Apparatus and method to facilitate erecting a collapsible structure

Abstract

The present invention provides a tool having a fitted portion and a lever portion to facilitate a single person expanding a collapsible shelter.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to collapsible structures and, more particularly, to a tool that facilitates an individual erecting the collapsible structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Temporary shelters that can be easily transported and rapidly set up have been in existence for sometime. These shelters can be useful for emergency situations to provide temporary care shelters as well as outdoor recreational situations to provide protection from the environment.

[0003] Some early collapsible shelters have frames comprising X-shaped linkages, telescoping legs, and a canopy covering the framework such as the shelter described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,656, titled QUICK ERECTION COLLAPSIBLE SHELTER, issued to Carter on Aug. 26, 1986, incorporated herein by reference. The legs of that shelter are capable of telescoping to provide additional height, and the framework of the X-shaped truss pairs is capable of horizontal extension between the legs to support a canopy. Other similar canopies described in the following patents, all incorporated herein by reference, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,641,676; 4,700,862; 4,779,635; 4,947,884; 5,404,962; 5,485,863; 5,490,533; 5,511,572; 5,632,292; 5,632,293; 5,797,412; 5,813,425; 5,865,127; 5,921;260; 5,934;301; 6,070,604; 6,076,312; 6,129,102; 6,206,202; 6,230,729; 6,240;956; 6,412,507; 6,431,193; 6,520,196;

[0004] Of course, numerous variations on the above collapsible canopies exist to increase structural integrity, headroom, and the like. One such improvement is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,923, TITLED COLLAPSIBLE SHELTER, issued to Losi et al. on Dec. 30, 1997, incorporated herein by reference. The shelter described in that patent uses a non X-shaped linkage assembly capable of folding in a manner similar to the above referenced structures, but instead of a back-to-back X linkages, uses an intermediate linkage to increase headroom and structural integrity.

[0005] While a great improvement over prior art structures, one drawback of all of these structures is that they are designed to be erected by two or more people, and they are difficult to erect from the collapsible state to the expanded state by a single operator. Thus, it would be desirous to provide an apparatus and method that would facilitate the erecting of a collapsible shelter from a collapsed state to an expanded state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] To attain the advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a tool that facilitates the erecting of a collapsible shelter is provided. The tool comprises a grip portion and a lever portion.

[0007] The present invention also provides methods for using the tool that facilitates the erecting of a collapsible shelter. The method comprises arranging a collapsible shelter in its collapsed state. The tool is attached to the shelter and the shelter is erected.

[0008] The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0009] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles thereof. Like items in the drawings are referred to using the same numerical reference.

[0010] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a representative erecting operation without using the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 3 shows an apparatus for facilitating the erection of a shelter in accordance with the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 4 shows another apparatus for facilitation the erection of a shelter in accordance with the present invention; and

[0013] FIGS. 5-9 show a user using the apparatus of FIG. 3 in the erection of a shelter in a manner consistent with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-9. FIG. 1 is representative of a collapsible shelter 20 in a mostly collapsed state. FIG. 2 is representative of collapsible shelter 20 in a mostly expanded state. Two users 22 are shown at opposing sides of collapsible shelter 20 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Users 22 grasp linkages 14 and move away from each other in the direction shown by the arrows A in FIG. 2 to move the collapsible shelter 20 from the collapsed to the expanded state. With at least two users 22, the erecting of shelter 20 is relatively easy and quick.

[0015] When only one user 22 is available to erect the shelter, erecting shelter 20 is rather difficult. In particular, one user 22 generally travels around shelter 20 to move each side a little at a time. Alternatively, one user 22 could attempt to stand at one spot and try to force shelter 20 open; however, this requires significant leverage and strength.

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an apparatus or tool 300 capable of allowing a single user 22, as shown in FIGS. 7-9, to provide increased leverage to facilitate a single user 22 erecting shelter 20 alone. While tool 300 is useful in facilitating the erection of shelter 20 by a single person, tool 300 would also be useful if two or more users 22 were attempting to erect shelter 20. Tool 300 includes a fitted portion 302 and a lever portion 304. Fitted portion 302 includes sidewalls 306, a cover 308, and protrusions 310. Sidewalls 306, cover 308, and protrusions 310 form a cavity 312 adapted to fit snuggly to legs 314, which is best seen in FIG. 9. Fitted portion 302 means portion should be generally the same shape as the leg(s), but the tool can have some play when attached to leg(s) 314. Also, while shown as a rectangular tool on a rectangular leg, other geometric shapes and combinations are possible. For example, instead of 90-degree sidewalls 306 as shown, the sidewalls could form an arc or curve that fits relatively snuggly with a rectangular leg. While tool 300 is shown attached to leg 314, one of ordinary skill in the art would know recognize that tool 300 could be designed with a fitted portion that would attach to linkage 14 instead of leg 314. Although tool 300 could be fitted to linkage 14, it is believed leg 314 is better able to withstand the leverage better than linkage 14.

[0017] Fitted portion 302 can be designed to slip over leg 314 such that tool 300 is coupled to leg 314 by sliding cavity 312 onto leg 314, or tool 300 can be designed to snap onto leg 314 by applying lateral pressure. Lever portion 304 can be wrapped with a padding 316 as shown or left as a rigid material. It is believed the padding would provide comfort to user 22, however. Moreover, fitted portion 302 can have various combinations of sidewalls, top (or bottom), and protrusions as a matter of design choice as long as supplying pressure on tool 300 does not cause excessive slippage of tool 300 in relation to leg 314, which could cause injury.

