an enlarged-scale, detail perspective view of the center dome assembly.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a detail perspective view of a pivotal connection of a roof support strut and an extension strut.

[0022] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a floating bracket according to the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 8 is a partly exploded, perspective view of the central stationary mount and central slide mount according to the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fully collapsed canopy framework.

[0025] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates a collapsible canopy support 10 in the fully erected state, supporting a canopy covering 11 (shown in dot-dash lines). Canopy support 10 is formed by four upright support members 12 positioned at the corners thereof, an interconnected framework of essentially identical scissor assemblies 20, and a roof support assembly 98 extending inwardly from each side facing midpoint.

[0027] As best seen in FIG. 2, each upright support member is a telescoping leg structure, with an upper leg structure 16 slidably telescoped over a lower leg section 14. An otherwise conventional snap-lock including an abutment button 40, biased outwardly by a leaf spring (not shown), extends through aligned mating holes in the upper and lower leg sections 16 and 14 to latch the telescoping upright support member 12 in the expanded position.

[0028] As further shown in FIG. 2, each side of the canopy support 10 is formed by scissor assemblies 20, 20 pivotally joined end to end. Each scissor assembly 20 is formed by two structural tubular members 22 and 24, connected together at a central pivot 26, thus forming an essentially X-shaped assembly. The upper and lower outer ends of the scissor assemblies 20 are pivotally connected to upright support members 12 at an upper stationary mount 30 and a lower slide mount 32, respectively. Forked sockets 58 on the outer ends of the scissor assemblies 20 pivotally connect to flanges 50 (see FIG. 3) on the upper mount 30 and lower mount 32.

[0029] As further shown in FIG. 2, the upper and lower inner ends of adjacent scissor assemblies 20 are joined at floating brackets 38 and 42 respectively.

[0030] The details of construction of floating bracket are best seen in FIG. 7. Floating bracket 38 includes a bracket 204 having two arms extending at essentially 90.degree., each arm of the bracket having an aperture (not shown), and integral (molded or welded) nut retainers 212 and 202. A cap screw 194 with lock nut 200 secures the upper inner ends of the scissor bars 22 and 24 to floating bracket 204 via pivot adapters 198 and 196, disposed on the upper inner end of scissor bars 24 and 22 respectively. Apertures 214 and 216 cut or formed in pivot adapters 198 and 196 fit over the ends of scissor bars 24 and 22.

[0031] Floating bracket 42 is structured similarly to upper floating bracket 38.

[0032] Structural details of stationary mount 30 and slide mount 32 are disclosed in FIG. 3. The stationary mount 30 and slide mount 32 are formed of rigid material such as aluminum, and are disposed on upright support 12 (FIG. 2). The stationary mount 30 has a cavity, sized to matably receive the upper end portion of the upper leg structure 16, and is secured thereto with a suitable fastener such as screw 64, passing through a countersunk aperture, not shown, in the stationary mount 30.

[0033] The slide mount 32 is slidable on the upper leg structure 16. Expansion of the canopy support 10 operates to raise the slide mount upwards along the upper leg structure 16 to a position proximate to but spaced from the stationary mount 30. The mount 32 is latched as follows. As the slide mount 32 approaches stationary mount 30, an abutment surface 72 on the slide mount 32 selectively compresses an outwardly spring-biased abutment button 68 on the upper leg structure 16, thereby enabling an aperture 70, cut in slide mount 32, to receive the abutment button, locking the slide mount 32 in a position corresponding to an erected canopy support.

[0034] To collapse the canopy support 10, the abutment button 68 is depressed on each upright support member 12, releasing the slide mount 32 from its locked position. As the upright support members 12 are brought together, the scissor assemblies 20 operate to move the slide mounts 32 to the lower ends of the upper legs 16.

