Device for collapsibly supporting a cover, an associated covering and a method of operating same
OwnerGlyn Frickerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for collapsibly supporting a cover, comprising a mount and one or more resilient and substantially radial spars arranged to pivot relative to the mount, wherein a first end of the or each spar is associated with the mount and a second opposite end is configured to secure to an outer end of the cover, wherein in use, the device is movable from a collapsed state for stowage of the cover, to an open state, wherein: (a) the or each spar extends outwardly from the mount to spread the cover; and (b) tension is applied to an outer region of the cover, thereby drawing the second end of the or each spar downwardly such that the or each spar deflects and urges the cover upwardly and away from a plane defined by the perimeter of the opened cover.
Claims17
A device for collapsibly supporting a cover, comprising:
- a mount having a longitudinal axis;
- resilient and substantially radial spars, first ends of which are pivotally associated with the mount about the longitudinal axis thereof, opposite second ends of which are configured to secure to respective outer ends of the cover;
- and
- a tensioning means, a first end of which is pivotally associated with the mount about an axis that is generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the mount, an opposite second end of which is configured to secure to a rearward region of the cover,
- wherein in use, the device is movable from a collapsed state for stowage of the cover, to an open state, wherein:
- (a) the spars extend radially outwardly from the mount and fan open relative to one another to spread open frontal and lateral regions of the cover;
- (b) tension is applied to an outer region of the cover, thereby drawing the second end of each spar downwardly such that each spar deflects and urges the cover upwardly and away from a plane defined by a perimeter of the opened cover;
- and
- (c) the tensioning means is levered rearwardly to draw open the rearward region of the cover.
A method of using a collapsible cover, the method comprising:
- (a) pivoting multiple resilient and substantially radial spars that are pivotally associated with a mount having a longitudinal axis, about the mount so as to at least partially spread open frontal and lateral regions of a cover;
- (b) as each spar is pivoted to at least partially spread the cover open, levering a tensioning means that is pivotally associated with the mount about an axis that is generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the mount rearwardly to draw open the rearward region of the covering, thereby imparting tension to the cover, wherein an opposite end of the tensioning means is configured to secure to a rearward region of the cover;
- and
- (c) applying tension to an outer region of the cover, thereby drawing a second end of each spar downwardly such that the spars deflect and urge the cover upwardly and away from a plane defined by the perimeter of the opened cover.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.