Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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COLLAPSIBLE CANOPY FRAME HAVING REDUCED TRUSS BAR LENGTH
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a collapsible canopy
frame, and more particularly to a collapsible canopy frame
having a reduced truss bar length.
BACKGROUND
Conventional collapsible canopy frames typically include
four side poles disposed in a square configuration. Typically
each pair of adjacent side poles is connected and supported by
an edge scissor assembly. Conventional collapsible canopy
frames also typically include inner scissor assemblies that are
coupled between a corresponding one of the edge scissor
assemblies and a center pole.
Each edge scissor assembly and each inner scissor assembly
includes a number of hingedly connected scissor units. Each
scissor unit includes two hingedly connected truss bars that
move in a scissor-like manner. As such, the edge scissor
assemblies and inner scissor assemblies are movable between an
expanded position, forming a stable portable structure, and a
retracted position, forming a compacted structure for ease of
transport.
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However, in order to allow the edge scissor assemblies and
the inner scissor assemblies to each move between the expanded
and retracted positions, one end of each inner scissor assembly
is typically connected to an end of one of the scissor units of
the edge scissor assembly. In order to allow for such a
connection, each edge scissor assembly typically includes two
scissor units connected to each other at one of their ends and
further connected at these same ends to an end of a
corresponding one of the inner scissor assemblies.
However, with only two scissor units in each edge scissor
assembly, the length of the truss bars in each edge scissor
assembly is typically relatively long, preventing the retracted
collapsible canopy frame from fitting within some convenient
transportation devices, such as a trunk of a typical automobile.
Accordingly, a need exists for a collapsible canopy frame
having edge scissor assemblies with reduced truss bar lengths.
In an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention,
each edge scissor assembly includes more than two scissor units,
thereby allowing the truss bar length of each edge scissor
assembly to be reduced.
SUMMARY
In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention is a
collapsible canopy frame that includes a plurality of side poles
arranged in a configuration and a center pole disposed generally
at a center of the configuration of the side poles. The
collapsible canopy frame also includes a plurality of edge
scissor assemblies each having a length and a midpoint along the
length, wherein each edge scissor assembly is coupled between
adjacent ones of the plurality of side poles. The collapsible
canopy frame also includes at least one inner scissor assembly
including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is
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coupled to a corresponding one of the edge scissor assemblies at
a position offset from the midpoint along the length of the
corresponding one of the edge scissor assemblies, and wherein
the second end is coupled to the center pole.
In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is a
collapsible canopy frame that includes a plurality of side poles
and a center pole disposed generally at a center of the
collapsible canopy frame. The collapsible canopy frame also
includes a plurality of edge scissor assemblies each having a
length and a midpoint along the length, wherein each edge
scissor assembly is coupled between adjacent ones of the
plurality of side poles, and wherein each of the plurality of
edge scissor assemblies includes three scissor units pivotally
coupled to each other in series. The collapsible canopy frame
also includes at least one inner scissor assembly having a first
end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to a
corresponding one of the edge scissor assemblies at a position
offset from the midpoint along the length of the corresponding
one of the edge scissor assemblies, and wherein the second end
is coupled to the center pole.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the present invention
is a collapsible canopy frame that includes a plurality of side
poles arranged in a configuration and a center pole disposed
generally at a center of the configuration of the side poles.
The collapsible canopy frame also includes a plurality of edge
scissor assemblies, wherein each edge scissor assembly is
coupled between adjacent ones of the plurality of side poles,
and wherein each of the plurality of edge scissor assemblies
includes at least three scissor units pivotally coupled to each
other in series. The collapsible canopy frame also includes at
least one inner scissor assembly including at least an inner
scissor unit and an outer scissor unit pivotally connected to
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each other, wherein an end of the outer scissor unit is coupled
to a corresponding one of the edge scissor assemblies at a
position offset from a midpoint between corresponding adjacent
side poles, and wherein the inner scissor unit is coupled to the
center pole.
