Portable shelter

Abstract

A portable shelter (10) suitable for weather protection which has a structural frame having a pair of opposed side frames (12) and an overhead frame (13) wherein each side frame (12) has a pair of post assemblies (17) at each end thereof characterised in that each post assembly (17) comprises an inner vertical post (16) and an outer frame member having an upper end (18) and a lower end (19) which are attached to the inner vertical post (16). There is also provided a canopy (45) located on the overhead frame (13) which in a retracted position is located adjacent one longitudinal member (34) of the overhead frame (13) and in an extended position has a leading end (47) thereof located adjacent another longitudinal member (34) of the overhead frame (13) characterised in that there is provided a winding mechanism (48) for actuating movement of the canopy (45) from the retracted position to the extended position and vice versa wherein the winding position comprises an elongate winding shaft (50) and a handle (49) accessible from the ground and the canopy (45) has a tensioning or actuating shaft (51) coupled to the winding shaft (50) by universal joint (53) whereby movement of the canopy (45) can be initiated from a person rotating the handle (49) on the ground.

Description

This invention relates to a portable shelter suitable for use as a sunshade, street stall, portable bus stop, golf practice shelter or any other purpose where overhead protection is necessary from inclement weather or excessive sun.

Hitherto portable shelters have been constructed for a variety of purposes. For example, CA 2283111 refers to a portable folding shelter having a fixed central frame and a pair of outdoor wing frames which are pivotable relative to the central frame. There is also provided a flexible weatherproof roof membrane. Outrigger arms support the shelter on the ground and are provided with ground engaging wheels. Jacking mechanisms are provided to assist in assembling and disassembling the shelter as well as loading or unloading the shelter from a flatbed trailer.

DE 20014206 relates to a outdoor stall having a rectangular base frame, corner posts, intermediate posts and a ridged roof assembly comprising rafters, roof battens and a roof membrane. There was also provided a pair of wheels which may be raised and a centre pole which protrudes from one end of the base frame for moving the stall when required. The main use of the outdoor stall was as a shelter for cows or for preventing dry feed from getting wet.

Reference also may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,162 which has a canopy formed from a series of curved rib units that are connected to a triangular support frame at each end of the canopy wherein each support frame is attached to ground engaging wheels. U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,301 relates to a similar mobile frame. WO 02/01012 also relates to a similar mobile frame or shelter.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,214 relates to a portable enclosure having a frame constructed of plastics pipe and an overhead canopy and a clear plastics window located in each wall of the enclosure for viewing purposes. The enclosure is fitted with a single pair of ground engaging wheels and a handle located above the wheels for transportation purposes.

GB 1577935 relates to a collapsible shelter for vehicles having a braced tubular frame with flexible weatherproof cover. The frame has legs and roof arms hinged together. The shelter is supported by ground engaging wheels.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,496 relates to a portable shelter having a frame which has front and back arches joined by two opposed skids at their bottom ends and a set of braces extending between the arches. A cover over the frame has a water impervious top panel and end and back panels that are made from an air impervious mesh. The shelter may be used in golf driving ranges.

EP 945568 relates to a portable wind shelter for use on a beach or hotel terrace having two side walls connected by a cover. The shelter has an open front and wheels at the rear. The shelter is movable through a number of orientations to enclose a chair, chaise-lounge or mattress.

Reference also may be made to lightweight tent frames such as that disclosed in GB 2210649 which has a plurality of radially arranged A frames connected by roof periphery poles and supporting roof poles. U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,891 also relates to a tent frame having a removable floor wherein the frame members are secured to tent support fabric.

AU 20500/95 relates to a tent support frame having an upright member and an outrigger member pivotally attached to the upright member and tensile members attached to the upright member and the outrigger member.

It will be appreciated that a portable shelter designed for use primarily in protection from the weather should be readily movable and formed from a frame structure of simplified construction which is stable in strong winds. This is not the case for example with CA 2283111 which is of relatively complicated construction. Similar conclusions apply to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,967,162, 5,575,301 and WO 02/01012. In other situations, the portable shelter will be designed for a particular purpose or application such as DE 20014206 for sheltering cows or protect dry feed and will not be suitable as a sunshade because of its complicated roof structure. Tent frames such as those disclosed in GB 2210649 and AU 20500/95 will also not be appropriate because they will be based on a tent frame having a peripheral enclosure which only has an access opening of restricted size.

