Patent Application
20120192906
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to temporary shelter structures, such as tents and hunting blinds. In particular, the present invention relates to methods and devices for supporting collapsible shelter structures.
2. Description of the Related Art
Collapsible shelter structures used for hunting blinds, fishing huts, and the like, are known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,810,482 issued to Beavers and U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,338 issued to Stumbo disclose examples of such collapsible shelter structures. These collapsible shelter structures typically include a flexible fabric cover having a plurality of side walls and a top, and a collapsible framework for supporting the flexible fabric cover. The collapsible framework includes, among other things, a central hub and a plurality of resilient spokes for engaging and supporting the top of the fabric cover to provide a free span roof for the shelter structure. There are typically four spokes that are hingedly connected to and radiate outwardly from the central hub to support the roof of the collapsible shelter structure.
The collapsible shelter structures of the type generally shown in the Beavers and Stumbo patents have become popular because, among other things, they are lightweight, portable, and easy to erect, making them useful and desirable for hunters, fishermen, and other outdoor enthusiasts. The collapsible framework used to support the roof in these structures provides a relatively roomy interior free of obstructions. However, the collapsible framework often lacks the strength necessary to withstand the range of external loads imparted to the shelter structure during inclement weather, such as high winds and heavy rain or snow. As a result, these shelter structures often collapse, particularly if they are left in the field for extended periods and/or during inclement weather.
There is a need in the industry for an improved method and device to prevent collapsible shelter structures, such as ground blinds for hunting, from collapsing when they are left in the field.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a supplemental support assembly that can be used to prevent a collapsible shelter structure from collapsing during inclement weather and to increase the ability of a shelter structure to withstand other external forces without collapsing.
Further objects of the present invention are to provide a support assembly that is lightweight, portable, adjustable, easy to couple with and uncouple from existing shelter structures, reliable in operation, inexpensive to manufacture, and capable of a long operating life.
To accomplish these and other objects of the present invention, a supplemental support assembly is provided for supporting a collapsible shelter structure, such as a ground blind for hunting or a portable shelter for ice fishing. The support assembly includes a pole having a coupler at one end for coupling with a framework of the shelter structure, and a ground engaging point at the other end. The coupler has a generally cylindrical structure with a plurality of slots formed in a sidewall thereof. Each of the slots have an axial portion open at the top and a circumferential portion extending circumferentially from the axial portion. The axial portions of the slots are arranged to allow the coupler to be pushed over a central hub with spokes of the framework passing through the slots, and the circumferential portions of the slots are arranged to allow the coupler to be rotated into locking engagement with the spokes. The support assembly prevents the shelter structure from collapsing under heavy external loads, such as high winds, rain or heavy snow.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a collapsible shelter structure is provided, comprising: a flexible fabric cover having a plurality of side walls and a top; a framework comprising a central hub and a plurality of spokes connected to the central hub and radiating outwardly therefrom for engaging and supporting the top of the fabric cover; and a supplemental support assembly for supporting the framework. The supplemental support assembly comprises a pole having a coupler at one end for coupling with the framework, and a ground engaging structure at the other end of the pole for engaging the ground. The supplemental support assembly supports a center portion of the framework to prevent the shelter structure from collapsing under heavy external loads.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a supplemental support assembly is provided for supporting a collapsible shelter structure. The support assembly comprises: a pole having first and second ends; a coupler connected to the first end of the pole for coupling with a framework of a collapsible shelter structure; and a ground engagement structure provided at the second end of the pole. The coupler comprises a generally cylindrical structure with a plurality of slots formed in a sidewall thereof, each of the slots having an axial portion open at one end of the coupler and a circumferential portion that extends circumferentially from the axial portion. The axial portions of the slots are arranged to allow the coupler to be pushed over a central hub with spokes passing through the slots, and the circumferential portions of the slots are arranged to allow the coupler to be rotated into locking engagement with the spokes.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of providing supplemental support for a collapsible shelter structure is provided, comprising: providing a supplemental support assembly having a pole with first and second ends, a coupler at the first end, and a ground engaging structure at the second end; coupling the coupler with a center portion of a framework supporting a top of the collapsible shelter structure; and placing the ground engaging structure into engagement with the ground surface under the center portion.
Numerous other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown and described embodiments of the present invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modification in various obvious aspects without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
The present invention will become more clearly appreciated as the disclosure of the present invention is made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
A supplemental support assembly 10 for supporting a collapsible shelter structure 11 according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to
The supplemental support assembly 10 of the present invention is used in combination with a collapsible shelter structure 11. As shown in
The supplemental support assembly 10 is used to provide a temporary support for supporting the center of the roof of the shelter structure 11. The supplemental support assembly 10 is designed to be easily coupled with and uncoupled from a center portion of the framework 15 supporting the roof. The support assembly 10 includes a pole 19 having a coupler 20 at a first top end and a ground engaging structure 21 at a second bottom end.
The structural details of the coupler 20 are illustrated in
The coupler 20 has a second portion 25 at its upper end for connecting to the framework 15 of the collapsible shelter structure 11. The second portion 25 of the coupler 20 has a generally cylindrical structure with a plurality of slots 26 formed in a sidewall 27 thereof. The slots 26 are generally L-shaped to allow locking engagement with the framework 15 of the collapsible shelter structure 11 by a combination of axial movement and rotational movement of the coupler 20 relative to the framework 15. Each of the slots 26 are arranged to receive a respective one of the spokes 17 of the framework 15.
Each of the slots 26 have an axial portion 28 open at the top of the coupler 20 and a circumferential portion 29 extending circumferentially from the axial portion 28. As illustrated in
A lip 30 extends into at least one, and preferably all, of the slots 26 to resist rotational movement of the coupler 20 in a direction that would tend to uncouple the coupler 20 from the framework 15. As illustrated in
The pole 19 is a telescoping pole assembly that can be adjusted in length between a compact storage position and an extended support position. For example, the telescoping pole assembly can be of the type having two pole sections 31, 32 that are nested one within the other, and a locking structure for locking the pole sections 31, 32 together in a known manner.
The ground engaging structure 21 at the bottom end of the pole 19 comprises a spike 21 with a pointed end 33 for penetrating the ground G, as illustrated in
The structural details of the supplemental support assembly 10 of the present invention are described above. A method of using the supplemental support assembly 10 will now be described.
The support assembly 10 can be used to supplement the primary support assembly of a collapsible shelter structure 11 to prevent the shelter structure 11 from collapsing under heavy external loads. While the primary support assembly is connected to the outer ends of the spokes 17 supporting the roof of the shelter structure 11, the supplemental support assembly 10 of the present invention is coupled with and supports a center portion of the framework 15 supporting the roof.
The coupler 20 of the support assembly 10 is coupled with the center portion of the framework 15 by a combination of axial movement and rotational movement of the coupler 20 relative to the framework 15 to engage the spokes 17 into the L-shaped slots 26. The length of the pole 19 can then be adjusted to allow the pointed lower end 21 to penetrate the ground to secure the support assembly 10 in place and to adapt the pole 19 to the height of the shelter structure 11.
While the invention has been specifically described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of the application should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.
