US 5,054,507 AGranted

Portable beach cache

OwnerTerry L. Sparksinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A portable beach cache having a plurality of fabric panels and rigid support members arranged in a picture frame configuration for sheltering the user from wind and wind-blown debris, such as sand. Fold-out feet provide support in soft sand. A handle is provided to simplify carrying and a hook and loop strap secures the portable beach cache in its stowably disposed position. The portable beach cache is compact when folded and light enough to be easily carried by hand. A second embodiment is disclosed wherein the portable beach cache has a single screen panel and a plurality of rigid vertical support members and elongate rods. The screen is attached between two of the vertical support members in the fashion of a tennis net. The vertical support members have pointed ends which are driven into the ground. The elongate rods are then attached to the vertical members to provide strength and to stretch the screen panel taut. The portable beach cache of the second embodiment can be easily stored by disassembly and placing the horizontal support members along side the vertical members and then rolling the vertical and horizontal members up inside the screen. The rigid support members of the second embodiment may be disassembled to provide storage.

Claims3

Dependent claims

A portable beach cache for sheltering the user from the wind and wind-blown debris comprising:

(a) a plurality of screens formed to fit within a corresponding plurality of frames, said screens formed of a material adapted to diffuse the wind's power;
(b) a rigid frame, having two horizontal support members and two vertical support members, attached about the periphery of each of said screens for providing support to said screens;
(c) a hinge for pivotally connecting said vertical support members of said rigid frames, said hinge being comprised of the same material as said screen, said rigid frames being operable between a stowably disposed position and an operably disposed position;
(d) at least two feet pivotally attached to at least one of said horizontal support members for supporting the portable beach cache upon the ground, said feet not extending substantially beneath the surface of the ground;
and
(e) a plurality of apertures formed in said screens, said apertures being sized between 0.010 inch and 0.250 inch in diameter and spaced apart by approximatelythe length of their diameter to prevent the wind from blowing forcibly therethrough while permitting a portion of the wind to blow non-forcibly therethrough such that the power of the wind is diffused in order to prevent the portable beach cache from blowing over;
(f) a latch attached to the rigid frame for securing the portable beach cache in the stowably disposed position;
and
(g) a handle attached to the rigid frame for carrying the portable beach cache when it is in the stowably disposed position.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.