Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Portable shelter – Canopy supported by vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-28
2001-03-20
Hansen, James O. (Department: 3636)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Portable shelter
Canopy supported by vehicle
C135S088010, C135S090000, C296S163000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202664
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to awnings and, more particularly, to awnings that are supported by trucks.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Shelters carried and supported by motor vehicles are well known in the art. In this respect, throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed relating to shelters carried by motor vehicles, and the following U.S. patents are representative of some of those innovations: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,263,925, 4,284,303, 4,519,409, 5,340,188, and 5,660,425. More specifically, each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,263,925, 4,284,303, and 5,340,188 discloses a respective cover or enclosure for a bed of a pickup truck. With each of these covers, only the respective truck bed is covered. However, in certain circumstances, such as when a person is seated adjacent to a pickup truck, it would be desirable if a truck mounted protective cover could be adjusted to protect a person seated or standing adjacent to a pickup truck.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,409 discloses a protective cover that is mounted on the bumper of a motor vehicle and protects an area adjacent to and behind the motor vehicle. As a result, areas adjacent to and behind the protective cover are protected from rain and sunshine. However, areas adjacent to and to the sides of the motor vehicle are not protected. In this respect, it would be desirable if a motor-vehicle-mounted protective cover were provided that protects areas adjacent to and to the sides of the motor vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,425 discloses a shelter that is partially supported by a pickup truck and partially supported by the ground behind the pickup truck If the ground is muddy or uneven, the shelter may not be oriented properly on muddy or uneven ground. In this respect, it would be desirable if a truck mounted awning apparatus were entirely supported by the truck without being partially supported by the ground.
Still other features would be desirable in a truck mounted awning apparatus. For example, it would be desirable if the orientation of the awning were easily changeable and selectable. More specifically, it would be desirable if a truck mounted awning apparatus were provided that can easily be reoriented from protecting areas to the sides of a truck to protecting areas on the truck bed and vice versa.
With respect to the easily changed orientation of the awning, it would be desirable if a selected orientation can easily be locked into place. Furthermore, in this respect, it would be desirable if a selected orientation locking device can easily be unlocked and relocked to accommodate a change in orientation of the awning.
Moreover, it would be desirable if a truck mounted awning apparatus were provided that permits a wide range of selectable awning orientations that can be easily locked and unlocked for changing orientations.
Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use protective covers supported by motor vehicles, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a truck mounted awning apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) can be adjusted to protect a person seated or standing adjacent to a pickup truck; (2) protects areas adjacent to and to the sides of a motor vehicle; (3) is entirely supported by the truck without being partially supported by the ground; (4) can easily be reoriented from protecting areas to the sides of a truck to protecting areas on the truck bed and vice versa; (5) a selected awning orientation can easily be locked into place; (6) provides a selected orientation locking device that can easily be unlocked and relocked to accommodate a change in orientation of the awning; and (7) permits a wide range of selectable awning orientations that can be easily locked and unlocked for changing orientations.
The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique truck mounted awning apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides an awning apparatus for mounting on a truck which includes a plurality of post assemblies wherein each post assembly includes a bottom post end portion adapted to fit into a post hole in the truck and includes a riser portion connected to the post end portion. A locking hinge assembly is connected to the riser portion. An awning support member is connected to the locking hinge assembly, and a first flexible sheet member is connected to the plurality of awning support members. The awning apparatus can be used in two modes. With the first mode, for shading regions exterior to the truck, chairs can be placed under the first flexible sheet member, and persons sitting in those chairs can be shaded from sun and rain. With the second mode, for shading regions on the truck itself, persons can sit on the truck bed and be shaded from sun and rain.
The locking hinge assembly includes a first hinge plate member connected to the riser portion. The first hinge plate member includes a spring-biased locking pin. A second hinge plate member is connected to the awning support member. The second hinge plate member includes a plurality of locking wells. A hinge pin is connected between the first hinge plate member and the second hinge plate member.
The spring-biased locking pin includes a spring retained by the first hinge plate member and includes a lock pin member retained by the first hinge plate member. The lock pin member includes a handle portion. A pin shaft portion is connected to the handle portion. A spring compression ring supported by the pin shaft portion, and a well entry portion is connected to the pin shaft portion.
The riser portion includes a first riser member connected to the post end portion. A second riser member is telescopically connected to the first riser member, and a riser lock member is connected to the first riser member for locking the second riser member with respect to the first riser member. A second flexible sheet member is connected to a plurality of the second riser members.
The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining a preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood, that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved truck mounted awning apparatus which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved truck mounted awning apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further obje
Shenton, III John M.
Shenton, Jr. John M.
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