Patent Application
20230417428
The present invention relates generally to the field of covers and protective structures. More specifically, the present invention relates to an equipment cover or protective shelter. The device has a body, including a base, a frame, and a roof. The frame includes at least one horizontal member and at least one vertical member. The roof further may use shingles, metal, or other composite material to make the structure more astatically pleasing. In one embodiment, the device may have at least one light source to allow the user to see in poor lighting to perform maintenance or other inspections. In another embodiment, the device may have a heating element that can prevent ice and snow build up. In either embodiment, the structure has at least one power source for the light source and/or heating element, as well as at least one button to operate the light source or heating element. The structure may include one or more sensors, such as a motion sensor, temperature sensor, moisture sensor and operational sensors. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.
Outdoor equipment such as generators, pool filters, HVAC equipment, heat pumps, air conditioners or other units are susceptible to damage due to adverse weather conditions. The pipes, blades, and fans can freeze during winter storms, which can lead to malfunctioning and damage. Further, rain, sleet, snow, ice, leaves, and other objects can add a significant amount of weight to the equipment and can cause significant damage. In addition, snow or ice falling off the roof can crush or damage outdoor equipment. Repairing outdoor equipment, such as generators and HVAC units, can cost a lot of money and can take large amounts of time to repair. While the equipment is not operational, the homeowner is inconvenienced by not having heat or air conditioning. Outdoor equipment like HVAC units can last much longer if they are protected from adverse weather conditions that may cause them damage. Temporary or removable covers such as vinyl covers, do not protect from damage due to snow or ice.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an outdoor equipment structure that keeps such equipment out of adverse weather conditions. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for an outdoor equipment cover or structure, that shields the device and prevents objects and precipitation from building up on top of the equipment. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for an outdoor equipment cover or structure that promotes a longer life span for a user's outdoor equipment.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises an outdoor equipment cover or structure. The structure has a body or structure that includes a base, a frame made from one or more supports, and a roof. The frame has at least one horizontal member and one vertical member and may include one or more braces. The roof may include shingles, metal, or other suitable composite material to make the device more astatically pleasing and to protect the structure from weather damage. Further in differentiating embodiments, the device may include at least one light source, at least one heating element, at least one power source, and/or at least one battery.
In this manner, the outdoor equipment cover or structure of the present invention accomplishes all of the foregoing objectives and provides a cover for outdoor equipment such as generators, pool, well equipment, HVAC equipment and other units which may be placed outside a residence or building by keeping the equipment out of adverse weather conditions. Further, the device allows outdoor equipment to last longer as it is not directly exposed to large amounts of ice, snow, sleet, hail, rain, or sunshine.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises an outdoor equipment cover or structure. The structure comprises a main body having at least one base, at least one frame, supports or braces, and at least one roof. The base has a bottom surface, a top surface, side edges forming a perimeter, and at least one equipment fastener or hold down connection.
In the preferred embodiment, the base is made from one of a concrete material, preformed composite, fiberglass, recycled plastic, or other suitable material. The base prevents the device from falling over in adverse weather conditions such as high winds and provides a tie down or hold down for the unit. In addition, the base may provide a ground for use with the electrical connections. In another embodiment, the device may have a non-heavy base that is anchored into the ground via at least one fastener or other tie down. The top surface of the base may include at least one equipment or unit fastener or hold down. The equipment fastener attaches to the unit which prevents the unit from shifting within the structure.
The structure has a frame. The frame includes at least one horizontal member, at least one vertical member, at least one base fastener, and at least one frame fastener. The horizontal and vertical members make up the frame, support the roof and may include additional braces or other straps to maintain integrity of the structure. The vertical and horizontal members must be oriented in such a way that the roof is securely held by the frame. The frame has at least one frame fastener. The frame fastener attaches the horizontal members to the vertical members. The frame has at least one base fastener. The base fasteners attach the frame to the base.
