US 4,947,884 AGranted

Collapsible canopy with auto erect roof support structure

OwnerJames P. Lynchinventor

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Abstract

A canopy shelter has a plurality of corner support forming legs that may be positioned on a support surface. Scissor assemblies interconnect adjacent ones of the corner supports and are each pivotally connected at one portion to the top ends of the respective corner supports and are each pivotally connected at another portion to slide brackets slideably mounted on each of the respective corner supports. Roof support members are pivotally connected to a respective slide bracket on a corner support. Thus, the framework may be collapsed in a stored state yet expanded to an expanded state by spreading the corner members apart from one another. This automatically raises the apex which may also include a center post structure. Latches are provided to retain the slide brackets in position to hold the framework in the expanded state. A flexible covering is centrally supported by the apex to form a canopy top, and cables may be provided between the top ends of the corner supports and the apex to further support the flexible covering. Side panels and a front panel having a doorway may be used to enclose a protected space. The corner supports may be formed by telescoping leg sections. Each roof support may be formed by a plurality of extendible sections that may be open and closed either by pivotally folding or by telescopic construction, and latches are provided to hold the roof sections open.

A canopy structure adapted to be folded and stored in a collapsed state and erected in an expanded state on a support surface, comprising:

a plurality of upright corner support members each having a bottom end positionable on the support surface and a top end opposite said botton end, said corner support members oriented alongside one another in the collapsed state and movable outwardly apart from one another toward the expanded state wherein said corner support members are oriented generally vertically of the support surface;
a slide bracket slideably mounted on each corner support member;
a scissor assembly interconnecting adjacent ones of said corner support members, each respective scissor assembly having one portion pivotally connected to the top ends of its associated corner support members and another portion pivotally connected to the slide brackets of its associated corner support members, said scissor assemblies each operative to open and close when the associated corner support members move away from and toward one another, each said slide bracket advancing to a location proximate the top end of its respective corner support member when said corner support members are moved into the expanded state and moving toward the bottom end of its respective corner support member when said corner support members are moved toward the collapsed state;
a plurality of roof support members pivotally connected to one another at first ends thereof to form an apex, each roof support member pivotally connected at a second end thereof opposite the first end to the slide bracket on a respective corner support member whereby advancement of said slide brackets to locations proximate the top ends of the corner support members as said canopy structure is moved toward the expanded state causes the apex to be elevated with respect to the support surface;
and
latch means for retaining each said slide bracket in the location proximate the top end of its respective corner support member.

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Abstract

Claims23