Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02544083 2006-04-19
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Folding Structure With Improved Locking System
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Folding structures, such as tents and cabanas, utilize various mechanisms to
hold the
structure in the open or unfolded position. U.S. Patent Nos. 2,864,389;
4,945,936; and 6,021,795
each disclose what is commonly referred to as an "umbrella" type folding
structure. The folding
structures described in those patents employ a hinge mechanism consisting of a
lower hub that is
manually moved upwards into engagement with an upper hub to unfold a plurality
of legs to
open the structure. In those conventional devices, the lower and upper hubs
are not secured or
locked together when the folding structure is open, leading to a potential
unwanted collapse of
the folding structure.
SUIVEVIARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a folding structure for use
as a cabana,
tent, or the like that employs a more positive and secure hinge mechanism to
provide safer and
quicker folding of the structure.
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The present invention is directed to a folding structure for use as a cabana,
tent, or the
like. In one embodiment, the folding structure comprises a plurality of legs
and a hinge
mechanism comprising a plug hinge removably connected to a slider hinge
between a first
position where the structure is substantially collapsed and a second position
where the structure
is substantially open and the plug hinge is locked to the slider hinge. The
plug hinge comprises a
pair of flexible tabs having ridge portions that ride on a tapered wall of the
slider hinge as the
plug hinge is brought into engagement with the slider hinge. Upon complete
engagement of the
plug hinge with the slider hinge, the ridge portions of the flexible tabs snap
into locked
engagement with a lip portion of the slider hinge. The hinge mechanism may
further comprise a
release cap having a pair of buttons that, when pressed, contact and move the
ridge portions of
the flexible tabs off the lip portion to disengage the plug hinge from the
slider hinge, whereby the
folding structure may be collapsed. Snap engagement of the ridge portions of
the flexible tabs of
the plug hinge with the lip portion of the slider hinge provide a positive and
secure hinge
mechanism to maintain the structure in the open position. The buttons on the
release cap provide
a fast and easy means to release or disengage the plug hinge from the slider
hinge and thus
collapse the structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following description of the invention will be more fully understood with
reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which:
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the folding structure according to the present
invention
shown in an open or erect position and having a fabric enclosure attached
thereto for use as a
cabana, tent or the like;
FIG. 2 is a cut-away perspective view of the folding structure in a partially
folded or
collapsed position wherein a plug hinge of a hinge mechanism is fully
disengaged from a slider
hinge of the hinge mechanism;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the hinge mechanism;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper portion of folding structure in a
substantially
collapsed or folded position, with the plug hinge fully disengaged from the
slider hinge;
FIG. 5 a perspective view of the top portion of the folding structure in an
open or erect
position with the plug hinge in secured or locked engagement with the slider
hinge;
FIG. 6 is a partial cut-away perspective view of the folding structure showing
the plug
hinge disengaged from the slider hinge;
FIG. 7 is a partial cut-away perspective view of the folding structure showing
the plug
hinge of the hinge mechanism in secured or locked engagement with the slider
hinge;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of Section A of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a retaining plug showing end portions of a
rope tied
into a knot that is securely retained within the retaining plug;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the plug hinge;
FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the plug hinge;
FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the plug hinge;
FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the plug hinge;
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FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the slider hinge;
FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of the slider hinge;
FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the slider hinge;
FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 17;
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the release cap;
FIG. 20 is a front elevational view of the release cap;
FIG. 21 is a top plan view of the release cap; and
FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 21.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1-5, the present invention is directed to a device or
structure 10 that
may be easily manipulated between an open and locked position (FIG. 1) and a
folded or
collapsed position (FIG. 2). Folding structure 10 generally comprises legs 28,
30, 32, and 34
(FIG. 4) pivotally connected to a hinge mechanism 52 (FIG. 1). As best seen in
FIG. 2, each of
legs 28, 30, 32, and 34 comprise an upper leg section 36 connected to a lower
leg section 38 by
a hinge 40 that allows the lower leg section 38 to be folded upon upper leg
section 36 in a
conventional fashion. As best shown by FIGS. 4 and 5, folding structure 10
further comprises
extending arms 44, 46, 48, and 50 each having an outer end pivotally connected
to the sliding
hinge 42 on the upper leg section 36 and an inner end pivotally connected to a
plug hinge 54 (to
be described) of the hinge mechanism 52. Folding structure 10 may include a
fabric enclosure 12
for use as a cabana, tent, or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, fabric enclosure
12 may comprise, for
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example, a front panel 14 having a flap 16, a side panel 20, and (as shown in
FIG. 2) side and
rear panels 18 and 23, and a floor panel 22. Fabric enclosure 12 may be
attached to folding
structure 10 by a plurality of straps 24, in conventional fashion (FIG. 1). As
best shown in FIG.
