United States Patent (19)
`Gwin
`
`USOO5634483A
`Patent Number:
`11
`45 Date of Patent:
`
`5,634,483
`Jun. 3, 1997
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`54)
`76
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`21
`22
`51
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`52
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`58
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`CANOPY SUPPORT SYSTEM
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`Inventor: Robert E. Gwin, 816 Shenango Rd.,
`Beaver Falls, Pa. 15010
`
`Appl. No.: 573,555
`Fied:
`Dec. 15, 1995
`Int. Cl. ... E04H 15/38; E04H 15/46;
`E04H 15/50
`U.S. C. ......................... 135/131; 135/87; 135/124;
`135/135; 135/115; 135/117; 135/157; 135/158
`Field of Search ................................. 135/907, 131,
`135/87, 123, 135, 145, 115, 117, 120.4,
`157, 158, 159, 124
`
`56
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`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1204,616 11/1916 Upton.
`1249,883 12/1917 Baldwin.
`1581,331 4/1926 Smith.
`2,186,535
`1/1940 MacGeorge.
`2,516,894 8/1950 Lushbavgh ........................... 35/120.4
`2,538,018 12/1951 Williams ................................. 135/158
`2,716,992 9/1955 Campfield et al. .
`135/120. X
`4,558,713 12/1985 Hagler et al. .................... 135/120.3 X
`
`4,641,676 2/1987 Lynch.................................. 135/115 X
`4,880,024 11/1989 Brell ...
`... 135/907 X
`5,035,253 7/1991 Burtles .
`... 35/17 X
`5,224,507 7/1993 Wosse .......
`35/15X
`5,274,980
`1/1994 Zeigler ................................ 35/23 X
`5.487,402
`1/1996 Clary ................
`... 135/120.4 X
`5,490,532 2/1996 Mallookis et al. .................. 135/157 X
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`106354 1/1967 Denmark.
`1159.434 6/1958 France
`Primary Examiner-Wynn E. Wood
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Harpman & Harpman
`57
`ABSTRACT
`A canopy support system to support the canopy portion of a
`self-contained collapsible canopy type tent. The canopy
`support system has a plurality of interconnected resilient
`cord elements extending from a central hub to multiple
`support frame attachment points around the collapsible
`metal frame of the tent. The resilient cords are adjustable for
`required tension and provide intermediate canopy support
`between a central support pole and the perimeter support
`frame.
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`4 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
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`2O
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`36
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 3, 1997
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`5,634,483
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`FIG. I
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`Y
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`(72 S3 S.
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 3, 1997
`Jun.3, 1997
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`Sheet 2 of 2
`Sheet 2 of 2
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`5,634,483
`5,634,483
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`21
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`is
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`ActasTTT WELD
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`280
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`1.
`CANOPY SUPPORTSYSTEM
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`5,634.483
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`2
`FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the attachment
`and adjustment fasteners of the invention secured to the
`canopy tent Support; and
`FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the attachment
`and adjustment fasteners of the invention secured to the
`supplemental support frame of the tent.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODMENT
`Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a canopy tent 10 can
`be seen having multiple support legs 11, 12, 13, and 14. Each
`of the legs 11-14 are telescopically extensible with inter
`connected collapsible support structures 15 extending ther
`ebetween defining a square shaped frame support when fully
`extended. A center cross support structure 16 extends
`between two of the opposing support structures 15 and has
`a center support post 17 extending upwardly therefrom.
`Typically, the above described canopy tent 10 has a water
`proof covering 18that extends over the support posts 17 and
`the interconnected support structures 15 enclosing the upper
`portion as will be well known to those skilled in the art.
`A canopy Support 19 of the invention can be seen in FIGS.
`1, 2, and 3 of the drawings having a central support annular
`hub 20 having a top portion 21, a bottom portion 22 and a
`continuous perimeter edge 23. The hub 20 has a plurality of
`annularly spaced apertures A extending vertically there
`through and spaced inwardly from its perimeter edge 23. A
`concave recess 24 is centered in the bottom portion 22 of the
`hub 20, best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings defining a
`registration area for a contoured engagement plate fitting
`17A on the center support post 17's respective free end.
`The apertures A within the hub 20 are so positioned as to
`define oppositely disposed selective apertured pairs 24A and
`B, 25A and B, 26A and B and 27A and B as best seen in FIG.
`2 of the drawings.
`Each of the selected apertured pairs received an elastic
`(bungeed) cord 28 therethrough extending outwardly from
`the bottom portion 22 through, as an example apertured pair
`26A across the hub's top portion 21 and downwardly
`through the opposing apertured pair 26B, best seen in FIGS.
`2 and 3 of the drawings. It will be apparent that the multiple
`elastic cords 28 extend through the respective apertured
`pairs 24AB, 25AB, 26AB and 27AB that multiple cord
`overlap intersection will occur at a point 29 centered on the
`top portion 21 of the hub 20. To help support the cords 28
`intersection at 29 a retaining strap 30 loops thereover and
`down through a central bore at 31 in the hub 20 with the
`straps 30 free ends twisted together with the recess 24. Each
`of the elastic (bungee) cords 28 have adjustment assemblies
`32 on their respective ends, best seen in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 of
`the drawings. The cord adjustment assembly 32 has a
`tension bar 32 with oppositely disposed transversely extend
`ing apertures therethrough at 33A and 33B through which
`one of the cords 28 extends. The cord's respective free ends
`are knotted at 34 after passing through the aperture at 33B
`securing the tension bar 33 thereon forming an adjustment
`cord loop 35. The cords adjustment assemblies 32 are
`removably secured to their respective support structures 15
`adjacent the support legs 11-14 as seen in FIG. 4 of the
`drawings and secured midway therebetween on said support
`frames as illustrated in FIG.5 of the drawings, defining eight
`points of attachment thereto.