In still another exemplary embodiment, the present
invention is a collapsible canopy frame including a plurality of
side poles arranged in a configuration with a center pole
disposed generally at a center of the configuration of the side
poles. The collapsible canopy frame also includes a plurality
of edge scissor assemblies, wherein each edge scissor assembly
is coupled between adjacent ones of the plurality of side poles;
and at least one inner scissor assembly including at least one
scissor unit, wherein each scissor unit in the at least one
inner scissor assembly includes two truss bars pivotally
connected to each other at a position offset from a midpoint
along a length of the truss bars.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Novel features in exemplary embodiments of the present
invention will be better understood by reference to the
following detailed description when considered in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible canopy frame
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
shown in an expanded position;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a scissor unit of
the collapsible canopy frame of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of an upper and a
lower side pole connecter of the collapsible canopy frame of
FIG. 1;
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FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of an upper scissor
unit connector and a lower scissor unit connecter of the
collapsible canopy frame of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of an upper and a
lower center pole connecter of the collapsible canopy frame of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a top view of the upper scissor unit connecter of
FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the collapsible canopy
frame of FIG. 1, shown in a retracted position; and
FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a lower end of a
side pole 12 of the collapsible canopy frame of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As shown in FIGs. 1-8, the present invention is directed to
a collapsible canopy frame having edge scissor assemblies with
reduced truss bar lengths. In an exemplary embodiment according
to the present invention, each edge scissor assembly includes
more than two scissor units, thereby allowing the truss bar
length of each edge scissor assembly to be reduced.
FIG. 1 shows a collapsible canopy frame 10 according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the
collapsible canopy frame 10 includes four side poles 12 arranged
in a generally rectangular or square configuration. In other
embodiments, however, the collapsible canopy frame 10 may
include any appropriate number of side poles 12 arranged in any
appropriate configuration, such as pentagonal, hexagonal or
octagonal, among other appropriate configurations.
Each pair of adjacent side poles 12 is connected to and
supported by an edge scissor assembly 16. Each edge scissor
assembly 16 is coupled to and supports a center pole 18 through
an inner scissor assembly 20. The center pole 18 is disposed
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generally at the center of the collapsible canopy frame 10 and
has a head member 22, such as a convex shaped head member, which
supports a canopy cover (not shown).
In the depicted embodiment, each edge scissor assembly 16
includes three scissor units 24. Each scissor unit 24 includes
two hingedly connected truss bars 26 that move about a pivot 28
in a scissor-like manner between an expanded position and a
retracted position. As shown in FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the
pivot 28 includes a mechanical fastener such as a threaded bolt
and nut combination, although other mechanical fasteners are
equally appropriate.
In one embodiment, the truss bars 26 in each scissor unit
24 of each edge scissor assembly 16 have approximately the same
length so that the retracted height of each scissor unit 24 in
each edge scissor assembly 16 is approximately the same, as
shown for example in FIG. 7. In one exemplary embodiment, each
truss bar 26 has a length of approximately 1.25 meters or less,
for example approximately 1.00 meters.
As shown in FIG. 1, the scissor units 24 within each edge
scissor assembly 16 are pivotally connected to each other in
series. For example, in the depicted embodiment showing three
scissor units 24 per edge scissor assembly 16, each edge scissor
assembly 16 includes: a first outer scissor unit 30U' pivotally
connected at one end to upper and lower side pole connectors 32
and 34 of a corresponding one of the side poles 12, and
pivotally connected at an opposite end to upper and lower
scissor unit connectors 36 and 38; an inner scissor unit 301
pivotally connected at one end to the upper and lower scissor
unit connectors 36 and 38 and pivotally connected at an opposite
end through pins 40 to a second outer scissor unit 30U"; and the
second outer scissor unit 30U" pivotally connected at one end to
the upper and lower side pole connectors 32 and 34 of a
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corresponding one of the side poles 12, and pivotally connected
at an opposite end to the inner scissor unit 301 through the
pins 40.
As shown in FIG. 3, each upper side pole connector 32 is
fixedly mounted at a top end of a corresponding one of the side
poles 12 and includes slots 42 for receiving ends of
corresponding outer scissor units 30U' or 30U", and pins 44 that
pivotally mount the ends of the scissor units 30U' or 30U"
within the slots 42. Each lower side pole connector 34 is
disposed in surrounding relation to a corresponding one of the
side poles 12 and is slidably mounted thereon. Similar to the
upper side pole connectors 32, each lower side pole connector 34
includes slots 46 for receiving ends of corresponding outer
scissor units 30U' or 30U", and pins 48 that pivotally mount the
ends of the scissor units 30U' or 30U" within the slots 46.
Each lower side pole connector 34 also includes a push/pull
pin assembly 49, having a push/pull pin 50 that is spring biased
towards the side pole 12. The push/pull pin 50 releasably
engages the side pole 12, thereby allowing the height of the
lower side pole connector 34 to be adjusted relative to the side
pole 12. An exemplary push/pull pin assembly 49 is described in
U.S. Patent No. 6,575,656, which is herein incorporated by
reference.
