U.S. patent application number 11/550351 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-17 for collapsible canopy framework.
This patent application is currently assigned to Norstar International, Inc.. Invention is credited to Jung-Woo Jang.
Application Number | 20080087313 11/550351 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39302065 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080087313 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jang; Jung-Woo |
April 17, 2008 |
COLLAPSIBLE CANOPY FRAMEWORK
Abstract
A structure that is foldable and expandable to support a canopy
when a covering is placed on top of the framework includes a
plurality of upright supports and a plurality of edge scissor
assemblies that interconnect adjacent ones of the upright supports.
Mounting brackets are disposed on the upright supports and also
between scissor assemblies to fasten outer, end portions of the
edge scissor assemblies together or to the upright supports. The
mounting brackets each have a plurality of unique single side wall
sockets each including a means for limiting torsional twisting of
the scissor assemblies fastened in the socket. The limiting means
comprises a complementary groove or rib for matingly engaging, in a
complementary fashion, a complementary rib or groove, respectively,
formed on the end of the scissor member received in the socket and
secured therein with a pivot pin. The mounting brackets on each
upright support may be relatively movable to allow expansion and
contraction of the framework while limiting the side to side
stresses on the scissor members pivotally held within the mounting
brackets.
Inventors: |
Jang; Jung-Woo; (Changu Yung
Sun, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBERG TRAURIG LLP (LA)
2450 COLORADO AVENUE, SUITE 400E, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
SANTA MONICA
CA
90404
US
|
Assignee: |
Norstar International, Inc.
Gardena
CA
|
Family ID: |
39302065 |
Appl. No.: |
11/550351 |
Filed: |
October 17, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/145 ;
135/131 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 15/44 20130101;
E04H 15/50 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/145 ;
135/131 |
International
Class: |
E04H 15/50 20060101
E04H015/50 |
Claims
1. In a collapsible frame adapted to support a flexible fabric
canopy or tent, the frame having an extended configuration and a
collapsed configuration, the frame having a plurality of upright
support members oriented alongside one another in the collapsed
state and movable outwardly apart from one another toward the
expanded state and a plurality of edge scissor link assemblies each
interconnecting adjacent support members, each edge scissor link
assembly comprising one or more pairs of scissor link members, and
a mounting bracket connecting one or more scissor link members to
one of either one of the upright support members or another edge
scissor link assembly, the mounting bracket comprising: a solid
body having a plurality of sockets therein each shaped to receive
and pivotally hold one end of one of the link members therein, each
socket having an inner face, a horizontal wall, and only a single
vertical side wall merging substantially at a right angle with the
horizontal wall and the inner face of the socket; a pivot fastener
extending through the one end of the link member and into the
single side wall to hold the member in the socket and permit
rotation of the link member about an axis of the pivot fastener;
and means formed between the horizontal wall of the socket and the
end of the link member in the socket for limiting effect of
twisting side stresses applied to the scissor link member in the
socket.
2. The mounting bracket as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of a pair
of mounting brackets on each upright support member is a stationary
mounting bracket and another of the pair being a slide mounting
bracket, the slide mounting bracket being slidably secured to the
upright support member and movable between locations proximate to
and remote from the stationary mounting bracket when the respective
the edge scissor assembly opens and closes.
3. The mounting bracket as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for
limiting comprises a groove formed in the horizontal wall extending
parallel to the vertical wall and a complementary shaped rib formed
on the end of the scissor member engaged with the groove in the
socket when the pivot fastener fastens the link member to the
vertical wall.
4. The mounting bracket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for
limiting comprises a rib formed in the horizontal wall extending
parallel to the vertical wall and a complementary shaped groove
formed on the end of the scissor member engaged with the rib in the
socket when the pivot fastener fastens the link member to the
vertical wall.
5. The mounting bracket as claimed in claim 3 wherein the rib and
the groove each has a complementary trapezoidal cross sectional
shape.
