Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Portable shelter – Framework
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-02
2001-12-11
Canfield, Robert (Department: 3635)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Portable shelter
Framework
C135S126000, C135S128000, C135S143000, C135S157000, C135S116000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328050
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
(Not Applicable)
STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
(Not Applicable)
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to portable structures, and in particular to a self-expanding foldable portable structure such as a tent or cabana having side-member frame members fabricated of a spring material foldable to store kinetic energy and kinetically self-expandable for maintaining each opposing side panel in an expanded configuration in cooperation with connected roof and end panels to sustain the structure in place.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of portable structures such as tents, cabanas, and the like, is a popular and effective way for providing shelter for both children and adults. In particular, such structures can be used to provide protection over a broad scope of conditions ranging from insulated winter camping quarters in desolate terrain to light weight sun ray protection at a beach. Irrespective of the weight or the use of such a structure, however, is the fact that the structure must be transported to, and erected at, the designated site of use. Transportation factors include size considerations, while assembly factors include ease of completion in conjunction with number of people and types of special tools needed to accomplish construction.
Portable structures such as tents generally include side, end, roof, and, usually, floor panels that cooperate with each other when the tent structure is finally erected to provide an enclosure whose size can accommodate one or more persons. Traditional construction generally requires the assembly of frame members, engagement of these frame members with appropriate structural panels, and the use of ground-hammered stakes securing ropes extending from the tent structure to thereby maintain the structure in an upright position. While portable structures so built can provide needed shelter, the actual assembly and disassembly can be cumbersome and even, depending on structure size, impossible for one person to handle.
Certain assembly difficulties have been recognized in the prior art, and attempts to lessen such hardships have been through use of an A-shaped frame wherein a self-expanding spring steel or similar material is provided as two opposing frame members joined at their respective tops in figure-eight fashion to flay outwardly with fabric attached thereto and thereby provide opposing side panels as an A-shaped structure. As is apparent, however, such a top-joining frame construction severely limits interior width dimensions since the top of the portable structure must always be an apex. Further, and beyond limitations on width dimensions, this required A-shape eliminates all perpendicular side panel configurations, thus eliminating vertical uniformity within the structure.
In view of the above disadvantages inherent in prior art portable structures, it is apparent that a need is present for a portable structure that is easily erected through self-expandability, that is collapsible to a reasonable carrying, size, and that can provide generally perpendicularly vertical side panels to thereby maximize interior structure volume. Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a foldable portable structure having opposing self-expanding side walls each with a separate frame member and separated from each other by end and roof panels.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable portable structure wherein the respective frame members are fabricated of a spring material that is self-expandable when not physically confined for expanding and maintaining each side panel in a generally flat expanded configuration.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable portable structure wherein at least one tension member is positionable by friction fit between opposing aligned sites of the frame members for pressuredly maintaining the frame members in a spaced relationship from each other.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent throughout the description thereof which now follows.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a self-expanding, foldable, portable structure, such as a tent, cabana, or similar structure, for temporary placement on the ground or other generally flat surface to thereby provide shelter for an occupant. The structure comprises two opposing flexible side panels each having a continuous respective border thereabout. A continuous frame member is disposed at each respective border of each side panel and is fabricated of a spring material foldable to store kinetic energy and kinetically self-expandable when not physically confined for expanding and maintaining each side panel in a generally flat expanded configuration. Two opposing flexible end panels are disposed between and connected to the side panels, while a flexible roof panel likewise is disposed between and connected to the side panels. Preferably, a flexible floor panel is likewise disposed between and connected to the side panels. The structure can include a tension member for placement between two opposing aligned sites of opposing frame members for maintaining under pressure the frame members in a spaced relationship from each other. Position maintenance of the structure at a ground site can be enhanced by providing at least one externally accessible pocket disposed along a bottom portion of each side panel for receiving therein a weight, or by including stake accepting members for stake securement of the structure on an impregnable surface. Entry into the structure can be accommodated by providing an opening through at least one of the end panels through which a person can pass. Finally, a mat member having a frame fabricated of a spring material foldable to store kinetic energy and kinetically self-expandable when not physically confined can be provided for insertion within the portable structure to provide an inside floor surface between the opposing side panels while simultaneously tensionally distancing the side panels from each other to aid in stabilization of side panel positioning. Because the flexible end panels, roof panel, and preferable floor panel are disposed between and connected to the side panels, the portable structure thus formed provides an exceptional width dimension not limited by opposing frame connections as in the prior art. The present structure provides easy and stable construction for formation of a shelter that maximizes interior horizontal and vertical space while simultaneously providing ready transport and one person assembly.
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Canfield Robert
Stetina Brunda Garred & Brucker
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