Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Portable shelter – Accessory or adjunct
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-14
2004-12-07
Hansen, James O. (Department: 3637)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Portable shelter
Accessory or adjunct
C135S115000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06827094
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shielding assembly. In particular, the invention relates to a shielding assembly which is adapted to shield a user or users from sun and/or wind.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, protection from the sun or wind has been generally achieved using temporary or permanent structures such as umbrellas, gazebos, marquees and sails. In all of these arrangements the assembly is substantially static and, as such, they are prone to allowing sunlight through to the area intended to be covered and protected on movement of the sun.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention advantageously provides an assembly which is adjustable to shield a user from the sun under various conditions, and which optionally may also provide shielding from wind. The shielding from the wind is advantageously independent of the sun shielding operation of the assembly. The invention advantageously has extremely broad application providing not only temporary assemblies for use, for example, on the beach or in a picnic area, but also permanent structures which cover, for example, swimming pools, playgrounds, dining areas or the like.
According to the present invention there is provided a shielding assembly comprising:
a shield for shielding a user of the assembly; and
a support for supporting said shield, the support including at least one elongate member relative to which said shield is moveably mounted;
wherein movement of said shield relative to the at least one elongate member, optionally in combination with movement of one or more of said elongate members, facilitates three-dimensional movement of the shield about a defined region below said at least one elongate member, the three-dimensional movement including a vertical component, a longitudinal component and a lateral component.
As used herein, three-dimensional movement including vertical, longitudinal and lateral components refers to movement of the shield which can be broken down into three components corresponding to the X, Y and Z axis of movement.
The support, shield and the mounting of the shield relative to the support may take any suitable configuration. In particular, the support may comprise any suitable number of elongate members, the shield may be of any suitable shape or size, and the mounting of the shield may include any suitable mounting provided that the movement of the shield, optionally in combination with movement of one or more of the elongate members facilitates three-dimensional movement of the shield about a defined region below the at least one elongate member.
In one embodiment the support includes a single elongate member, preferably in the form of an arch support, or a pair of elongate members, and the shield is mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the elongate member, for example such that the shield can track along the elongate member to provide optimal shielding from the sun. In this embodiment, the shield may be mounted on the inner or outer surface of the elongate member. Further, the elongate member may be adapted to be pivotally mounted at at least one end thereof to facilitate transverse movement of the elongate member, and therefore the shield relative to the longitudinal plane of the elongate member. Alternatively, the shield may be mounted for transverse movement relative to the elongate member itself. Further, the shield is preferably mounted such that it is lockable relative to the elongate member.
Where the elongate member is pivotally mounted at only one end thereof, this mounting may be, for example, on a wall the other end of the elongate member being mounted for tracking relative to the ground. Conversely, the elongate member may be pivotally mounted to the ground at one end and mounted for tracking relative to a wall at the other. Alternatively, both ends of the elongate member may be pivotally mounted relative to the ground so that the member may tilt about an axis defined by the ends thereof.
According to this embodiment, as stated above, the shield may be mounted relative to the elongate member by any suitable means. The mounting may, for example, comprise a single point of contact between the shield and the elongate member, or may comprise a plurality of points of contact or a track on the shield which runs along the elongate member. Other alternatives will be readily ascertained and determined by those skilled in the art. Further attachments may also be provided for additional shielding, for example from wind, or to provide netting to protect a user from insects.
According to another embodiment, the support includes a fixed member and an articulated arm pivotally mounted to the fixed member, the shield being mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the articulated arm. In this embodiment, the fixed member may take any suitable form, but advantageously includes a strut from which the articulated arm hangs. As such, the articulated arm is rotatable around 360° and the shield is movable, for example by tracking as previously discussed, along the length of the articulated arm. Alternatively, the articulated arm itself may be not only pivotally mounted relative to the fixed member, but also may be mounted such that the pivot point of the fixed member tracks along the articulated arm.
According to a further embodiment, the support includes a fixed elongate member and a moveable elongate member mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the fixed elongate member, the shield being mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the moveable elongate member. Preferably in this case, the moveable elongate member is mounted such that it tracks along the fixed elongate member, the fixed elongate member being in the form of an arch and the moveable elongate member being in the form of an incomplete arch, and the shield is mounted for tracking along the moveable elongate member. Each end of the fixed elongate member is advantageously secured to the ground, as is the distal end of the moveable elongate member, although the distal end of the moveable elongate member is pivotally mounted relative to the ground to facilitate tracking of the moveable elongate member along the fixed elongate member.
In still a further embodiment, the support includes two elongate members mounted at about 90° to each other, each of the elongate members being pivotally mounted at each end thereof for longitudinal pivotal movement relative to the other elongate member, the shield being mounted for longitudinal movement relative to each of the elongate members.
The two elongate members in this case generally comprise a pair of arch supports which are positionable at about 90° to each other, and which are movable relative to each other. This may be achieved using two separate and individual arch supports, or a single continuous loop which is constructed to provide a cross arrangement. The shield is mounted on each of the arch supports, each of the supports being moveable relative to, and substantially around the axis of, the other support. In this case, therefore, the shield is moveably mounted relative to each of the individual arch supports. It will be understood that both supports may be moved simultaneously if desired to reposition the shield.
According to still a further embodiment of the invention the assembly is operable between a collapsed orientation and an assembled orientation, wherein in the collapsed orientation the support includes a pair of concentric members an inner member of which mounts the shield, the concentric members being moveable to an intermediate orientation wherein the concentric members are oriented at about 90° to each other, and from the intermediate orientation to the assembled orientation wherein lower potions of the concentric members are compressed to provide a base for the support, the shield being supported within the support when the assembly is in the assembled orientation.
In this embodiment, the shield and the concentric members, in the collapsed orientation, may be secured to each oth
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Hansen James O.
LandOfFree
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