6. The mounting bracket as claimed in claim 4 wherein the rib and
the groove each has a complementary trapezoidal cross sectional
shape.
7. The mounting bracket as claimed in claim 3 wherein the rib and
the groove each has a complementary curved cross sectional
shape.
8. The mounting bracket as claimed in claim 3 wherein the solid
body has at least two sockets at right angles to each other.
9. An expandable and collapsible framework structure comprising: a
plurality of upright support members each having a bottom end
positionable on a support surface and a top end opposite the bottom
end, the support members oriented alongside one another in the
collapsed state and movable outwardly apart from one another toward
the expanded state; a plurality of edge scissor assemblies with
there being an edge scissor assembly interconnecting adjacent ones
of the support members, each the edge scissor assembly having a
pair of link members with outer upper ends and outer lower ends,
the edge scissor assemblies operative to open and close whereby the
framework structure may move between the expanded and contracted
states; and a plurality of mounting brackets disposed on the
upright supports and operative to fasten the edge scissor
assemblies thereto, each bracket having at least two sockets each
receiving an end of one of the link members of the scissor
assemblies therein, each socket having an inner surface, only a
single vertical side wall extending from the inner surface, and a
horizontal wall extending at a right angle from the side wall, and
a pivot pin fastening the end of the scissor assembly member in the
socket to the vertical wall, wherein each socket comprises means
formed between the horizontal wall of the socket and the end of the
link member in the socket for limiting effect of twisting side
stresses applied to the scissor link member in the socket.
10. The structure as claimed in claim 9 wherein one of a pair of
mounting brackets on each upright support member is a stationary
mounting bracket and another of the pair being a slide mounting
bracket, the slide mounting bracket being slidably secured to the
upright support member and movable between locations proximate to
and remote from the stationary mounting bracket when the respective
the edge scissor assembly opens and closes.
11. The structure as claimed in claim 10 wherein the means for
limiting comprises a groove formed in the horizontal wall extending
parallel to the vertical wall and a complementary shaped rib formed
on the end of the scissor member engaged with the groove in the
socket when the pivot fastener fastens the link member to the
vertical wall.
12. The structure as claimed in claim 9 wherein the means for
limiting comprises a rib formed in the horizontal wall extending
parallel to the vertical wall and a complementary shaped groove
formed on the end of the scissor member engaging with the rib in
the socket when the pivot fastener fastens the link member to the
vertical wall of the mounting bracket.
13. The structure as claimed in claim 11 wherein the rib and the
groove each has a complementary trapezoidal cross sectional
shape.
14. The structure as claimed in claim 12 wherein the rib and the
groove each has a complementary trapezoidal cross sectional
shape.
15. The structure as claimed in claim 11 wherein the rib and the
groove each has a complementary curved cross sectional shape.
16. The structure as claimed in claim 12 wherein the solid body has
at least two sockets at right angles to each other.
17. The structure as claimed in claim 9 wherein the solid body has
a central passage therethrough receiving one of the upright support
members therein.
18. The structure as in claim 9 further comprising each scissor
assembly comprising at least two pairs of scissor members connected
together by mounting brackets wherein each mounting bracket has at
least two sockets each receiving an end of one of the link members
of the scissor member pairs therein, each socket having an inner
surface, a single vertical side wall extending at a right angle
from the inner surface of the socket, and a horizontal wall
extending at a right angle from the single side wall, and a pivot
pin fastening the end of the scissor member in the socket to the
vertical wall, wherein each socket comprises means formed between
the horizontal wall of the socket and the end of the link member in
the socket for limiting effect of twisting side stresses applied to
the scissor link member in the socket while the structure is in the
expanded state.
19. The structure as in claim 18 wherein the means for limiting
comprises a groove formed in the horizontal wall extending parallel
to the vertical wall and a complementary shaped rib formed on the
end of the scissor member engaging with the groove in the socket
when the pivot fastener fastens the link member to the vertical
wall.