3, the hinge mechanism 52 generally comprises a plug hinge 54, a slider hinge
70, and a release
cap 88. As will be described more fully below, the plug hinge 54 is moveable
between a first
position, with the folding structure 10 open or erect and the plug hinge 54
locked with the slider
hinge 70 (FIGS. 1 and 5), and a second position, with the folding structure 10
partially or fully
collapsed and the plug hinge fully disengaged from the slider hinge (FIGS. 2
and 4). The release
cap 88 may be engaged with the slider hinge 70 and comprise first and second
buttons 92 and 94.
As will be described more fully below, depressing the buttons 92 and 94
unlocks or releases the
plug hinge 54 from the slider hinge 70, allowing the folding structure 10 to
be folded or
collapsed. The hinge mechanism 52 may further comprise a rope 106 attached to
plug hinge 54,
which may be pulled to bring the plug hinge 54 into locked engagement with the
slider hinge 70.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 10-14, plug hinge 54 comprises a base portion 56
(FIG. 10) and
a plurality of mounting flanges 66 extending outwardly from and formed as part
of the base
portion 56. Mounting flanges 66 are pivotally connected with the extending
arms 44, 46, 48, and
SO by conventional means such as fittings and pins. Plug hinge 54 further
comprises first and
second tab portions 58 and 62 extending upwardly from and formed as part of
the base portion
56. As best shown by FIG. 14, first and second tab portions 58 and 62 comprise
tapered walls 59
and 63, respectively. First and second tab portions 58 and 62 further comprise
an annular-shaped
protrusion or ridge portion 60 and 64, respectively, disposed upon the tapered
walls 59 and 63,
respectively. As will be described more fully below, upon complete engagement
of plug hinge 54
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with slider hinge 70, ridge portions 60 and 64 are flexed and snap into secure
or locked
engagement with a lip portion 82 (to be described) of slider hinge 70.
Referring to FIGS. 6-8 and 15-18, slider hinge 70 comprises a body portion 72
(FIG. 15)
having a lower end portion 74, an upper end portion 76, and an internal
passage-way or thru-hole
78. Thru-hole 78 is provided to receive first and second tab portions 58 and
62 of plug hinge 54.
As shown in FIG. 18, thru-hole 78 has a tapered annular inner wall 80 adapted
to receive and
mate with tapered walls 59 and 63 of first and second tab portions 58 and 62
of plug 54. As best
shown by FIG. 15, slider hinge 70 further comprises an annular-shaped lip or
rim portion 82
formed at upper end portion 76 of base portion 72. Slider hinge 70 further
comprises mounting
flanges 84 adapted to pivotally connect with the upper portions of upper leg
sections 36 of legs
28, 30, 32, and 34. Slider hinge 70 further comprises a plurality of mounting
protrusions or tabs
86 disposed at lower end portion 74 of body portion 72. As will be described
more fully below,
and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 15, tabs 84 serve as a means for securely mounting
release cap 88
on slider hinge 70. As plug hinge 54 is brought into engagement with slider
hinge 70, the ridge
portions 60 and 64 of the tab portions 58 and 62 ride upon the tapered wall 80
of the slider hinge
70, causing the tab portions 58 and 62 to become deflected and biased.(Not
shown in the
drawings). As best shown by FIGS. 7 and 8, upon complete engagement of plug
hinge 54 with
slider hinge 70, ridge portions 60 and 64 of tab portions 58 and 62 snap into
locked engagement
with lip portion 82 of slider hinge 77, securing and locking hinge mechanism
54 in place in order
to maintain the structure 10 in the open position.
