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US 5,390,685 AGranted
Collapsible shelter
OwnerJens McCoyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable, umbrella-type shelter including a sheet that can be easily stretched to a framework that includes rods removably attached to one end of a jointed post that has a pointed lower end and a weight that slides against a flange on the lower part of the post to drive the pointed end into the ground. The sheet has loops to be hooked over projections near the outer ends of the rods.
Claims14
A shelter to shield a certain area of ground, said shelter comprising:
- (a) a flexible sheet having a perimeter and a plurality of loops spaced around the perimeter;
- (b) a framework over which to spread the sheet, said framework comprising:
- (i) a spider having a support member having first and second ends, and a plurality of rod sockets each connected to the support member and extending outwardly in a direction toward a respective one of the loops when the sheet is spread over the framework and attached thereto,
- (ii) a plurality of rods, each removably inserted in a respective one of the rod sockets and extending outwardly toward the region of the loop associated with the respective rod socket, and
- (iii) engagement means attached to each of the rods to releasably engage the loop toward which the respective rod extends to hold the sheet taut on the framework;
- (c) support means comprising:
- (i) shaft means comprising:
- (.alpha.) a first shaft portion having one end removably attached to the second end of the support member;
- (.beta.) a second shaft portion,
- (.gamma.) first joint means connecting the first shaft portion to the second shaft portion and adjustable to allow the first shaft portion to be set at a selected variety of angular relationships with respect to the second shaft portion and locked in the selected angular relationship,
- (.delta.) a third shaft portion, and
- (.epsilon.) second joint means connecting the second shaft portion to the third shaft portion and adjustable to allow the second shaft portion to be set at a selected variety of angular relationships with respect the third shaft portion, one of the joint means comprising an aperture through which the respective shaft portion connected thereto extends, whereby said one of said joint means can be slidably moved to a selected location along the length of the respective shaft portion, and tightening means to secure said one of said joint means at the selected location;
- (ii) pointed means on one end of the third shaft portion facing away from the sheet to be driven into the ground, and
- (iv) a flange on the third shaft means between the second joint means and the pointed means;
- and
- (d) a tubular weight encircling and freely movable longitudinally along shaft from a point above the flange down into contact with the flange.
13 more elements
A shelter comprising:
- (a) a flexible sheet having a perimeter and a plurality of loops spaced around the perimeter;
- (b) a framework comprising:
- (i) a spider comprising a support member having two ends, and a plurality of rod sockets connected to the support member and extending outwardly therefrom toward a respective one of the loops,
- (ii) a plurality of rods, each removably inserted in a respective one of the rod sockets and extending outwardly toward the region of a respective loop, and
- (iii) engagement means on each of the rods, each of the engagement means comprising:
- (.alpha.) a tubular end to fit onto the outwardly directed end of a respective one of the rods, and
- (.beta.) a Y-shaped outer portion having a first branch to releasably engage the respective loop to hold the sheet taut on the framework when the sheet is spread over the framework with a central point in the sheet engaging one end of the support member and each engagement means inserted in a respective loop, and a second branch flattened and provided with an aperture.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.