It is also believed that it is not essential that a portable shelter for use in weather protection does not require to be collapsible as in the case of GB 1577935. Also a surround structure or enclosure having a number of fixed or non demountable walls and only an open front is not appropriate as a golf practice shelter because such fixed or non demountable walls provide additional structure that is not necessary in good weather. These comments apply to U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,214 and EP 945568. In other situations conventional portable shelters are considered to have a relatively flimsy structure and thus could not be used in golf practice in strong winds. This applies for example to U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,496.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a portable shelter which may alleviate the problems of conventional portable shelters as described above.

Accordingly the invention provides a portable shelter suitable for weather protection which has a structural frame having a pair of opposed side frames and an overhead frame wherein each side frame has a pair of post assemblies at each end thereof characterised in that each post assembly comprises an inner vertical post and an outer frame member having an upper end and a lower end which are attached to the inner vertical post.

The outer frame member may be arcuate in shape or may be triangular in shape. More preferably the outer frame member forms an outer post having a top portion which extends at an acute angle to the adjacent inner post before merging with or forming a junction or vertex with a lower portion which then merges with a base part of the adjacent inner post so that the lower portion also extends at an acute angle to the adjacent inner post. Thus in other words each post assembly in side view is triangular as shown in the drawings of the preferred embodiment for example where the inner post forms the base of the triangle and the vertex of the triangle is closer to a top end of the inner post than a bottom end. This means that the lower portion preferably is substantially longer than the top portion.

It is also preferred that there is provided a reinforcing strut or rib extending between the inner post and the vertex described above.

Each side frame may also include one or more cross members interconnecting the opposed post assemblies. Thus preferably there is provided a lower cross member, a median or intermediate cross member that extends between opposed outer frame members of each post assembly and an upper cross member.

In a preferred form of the invention there is provided a pair of bracing rods, cables or wires which intersect with each other and thus extend across each open side or open top of the structural frame. More preferably there may be provided a pair of spaces in the open top or each open side and each pair of bracing rods, cables or wires may intersect with each other across each space.

Reference may now be made to a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the attached drawings wherein

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable shelter constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the portable shelter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the portable shelter of FIG. 1 showing the retractable canopy of the portable shelter in a retracted or inoperative position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the canopy in an extended or operational position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one end of the portable shelter of FIG. 1 showing the winding mechanism that causes retraction or extension of the canopy shown in FIGS. 3-4;

FIGS. 6, 6A and 7 are perspective views of the universal joint connecting the winding mechanism to a tensioning shaft of the canopy;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a mounting assembly for a support wheel of the portable shelter;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of part of the mounting assembly of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 8 as well as adjacent post support structure of the portable shelter.

In the drawings there is shown portable shelter 10 having a structural frame 11 which has a pair of opposed side frames 12 and an overhead frame 13 comprising a pair of overhead frame assemblies 14. Each comer of frame 11 comprises post assemblies 15 which each comprise an inner vertical post 16 and an outer post assembly 17. Outer post assembly 17 has a top portion 18 which extends at an acute angle to post 16 as shown. There is also provided a lower portion 19 of post assembly 17 which merges with top portion 18 at 20. Thus vertical post 16, top portion 18 and lower portion 19 may form a triangle as indicated with a vertex 20. Top portion 18 is welded to post 16 at 17A.

Lower portion 19 is welded to post 16 at 21 although it is possible that lower portion may merge with post 16 upwardly of 21 if desired such as at 22. However this arrangement is considered less preferable to the illustrated embodiment where lower portion 19 merges with post 16 at 21. There is also provided a reinforcing rib or strut 23 which interconnects post 16 and vertex 20.

Each side frame 12 also includes lower bracing rods 24 which are attached to cleats 25 and 26. Each bracing rod 24 is retained in anchor sockets 21A which are welded or attached to cleats 25. There are also provided top cleats 27. There is also provided cross members 28, 29 and 30 which each interconnect a respective pair of cleats 25, 26 and 27 as shown. Also illustrated is a pair of upper bracing rods 31 which each interconnect cleats 26 and 27 respectively.