[0035] With further reference to FIG. 3, each stationary mount 30 and slide mount 32 have a pair of flange assemblies 52 projecting outwardly from the central section of their respective mounts at essentially right angles to each another. As seen at the upper left portion of FIG. 3, each flange structure 52 includes a sheath 56 made of a suitable plastic material fitted snugly over a flange 54. The sheath 56 minimizes frictional wear during expansion and contraction of the canopy support 10.

[0036] An aperture 74 in the sheath 56 aligns with an aperture 72 in the flange 54. The flange structure 52 is inserted into the slot formed by arms 76, 78 of the forked socket 58, with the aperture 80, molded in the forked socket, aligned with the apertures 72 and 74 in the flange assembly 52. A fastening cap screw 60 and locking hex nut 62 secure the flange assembly 52 within the forked socket 58. A molded nut retainer and lock 82 in arm 76 of the forked socket 58 is provided to hold the nut 62 stationary as the screw 60 is turned to assemble the unit.

[0037] Flanges 52 on the stationary and slide mounts 30 and 32 are horizontally distanced from the horizontal center of their respective mounts such that the horizontal distance between the center of a flange is substantially equal to the width of a forked socket. Thus, scissor assembly 20 exhibits negligible torque and deflection when pivoted with respect to its upright support member 12.

[0038] FIGS. 4 and 5 show the canopy support with a center dome assembly 100 at the apex of the canopy support 10, pivotally connected to the inner ends of a plurality of roof support struts 104 and an extension struts 102. There are four roof support struts 104, and four extension struts 102. The outer end of each extension strut 102 is pivotally connected to its roof support strut 104 at a first pivotal connection 108, at a position along the roof support strut 104 determined so that an essentially right triangle is formed by the vertical sleeve 120 and its post 122, the horizontal extension strut 106, and its angled roof support strut 104.

[0039] FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates the first pivotal connection 108 (FIGS. 4 and 5) between a strut 102 and a strut 104. All four assemblies are the same. The outer end of the extension strut 102 is inserted into cavity 176 in end cap 178. Aperture 180, molded in end cap 178, aligns with an apertures 182 through the outer end of extension strut 102. Made of a molded material such as plastic, pivot mount 184 is slide-fitted over roof support strut 104, and has an aperture 186 which aligns with an aperture (not shown) through roof support strut 104. A cap screw 188 and hex lock nut 192 connects extension strut 102 to roof support strut 104. A molded nut retainer in adapter 178 locks nut 192 against rotation as cap screw 188 is rotated into assembly.

[0040] Each roof support strut 104 includes a second pivotal connection 110 for the distal end of a stabilizing strut 106, at a position below the first pivotal connection 108. Structural details are the same as a connection 108.

[0041] The lower ends of the stabilizing strut 106 and the roof support strut 104 are pivotally connected to upper and lower floating brackets 38 and 42 respectively. Details of construction of the two identical brackets 38, 42 are set forth above.

[0042] As best seen in FIG. 5, the center dome assembly 100 supports the apex of the canopy 11, and includes an upper support sleeve 120 with a domed cap 124, telescopically mounted over a lower support post 122.

[0043] FIG. 8 illustrates the construction details of the center dome assembly. Central slide mount 120 is hollow and slidably received on the support 122. Central stationary mount 128 has a cavity 140 received by the lower end of the support post 122, and is secured in position by a pair of screws 142, passing through countersunk apertures 144 in the support post 122. An internal friction reduction device 146 is inserted between the support sleeve 120 and the support post 122 and is secured by retaining nodes 148 extending through apertures 150 cut through the support sleeve 120.

[0044] Central stationary mount 128 and central slide mount 126 have a plurality of flange assemblies 152, each made up of flanges 154 and snug fitting sleeves 156, which are of the same general construction previously disclosed in respect to stationary mount 30 and slide mount 32. Flanges 152 on the central slide and stationary mounts 126 and 128 are horizontally offset from the horizontal center of their respective mounts, such that negligible torque and deflection are sustained by the extension strut 102 and roof support strut 104. The flange assemblies 152 on both the central stationary mount 128 and central slide mount 126 are pivotally attached to forked socket 158 and secured by cap screw 160 and lock nut 162 retained in the molded body of the forked socket 158.