20. The structure as claimed in claim 18 wherein the means for
limiting comprises a rib formed in the horizontal wall extending
parallel to the vertical wall and a complementary shaped groove
formed on the end of the scissor member engaging with the rib in
the socket when the pivot fastens the link member to the vertical
wall of the mounting bracket.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to the attachment
of pivoting structural members in an integrated collapsible canopy
system. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a
structural device, in the form of non-compressible mounting
brackets each forming a plurality of sockets for use in a
collapsible canopy framework, wherein each socket captures an end
portion of a scissor assembly member.
[0003] 2. General Background
[0004] There is a need recognized when collapsible canopy products
are manufactured to simplify the mounting bracketing of the scissor
bar elements, one to another into scissor units and the resulting
scissor units into interconnected scissor or truss assemblies, and
in the connection of such truss assemblies in a pivotal
expandable/collapsible manner to respective corner and intermediate
supports. There is a need for interconnections which would be more
resistive to shear and bending moments. The mounting brackets in
the following description are structured to provide free pivots
while at the same time resisting lateral and torsional deflection
of the scissor assembly components.
SUMMARY
[0005] A collapsible frame adapted to support a flexible fabric
canopy or tent in an extended configuration and a collapsed
configuration in accordance with the present disclosure has a
plurality of upright support members oriented alongside one another
in the collapsed state and movable outwardly apart from one another
toward the expanded state. A plurality of edge scissor link
assemblies each interconnect adjacent support members, each edge
scissor link assembly comprising one or more pairs of scissor link
members.
[0006] A unique mounting bracket connects one or more scissor link
members to one of either one of the upright support members or
another edge scissor link assembly. The mounting bracket is a solid
body having a plurality of sockets therein each shaped to receive
and pivotally hold one end of one of the link members therein. Each
socket has an inner face, a horizontal wall, and only a single
vertical side wall merging substantially at a right angle with the
horizontal wall and the inner face of the socket. A pivot fastener
extends through the one end of the link member and into the single
side wall to hold the member in the socket and permit rotation of
the link member about an axis of the pivot fastener. The mounting
bracket further includes means formed between the horizontal wall
of the socket and the end of the link member in the socket for
limiting the effect of twisting side stresses applied to the
scissor link member in the socket when the frame is fully expanded
to support the canopy or tent cover.
[0007] The means for limiting preferably is formed within the
socket by a groove formed in the horizontal wall extending parallel
to the vertical wall and mates with a complementary shaped rib
formed on the end of the scissor member engaged with the groove in
the socket when the pivot fastener fastens the link member to the
vertical wall in the socket.
[0008] Alternatively, the means for limiting may preferably be a
rib formed in the horizontal wall extending into the socket
parallel to the vertical wall and a complementary shaped groove
formed on the end of the scissor member engaged with the rib in the
socket when the pivot fastener fastens the link member to the
vertical wall in the socket.
[0009] The framework structure includes several different
configurations of the mounting bracket of the present disclosure
that have two, three, or four or more sockets formed therein, each
of which includes the means for limiting the effect of twist or
side stresses to which the scissor member in the socket may be
subjected to. For example, a mounting bracket at one of the corners
of the framework may have two sockets at right angles. A mounting
bracket placed in the center of the framework for supporting the
central portion of the canopy roof will have four sockets at right
angles from each other. If the canopy or tent framework has roof
members extending from the corners, then the corner mounting
brackets each may include a socket oriented between the right angle
sockets.
[0010] The framework structure can be folded and stored in a
collapsed state and erected in an expanded state on a support
surface in order to support a canopy covering above the support
surface. In the collapsed state, the support members are oriented
alongside one another but are movable outwardly apart from one
another towards the expanded state.