The structure has a roof, and the roof has at least one roof fastener. The roof fastener attaches to the frame and prevents the roof from falling over or caving in during adverse weather conditions. The structure further may be customized based on individual preferences. In the preferred embodiment, the roof is covered in shingles, steel, or with other composite materials to match the house. This allows the structure to be more aesthetically pleasing. In differing embodiments, the roof may have a plurality of indicia, designs, or graphics.
In one embodiment, the device may be further fastened or secured to the house or structure that the unit supports for additional stability. The structure is fastened to the house via at least one fastener. In another embodiment, the structure may have at least one light source, at least one power source, and at least one activation switch or button. The light source allows for a user to see the outside unit when the lighting is poor. Further, the light source provides the user with a more effective way to work on or clean the equipment by providing better visibility. The light source is further powered by at least one power source. In one embodiment, the power source may be in the form of a battery. In another embodiment, energy may be provided in the form of a solar panel which is mounted on the roof. The structure may further include at least one activation switch or button that may be positioned on the roof or on any of the structural supports or base. The activation switch or button functions to operate the light source or other features such as a heater. There may be a plurality of buttons to turn the light source to various ranges, or there may just be one button to turn the light source off and on.
In one embodiment, the device may have a heating element positioned under the roof. The heating element functions to melt the snow or ice buildup that accumulates on top of the roof. If there is severe snow or ice storm, large amounts of snow and ice may build up on top of the roof which may damage the device. Thus, the heating element may heat up the roof and slowly melt the snow or ice located on the roof surface. The heating element is further powered by at least one power source. There are a plurality of power sources that could be used, such as batteries or solar panels. The structure may have at least one activation switch or button positioned on the roof or structural support. The button functions to operate the heating element. There may be a plurality of buttons or switches to turn the heating element to various ranges, or there may just be one button to turn the heating element off and on. The heater may also have a timer to allow the heater to be set for operation for a period of time.
Accordingly, the outdoor equipment cover of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a way to keep outdoor equipment out of adverse weather conditions. This allows expensive HVAC units, generators, pool filters, pumps, and any other externally placed equipment to last much longer and thus, saves the user money. In this manner, the outdoor equipment cover structure overcomes the limitations of existing problems known in the art.
In a further embodiment, the combination equipment and cover of the present invention includes a unit of equipment for providing a support function to a house or building. The support function includes at least one of heating, cooling, power, water, sanitary or combinations thereof. The cover includes a base, having a top surface and a bottom surface, with the top surface sized and configured to receive the unit. A frame is connected to the base on a fastener and the frame includes a number of horizontal and vertical rigid supports. The frame is connected on a first end to the base and on a second end to a roof. The roof substantially covers the frame and top surface of the base.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an outdoor equipment cover or structure that keeps outdoor equipment, such as HVAC, generators, well heads, pool filters and other units that are used to provide comfort or other essential functions to a house or building out of adverse weather conditions. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for an outdoor equipment cover or structure that shields the device and prevents objects and precipitation from building up on top of the outdoor equipment. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for an outdoor equipment cover or structure that promotes a longer life span for a user's outdoor equipment.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of an outdoor equipment cover or structure. The structure has a body with a base, a frame, and a roof. The base includes an equipment fastener to attach the equipment to the base. Further, the frame is comprised of one or more horizontal members, and one or more vertical members. The frame may have at least one frame fastener to attach the horizontal and vertical members to each other. The frame also has at least one base fastener. The base fastener attaches the frame to the base so the structure is more stable. The roof of the structure further includes one or more roof fasteners that attach the roof to the frame. The roof may further have singles, metal, or other composite material on its surface to be more aesthetically appealing and to provide protection to the structure. In another embodiment, the roof may have indicia or graphics that allows the user to customize the structure such as the homeowner's favorite sporting franchise.
In one embodiment, the structure may have at least one fastener that further anchors the structure to the house. This allows for additional stability. In one embodiment, the structure has at least one light source, further powered by at least one power source, and operated by at least one activation switch or button. The light source provides a user with the means to see the outdoor equipment when visibility is limited. In another embodiment, the structure has at least one heating element further powered by at least one power source and operated by at least one button. The heating element can be turned on to melt ice or snow that accumulates on the top of the device and/or the outdoor equipment.