Referring to FIGS. 6-8 and 19-22, release cap 88 comprises a housing portion
90 and two
opposing flexible and resilient push buttons 92 and 94 formed as part of
housing portion 90.
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Each of buttons 92 and 94 comprises an inner wall portion 96 and an outer wall
portion 98 [FIG.
22]. Release cap 88 further comprises a pair of mounting slots 102 adapted to
engage with
mounting tabs 86 of slider hinge 70 to secure release cap 88 to slider hinge
70 [FIG. 15]. Release
cap 88 further comprises a pair of rope openings 104 formed at the top of
mounting slots 102. As
seen in FIG. 8, depression of the buttons 92 and 94 cause the inner walls 96
to contact and moves
inwardly the ridge portions 60 and 64 of the tab portions 58 and 62 off the
lip portion 82, thereby
disengaging plug hinge 54 from slider hinge 70 and allowing folding structure
10 to be
collapsed. Unlike conventional folding structures, buttons 92 and 94 provide a
fast and easy
means to release or disengage the plug hinge 54 from the slider hinge 70, to
allow collapse of the
structure 10.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 9, the hinge mechanism 52 may further comprise a
retaining
plug 114. Retaining plug 114 generally comprises a housing 114 having a lower
portion 116 and
a passageway or thru-hole 118. Retaining plug 114 is adapted to be inserted
within base portion
56 of plug hinge 54 [FIG. 3] to provide a means for retaining or securing the
ends of rope 106
within and to the plug hinge 54. After being threaded thru openings 104 of
release cap, thru-hole
78 of slider hinge 70, and hole 57 of plug hinge 54, the end portions 108 of
rope 106 are threaded
thru the passage way 118 and tied into a knot 110 that will reside within the
lower portion 116.
As upper portion 112 of rope 106 is pulled upwards, plug hinge 54 is brought
into engagement
with the slider hinge 70, and the upper length of rope 106 may be left hanging
or otherwise
unused.
The plug hinge 54, slider hinge 70, release cap 80, and retaining plug 114 may
be made
from conventional plastic materials and fabricated by conventional molding
processes. Legs 28,
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30, 32, and 34 may be made from conventional materials such as spring steel,
plastic, metal rods
and fabricated by conventional molding processes. Fabric enclosure 12 may be
made from
conventional textile fabrics such as nylon and fabricated by conventional
molding processes.
Many modifications and variations may become apparent in light of the above
teachings.
By way of example only, in lieu of the flexible tabs the plug hinge may
include spring-loaded
buttons that extend outward from the plug hinge. The spring-loaded buttons may
retract into the
plug hinge as it is pulled into the slider hinge. The slider hinge or release
cap may include
detents into which spring-loaded buttons will extend as the plug hinge reaches
the extent of its
travel into the hinge assembly, so as to lock the plug hinge in the hinge
assembly. Release
buttons on the hinge assembly can then engage the spring-loaded buttons to
force them back out
of the detents and thereby release the plug hinge. Other engagement means,
including
arrangements wherein the plug hinge may engage about the outside of the hinge
assemble are
contemplated. Additionally, various arrangements of the support and extending
arms may be
employed to provide various configurations to the folding structure. Further,
the pulling means
may be other than a rope or cord: e.g., a flexible rod, a ring, or other
mechanism whereby the
plug hinge and hinge assembly are moved toward one another for engagement. In
short, the
present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing
from the spirit
and/or scope of the specification and appended claims.
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