[0011] A preferred embodiment of the framework structure includes a
plurality of edge scissor assemblies that form truss members for
the expandable framework with there being an edge scissor assembly
interconnecting adjacent ones of the support members. Each edge
scissor assembly may be made of two or more pairs of scissor
members linked together. In addition, mounting brackets in
accordance with the present disclosure connecting the scissor
member pairs together. In addition, a fixed and slidable pair of
mounting brackets are disposed on the upright support members to
fasten the edge scissor assemblies to the upright support
members.
[0012] The mounting brackets each have sockets that include a track
or means for engaging the end of the scissor member of the scissor
assembly received within a respective one of the sockets. A
fastening pivot pin pivotally secures each outer end portion of
each edge scissor assembly in its respective socket.
[0013] The mounting brackets on the upright support member are
relatively movable with respect to one another so that the edge
scissor assemblies are operative to open and close whereby the
framework structure may move between the expanded and contracted
states. One mounting bracket is stationary while the other is
slidable. The sockets and the mounting brackets thus provide
pivotal connections for the scissor bars or members which form the
scissor pairs which in turn comprise the scissor assemblies.
[0014] The roof support assembly of the framework may be extendible
roof members pivotally attached to the stationary mounting brackets
in sockets at upper ends of the upright support members with these
roof members projecting radially inwardly to form one or more
apices to support the canopy covering. Alternately, the roof
support members may extend radially inwardly from the slide
mounting brackets to form such apex.
[0015] These and other objects of the present disclosure will
become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration
of the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment
when taken together with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary canopy
framework structure of the present disclosure;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a corner mounting bracket at
an upper end portion of a corner support member;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary slide mounting
bracket of the present disclosure for use on a corner support
member;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective bottom view of a floating apex
mounting bracket as shown in the exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure in FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective bottom view of the lower floating
mounting bracket shown in FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary floating
mounting bracket of the present disclosure used to connect adjacent
scissor units;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a partial vertical sectional view through an
assembled scissor member and socket of an exemplary mounting
bracket of the disclosure such as in FIG. 3.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of
the slide mounting bracket shown in FIG. 3 illustrating an
alternative groove and rib arrangement in accordance with the
disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the top corner
mounting bracket shown in FIG. 2.
[0025] FIG. 10 is a separate perspective view of an exemplary
scissor bar member showing the end cap structure that matingly fits
within one of the sockets in the mounting brackets shown in FIG.
9.
[0026] FIG. 11 is a sectional end view of an alternative embodiment
of a socket as in FIG. 7.
[0027] FIG. 12 is a sectional end view of a different embodiment of
a unit of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] The present disclosure specifically concerns novel mounting
brackets which may be used to interconnect the framework forming
elements, such as the upright corner and intermediate leg support
members, scissor assemblies and roof support structures in a
collapsible canopy framework structure. FIG. 1 shows a perspective
view of a framework structure 11 used to support a fabric canopy
12. In FIG. 1 a framework structure 11 is shown in an expanded
state and supports a covering fabric 12 (shown in partial phantom
view) to produce a canopy unit 10. Framework structure 11 is formed
by four upright corner support members 14 each of which comprises a
pair of telescoping pole structures such as square tubular upper
leg section 15 into which square tubular lower leg section 16 is
slidable received. Each upright support member 14 has a lower end
17 which engages or rests on a support surface, such as the ground,
and an upper end 18 opposite the lower end 17.
[0029] A stationary mounting bracket 60 in an exemplary embodiment
of the framework 11 of the present disclosure is disposed at each
upper end 18. A sliding mounting bracket 62 is slidably received on
upper leg section 15 so that each slide mounting bracket 62 may
move from a position remote from a respective stationary mounting
bracket 15 to a location proximate stationary mounting bracket 60
in the fully expanded state as shown in FIG. 1. When located
proximate to stationary mounting bracket 60, each mounting bracket
62 may be latched into position by a suitable latch structure. This
can be a spring mounting bracketed button latch 13a in the floating
mounting bracket 62 and is engagement when exposed so that it
enters into holes 13b in the respective walls of support 15. Each
upright support member 14 is interconnected to an adjacent upright
corner support member by a scissor assembly 19 which has opposite
outer upper and lower ends captured in sockets formed in mounting
brackets 60 and 62. In an additional aspect, visible in FIG. 3, the
spring-loaded pull-out pin 13a is pulled by means of the pull ring
13c. A spring biases the pins 13a towards insertion into the
apertures 13b.
