Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PORTABLE, COLLAPSIBLE WIND SCREEN
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to collapsible camping gear and party
equipment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Outdoor activities are occasionally held in windy weather conditions, in a
steady or intermittent breeze strong enough to interfere with the enjoyment of
eating
or ordinary conversation. Without resorting to holding activities inside an
enclosed
structure or tent, it is useful to be able to block said breeze with a
portable means
that is easy to set up and sturdy enough to withstand ordinary wind
conditions.
The prior art includes several devices that act as wind screens and are
reasonably portable. U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,286 to Russo teaches a portable
canopy
for bleacher seats, U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,319 to Shultz teaches a rigid plastic
screen
that is detachable into equally-sized sections, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,402 to
Clary
shows a screen of adjustable size that needs to be braced by attachment to
external contacts. The present invention's features are easily distinguishable
from
these and other devices.
It would be desirable to provide a collapsible wind screen structure that is
stable under ordinary wind conditions.
It is desirable that the device be light-weight and easy to assemble.
It is desirable that the device be available with Velcro.TM. connectors with
which to attach wind screens comprised of a variety of materials.
It is desirable that the device be constructed of easy-to-obtain connectors
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and metal tubing.
It is desirable that the device be easy to set up and not require an extensive
manual to master in order to use the invention.
It is desirable that the device be quickly and easily folded for stowage, and
fit
into a cylindrically-shaped bag when collapsed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The disclosed embodiment of the present invention uses tubular steel
bracing and folding mechanisms available with portable canopies, as well as
low-
cost connector mechanisms, hinges and retractable pins. The disclosed
embodiment is collapsible into a three-foot long, one-foot-in-diameter
configuration
that fits easily into a bag for storage and carrying.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a single structure
frame comprised of metal tubing, hinges, retractable pin connectors, and
VelcroTM
fasteners, said structure supporting a cloth or plastic wind screen attached
via said
fasteners
In one embodiment, the wind screen is comprised of a tough fabric or plastic
sheeting impermeable to wind. These fabrics include acrylic, polyester, nylon,
and
other outdoor-use fabrics.
In one embodiment, when assembled, the frame is supported by folding legs
that snap down and support the frame in a vertical position. The legs can be
braced
with sandbags or other weights in high-wind situations.
In one embodiment, the metal tubing is configured such that the long vertical
members are comprised of two separate pieces of tubing that slide into each
other,
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held in the open position by retractable pins. The long horizontal members are
hinged in the middle and are held in the open position by retractable pins.
In one embodiment, the set up of the invention is comprised of approximately
a dozen simple moves to open, unfold, or slide open pieces of metal tubing and
snap then into the full open position with the retractable pins. Storage is
the reverse,
and the length of the individual members is designed to enable the entire
structure
to be held in a bag.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a collapsible
wind screen, the wind screen comprised of a collapsible frame and a screen,
the collapsible frame comprised of a plurality of tubular metal components
connected with hinges and held in place with a plurality of retractable pin
fasteners,
said tubular metal components comprised of a left extendable segment and a
right extendable segment, the two extendable segments placed vertically, each
extendable segment comprised of an outer segment and an inner segment, said
inner segment fitting slideably inside the length of the outer segment, the
inner
segment held in place when pulled out of the outer segment by a retractible
pin
fastener, the two extendable segments connected to each other at the top by a
top
horizontal segment and at the bottom by a bottom horizontal segment,
the top horizontal segment comprised of a left and right top segment, the left
top segment connected to the left extendable segment by means of an offset
hinge,
the right top segment connected to the right extendable segment by means of an
offset hinge, the left and right top segments connected rotatably to each
other at the
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middle of the top horizontal segment by means of a hinge and a retractable pin
fastener,
the bottom horizontal segment comprised of a left and right bottom segment,
the left bottom segment connected rotatably to the left extendable segment by
means of an offset hinge, the right bottom segment connected rotatably to the
right
extendable segment by means of an offset hinge, the left and right bottom
segments
connected rotatably to each other at the middle of the bottom horizontal
segment by
means of a hinge and a retractable pin fastener,
wherein when the frame is in an extended configuration the wind screen
defines a plane; and when the frame is moved to a collapsed configuration, the
right
top segment and the right bottom segment are folded toward the right
extendable