Side frames 12 are also supported by ground engaging wheels 32 wherein each of wheels 32 are attached to support brackets 33.

The overhead frame assembly 13 includes a pair of frame assemblies 14 each having a pair of opposed horizontal frame members 34 and pair of opposed oblique frame members 36. Each adjacent frame member 34 and 36 are attached to bracket or cleat 36A which comprises a pair of abutting plates 37 interconnected by fasteners 35 as best shown in FIG. 2. Each of frame members 34 and 36 in each frame assembly 14 are welded or attached to cleats 38. Cleats 38 are each attached to an adjacent post 16 by fasteners 38A shown in FIG. 2.

Overhead frame assembly 13 also includes a pair of bracing rods 39 which constitute part of one frame assembly 14 which are attached to cleats 38 and 36A. There is also provided an additional pair of bracing rods 41. Each of bracing rods 39 are provided in open gap 52 and each of bracing rods 41 are also located in another open gap 52. Each of bracing rods 39 and 41 are supported by cleats 36A and 38. Frame assembly 13 may also include a cross member 42.

Each of bracing rods 39 and 41 are attached to cleats 36A and 38 by anchor sockets (not shown) welded or attached to brackets 36A and 38.

The portable shelter 10 also comprises an open front 55A, open rear 56A and open sides 54A.

In FIG. 1 there is also provided a plurality of bowed canopy support rods 43 which each interconnect opposed frame members 34. There are also provided stops 44 which control movement of a canopy 45 shown in FIG. 3.

Also canopy support rods 43 are maintained in position by retainers 43A shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

In FIGS. 34 there is shown a canopy 45 made from canvas or plastics material such as PVC and which may be unwound from a non-operational position shown in FIG. 3 to an operational position shown in FIG. 4 wherein canopy 45 fully covers overhead frame 13 and is supported by support rods 43. In the position shown in FIG. 4 canopy 45 is retained in a stationary position by retaining flange 46 wherein canopy 45 has an end portion 47 located underneath flange 46. Each of frame members 43, 30 and 29 are shown at a shallow angle to horizontal to facilitate surface run off of water after rainfall.

In FIGS. 5, 6, 6A and 7 there is shown one form of actuating means for initiating movement of canopy 45 which comprises a manually operated winding mechanism 48 having a handle 49 and rotatable shaft 50 which is attached to rotatable tensioning or control shaft 51 of canopy 45 by universal joint 53. Universal joint 53 comprises yokes 54 and 55 interconnected by spider 56 or other form of bridging member. Spider 56 is in the shape of a cruciform piece as shown in FIG. 6 having axles 57 for attachment to yokes 54 and 55. As illustrated yoke 54 is retained within the confines of yoke 55 and FIGS. 5 and 6A refers to a locked position for winding mechanism 48 wherein handle 49 is locked within stop 58 and yoke 54 is locked within yoke 55. However FIG. 7 illustrates the operational position wherein shaft 50 is no longer normal to shaft 51 and is at an acute angle thereto and thus yoke 54 is free to rotate causing corresponding rotation of yoke 55. Therefore rotation of shaft 50 causes rotation of shaft 51 as shown by the arrows in fuel outline. Shaft 50 is attached to yoke 54 by boss 59 and shaft 51 is attached to yoke 55 by tapered component 60 and boss 61.

In FIG. 5 there is also shown a roller blind 62 which may be unwound if desired manually to cover open end 54A of portable shelter 10. Also as shown in FIG. 5 winder handle 49 is shown retained in stop 58A when canopy 45 is in the fully operational position as shown in FIG. 4. When handle 49 is retained by stop 58A this has the effect of tensioning canopy 45 over overhead frame assembly 13. In FIG. 5 there is also shown a storage cylinder 54B for storage of tents or awnings and tent pegs whereby such tents or awnings may be installed in the ground adjacent open sides 54B and/or open rear 56A to provide additional shelter if required.