[0030] In FIG. 1, the peripheral edge scissor assemblies 19 each
comprise a set of two pairs of scissor member bars 40 and 42. It
should be understood that additional pairs of scissor members 40
and 42 may be utilized in forming larger canopy or tent framework
structures. Each of scissor bars 40 and 42 is preferably hollow,
extruded aluminum tubular material having a rectangular cross
section and substantially similar to one another. Each bar may also
have internal strengthening ribs to provide enhanced rigidity.
Alternately, scissor bars 40 and 42 may be made of any suitable
construction material such as steel, plastic, fiberglass and the
like. For example, the scissor bars 40 and 42 have a hollow
interior 70 formed by sidewalls 72 and 74. The sidewalls define a
vertical dimension of height "h" for the scissor bar such as
scissor bars while sidewalls 76 and 78 define a horizontal
dimension or width "w."
[0031] The scissor bars 40 and 42 are connected at common central
pivot joint 43. A pivot fastener structure is provided. The pivot
fastener structure includes a pair of cooperative mating pivot
fastener structures that define a pivot axle that is a
non-compressive element formed by a pair of cooperative axle pins
such as female pin and male pin. The male pin has an elongated
shaft terminating in a threaded end of reduced cross-section which,
in turn, may be threadably received in threaded bore of shaft on
the female pin. When joined, the shoulder on the shaft abuts the
rim on the shaft so that the respective heads of female and male
axle pins have a minimum distance of separation defined by the
lengths of shafts. The minimum distance for the spacing between
heads is at least the combined cross-sectional widths of scissor
bars 40 and 42. Further, the heads are preferably separated a
minimum distance to accommodate a spacer washer. The heads are
tapered, and countersunk washers are preferably provided for
mounting bracketing on the outermost sides of scissor bars 40 and
42.
[0032] Mounting brackets 20 connect the scissor units 40 and 42, as
shown in FIG. 1, one to another, in end-to-end relation in the form
of either single or multiple scissor unit trusses to their
respective upright supports 14. Each of the mounting brackets 20
has sockets 120 as described below with reference to the corner
mounting brackets 60 and 62. One of these mounting brackets 20 is
shown upside down in FIG. 6. In the embodiment of the framework 11
shown in FIG. 1, the mounting brackets 20 also have sockets 120
connecting ends of a scissor unit pair 40 and 42 between the edge
scissor assembly 19 and the roof support mounting brackets 66 and
67 respectively. The roof support mounting brackets 66 and 67 are
similar in structure to the corner mounting brackets 62 and 60
respectively, except that each of brackets 66 and 67 has four
sockets as is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0033] A separate perspective upper view of a corner mounting
bracket 60 is shown in FIG. 2 and a bottom view of this mounting
bracket 60 is shown in FIG. 9. The stationary mounting bracket 60
is a solid body that has a central portion 112 having a cavity 114
formed therein. Cavity 114 is sized to matingly receive an upper
end portion of an upright support member, such as a corner support
member 14. A pair of flanges or lobes 116 and 118 extend outwardly
from the central section 112 at right angles to one another to form
the corner configuration. Each of lobes 116 and 118 forms a portion
of a socket 120. Each socket 120 is defined by a single vertical
sidewall 122, which extends at right angles from both central
portion 112 and the horizontal wall or flange 116. Thus the socket
120 has only one vertical sidewall 122, a horizontal wall 116 and
an inner surface formed by the exterior of the central portion 112.
