Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Portable shelter – Canopy supported by vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-12
2001-07-24
Barfield, Anthony D. (Department: 3635)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Portable shelter
Canopy supported by vehicle
C135S119000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263893
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to sun canopies and in particular to sun canopies which can be removably attached to wagons.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED PRIOR ART
Children's wagons are well known in the art and are commercially available in a variety of sizes. Parents regularly use wagons for transporting their young children in an effort to relieve themselves of the burden of physically lifting and carrying them. Although wagons provide an effective mode of transport, there are problems associated with them. In particular, children riding in wagons are exposed to the elements, especially the harmful rays of the sun. Young children are easily susceptible to sunburns and other damaging effects of the sun, thus requiring that they be protected from extended exposures to direct sunlight. Providing suitable clothing such as long sleeve shirts and hats minimizes exposure, but in particularly hot and humid climates, such clothing can be very uncomfortable, giving rise to other health problems such as heat exhaustion. Applying some form of sunblock also serves to protect the child, but sunblock needs to be reapplied on a regular basis to be effective, and ultimately will not protect the child where long periods of sun exposure are involved.
In order to overcome the above problems associated with standard wagons, canopies which could be attached to a wagon were developed, a number of which are found in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,383 issued Oct. 1, 1996 for example, seen in
FIG. 1
, discloses a height-adjustable wagon canopy comprising a single telescoping arm extending vertically from a wagon which is hinged to a canopy support. The canopy support can be rotated to a first position above the wagon floor or to a second retracted position where it rests along the telescoping arm. This wagon canopy is effective, but is deficient in several ways. Since the telescoping arm is permanently affixed to the wagon, the wagon canopy assembly cannot be readily moved to another wagon or utilized for any other applications. Further, the size of the canopy cannot be adjusted to fit wagons of differing sizes. Finally, due to the size and weight of the wagon canopy assembly and the bending moment resulting from its “L” shape, it can only be attached to a limited number of wagons which have walls that are thick enough to support the canopy assembly.
Another example of a wagon canopy is found in Canadian patent application 2,169,580 filed Feb. 15, 1996. This invention, seen in
FIG. 2
, discloses a canopy for a wagon or a sleigh. It comprises a rigid support frame to which a canopy is attached. The support frame is comprised of two vertical support units, each of which is composed of four members rotatably hinged together to form a “U”. These support units are linked together by a cross-bracing member. The ends of the members which form the vertical support units have integral clamps comprised of U-shaped grips with a threaded bolt extending through one arm of the U-shaped grip. In order to secure the support frame to the wagon, the U-shaped grips are placed over the wagon wall and the threaded bolt is tightened against the wall. This wagon canopy has several drawbacks. Due to the manner in which it is clamped, the canopy assembly will skew in one direction if a longitudinal force is applied. As well, the wagon canopy cannot be adjusted to fit wagons of varying width. Further, the frame is not height-adjustable to accommodate children of varying sizes. Finally, the canopy cannot be readily used for purposes other than a wagon canopy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention serves to overcome the deficiencies identified in the prior art. It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide an adjustable multi-purpose wagon canopy which can be releasably attached to wagons of varying sizes and which can be erected in soft ground.
The above object is achieved by providing an adjustable multi-purpose wagon canopy comprising: at least three support members with each support member having a first end and a second end wherein the first end tapers; an adjustable cover; means to attach the adjustable cover to the support members; and at least three mounting bracket assemblies attached to a wagon for releasably receiving the support members, wherein said wagon canopy is height-adjustable.
Preferably, the number of support arms is four, the first end of said support members further includes a plurality of primary diametrically opposed apertures positioned above said taper, the adjustable cover comprises a top and four sides, and the number of mounting bracket assemblies is four.
More preferably, the mounting bracket assemblies comprise: a cylindrical mounting sleeve with at least one pair of secondary diametrically opposed apertures; and at least one support bracket for affixing said mounting sleeve to a wall of said wagon, wherein said support member slides telescopically into said mounting sleeve and is height-adjusted by aligning said primary and secondary diametrically opposed apertures and inserting locking means therethrough.
Conveniently, the locking means comprises a bolt and nut or locking pin.
More conveniently, the adjustable cover includes at least one row and at least one column of holes with a drawstring extending through each row and each column of holes.
Most conveniently, the means to attach the adjustable cover to the support members comprises a hook and loop fastener arrangement wherein hook fastener strips extend vertically along the second ends of said support members and loop fastener strips are attached diagonally to said adjustable cover beginning from each respective corner of said adjustable cover.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, a kit for the assembly of an adjustable multi-purpose wagon canopy comprises: four support members with each support member having a first end and a second end wherein the first end tapers; an adjustable cover; means to attach the adjustable cover to the support members; and four mounting bracket assemblies attached to a wagon for releasably receiving the support members, wherein said wagon canopy is height-adjustable.
The advantages of the present invention are numerous. The mounting bracket assemblies can be easily positioned on the wagon and in conjunction with the support members provide a rigid structure to support the cover. Further, the support members are height-adjustable to accommodate children of varying height who may be seated in the wagon. As well, the cover can be adjusted in both width and length to accommodate different size wagons which require different positioning of the support members. Finally, since the support members have tapered ends and can be readily removed, the wagon canopy assembly can be repositioned in an area with soft or sandy ground with minimal effort.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 378997 (1997-04-01), Marozza et al.
patent: D. 388473 (1997-12-01), Pasin et al.
patent: 5560383 (1996-10-01), Fuller
patent: 5579796 (1996-12-01), Mallo et al.
patent: 5660425 (1997-08-01), Weber
patent: 5843548 (1998-12-01), Sanders
patent: 2169580 (1997-08-01), None
Colasante Marnie
Spinella Carolyn
Baker Harold C.
Barfield Anthony D.
Hendry Robert G.
Wilkes Robert A.
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