Frame system and connectors for portable shelters
AssigneeAmerican Canvas Company
InventorsErnest Hagler, Charles A. Roose, John B. Claypool
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A frame assembly for a free-standing portable shelter comprises a plurality of tubular frame members releasably interconnected by a system of connector fittings. Leg and eave members are provided with spring-loaded projecting members which releasably engage corresponding apertures in unitary corner and eave fittings; rafter members include slotted locking collars connectable at one end to bar-type coupling means on eave and corner fittings, and at the other end to a central anchor member. Leg braces are mounted between leg and eave members by spring pins for additional support. The structure may be assembled and disassembled quickly and entirely without the use of tools.
Claims15
In a frame assembly for a portable shelter wherein said frame assembly is provided with a vertical leg at spaced intervals, eave poles extending horizontally between upper ends of adjacent vertical legs, and rafter poles inclining upwardly from upper ends of said vertical legs for releasable interconnection to one another at a commom center, the improvement comprising:
- a unitary four-way connector unit including a vertical leg-connecting socket member, a pair of horizontal eave pole-connecting socket members extending in substantially perpendicular relation to said leg-connecting socket member, and a rafter pole connector extending between said horizontal socket members;
- first releasable coupling means between each of said socket members and adjoining ends of said vertical leg and eave pole members whereby to facilitate releasable connection therebetween without the use of tools, and second releasable coupling means between an end of each said rafter pole and each said rafter pole connector for angularly adjustable attachment of said rafter pole to said connector, said second releasable coupling means including opposed bayonet slots at said one end of said rafter pole, an anchor bar on said rafter pole connector insertable into said bayonet slots, and closure means normally retaining said anchor bar in closed ends of said slots;
- and
- a crown connector interconnecting upper ends of said rafter poles comprising a plurality of anchor bars joined in end-to-end relation to one another, longitudinally extending bayonet slots in each upper end of said rafter poles and spring-loaded closure means urged in a direction retaining one of said anchor bars in each of said slots.
In a generally rectangular frame assembly for a portable shelter having a pitched roof wherein said frame assembly is provided with a vertical leg at each corner, eave poles extending horizontally between upper ends of adjacent vertical legs, and corner rafter poles inclining upwardly from upper ends of said vertical legs at each corner and terminating in upper ends for releasable interconnection to one another at a common center, the improvement comprising:
- a unitary four-way corner connector unit including a vertical leg-connecting socket, a pair of horizontal eave pole-connecting sockets, said sockets extending in substantially mutually perpendicular relation to one another, and a horizontally extending, rafter pole connector extending between said horizontal sockets;
- and
- first releasable coupling means between each of said sockets and adjoining ends of said vertical leg eave pole members whereby to facilitate releasable connection therebetween without the use of tools, and second releasable coupling means between an end of said corner rafter pole and said corner rafter pole connector for angularly adjustable attachment of said corner rafter pole to said corner connector, and a crown connector interconnecting upper ends of said corner rafter poles and comprising a plurality of anchor bars joined in end-to-end relation to one another, opposed bayonet slots in each upper end of said corner rafter, and spring-loaded closure means urged in a direction retaining said crow connector bar in each of said slots.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.