Note that the corner mounting brackets 60 and 62 only have two
sockets 120. In contrast, roof support mounting brackets 66 and 67
each have four sockets 120 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0034] Mounting brackets 20 each has three sockets 120 as shown in
FIG. 1 and FIG. 6. Each socket 120 includes a groove 302 extending
parallel to the vertical side wall 122 of the socket 120, and, as
shown in both FIGS. 6 and 8, the horizontal wall 164 merges via a
curved surface 308 into the central section of the bracket 60, 62
or 20 having a radius of curvature complementary to the radius of
curvature of the end cap 44 on the scissor members 40 or 42.
[0035] A transverse pivot pin 140 pivotally fastens each end cap 44
of one of the scissor bar members 40 or 42 into the socket 120
through bore 45 in the end cap 44. Each pivot pin 140 is preferably
threaded into and fixed into the vertical wall 122 of the socket
120. The end portions of the respective scissor bar members 40 and
42 are sized for close fitted mated engagement in the sockets 120
for relatively free pivotal motion therein. Due to this close
fitted construction, each sidewall 122 forms a planar contact
surface with its respective scissor bar 40 and 42 and, thus,
resists lateral and torsional deflections of their respective
scissor bars 40 and 42 along the planar contact surface of vertical
wall 122.
[0036] However, stresses and torsional loads that are applied off
axis to the pivot pin 140 are not restrained by the vertical wall
122. Accordingly a unique means for limiting torsional loads and
side stresses is incorporated into each of the sockets 120 in each
of the mounting brackets 60, 62, 66, 67, and 20. These features are
clearly shown in detail in FIGS. 3 through 12. Basically, each
socket 120 includes a complementary set of ribs and grooves formed
between the end cap 44 of the bar members 40 or 42 and the
horizontal walls 116 and 118. These complementary rib/groove
formations interact when the pivot pin 140 secures the end cap of
the members 40 or 42 securely in the socket 120 to prevent side
loading and side stresses from unduly twisting the pivot pin 140,
providing a secure rotatable yet rigid joint structure without the
need for an opposite side wall parallel to the single side wall 122
of the socket 120.
[0037] One exemplary arrangement of the stress limiting means
incorporated into each of the sockets 120 in the mounting bracket
of the present disclosure is shown with reference to the lower
sliding bracket 62 shown in FIG. 3 and in cross sectional view in
FIG. 7. The structure for supporting the scissor member 40 in the
socket 120 includes a raised rib 300 formed on the end cap 44
around the curved portion of the end cap 44. This protruding raised
rib 300 engages a complementarily shaped groove 302 best seen in
FIG. 7. As the scissor member 40 is rotated about the pivot pin 140
the end cap 44, the rib 300 rides within the groove 302 and hence
the scissor member 40 (or 42) is prevented from twisting out of
parallel alignment with the sidewall 122 by the interaction between
the complementary structures. The rib 300 need only extend
partially around the end cap 44 and need not extend completely
around as is shown in FIG. 3. Similarly the groove 302 need not
extend as far up the inner wall as shown. Since the torsional
loading is primarily experienced only when the frame work 11 is
fully extended as in FIG. 1, the complementary rib/groove
arrangement need only engage in the fully extended position as
shown in FIG. 3.
[0038] As illustrated in FIG. 11, a different configuration is
shown where the rib 310 is illustrated as having a triangular cross
section, which fits into a V shaped groove 312 in the flange or
base 164 of the socket 120. In FIG. 12, a different configuration
is shown where the end cap 304 is shown with a trapezoidal cross
sectional groove 313 for mating with the trapezoidal raised rib 314
in the flange or base 164 of the socket 120.
[0039] In different configurations of the sockets 120 there can be
different shapes of the interacting rib and groove arrangement than
that illustrated. In FIG. 8, for example, the mounting bracket 62
is configured with a raised rib 302 in the flange 164 extending
parallel to the vertical wall 170 or 316 which engages a
complementary groove 314 formed in the end cap 44 or 304. Otherwise
the mounting bracket 62 shown in FIG. 8 is identical to the bracket
shown in FIG. 3.
