Knockdown portable greenhouse and kit for parcel service shipment

#This invention relates to a knockdown greenhouse and the like portable enclosures, and more particularly, to a knockdown greenhouse which is easy to assemble and may be shipped using conventional parcel service.

#Heretofore ready to assemble and portable greenhouses and the like enclosures have been provided which are constructed using bendable frame sections that are either pre-stressed or may be flexed during assembly to provide an arch-shaped housing structure. Typical housing structures are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,595,203, 5,479,744, 5,335,684, 5,333,421, 4,091,584, and 3,028,872.

#It is also desirable in knockdown housing units used for greenhouses, that ventilation be provided by having at least one, and preferably two doors. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,660,002, 4,831,793, 3,971,176, 3,961,442, 2,869,561, and 2,816,329 disclose portable housing structures for greenhouses and the like wherein arch shaped frame sections are utilized having at least one door.

#The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof.

#The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a prospective view of a knockdown green-house constructed according to the invention;

#Referring now in more detail to the drawings, the invention will now be described in more detail. As can best be seen in FIG. 1, a knockdown housing structure designated generally as A is illustrated in the form of a greenhouse. The greenhouse includes a base frame, designated generally as 10, which includes a first side base member 12 and a second side base member 14 (FIG. 2). Each side base member comprises a plurality of base strips 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the side base members include two base strips 16 joined together by a bridge plate 18. Base frame 10 is completed by two end base members 20 and 22 (FIG. 6) which each include a single base strip 16. The intersecting ends of the side and end base members are joined by lap joints 24. Conventional fasteners may be used to fasten the lap joint together. It is noted that first and second side base members 12 and 14 have a series of anchors spaced along their length. Preferably the base strip 16 are cedar wood, and the anchors are formed by pre-drilling anchor holes 26 in the wood. For this reason, bridge plate 18 also includes anchor holes 26 which are aligned with the anchor holes in the underlying base strips 16 to receive the anchor ends of the arch-shaped ribs, to be more fully described. By this means the bridge plates are fastened to the base strips and inter-connect the two base strips in each side member 12, 14.

#As can best be seen in FIG. 2, each arch-shaped rib 30 includes 3 rib sections. There is a first rib section 32 having an anchor end 32a received in an anchor 26 of first side base member 12. There is a second rib section 34 having an anchor end 34a received in anchor 26 of the second side base member 14. A third rib section 36 includes fixed couplings 36a on its opposing ends which receive the free ends of first and second rib sections 32 and 34. Third rib section 36 is arched between the first and second rib sections. Preferably the rib sections are formed from a bend-able material, and preferably are formed from a flexible plastic (PVC tubing) that is hollow. This allows the quick assembly and disassembly of the greenhouse whereupon the rib sections flex back to a generally straight configuration (FIG. 7). There are a plurality of arch ribbed sections 30 spaced along the length of the greenhouse having their anchor ends received in the anchor holes formed in the side base members, as can best be seen in FIG. 1. Interconnecting the arch-shaped ribs 30 in their upstanding configuration are first and second rib connectors 40 and 42 extending longitudinally along a length of the greenhouse and across the individual ribs 30. The rib connectors are connected to the arch shaped ribs 30 by means of conventional connectors such as screws and wing nuts 44.

#As can best be seen in FIG. 3, a door assembly, designated generally as B, is provided at front end base 20. Typically in greenhouse structures it is desired to have two doors so effective ventilation can be had. However, for purposes of explanation only one door assembly is described, it being understood, that a door assembly of the like construction may be provided at the opposite end of the greenhouse. Door assembly B includes a door frame, designated generally as 50, having a first vertical side frame member 50a and a second vertical side frame member 50b having their free ends received in a notched-out portion 20a and 20b formed in end base member 20. A transverse door frame member 52 extends between the vertical door frame members and is received in notches formed in the door frame members. The upper ends of door frame members 50a and 50b include connector openings 54 through which a door frame connector 56 is received. The free ends of door frame connector 56 are attached to rib connectors 40 and 42 by means of elbow couplings 58. This maintains the door assembly in an upright configuration when installed. A hinged door 60 is carried by door frame 50 in a conventional manner. Door 60 includes vertical door members 62a and 62b connected by means of lap joints to upper and lower door end members 64a and 64b. An intermediate cross door member 64c also is fitted between the vertical door members by means of a lap joint. The door may be disassembled for shipment and assembled at the site of assembly, along with door frame 50.