[0045] The pivoting mechanism disposed on the center support post 100 is the same as the pivoting mechanism on the upright support members 12.

[0046] FIG. 9 shows the compact arrangement of the canopy support 10 when fully collapsed. The four upright support members 12 form the outer corners of the collapsed structure, with the upper stationary mounts 30 and the lower slide mounts 32 at the distal ends of the upright support members 12.

[0047] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

We claim:

1. An expandable and collapsible canopy support comprising: a plurality of upright support members; a plurality of sides, each side comprising a pair of end to end interconnected scissors assemblies; each said scissors assembly comprising two tubular scissor bars connected together at a central pivot, each scissors assembly having a pair of inner and outer ends, said inner ends pivotally connecting said pair of scissor assemblies, said outer ends pivotally connecting to said upright supports; a plurality of corner mounts disposed on said upright supports, said corner mounts each comprising an upper stationary mount and a lower slide mount, each of said corner mounts comprising a plurality of flanges extending therefrom, a pivoting support and a fastener, each of said flanges having an aperture extending therethrough, said pivoting support means comprising a forked socket engaging said flange, said socket having a pair of arms with an aperture extending through said arms; said fastener retaining said flange within said socket, said socket disposed on each of said outer ends of said scissors assembly; a roof support assembly comprising a center dome assembly, a central slide mount, a central stationary mount, and a plurality of roof truss members, said center dome assembly comprising an upper sleeve telescopically receiving an inner post, said upper sleeve slidably receiving said central slide mount and said inner post receiving said central stationary mount, a pair of said central stationary mount fixed on the lower end thereof; and said roof truss members comprising hollow tubular struts of varying lengths, said roof truss members including a roof support strut, an extension strut, and a stabilizing strut, said roof support strut having a first, second, third, and fourth pivotal connections disposed at selective positions, along said roof support strut; said first pivotal connection attached to said central slide mount; said second pivotal connection disposed below the first pivotal connection and pivotally attaching said extension strut, the distal end of said extension strut pivotally connected to said central stationary mount; said third pivotal connection disposed below said second pivotal connection, pivotally attaching the upper end of said stabilizing strut, the lower end of said stabilizing strut pivotally attached to the upper of said pair of floating brackets; said fourth pivotal connection, connecting the lower end of said roof support strut to the lower of said pair of floating brackets.

2. The canopy support according to claim 1, wherein said flanges on said upper stationary mount and said lower slide mount are horizontally offset from the center of their respective mounts such that the horizontal distance between the horizontal centers of same side-facing flanges on said upper stationary mount and said lower slide mount is generally equal to the width of said scissor bar.

3. The canopy support according to claim 1, wherein said central slide mount and central stationary mount have a plurality of said flanges, each of said flanges extending outward to each side of said canopy support, and having said pivotal support means and said securing means thereupon.

4. The canopy support according to claim 1, wherein said flanges on said central stationary mount and said central slide mount are horizontally offset from the center of their respective mount such that the horizontal distance between the horizontal centers of same side-facing flanges on said central stationary mount and said central slide mount is generally equal to the width of said roof truss members.

5. A pivot mechanism for collapsible frames which comprises a scissors assembly, an upper mount, and a lower mount; said scissors assembly comprising: two tubular scissors bars connected together by a central pivot, one end of each said bar forming a pair of scissors ends; each of said mounts further comprising a plurality of flanges extending therefrom, a pivoting support, and a fastener; said flanges having an aperture extending therethrough; said pivoting support comprising a forked socket engaging said flange, said socket having a pair of arms with an aperture extending through said arms, said fastener retaining said flange within said socket; said socket disposed on each end of said pair of scissors ends.