Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Portable shelter – Framework
Reexamination Certificate
2002-12-30
2004-07-13
Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Portable shelter
Framework
Reexamination Certificate
active
06761181
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a leg assembly, more particularly to a modular leg assembly for a canopy.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a conventional leg assembly
1
for a canopy is shown to comprise a multi-way connector
11
disposed on top of the leg assembly
1
, a plurality of curved support rods
12
connected to the multi-way connector
11
, a plurality of four-way connectors
13
, each of which is connected to a lower end of a respective one of the support rods
12
, a plurality of horizontal linking rods
14
, each of which is connected between an adjacent pair of the four-way connectors
13
, a plurality of hollow upright leg members
15
, each of which is connected pivotally to a lower end portion of a respective one of the four-way connectors
13
, and a plurality of leg seats
16
, each of which is connected fixedly to a lower end of a respective one of the leg members
15
.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, in each junction of the four-way connector
13
and the leg member
15
, there is provided an interlocking device
17
so as to stabilize connections among the connectors
11
,
13
, the support rods
12
, the linking rods
14
, and the leg members
15
. Since the interlocking devices
17
are substantially similar in construction, only one interlocking device
17
will be described hereinafter. The interlocking device
17
includes an L-shaped retaining groove
171
formed in an extended section
131
of the four-way connector
13
, and an engaging pin
172
that extends inwardly and radially from an inner surface of the leg member
15
. The retaining groove
171
has an axial hole section
173
and a transverse hole section
174
that is transverse to the axial hole section
173
. During assembly, the extended section
131
of the four-way connector
13
is sleeved into the leg member
15
in such a manner that the axial hole section
173
of the groove
171
can receive the engaging pin
172
of the leg member
15
, after which the leg member
15
is rotated so that the engaging pin
172
engages the transverse hole section
174
of the groove
171
in the four-way connector
13
so as to prevent removal of the leg member
15
from the four-way connector
13
.
Although the design of the conventional leg assembly
1
can achieve its intended purpose, however, in actual use, the leg members
15
cannot support stably the remaining elements of the leg assembly
1
since the leg members
15
are relatively thin. Furthermore, the number of the leg members
15
in the leg assembly
1
is relatively large such that a passage between each adjacent pair of the leg members
15
is relatively narrow, thereby inconveniencing the users. Moreover, the configuration of each interlocking device
17
can complicate and slow down the assembly process of the leg assembly
1
. In addition, the interlocking devices
17
are difficult to assemble due to the structure of the curved upper support rods
12
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a modular leg assembly that is capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.
According to the present invention, a modular leg assembly comprises at least three upright support members, an annular link frame, and a top support frame. Each of the upright support members includes an adjacent pair of planar first and second leg frames that are connected detachably to each other and that are adapted to stand one ground surface. Each of the first and second leg frames includes a vertical engaging side and a vertical non-engaging side opposite to the vertical engaging side. During assembly, the vertical engaging sides of the first and second leg frames of each of the support members are close to and are connected detachably to each other, and the vertical non-engaging sides of the first and second leg frames of each of the support members are spaced apart from each other. The link frame is mounted on a top end of each of the support members, and includes a plurality of corner connectors, each of which is connected detachably to a respective one of the support members, a plurality of horizontally-extending link members, each of which is connected telescopically to an adjacent pair of the corner connectors, and a plurality of first positioning units for positioning each of the link members between the adjacent pair of the corner connectors. A top support frame is mounted detachably on the link frame, and includes a central connector, a plurality of main support rod members, each of which is connected telescopically to the central connector and a respective one of the corner connectors, a plurality of second positioning units for positioning the central connector relative to the main support rod members, and a plurality of third positioning units for positioning the main support rod members relative to the corner connectors.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4426814 (1984-01-01), Stuhmer
patent: 4558713 (1985-12-01), Hagler et al.
patent: 4733508 (1988-03-01), Greenblatt
patent: 4910928 (1990-03-01), Cellar, Jr.
patent: 4960144 (1990-10-01), Wheatley et al.
patent: 5193327 (1993-03-01), Goodenberger
patent: 5224507 (1993-07-01), Vosse
patent: 5226440 (1993-07-01), Fuhrman
patent: 5673720 (1997-10-01), Cuthill
patent: 5779386 (1998-07-01), Eichhorn
patent: 6263895 (2001-07-01), Bang
Braun Leslie A.
Schulterbrandt Kofi
Shin Yeh Enterprise Co., Ltd.
LandOfFree
Modular leg assembly for a canopy does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Modular leg assembly for a canopy, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Modular leg assembly for a canopy will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3218326