Referring initially to the drawings,
In one embodiment, the base 120 is made from a concrete material such as, but not limited to: plain concrete, lightweight concrete, polymer concrete, glass concrete, reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete, precast concrete, air entrained concrete, vacuum concreate, asphalt concrete, rapid set concrete, high-density concrete, shortcrete concrete, pumped concrete, limecrete, etc. In another embodiment, the base may be made from any heavy material such as, but not limited to, metal, stone, cement, wood, or combinations thereof. The base 120 may also be constructed of a pre-sized or configured fiberglass unit which may be provided with weights or other hold downs. Alternatively, other composite materials may be used as the base 120. The base 120 may be chosen based on the size or type of the unit to be covered. The concrete, fiberglass, or otherwise heavy base 120 prevents the structure 100 from falling over in adverse weather conditions such as high winds. In another embodiment, the cover or structure 100 may have a non-heavy base that is anchored into the ground via at least one fastener 150. The fasteners 150 may be any fastener known in the art that would hold the device in place during a storm, such as stakes, rebar, poles, anchors, or combinations thereof.
The top surface 124 of the base 120 includes at least one equipment fastener 126. The equipment fastener 126 attaches to the unit 10 which prevents the unit from shifting within the structure 100. The fasteners 126 may be any fasteners known in the art such as, but not limited to: a magnet, a screw, a nut, a bolt, a carriage bolt, a nail, an anchor bolt, an acorn nut, a threaded rod, a retaining ring, a rivet, a set screw, a toggle bolt, an anchor, a self-tapping screw, an adhesive, a u-bolt, a lock nut, a castle nut, or combinations thereof.
The structure includes a frame 130. The frame 130 has at least one horizontal member 132, at least one vertical member 134, at least one base fastener 136, and at least one frame fastener 138. The frame 130 may be manufactured from a variety of relatively rigid materials such as, but not limited to: brass, copper, aluminum, stainless steel, steel, iron, oxidized aluminum, tin, wood, plastics, composite or combinations thereof.
The frame 130 includes at least one horizontal member 132 and at least one vertical member 134. The vertical members 134 and the horizontal members 132 make up the frame 130 and support the roof 140. The vertical and horizontal members 134, 132 must be oriented in such a way that the roof is securely held by the frame 130 and the vertical and horizontal members 134 and 132 are generally disposed perpendicularly to the roof. The frame 130 includes at least one frame fastener 138. The frame fasteners 138 attach the horizontal members 132 to the vertical members 134. The frame fasteners 138 may be any fastener known in the art that can support the frame 130 such as, but not limited to: a magnet, a screw, a nut, a bolt, a carriage bolt, a nail, an anchor bolt, an acorn nut, a threaded rod, a retaining ring, a rivet, a set screw, a toggle bolt, an anchor, a self-tapping screw, an adhesive, a u-bolt, a lock nut, castle nut, or combinations thereof. The frame 130 has at least one base fastener 136. The base fastener 136 attaches the frame 130 to the base 120. The base fastener 136 may be any fastener known in the art that can support the frame 130 holding the roof 140 such as, but not limited to: a magnet, a screw, a nut, a bolt, a carriage bolt, a nail, an anchor bolt, an acorn nut, a threaded rod, a retaining ring, a rivet, a set screw, a toggle bolt, an anchor, a self-tapping screw, an adhesive, a u-bolt, a lock nut, a castle nut, or combinations thereof. The base fasteners should have a hold down force weight of between 100 and 1000 pounds to counteract any weather forces, such as high winds. The fasteners may also have a rope, string, chain, or cord 137 which can be used as additional safety straps to hold down the equipment. The rope, string, chain, or cord 137 should have a weight test of between 50 and 100 pounds.
