Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Portable shelter – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-20
2001-10-02
Stephan, Beth A. (Department: 3635)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Portable shelter
Combined
C135S090000, C135S115000, C135S117000, C135S119000, C297S184100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296002
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a lightweight collapsible enclosure. In particular, it is directed to an enclosure capable of being attached to a collapsible folding chair and providing an enclosure about multiple sides of the chair.
2. The Background Art
A number of attempts have been made to provide the user of a chair at least some protection from weather and the elements, such as sun, wind, rain, or snow. Such devices have included umbrellas, adjustable umbrellas, one or more movable panels for shields attached to a chair, warming huts used by ice fishermen, and various canopies or drapes used by sportsmen.
The known prior art suffer from several disadvantages, such as limited shelter about the user to protect from sun, wind, rain, or snow. Many of the devices lack practical portability because they are either heavy in weight or bulky in size and thereby require considerable time and energy to transport and/or erect. What is needed is a lightweight collapsible enclosure or cover that is easily transported and readily adaptable to a folding chair. Such a device would provide a place of shelter or protection at the beach, for spectators of various sports, or participants of sports such as ice fishing, and even a camouflage covering for hunters. What is needed is a shelter or multi-sided enclosure which is sufficiently rigid to withstand sun, wind, rain, or snow, but which unlike the known prior art multi-sided shelters, may be erected and put in place in a matter of seconds without the need of any tools, equipment, rope, stakes, or any other equipment to secure vertical or horizontal members of the enclosure. What is needed is a lightweight collapsible enclosure whose manufacture is cheap and inexpensive and whose structure is simple and requires little or no assembly on site.
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a lightweight collapsible enclosure capable of being attached to a folding chair such that when the chair is folded, the enclosure collapses with the chair. The enclosure is constructed of lightweight poles that can be attached to or inserted into tubular elements of a folding chairs to support a multi-sided readily collapsible enclosure to provide the user shelter from sun, wind, rain, and snow. The enclosure can be made of virtually any available material depending on its intended function.
A lightweight collapsible enclosure of the present invention comprises one or more support members, each having one or more lateral members to support a surrounding and/or an overhead enclosure. The vertical support members being insertable into tubular structures of a folding chair or readily attachable thereto such that at least a portion of the foldable collapsible enclosure can be left attached to the folding chair when it is folded.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a lightweight, collapsible enclosure.
Another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible enclosure readily attachable to a folding chair.
Another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible enclosure, which can be erected without tools.
Another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible enclosure, which can be erected in seconds.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
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patent: 5588695 (1996-12-01), Gomes
patent: 5695100 (1997-12-01), O'Brien
patent: 5890507 (1999-04-01), Hinsperger
Kirton & McConkie
Stephan Beth A.
LandOfFree
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