segment substantially along the plane; and the left top segment and the left
bottom
segment are folded toward the left extendable segment substantially along the
plane;
the tubular metal components further comprised of a left short leg, a left
long
leg, a right short leg, and a right long leg,
the left short leg connected rotatably to the bottom end of the left
extendable
segment at a right angle to the bottom horizontal segment by means of a hinge
and
held in an extended position by means of a retractable pin fastener, the left
long leg
connected to the bottom end of the left extendable segment at the other right
angle
to the bottom horizontal segment by means of a hinge and held in an extended
position by means of a vertical bracing member,
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the right short leg connected rotatably to the bottom end of the right
extendable segment at a right angle to the bottom horizontal segment by means
of a
hinge and held in an extended position by means of a retractable pin fastener,
the
right long leg connected rotatably to the bottom end of the right extendable
segment
at the other right angle to the bottom horizontal segment by means of a hinge
and
held in an extended position by means of a vertical bracing member,
the left long leg and the right long leg each connected fixedly to the bottom
horizontal segment by means of a horizontal bracing member,
the collapsible frame capable of standing upright on the plurality of short
and
long legs when they are fully extended and braced, the collapsible frame
extendable
by means of pulling out and adjusting the left and right extendable segments
and
securing them by means of the retractable pins as well as unfolding the top
and
bottom horizontal segments and fixing them in place by means of their
retractable
pin fasteners,
the fully extended frame connected to the screen by means of hook and loop
fasteners attached to the top and bottom horizontal segments and the left and
right
extendable segments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1. Overview diagram of invention assembled
FIG. 2. Invention frame
FIG. 3. Invention frame partially collapsed
FIG. 4. Side view of invention leg assembly
FIG. 5. Invention leg assembly partially collapsed
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FIG. 6. Close up of invention leg assembly
FIG. 7. Close-up of spring-loaded
FIG. 8. Side view of spring-loaded bolt
FIG. 9. Top-down view of junction between vertical and horizontal bar
FIG. 10. Bottom-up view of junction of legs and bottom horizontal bar
FIG. 11. Collapsed invention
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The invention 100 as shown in FIG. 1 is a wind screen comprised of a fabric
or plastic screen 150 and a frame, the screen 150 held to the frame with a
plurality
of Velcro connectors 151, constructed from a set of tubular metal sections
that are
connected together with hinges and retractable pins. The frame is supported at
the
bottom by two retractable legs on each side of the frame, braced by a
horizontal
brace 152, which legs can be weighted for stability.
In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the vertical sections 101,102 and 103,104 slide into
each other for storage, and when pulled out to their maximum length are held
at that
position by retractable pins 105,106.
The horizontal sections 107,108 and 109,110 are hinged in the middle for
storage and are held in their extended positions by retractable pins 113,114
placed
near the hinges 111,112. Hinges 115,116 and 125,126 at the juncture of the
horizontal sections and vertical sections of the frame allow the horizontal
sections to
fold against the vertical sections. At no time does the assembly come apart,
but the
entire apparatus remains connected by hinges.
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In FIGS. 2 and 3, at the bottom corners of the invention where the hinged
vertical and horizontal sections come together are two bracing members 117,118
which are hinged in the middle and snap together with their own retractable
pins
119,120.
In FIG. 4, the inventions legs 131,130 are shown, which fold up against each
of the lower vertical sections 118,120 as in FIG. 5. The top-down view of FIG.
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shows where the vertical section 101 meets the upper horizontal section 107,
hinged by hinge 115. In FIG. 10, a bottom-up view of the junction of the frame
vertical member 102 and bottom horizontal member 109 with the legs, the longer
leg 130 and the shorter leg 131 deploying from the junction, rotating around
hinges
140 and 141, one pair on each side of the frame bottom. The legs are held in
their
extended positions by retractable pin 142 and bracing member 132 as in FIG. 7.
As designed, the longer and shorter leg can be further braced by placing a
weight, such as a sandbag, on each of them after they are snapped into
position.
The invention is designed to be covered by a cloth or plastic screen 150,
attached at the top, bottom, and sides by means of a plurality of hook and
loop
fasteners 151. By placing the invention at the correct orientation against the
wind,
the invention will stop the movement of air behind the invention screen and
remain
stable and upright.
In the preferred embodiment, the screen is cloth, the metal comprising the
tubular frame is light-gauge steel, and the folded-up length of the screen is
between
2-1/2 and 3 feet.
Although the invention has been described as a preferred embodiment,
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equivalent features may be employed and substitutions made within this
specification without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in
the
claims.
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