The structure 100 includes a roof 140. In one embodiment, the roof 140 is manufactured from a durable metal material such as, but not limited to: aluminum, tin, stainless steel, wood, renewable resources such as, bamboo, fiberglass, laminates, plastics, recycled materials, or combinations thereof.
The roof 140 has at least one roof fastener 142. The roof fastener 142 attaches to the frame 130 and prevents the roof 140 from falling over, blowing off, or caving in during adverse weather conditions. The roof fasteners 142 may be any fastener known in the art that can support the frame 130 while holding the roof 140 such as, but not limited to, a magnet, a screw, a nut, a bolt, a carriage bolt, a nail, an anchor bolt, an acorn nut, a threaded rod, a retaining ring, a rivet, a set screw, a toggle bolt, an anchor, a self-tapping screw, an adhesive, a u-bolt, a lock nut, a castle nut, or combinations thereof. The roof fastener 142 may also have a cord, string, chain, or rope 143 to hold the roof in position. The roof 140 may also have one or more vents 145 which can be opened or closed when the unit is in operation to allow adequate air flow. The vents 145 may be opened by a sensor 147 which detects the operational status of the unit.
The equipment structure 100 may also be provided with a unit monitor or sensor 153 which is connected to a smart device such as a smartphone, tablet or smart home application unit 151. The unit monitor or sensor 153 monitors the time the unit is operational, the temperature, humidity and other conditions and/or other operational information which may be useful to the homeowner or building manager to understand if the unit may be operating under some level of difficulty. The sensor 153 may also be a motion sensor to detect movement near the unit.
In another embodiment, the cover or structure 100 may have at least one light source 180, at least one power source 182, and at least one button 190. The light source 180 allows for a user to see the unit 10 when the lighting is poor. Further, the light source 180 provides the user with a more effective way to work on or clean the equipment 10 by providing better visibility. The light source 180 may be any light source known in the art. The light source 180 is further powered by at least one power source 182. In one embodiment, the power source 182 may be in the form of a battery. The battery may be a disposable battery or a rechargeable battery in the form of an alkaline, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride battery, or combinations thereof such as any 3V-12 volts DC battery or other conventional battery such as A, AA, AAA, etc., that supplies power to the light source 180. Throughout this specification the terms “battery” and “batteries” may be used interchangeably to refer to one or more wet or dry cells or batteries of cells in which chemical energy is converted into electricity and used as a source of DC power. References to recharging or replacing batteries may refer to recharging or replacing individual cells, individual batteries of cells, or a package of multiple battery cells as is appropriate for any given battery technology that may be used. In another embodiment, the power source 182 may be in the form of a solar panel. In differing embodiments of the device 100, the solar panel may include, but are not limited to: monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, or a photovoltaic cell film. The structure or cover 100 may have at least one button or other actuation switch 190 positioned on the roof 140. The button or switch 190 functions to operate the light source 180 or heating elements 181 to melt the ice or snow that may have built up on the roof 140. There may be a plurality of buttons 190 to turn the light source 180 or heating element 181 to various ranges, or there may just be one button 190 to turn the light source 180 off and on and another button for the heating element 181, which is positioned on the top of the roof or that may be integrated with the roofing materials. The buttons may be low, medium and high settings. A timer may also be provided to allow the light or heating element to run for a certain period of time, or each of the heating element and the light sensor may be connected to the operational unit 153 so that the same will automatically turn on the unit when triggered by the environmental conditions surrounding the unit. In addition, the operational unit can open and close the vents 145. While the various embodiments in this application refer to a power source as a battery or solar panel, the features such as the heating source or illumination source may be powered by a direct electrical connection to the house or building that is supports.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “equipment cover structure” and “cover or structure” are interchangeable and refer to the outdoor equipment cover device 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the outdoor equipment cover 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the outdoor or exposed equipment cover or structure 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the equipment cover 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the equipment cover structure 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the outdoor or exposed equipment cover 100 may be of any size, shape and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/356,221, which was filed on Jun. 28, 2022, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63356221 | Jun 2022 | US |