As shown in FIG. 4, the upper scissor unit connector 36
includes a slot 41 for receiving an upper end of the first
scissor unit 30U' of a corresponding one of the edge scissor
assemblies 16 and a pin 43 for pivotally mounting the upper end
of the first scissor unit 30U' within the slot 41; and a slot 45
for receiving an upper end of the inner scissor unit 301 of a
corresponding one of the edge scissor assemblies 16 and a pin 47
for pivotally mounting the upper end of the inner scissor unit
301 within the slot 47.
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Also shown in FIG. 4 is the lower scissor unit connector
38, which is generally a mirror image of the upper scissor unit
connector 36. As such, the lower scissor unit connector 38
includes a slot 41' for receiving a lower end of the first
scissor unit 30U' of a corresponding one of the edge scissor
assemblies 16 and a pin 43' for pivotally mounting the lower end
of the first scissor unit 30U' within the slot 41'; and a slot
45' for receiving a lower end of the inner scissor unit 301 of a
corresponding one of the edge scissor assemblies 16 and a pin
47' for pivotally mounting the lower end of the inner scissor
unit 301 within the.slot 47'.
In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, each inner scissor
assembly 20 includes two scissor units 52. Each scissor unit 52
includes two hingedly connected truss bars 54 that move about a
pivot 56 in a scissor-like manner between an expanded position
and a retracted position. As shown in FIG. 2, in one
embodiment, the pivot 56 includes a mechanical fastener such as
a threaded bolt and nut combination, although other mechanical
fasteners are equally appropriate.
In one embodiment, the truss bars 54 in each scissor unit
52 of each inner scissor assembly 20 have approximately the same
length so that the retracted height of each scissor unit 52 in
each inner scissor assembly 20 is approximately the same, as
shown for example in FIG. 7. In one exemplary embodiment, each
truss bar 54 has a length of approximately 1.25 meters or less,
for example approximately 0.78 meters or 78 centimeters.
As shown in FIG. 1, the scissor units 52 within each inner
scissor assembly 20 are pivotally connected to each other in
series. For example, in the depicted embodiment showing two
scissor units 52 per inner scissor assembly 20, each inner
scissor assembly 20 includes: an outer scissor unit 58U
pivotally connected at one end to upper and lower scissor unit
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connectors 36 and 38, and pivotally connected at an opposite end
through pins 60 to an inner scissor unit 581; and the inner
scissor unit 581 pivotally connected at one end through the pins
60 to the outer scissor unit 58U and pivotally connected at an
opposite end to upper and lower center pole connectors 62 and
64.
As shown in FIG. 5, the lower center pole connector 64 is
fixedly mounted at a bottom end of the center pole 18 and
includes slots 70 for receiving an end of the inner scissor unit
581 of each inner scissor assembly 20 and pins 72 that pivotally
mount the corresponding ends of the inner scissor units 581
within the slots 70. The upper center pole connector 62 is
disposed in surrounding relation to the center pole 18 and is
slidably mounted thereon. Similar to the lower center pole
connector 64, the upper center pole connector 62 includes slots
66 for receiving an end of the inner scissor unit 581 of each
inner scissor assembly 20 and pins 68 that pivotally mount the
corresponding ends of the inner scissor units 581 within the
slots 70.
As shown in FIG. 4, the upper scissor unit connector 36
includes a slot 74 for receiving an end of the outer scissor
unit 58U of a corresponding inner scissor assembly 20 and a pin
(not shown) for pivotally mounting the corresponding end of the
outer scissor unit 58U within the slot 74. Similarly, the lower
scissor unit connector 38 (which is generally a rr.irror image of
the upper scissor unit connector 36) includes a slot 74' for
receiving an end of the outer scissor unit 58U of the
corresponding inner scissor assembly 20 and a pin (not shown)
for pivotally mounting the corresponding end of the outer
scissor unit 58U within the slot 74'.
When the collapsible canopy frame 10 according to the
present invention is constructed as described above, the
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collapsible canopy frame 10 is moveable between an expanded
position (forming a stable portable structure as shown in FIG.
1), and a retracted position (forming a compacted structure for
ease of transport as shown in FIG. 7.)