In FIGS. 8-9 there is shown an attachment assembly 63 for wheels 32 to portable shelter 10 and in particular plate assembly 64 which is attached to the bottom or foot of post 16. Plate assembly includes bottom plate 65 attached to upper plate 66 by fasteners 67. The wheel 32 is supported by a support bracket 33 comprising arms 68 and 69 attached to axle 70 by fasteners 71. Each arm 68 and 69 is attached to a rotatable collar 72 which may rotate with respect to a central bearing assembly 73. Rotatable collar 72 is provided with notches 74 and 75 and there is also provided a locking pin assembly 76 having handle 77, pin 78 and casing 79 which has a spring (not shown) which biases the pin 78 to the locked position. In the position shown in FIG. 8 the wheel 32 is oriented longitudinally in the direction of travel. However sometimes when it is desired to cause the wheel to travel only a small distance (e.g. when the portable shelter 10 is being towed by a prime mover for example and it is parked) then the locking pin assembly is withdrawn from notch 74 and collar 72 rotated to enable the locking pin to engage notch 75. This is shown in FIG. 9 in phantom. In FIG. 9 only part of arms 68 and 69 are shown for clarity.

In FIG. 10 post 16 is shown welded to plate 66 at 80. There is also shown mounting bracket or cleat 25 welded to post 16 at 82. Attached to mounting bracket 81 is anchor socket 21A which attaches cable 24 to bracket 81. The anchor socket 21A comprises outer sleeves 83 and 84 and locking nuts 85 and 86 as well as screw threaded stem 87 retained in nut 88 and attached to bracket 25 by attachment fitting 89. When it is desired to tension cable 24 a screw driver is inserted in an aperture (not shown) in sleeve 84 to engage an internal socket (not shown) of a tensioning mechanism (not shown) to adjust the tension of cable 24. Anchor socket 21A is of conventional design and hence will not be described in detail.

In a variation instead of canopy 45 and winding mechanism 48 shown in FIG. 5 there may be provided a roller panel (not shown) which may be used to selectively close all or part of overhead frame 13 and in particular gaps 52. Preferably the roller panel may move towards the open front 55A along opposed frame members 30. Such roller panel may be operated in a number of different ways which include the roller panel having support wheels (not shown) at one end which are engaged in tracks (not shown) attached to each frame member 30. The front end of roller panel may be pulled by an actuating chain or cable (not shown) or the like. Movement of the chain may be controlled by one or more support sprockets (not shown) and initiated by a winch handle (not shown).

Alternatively movement of the roller panel may be actuated in a similar manner to a roller door of a garage wherein movement of the panel is controlled by a lead screw as is known in the art.

In a variation of the foregoing each of spaces 52 may be selectively closed by a roll up blind formed of flexible sheet material by conventional means or as described above in relation to the roller panel. Also rear space 56A may also be selectively closed by a roll up blind in similar manner. It will be appreciated that the portable shelter 10 of the invention provides a movable structure which is of simplified construction which is stable in strong winds or when towed by a prime mover. This is achieved particularly by post 16 and post assembly 17 having top portion 18 and lower portion 19 shown in the preferred embodiment. The provision of bracing rods 24, 31, 39 and 41 also assist to achieve this objective.

It will also be appreciated that the winding mechanism 48 which may constitute another aspect of the invention in being able to move the canopy from a wound or retracted position shown in FIG. 3 to an operational or extended position shown in FIG. 5 is facilitated by post assembly 17 which enables winding mechanism 48 to be spaced from canopy 45 and thus carry out its function quickly and efficiently.

It will also be appreciated that the portable shelter 10 of the invention may have skids (not shown) instead of wheels and in another embodiment one pair of wheels may be omitted and a pair of carrier handles (not shown) attached to each of post assemblies 15 at a suitable location so that shelter 10 may be moved in a manner similar to a wheelbarrow.

