Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Portable shelter – Framework
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-07
2001-07-10
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Portable shelter
Framework
C135S125000, C135S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257263
ABSTRACT:
THIS INVENTION concerns quickly erectable, quickly collapsible, self-supporting portable structures and in particular such a structure being of tent-like form.
So-called pop-up structures of this kind are known in various forms and consist essentially of a number of hingedly attached side members each comprised by a panel of foldable material held taut by a peripheral frame formed from a flexible coilable material, which frame forms a single loop when expanded and three overlaying loops when collapsed. This principle of construction is utilised in the present invention thus to provide a structure which may form a ridge tent.
The prior art includes such a structure in which a pair of side members of generally rectangular form are hingedly connected together along two adjacent sides, the opposite sides of the respective side members being connected together by a flexible sheet such that the two side members may be folded flat and then coiled in the manner of other so-called pop-up structures. When opened out, the structure may form, for example, a ridge tent with generally triangular ends one of which contain a flap to serve as a door for access and the base of the structure is held apart such that the flexible base sheet is held taut by removable rods or the like.
According to the present invention there is provided a portable structure operable for transforming from a fully collapsed configuration into an upstanding fully expanded configuration and thence back into a fully collapsed configuration, the structure in the fully expanded configuration having a base intended for resting on a horizontal surface, and a top, the structure comprising at least two side members one or more of said side members having a continuous frame formed from a flexible coilable material, the frame forming a single loop when expanded and three overlaying loops when collapsed, and a panel formed from a foldable material, the panel having means for confining the frame whereby when the frame is expanded the panel is pulled taught by the frame; the panels being connected together along the top and having a flexible sheet at the base which sheet is made taut when the opposed sides are held apart; characterised by a further and separate panel member also formed as a continuous frame of flexible coilable material with a panel of foldable material having means confining the frame whereby when the frame is expanded it forms a semi-rigid framed panel which may be removably placed on the flexible sheet within the structure to hold the sides apart.
The structures may therefore consist of two separable parts one being the two side members and the flexible base sheet and the other being the framed base panel, the two parts being separately collapsible each into three overlaying loops for storing.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
illustrates a portable structure made in accordance with the invention and shown in a fully expanded configuration;
FIG. 2
illustrates a removable base panel for the structure;
FIG. 3
illustrates a detailed part of the structure; and
FIG. 4
illustrates the structure in a fully collapsed configuration.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4757832 (1988-07-01), Russell
patent: 5467794 (1995-11-01), Zheng
patent: 5601105 (1997-02-01), Blen et al.
patent: 5778915 (1998-07-01), Zheng
Finecard International Limited
Friedman Carl D.
Samuels Gauthier & Stevens
Verner Steve
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