[0040] At the front edge of the flange or base 164 forming the
horizontal wall of each of the sockets 120 there is a transverse
rib 318 which protrudes from the flange 164 and engages a mating
transverse groove 320 in the end cap 44. These rib/groove
combinations operate to stabilize the mounting or mooring of the
scissor elements 40 and 42 within the mounting bracket sockets
120.
[0041] Exemplary corner slide mounting brackets 62 are shown in
perspective views in FIGS. 3 and 8. Each has a central section 152
defining a square shaped passageway 154 extending therethrough. An
upper leg section of an upright support member 14 may be
telescopically received through passageway 154 so that slide
mounting bracket 62 may readily slide thereon. A pair of lobes 156
and 158 project outwardly from the central section 152 at right
angles to one another to form the horizontal walls of sockets 120.
Each of lobes 156 and 158 has a vertical wall 170 extending upward
from the horizontal wall 164 formed by the lobe 156 or 158. The
vertical wall 170 merges into the central section 152. The merger
between the central section 152 and the horizontal wall 164 of each
of the lobes 156 and 158 is preferably curved complementary to the
radius of the end cap 44 of the scissor member 40 (or 42). The
vertical wall 170 is provided with a countersunk threaded bore 166
to receive and hold a pivot fastener 140 therein to secure the
scissor member in the socket 120 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0042] FIGS. 4 and 5 show perspective views of roof support
mounting brackets 66 and 67 respectively. The upper mounting
bracket 66 has a central section 232 through which extends a
passageway 234 sized to accommodate a roof apex spring loading
elements such as a support post 100 shown in phantom lines. Central
section 232 has a plurality of lobes 238 that project horizontally
outwardly from central section 232 at right degree angles with
respect to one another. Each lobe 238 forms the horizontal wall of
a socket 240 that is also defined by a vertical side wall 241 that
merges from the lobe 238 into the central section 232. Countersunk
bores 246 are again provided in the vertical side wall 241 to
receive a fastening pin 140 forming a pivotal axle for scissor bar
elements, such as scissor bar elements 40 and 42 which may be
matingly received in each of sockets 240.
[0043] Lower central mounting bracket 67, shown in FIG. 5, includes
a central section 252 provided with a passageway 254 extending
therethrough. A plurality of lobes 258 project outwardly from
central section 252 and each forms a socket 260 that has a single
vertical wall rising from the lobe 258 and merging with the central
section 252, which is also the same general construction described
with respect to stationary mounting bracket 60, slide mounting
bracket 62. Each of the sockets 260 has a groove 302 (or rib as in
FIG. 8) configured to mate with a complementary rib (or groove) in
the end cap 44 or 304 on the scissor member 40 or 42 as above
described.
[0044] The central mounting brackets 66 and 67 are substantially
identical to the other mounting brackets described above. The
central mounting brackets may be of a different configuration but
will necessarily have at least one socket 240 for each roof member
to be terminated thereto.
[0045] While the mounting bracket apparatus has been described in
terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and
preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure
need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. For example,
other configurations of the canopy are envisioned. Another
embodiment may include only three upright corner support members or
five or six corner support members. In such configurations, the
angles between sockets 120 or 240 may be other than 90 degrees.
However, the internal structure of each socket will be
substantially the same, defined by a single vertical wall and a
horizontal wall both merging into an inner surface of the central
section of the mounting bracket. Each socket will also have a
groove or rib extending along the horizontal wall, spaced from and
parallel to the vertical wall for receiving a complementary rib or
groove formed in the end portion of the support member that is
carried within the socket. This disclosure is intended to cover
various modifications and similar arrangements that will be readily
apparent to those skilled in the art and are included within the
spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be
accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such
modifications and similar structures.
* * * * *