Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Portable shelter – Framework
Patent
1995-03-28
1997-08-12
Wood, Wynn E.
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Portable shelter
Framework
135133, 135906, 135147, 135135, E04H 1538
Patent
active
056555598
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to shelters and more particularly to lightweight, multipurpose shelters and hardware for use in the shelters.
BACKGROUND
Lightweight shelters have been constructed in the past using sets of hoops radiating from a central position on each side of the shelter to support a canopy. The hoops may be mounted on hinges at the centre so that the shelter may be opened by lifting one end. One difficulty with a shelter of this sort is the base on which the hoops are mounted. While it has been proposed to use base hinges so that the hoops can pivot for opening and closing the shelter, the prior art hinges provide only limited movement because of interference of the hoops with one another. In some cases, this can be dealt with by making the hoops of different sizes to nest together, but this requires several different sizes of hoops. Manufacturing costs and complexity of assembly are consequently inceased.
The present invention proposes a hinge construction and a shelter that mitigate these problems.
SUMMARY
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a hinge for connecting a plurality of members for movement between extended condition with the members radiating at spaced positions along an arc of substantially 180.degree., and a collapsed condition with the members stacked adjacent the hinge, said hinge comprising:
a base;
two hinge arms;
arm pivot means mounting each of the hinge arms on the base for pivotal movement about a lateral hinge arm axis;
means for pivotally mounting the members on the hinge arms at spaced locations therealong, for pivotal movement of the members about respective lateral member axes with respect to the associated hinge arms.
The hinge arms may be pivoted so that the arms project in opposite directions from the arm pivot in the collapsed condition. Consequently the members will be connected to the arms in a spaced row so that they may lie flat on one another.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a shelter having two laterally spaced sides and two longitudinally spaced ends, the shelter comprising two laterally spaced apart hinge assemblies; a plurality of laterally extending hoops coupled to the hinge assemblies for movement between an extended condition of the shelter with the hoops radiating from the hinge assemblies at positions spaced angularly through an arc of approximately 180.degree. about the hinge assemblies, and a collapsed condition with the hoops stacked to one end of the hinge assemblies, and a canopy connected to the hoops to be supported thereby in the extended condition of the shelter, wherein each hinge assembly comprises:
a base;
first and second hinge arms, each mounted on the base for pivotal movement about a lateral arm axis, each hinge arm being pivotable between a closed position extending downwardly from the lateral arm axis and an open position projecting upwardly from the lateral arm axis, each hoop being pivotally mounted on a respective hinge arm of each hinge assembly for pivotal movement about a respective lateral hoop axis.
A shelter constructed this way may opened fully from either end. It may be constructed as a dome with curved hoops, or in a more rectangular shape with hoops having distinct side and top sections. The shelters may be used in many ways, for example as greenhouses; garages for automobiles, trucks, snowmobiles or all terrain vehicles; construction shelters; gazebos; tents; garden shelters; ice fishing huts; and hunting blinds.
The nature of the canopy will vary according to use. It may be a weatherproof tarpaulin material, a transparent film or screening. Where desired, windows or other openings may be provided in the canopy.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention:
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a dome shaped shelter in a closed condition;
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the shelter of FIG. 1 in an open condition;
FIG. 3 is a side view of a hinge
REFERENCES:
patent: 2598940 (1952-06-01), Robie
patent: 3906968 (1975-09-01), Black
patent: 3995649 (1976-12-01), Robichaud
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patent: 4239247 (1980-12-01), Hinz
patent: 4271856 (1981-06-01), Ferguson
patent: 4343322 (1982-08-01), Fiddler
patent: 4425929 (1984-01-01), Von Mosshaim
patent: 5004001 (1991-04-01), Bouchard
patent: 5085240 (1992-02-01), Littledeer
patent: 5159947 (1992-11-01), Chuang et al.
patent: 5184865 (1993-02-01), Mohtasham et al.
Lefebvre Glen
Lefebvre Ronald R.
Zembik Allen J.
Battison Adrian D.
Thrift Murray E.
Wood Wynn E.
Zembik Allen J.
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