Fastener for assembling connecting parts of a collapsible canopy frame

Abstract

A collapsible canopy frame is provided that includes a first collapsible canopy frame component; a second collapsible canopy frame component; and a fastener connecting the first collapsible canopy frame component to the second collapsible canopy frame component. The first collapsible canopy frame component and the second collapsible canopy frame component each define at least one opening aligned with each other. The fastener includes a body portion that extends through the openings in the first and second collapsible canopy frame components; a head portion at a first end of the fastener that laterally extends from the body portion to abut a first outer surface the first collapsible canopy frame component; and a locking portion at a second end of the fastener including at least one shoulder that laterally extends from the body portion to abut a second outer surface of the first collapsible canopy frame component to connect the first collapsible canopy frame component to the second collapsible canopy frame component.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A collapsible canopy frame comprising: 
 a first collapsible canopy frame component;    a second collapsible canopy frame component; and    a fastener connecting the first collapsible canopy frame component to the second collapsible canopy frame component, wherein the first collapsible canopy frame component and the second collapsible canopy frame component each define at least one opening aligned with each other, and wherein the fastener comprises: 
 a body portion that extends through each said opening,  
 a head portion at a first end of the fastener that laterally extends from the body portion to abut a first outer surface of the first collapsible canopy frame component, and  
 a locking portion at a second end of the fastener comprising at least one shoulder that laterally extends from the body portion to abut a second outer surface of the first and collapsible canopy frame component to connect the first collapsible canopy frame component to the second collapsible canopy frame component.  
   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 1 , wherein the locking portion comprises spaced apart first and second arms that each define a corresponding one of said at least one shoulder.  
     
     
         3 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second arms are movable towards each other.  
     
     
         4 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second arms each comprise a flexible, resilient material with shape memory.  
     
     
         5 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 3 , wherein the body portion has a generally smooth outer surface.  
     
     
         6 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 3 , wherein each arm comprises an angled portion that extends from a tip of the locking portion to an edge of a corresponding one of the shoulders to form a ramp.  
     
     
         7 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 1 , wherein the first collapsible canopy frame component is a mounting bracket attached to a side pole of the collapsible canopy frame and the second collapsible canopy frame component is an edge scissor assembly.  
     
     
         8 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 1 , wherein the first collapsible canopy frame component is an edge scissor assembly mounting bracket and the second collapsible canopy frame component is an edge scissor assembly.  
     
     
         9 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 1 , wherein the first collapsible canopy frame component is an edge scissor assembly mounting bracket and the second collapsible canopy frame component is an inner scissor assembly.  
     
     
         10 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 1 , wherein the first collapsible canopy frame component is a mounting bracket attached to a center pole of the collapsible canopy frame and the second collapsible canopy frame component is an inner scissor assembly.  
     
     
         11 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion is contained within a recess formed in said first outer surface.  
     
     
         12 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 1 , wherein the locking portion is contained within a recess formed in said second outer surface.  
     
     
         13 . A collapsible canopy frame comprising: 
 a scissor assembly;    a mounting bracket; and    a fastener pivotally connecting the scissor assembly to the mounting bracket, wherein the scissor assembly and the mounting bracket each define at least one opening aligned with each other, and wherein the fastener comprises:    a body portion that extends through each said opening,    a head portion at a first end of the fastener that laterally extends from the body portion to abut a first outer surface of the mounting bracket, and    a locking portion at a second end of the fastener comprising spaced apart first and second arms each having a shoulder that laterally extends from the body portion to abut a second outer surface of the mounting bracket to pivotally connect the scissor assembly to the mounting bracket.    
     
     
         14 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second arms are movable towards each other.  
     
     
         15 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second arms each comprise a flexible, resilient material with shape memory.  
     
     
         16 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 14 , wherein the body portion has a generally smooth outer surface.  
     
     
         17 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 14 , wherein each arm comprises an angled portion that extends from a tip of the locking portion to an edge of a corresponding one of the shoulders to form a ramp.  
     
     
         18 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 13 , wherein the mounting bracket is attached to a side pole of the collapsible canopy frame and the scissor assembly is an edge scissor assembly.  
     
     
         19 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 13 , wherein the mounting bracket is an edge scissor assembly mounting bracket and the scissor assembly is an edge scissor assembly.  
     
     
         20 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 13 , wherein the mounting bracket is an edge scissor assembly mounting bracket and the scissor assembly is an inner scissor assembly.  
     
     
         21 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 13 , wherein the mounting bracket is attached to a center pole of the collapsible canopy frame and the scissor assembly is an inner scissor assembly.  
     
     
         22 . A collapsible canopy frame comprising: 
 a scissor assembly;    a mounting bracket comprising first and second arms separated by a channel that receives an end of the scissor assembly; and    a fastener pivotally connecting the scissor assembly to the mounting bracket, wherein the scissor assembly and the mounting bracket arms each define an opening, and wherein the fastener comprises: 
 a body portion that extends through each said opening,  
 a head portion at a first end of the fastener that laterally extends from the body portion to abut an outer surface of the first mounting bracket arm, and  
 a locking portion at a second end of the fastener comprising spaced apart first and second arms each having a shoulder that laterally extends from the body portion to abut an outer surface of the second mounting bracket arm to pivotally connect the scissor assembly to the mounting bracket.  
   
     
     
         23 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 22 , wherein the mounting bracket is attached to a side pole of the collapsible canopy frame and the scissor assembly is an edge scissor assembly.  
     
     
         24 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 22 , wherein the mounting bracket is an edge scissor assembly mounting bracket and the scissor assembly is an edge scissor assembly.  
     
     
         25 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 22 , wherein the mounting bracket is an edge scissor assembly mounting bracket and the scissor assembly is an inner scissor assembly.  
     
     
         26 . The collapsible canopy frame of  claim 22 , wherein the mounting bracket is attached to a center pole of the collapsible canopy frame and the scissor assembly is an inner scissor assembly.  
     
     
         27 . A method of assembling a first collapsible canopy frame component to a second collapsible canopy frame component comprising: 
 providing a first collapsible canopy frame component with at least one opening;    providing a second collapsible canopy frame component with at least one opening;    inserting a fastener into said opening such that: 
 a body portion of the fastener extends through each said opening;  
 a head portion at a first end of the fastener laterally extends from the body portion to abut a first outer surface of the first collapsible canopy frame component; and  
 a locking portion at a second end of the fastener defines at least one shoulder that laterally extends from the body portion to abut a second outer surface of the first collapsible canopy frame component to connect the first collapsible canopy frame component to the second collapsible canopy frame component.  
   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the locking portion of the fastener has spaced apart first and second arms that each define a corresponding one of said at least one shoulder, such that the first and second arms move towards each other during said inserting.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein each of the first and second arms has a ramp that extends from a tip of the locking portion to an edge of a corresponding one of the shoulders, such that an application of an external force on said ramp allows the first and second arms to move towards each other.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising forming the body portion of the fastener with a generally smooth outer surface.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the first collapsible canopy frame component is a side pole mounting bracket and the second collapsible canopy frame component is an edge scissor assembly.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the first collapsible canopy frame component is an edge scissor assembly mounting bracket and the second collapsible canopy frame component is an edge scissor assembly.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the first collapsible canopy frame component is an edge scissor assembly mounting bracket and the second collapsible canopy frame component is an inner scissor assembly.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the first collapsible canopy frame component is a center pole mounting bracket and the second collapsible canopy frame component is an inner scissor assembly.