`The support structures 15 have pairs of cross tubular
`elements 36 and 37 pivotally secured to the support legs
`11-14 in FIG. 4 of the drawings and to one another as
`illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings by pivot points P.
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Technical Field
`This device relates to display canopy type tents charac
`terized by a lightweight collapsible integral frame and
`telescopically extensible leg support to provide an elevated
`canopy support frame without intervening sidewalls used in
`display and show environments.
`2. Description of Prior Art
`There are no known prior art devices to supplement
`Support of a canopy type tent. Such tent support structures
`known have a variety of different support frameworks, see
`for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 1204,616, 1.249,883, 1581,331.
`2,186,535 and 3,008,477. Foreign references, see Danish
`patent 106354 and French reference 1,159.434.
`In U.S. Pat. No. 1,204,616 a portable frame for tents is
`disclosed having a center support pole with multiple support
`areas extending thereto with interconnected arm support
`rods extending therefrom to a central support pole.
`U.S. Pat, No. 1249,883 is directed to a sectional tent
`having a number of guide ropes extending from the loop
`section to a series of ground engagement stakes.
`U.S. Pat. No. 1543,134 on a shelter shows a plurality of
`ridge support rods extending from a central hub to a perim
`eter frame.
`U.S. Pat. No. 1,581.331 illustrates a tent structure having
`a ground engaging center support post with multiple support
`ropes extending from a central hub to act as wind braces.
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,008.477 discloses a collapsible portable
`shelter having a plurality of telescopically extensible support
`posts from which extends interconnecting upper ridge sup
`port rods to a central support hub.
`U.S. Pat. No. 2,186.535 has a pyramid type hatch tent that
`provides temporary cover to open hatch ways of maritime
`vessels. Multiple guide ropes extend from a central pulley
`suspended from a depending line thereabove.
`In French patent 1,159,434 a tent structure is disclosed
`having multiple ridge poles from which extend upper sup
`port guide wires secured to a central support plate having a
`Support post extending upwardly therefrom. Ropes extend
`from the perimeter support posts to the central post.
`Finally, in Danish patent DK106354 a support wire frame
`is illustrated extending from a central support ground engag
`ing post and a pair of hubs thereonin spaced vertical relation
`to one another.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`A supplemental canopy support device having a plurality
`of interconnected independent resilient support cords adjust
`ably positioned to the perimeter frame of a canopy type
`display tent and a central support hub on a central support
`post. Each resilient cord is independently adjustable for
`effective tension to prevent canopy sag during heavy rains
`and the like.
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`50
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`55
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`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a canopy tent with the
`canopy support device of the invention installed thereon;
`FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on lines 2-2
`of the support hub of FIG. 3;
`FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a central support hub of the
`invention with attached interconnecting resilient support
`cords with attached adjustments thereto;
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`5,634.483
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`Tubular cord guides 38 are secured to their respective
`tubular elements 36 adjacent the respective support legs and
`midway therebetween through which the cords 28 extend.
`An open hook assembly 39 is secured to the lower tubular
`element 37 opposite the hereinbefore described cord guides
`38. The cord loop 35 engages the hook assembly for cord
`length and corresponding cord tension adjustment by slide
`ably repositioning the bar 33 on the cords as will be well
`understood by those skilled in the art.
`In use, the hub 20 with attached elastic (bungee) cords 28
`are secured to the engagement plate fitting 17A on the center
`support post 17 and the extending cords 28 are adjustably
`secured to the support frames 15 defining an equal distance
`thereabout. The cords 28 are adjusted to desired tension by
`the independent adjustment assemblies 32 as illustrated in
`FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings. The waterproof covering 18
`is positioned over the frame supports 15, canopy support 19
`and center pole 17 as illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings
`wherein the elastic cords 28 provide intermediate spaced
`radial support under the waterproof cover 18.
`Thus it will be seen that a new and useful canopy support
`system has been illustrated and described and it will be
`apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and
`modifications may be made therein without departing from
`25
`the spirit of the invention.
`Therefore I claim:
`1. A canopy support on a canopy tent; said canopy tent
`having a support frame, multiple support legs extending
`from said support frame, collapsible support structures
`extending between said support legs, a central support
`structure having a central support post extending therefrom;
`and a covering position thereover, said canopy support
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`20
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`30
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`4
`comprising; a central hub on said central Support post, a
`plurality of apertures in said central hub, multiple elastic
`cords extending from said central hub to said collapsible
`support structures, means on said elastic cords for adjustably
`securing said elastic cords to said collapsible support
`structures, said elastic cords extending through said aper
`tures in said central hub in criss-cross overlapping configu
`ration to one another, each of said elastic cords extending
`through said oppositely disposed apertures in said central
`hub, a recessed area in said central hub, and engagement
`plate on said central support post removably secured within
`said recessed area of said central support hub.
`2. The canopy support set forth in claim 1 wherein said
`means on said cords for adjustably securing said cords to
`said collapsible support structure comprises an apertured bar
`threadably positioned on said cords, a cord loop extending
`from said bar, cord guides on said collapsible support
`structures between said hub and said bar, cord engagement
`hooks on said collapsible support structures engageable on
`said cord loop portions of said cord.
`3. The canopy support set forth in claim 2 wherein said
`cord guides are positioned on an upper tubular element of
`said collapsible support structure and said cord engagement
`hooks are positioned on a respective lower tubular element
`of said collapsible support structure in spaced vertical rela
`tion to one another.
`4. The canopy support set forth in claim 1 wherein said
`elastic cords extending through oppositely disposed aper
`tures define multiple radial support for said covering posi
`tion thereover.
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