Another advantage of the portable shelter of the invention is that by virtue of having all components or frame members releaseably connected by the use of cleats or brackets 25, 26, 27, 36A and 38 that each of the frame members 17, 28, 29, 30, 34, 36 and 42 may be rapidly disconnected and packed in a storage space of limited capacity such as a trailer when required. This conclusion also applies to bracing rods 24, 31, 39 and 41 which are all interconnected by anchor sockets 21A to cleats such as 25, 26, 27 and 38. Also arcuate canopy support rods 43 may be readily disconnected from retainers 43A

Claims

1. A portable shelter suitable for weather protection which has a structural frame having a pair of opposed side frames and an overhead frame wherein each side frame has a pair of post assemblies at each end thereof characterised in that each post assembly comprises an inner vertical post and an outer frame member having an upper end and a lower end which are attached to the inner vertical post.

2. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer frame member forms an outer post having a top portion which extends at an acute angle to the adjacent inner post before merging with or forming a junction with a lower portion which merges with a lower part of the adjacent inner post so that the lower portion also extends at an acute angle to the adjacent inner post.

3. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 2 wherein the inner post, top portion and lower portion forms a triangle with said junction forming a vertex.

4. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 3 wherein the inner post forms a base of the triangle and the vertex of the triangle is closer to a top end of the inner post than a bottom end.

5. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 1 wherein a lower part of the inner post forms a base part of said inner post.

6. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is provided one or more reinforcing struts or ribs extending between the inner post and the outer frame member.

7. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 2 wherein there is provided a reinforcing strut or rib between the inner post and the vertex.

8. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 1 wherein each side frame comprises one or more cross members interconnecting each post assembly.

9. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 1 having a pair of open sides wherein there is provided a pair of bracing rods, cables or wires which intersect with each other and thus extend across each open side.

10. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 9 which has an open top or a plurality of open top areas and there is provided a pair of bracing rods, cables or wires which intersect with each other and extend across the open top or each open area.

11. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is provided a canopy for the overhead frame.

12. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 11 wherein there is provided a plurality of concave support rods for the canopy which are attached to opposed longitudinal frame members of the overhead frame.

13. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 11 wherein the canopy is wound from a retracted position adjacent one longitudinal frame member of the overhead frame to an extended position wherein said canopy covers the overhead frame and a leading end of the canopy is located adjacent to another longitudinal frame member of the overhead frame.

14. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 13 wherein the leading end of the canopy is located below a flange extending laterally of said another longitudinal frame member.

15. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 13 wherein said canopy is unwound from the retracted position to the extended position by a winding mechanism comprising a winding shaft coupled to a tensioning or actuating shaft of the canopy by a universal joint.

16. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 15 wherein the universal joint comprises a pair of yokes wherein one yoke is attached to the winding shaft and the other yoke is attached to the actuating shaft for the canopy and there is provided a spider or bridging member rigidly connected to each yoke.

17. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 15 wherein said winding mechanism is attached to the outer post thereby spacing said winding mechanism from the canopy to facilitate the canopy attaining the extended position and/or the retracted position.

18. A portable shelter having a pair of side frames and an overhead frame and having a canopy located on the overhead frame which in a retracted position is located adjacent one longitudinal member of the overhead frame and in an extended position has a leading end thereof located adjacent another longitudinal member of the overhead frame characterised in that there is provided a winding mechanism for actuating movement of the canopy from said retracted position to said extended position and vice versa wherein said winding mechanism comprises an elongate winding shaft and a handle accessible from the ground and the canopy has a tensioning or actuating shaft coupled to the winding shaft by a universal joint whereby movement of the canopy can be initiated from a person rotating the handle on the ground.

19. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 18 wherein the handle and winding shaft may be attached to an adjacent post of a side frame when the canopy is in the retracted position.

20. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 19 wherein the handle and winding shaft are attached to another post of the side frame when the canopy is in the extended position.

21. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 19 wherein the universal joint is in a locked position when the handle and winding shaft is attached to said adjacent post.

22. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 20 wherein the universal joint is in a locked position when the handle and winding shaft is attached to said another post.

23. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 18 wherein the universal joint comprises a pair of yokes wherein one yoke is attached to the winding shaft and the other yoke is attached to the actuating shaft for the canopy and there is provided a spider or bridging member rigidly connected to each yoke.

24. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 20 wherein the adjacent post or said another post of the side frame comprises an inner vertical post and an outer frame member and the winding shaft is attached to the outer frame member to space the winding mechanism from the canopy to facilitate actuation of movement of the canopy.