As the collapsible canopy frame 10 is moved from the
expanded position of FIG. 1 to the retracted position of FIG. 7,
each lower side pole connector 34 slides downwardly with respect
to its corresponding side pole 12. This in turn causes the
truss bars 26 of the scissor units 24 of each edge scissor
assembly 16 to pivot from their expanded position (i.e., the
generally horizontal position of the truss bars 26 as shown in
FIG. 1) to their retracted position (i.e., the generally
vertical position of the truss bars 26 as shown in FIG. 7.)
This movement causes each lower scissor unit connector 38 to
move downwardly, which in turn causes the truss bars 54 of the
scissor units 52 of each inner scissor assembly 20 to pivot from
their expanded position (i.e., the generally horizontal position
of the truss bars 54 as shown in FIG. 1) to their retracted
positions (i.e., the generally vertical position of the truss
bars 54 as shown in FIG. 7.) The retracting of the scissor
units 52 of the inner scissor assemblies 20, in turn causes the
lower center pole connector 64 to be pulled downwardly and the
upper center pole 62 to slide upwardly on the center pole 18.
Since the center pole 18 is fixedly connected to the lower
center pole connector 64, the center pole 18 also moves
downward. This downward movement of the center pole 18 causes
the retracted height measured from ground of the center pole 18
to be closer (than in the expanded position of FIG. 1) to the
retracted height measured from ground of the side poles 12 as
shown in FIG. 7.
In one embodiment, the truss bars 26 of each scissor unit
24 in each edge scissor assembly 16 are longer than the truss
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bars 54 of each scissor unit 52 in each inner scissor assembly
20. For example, in one embodiment, the truss bars 26 of each
scissor unit 24 in each edge scissor assembly 16 are each
approximately 1.00 meters in length, and the truss bars 54 of
each scissor unit 52 in each inner scissor assembly 20 are each
approximately 0.78 meters in length. As such, in order for the
retracted height of the scissor units 52 of the inner scissor
assemblies 20 to be approximately equal to the retracted height
of the scissor units 24 of the edge scissor assemblies 16, the
pivot 28 of the scissor units 24 in each edge scissor assembly
16 is positioned approximately at the midpoint of the
corresponding truss bars 26 of the scissor units 24 of the inner
scissor assemblies 20, while the pivot 56 of the scissor units
52 in each inner scissor assembly 20 is positioned offset from a
midpoint of the corresponding truss bars 54 in the scissor units
52 of the inner scissor assemblies 20. For example, in one
embodiment, the pivot 56 of each scissor unit 52 in each inner
scissor assembly 20 is positioned at a position about two-thirds
(e.g., approximately 63%) along the length of the corresponding
truss bars 54.
As described above conventional collapsible canopy frames
typically include edge scissor assemblies having two scissor
units connected to each other at one of their ends and further
connected at these same ends to the ends of a corresponding one
of the inner scissor assemblies. In such an arrangement, each
inner scissor assembly is connected to its corresponding edge
scissor assembly at a position disposed at the midpoint of the
edge scissor assembly, or stated another way, each inner scissor
assembly is connected to its corresponding edge scissor assembly
at a position at a midpoint between its corresponding adjacent
side poles.
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As such, each inner scissor assembly extends
perpendicularly from its corresponding edge scissor assembly to
connect to its center pole. As such upper and lower scissor
unit connectors for such frames are typically T-shaped, with the
ends of one of the arms of the T receiving scissor units from
the edge scissor assembly and the perpendicular arm of the T
receiving a scissor unit from the inner scissor assembly.
By contrast, since each edge scissor assembly 16 of FIG. 1
has three scissor units 24, and the inner scissor assembly 20 is
connected to the ends of the first outer scissor unit 30U' and
the inner scissor unit 301 (i.e. at the ends of the first and
second scissor units 24 in a series of three scissor units 24),
the inner scissor assembly 20 forms an acute angle a(as shown
in FIG. 1) when connected between its corresponding edge scissor
assembly 16 and the center pole 18.
The upper scissor unit connector 36 has a base 76 (as shown
in FIG. 6) having at one end the slot 41 for receiving an end of
the first outer scissor unit 30U', and having at an opposite end
the slot 45 for receiving an end of the inner scissor unit 301.
Connected to the base 76 of the upper scissor unit connector 36
is an arm 78 that extends therefrom at approximately the same
acute angle a at which the inner scissor assembly 20 is
connected between the edge scissor assembly 16 and the center
pole 18. It should be noted that the upper surface 80 of the
extending arm 78 is co-planer with the upper surface 82 of its
corresponding base 76 (as shown in FIGs. 4 and 6.)