[0018] FIG. 4 shows a tool 400 for use with taller shelters 20. Tool 400 includes lever portion 304 and fitted portion 302, but fitted portion 302 is separated from lever portion 304 by an extender 402. The separation of fitted portion 302 and lever portion 304 can cause difficulty in stabilizing tool 400 so a stabilizer 404 can be provided. Stabilizer 404 comprises at least one stabilizing wall 406, but can have two (as shown) or more walls. Stabilizer 404 would not need to be a snug fit around leg 314, but would be to prevent excessive lateral movement of tool 400.

[0019] Tool 300 and tool 400 could be constructed as single integrated pieces using, for example, injection molding. But, it is contemplated that lever portion 304 and fitted portion 302 can be separate parts capable of being coupled together using a connector 330. Connector 330 could be, for example, a screw fitting, a snap fitted, pin and detent fitting, or the like. Using a connector 330 would allow for easy conversion between tool 300, without the extender 402, and tool 400, with the extender 402. Basically, extender 402 would be designed with a matching connector such that fitted portion 302 can be separated from lever portion 304 and then fitted portion 302 and lever portion 304 could be coupled to opposing ends of extender 402.

[0020] Referring now to FIGS. 5-9, a procedure for using tool 300 to erect shelter 20 is described. First, shelter 20 is arranged in a spot (not labeled in the FIGS.) where it is to be erected. User 22 attaches tool 300 to one leg 314. User 22 would then grasp legs 314 and/or linkage 14 and begin opening (or expanding) shelter 20. While user 22 could use tool 300 at this stage of deployment, it has been found that the strength and leverage needed for the initial portion of expanding shelter 20 is not significant and frequently it is easier to initially open shelter 20 without using the tool.

[0021] Once tool 300 is in place and shelter 20 is partially expanded, user 22 grasps linkage 14 and/or leg 314 such that tool 300 provides an anchor of sorts allowing user 22 to provide increased force or leverage to facilitate additional expansion of shelter 20. As shown in FIG. 7, it is contemplated that user 22 would wedge lever portion 304 of tool 300 between the body of user 22 and the arm of user 22. Thus, tool 300 would assist in the application of force when user 22 pulls on linkage 14 and/or legs 314.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 9, once shelter 20 is largely deployed in the expanded state, user 22 can apply leverage by resting the forearm of user 22 on lever portion 304 of tool 300. This will assist in the final expansion of shelter 20 and the locking of shelter 20 in place. As can be seen, it would be possible to mold tool 300 into shapes designed to fit body parts of user 22, such as, for example, lever portion 304 could be molded so the forearm of user 22 fits comfortably in a groove associated with the padding.

[0023] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to particular embodiment(s) thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

We claim:

1. A method of erecting a collapsible shelter wherein the collapsible shelter comprises at least one leg and at least one linkage, the method comprising the steps of: arranging a collapsible shelter in its collapsed state in an area where it is to be deployed; attaching at least one tool having at least one lever to at least one of the at least one leg and the at least one linkage; and applying force using the at least one tool tending to move the collapsible shelter from its collapsed state to its expanded state.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: partially expanding the collapsible shelter prior to attaching the at least one tool.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: removing the at least one tool after the collapsible shelter is substantially expanded into the expanded state.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: locking the collapsible shelter in its expanded state; and removing the at least one tool after the collapsible shelter is expanded.

5. An apparatus to facilitate erecting a collapsible shelter from a collapsed state to an expanded state, the collapsible shelter comprising at least one leg and at least one linkage, the apparatus comprising: a fitted portion; a lever portion coupled to the fitted portion; and the fitted portion defining a cavity that is formed to couple to the collapsible shelter, wherein applying force to the collapsible shelter tending to move the collapsible shelter from the collapsed state to the expanded state is facilitated.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the fitted portion comprises: a sidewall; and a cover; wherein the cavity is defined by the sidewall and cover.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the fitted portion comprises: a plurality of sidewalls, wherein the plurality of sidewalls define the cavity.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the sidewall comprises at least two sidewalls.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: at least one protrusion, such that the cavity is defined by the sidewall, the cover, and the at least one protrusion.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a cover, wherein the cavity is defined by the plurality of sidewalls and the cover.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: at least one protrusion, wherein the cavity is defined by the plurality of sidewalls and the at least one protrusion.

12. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a padding coupled to the lever portion.

13. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the lever portion generally conforms to a shape of a user's forearm.

14. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the lever portion generally conforms to a shape of a user's hand.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the lever portion also generally conforms to a shape of a user's hand.

16. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: an extender; and the extender is coupled to the lever portion and the fitted portion such that the extender resides between the lever portion and the fitted portion.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising: a stabilizer; and the stabilizer arranged to resist lateral movement.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the stabilizer comprises two stabilizer sidewalls formed to fit at least one of at least one leg and at least one linkage.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the two stabilizer sidewalls form substantially a 90-degree angle.

20. An apparatus to facilitate erecting a collapsible shelter from a collapsed state to an expanded state, the collapsible shelter comprising at least one leg and at least one linkage, the apparatus comprising: means for attaching to a collapsible shelter; and means to facilitate moving the collapsible shelter between the collapsed state and the expanded state when a user applies force to the collapsible shelter.