Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Portable shelter – Framework
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-05
2001-10-23
Canfield, Robert (Department: 3635)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Portable shelter
Framework
C135S128000, C135S115000, C135S143000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305396
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to collapsible shade structures and specifically to collapsible or folding tents. The shade structure of the present invention provides an integral structure capable of supporting itself to act as a shelter.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art collapsible shade structures have suffered from several drawbacks. One drawback with such collapsible shade structures is the difficulty associated with erecting and stably supporting such structures. Another drawback associated with these prior art collapsible shade structures is that the construction of such structures tends to be complicated and bulky. As a result, such structures are expensive to manufacture and are troublesome to fold away and to store.
A further drawback of such prior art collapsible shade structures is that the frame structure itself tends to be weak even after it has been erected, and often requires other means to provide the required structural integrity. Examples of such structures are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,990,463 and 3,960,161, both of which disclose collapsible shelters each having a flexible and coilable frame member secured to the fabric of the structure and held in a “figure-eight” configuration. Tie members secured to portions of the fabric are required to stabilize the frame and to hold the frame and the remainder of the structure upright because the frame member alone cannot accomplish this.
Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,812, which discloses a collapsible shelter in which the frame members as configured cannot hold the side panels together because the side panels tend to stretch outwardly. Hence, a floor member or straps are required to hold the side panels together.
The various existing collapsible shade structures have not been successful in providing a simple structure which is inexpensive to manufacture, is easy to erect, and may be easily folded to a compact size, in which the structure when erected is capable of stably supporting itself. The present invention, therefore, provides for an improvement over the prior art collapsible shade structures and provides a collapsible shade structure with a novel frame structure in which the structure when erected is capable of stably supporting itself, and which also allows the collapsible shade structure to be of simple construction, to be easily erected and to be easily folded to a compact size. The present invention further includes improvements to the retention of the frame members which make the structure easier and less expensive to manufacture, and easier to operate.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, a collapsible structure is provided which includes a plurality of foldable frame members each having a folded and an unfolded orientation. A fabric material is provided for covering portions of the frame members to form a side panel for each frame member. The structure can have a removable roof.
The structure may be folded and stored by folding the side panels and their corresponding frame members on top of each other about the hinge portions to have the side panels and frame members overlying each other. The overlaying side panels and frame members are then collapsed by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric frame members and side panels to substantially reduce the size of the shade structure.
The collapsible shade structure may be used as a shelter affording a camper, for example, the convenience of a tent which may be easily erected and easily collapsed and folded to a compact arrangement that is a fraction of its unfolded size for easy storage. The materials used are lightweight, and together with its compact size, the tent is very convenient to transport.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4073105 (1978-02-01), Daugherty
patent: 4212130 (1980-07-01), Walker
patent: 4632138 (1986-12-01), Irwin
patent: 4635411 (1987-01-01), Kurzen
patent: 4815784 (1989-03-01), Zheng
patent: 5024262 (1991-06-01), Huang
patent: 5038812 (1991-08-01), Norman
patent: 5222513 (1993-06-01), Hilliard
patent: 5301705 (1994-04-01), Zheng
patent: 5467794 (1995-11-01), Zheng
patent: 5555679 (1996-09-01), Scherba
patent: 5592961 (1997-01-01), Chin
patent: 5778915 (1998-07-01), Zheng
patent: 5800067 (1998-09-01), Easter
patent: 6109281 (2000-08-01), Lowenthal
Advertisement for “Insta-Coil Blind” from theFall 1996 Cabela's Catalog p. 282, Found in 135/126.
Canfield Robert
Patent Category Corp.
Sun Raymond
LandOfFree
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