As such the angled arm 78 of the upper scissor unit
connector 36 allows each inner scissor assembly 20 to be
connected to its corresponding edge scissor assembly 16 at a
position offset from a midpoint of the edge scissor assembly 16.
Stated another way, the angled arm 78 of the upper scissor unit
connector 36 allows each inner scissor assembly 20 to be
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connected to its corresponding edge scissor assembly 16 at a
position offset from a midpoint between its corresponding
adjacent side poles 12. Thus, each edge scissor assembly 16 can
include more than two scissor units 24, such as the three
scissor units 24 as shown in FIG. 1.
Since the lower scissor unit connector 38 is generally a
mirror image of the upper scissor unit connector 36, the lower
scissor unit connector has a base 76', which is generally
parallel to the base 76 of the upper scissor unit connector 36.
The lower scissor unit connector 36 has an arm 78' that forms
approximately the same acute angle a with the base 76', as the
angle a between the base 76 and the arm 78. Hence the lower
scissor unit connector 38, working in conjunction with the upper
scissor unit connector 36, allows each inner scissor assembly 20
to be connected to its corresponding edge scissor assembly 16 at
a position offset from a midpoint of the edge scissor assembly
16.
In the depicted embodiment, each inner scissor assembly 20
is connected to its corresponding edge scissor assembly 16 at a
position of approximately one third of the total length of the
edge scissor assembly 16, or approximately at a position of
approximately one third of the total distance between the
corresponding adjacent side poles 12.
Although the above described exemplary embodiments discuss
each inner scissor assembly 20 as being connected at the ends of
the first outer scissor unit 30U' and the inner scissor unit 301
of each edge scissor assembly 16, in an alternative embodiment
each inner scissor assembly 20 is connected at the ends of the
second outer scissor unit 30U" and the inner scissor unit 301 of
each edge scissor assembly 16.
Also, although the above described exemplary embodiments
discuss each edge scissor assembly 16 as including three scissor
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units 24, each edge scissor assembly 16 may include any suitable
number of scissor units 24 and each inner scissor assembly 20
may be attached to the series of scissor units 24 within a
corresponding edge scissor assembly 16 at the ends of any two
adjacent scissor units 24. However, it should be noted that the
acute angle a that the extending arm 78 makes with the base 76
of the upper scissor unit connector 36 is dependent on which
scissor units 24 that the inner scissor assembly 20 is attached
to in the series of scissor units 24 within each edge scissor
assembly 16. For example, the angle a of the angled arm 78 of
the upper scissor unit connector 36 is greater when the inner
scissor assembly 20 is connected at the ends of the first and
second scissor units 24 in a series of five scissor units 24
than when the inner scissor assembly 20 is connected at the ends
of the second and third scissor units 24 in a series of five
scissor units 24.
As shown in FIGs. 1 and 8, each side pole 12 includes a
support plate or foot 84 attached at a bottom end thereof for
supporting the weight of the collapsible canopy frame 10. In
one embodiment, each side pole 12 is telescoping, thereby
allowing the height of each side pole 12 to be independently
adjusted. The telescoping side pole includes an upper pole
section and a lower pole section that are slidable with respect
to one another. The telescoping side pole in other embodiments
may have three or more pole sections.
To fix the side pole 12 in an elongated position, a
push/pull pin assembly 86 is mounted near a lower end of the
upper pole section. The push/pull pin assembly 86 has a
push/pull pin 88 that is spring biased towards the side pole 12.
The push/pull pin 88 releasable engages the upper and lower
sections of the side pole 12, thereby allowing the height of the
side pole 12 to be adjusted. An exemplary push/pull pin
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assembly 86 and an exemplary method for adjusting the height of
a telescoping side pole is described in U.S. Patent No.
6,575,656, which is herein incorporated by reference.
It should be noted that the reduced truss bar length of the
collapsible canopy frame of the current invention allows more
scissor assemblies to be used in each side of the frame than is
possible with larger truss bars, since larger truss bars can
create frames that are undesirable long. The increased number
of scissor assemblies for each side of the frame increases the
structural stability of the frame.
It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the
art that the invention can be embodied in other specific forms
without departing from the spirit or essential character
thereof. The present invention is therefore considered in all
respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of
the invention is indicated by the appended claims, and all
changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents
thereof are intended to be embraced therein.
