Portable shelter

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a portable shelter, whether being of the type having a floating canopy or an umbrella. The shelter includes a support including an upright. A canopy is supported by the support. The canopy includes an expandable frame, and a sheet of material supported by the frame. The frame includes retractable ribs supporting the sheet. The frame also includes a stretcher arrangement for stretching out each rib from the support. The shelter further includes a line arrangement extending between the stretcher arrangement and each rib.

The claims defining the invention are as follows: 
     
         1 . A portable shelter including:
 a support including an upright; and   a canopy for being supported by the support.   
     
     
         2 . A portable shelter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the canopy includes an expandable frame, and a sheet of material supported by the frame. 
     
     
         3 . A portable shelter as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the sheet of material is supported by the frame at a fixed end and extends from the frame to a fluttering free end opposite the fixed end; the majority of the sheet being unsupported and fluttering in the breeze to provide suitable shade for at least one person. 
     
     
         4 . A portable shelter as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the frame includes retractable ribs supporting the sheet and the sheet of material folds in on itself when the frame is collapsed. 
     
     
         5 . A portable shelter as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each rib is articulated and pivotally expandable. 
     
     
         6 . A portable shelter as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each rib includes a proximal member, and a distal member pivotally coupled to the proximal member. 
     
     
         7 . A portable shelter as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the proximal member is not coupled to the end of the distal member so there is overlap when the rib is fully expanded. 
     
     
         8 . A portable shelter as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein an end of the distal member is pivotally coupled to a line. 
     
     
         9 . A portable shelter as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the distal member folds up and in toward the proximal member when collapsing the shelter, the frame preferably including two or four ribs. 
     
     
         10 . A portable shelter as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the frame includes a stretcher arrangement for stretching out each rib from the support, the stretcher arrangement including a stretcher coupled between the support and each rib. 
     
     
         11 . A portable shelter as claimed in  claim 10 , further including a line arrangement extending between the stretcher arrangement and each rib to facilitate closing and/or opening of the shelter. 
     
     
         12 . A portable shelter as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the line arrangement includes a line extending between each stretcher and a proximal member of each rib. 
     
     
         13 . A portable shelter as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein each line is resilient and pulls each proximal member toward the stretcher when collapsing the shelter. 
     
     
         14 . A portable shelter as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the line arrangement includes a line extending between each stretcher and a distal member of each rib. 
     
     
         15 . A portable shelter as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein each line pulls an end of a distal member toward a proximal member when opening the shelter so that ends of the members come together. 
     
     
         16 . A portable shelter as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the each line is rigid and/or inextensible. 
     
     
         17 . A portable shelter as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the each line is bent at its distal end to pass around a hinge coupler when the shelter is collapsed. 
     
     
         18 . A portable shelter as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the line arrangement includes:
 a first line extending between each stretcher and a proximal member of each rib; and   a second line extending between each stretcher and a distal member of each rib.   
     
     
         19 . A portable shelter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the support extends from the ground at a single location. 
     
     
         20 . An expandable frame for a portable shelter, the frame including one or more retractable ribs for supporting sheet material, each rib including:
 a proximal member; and   a distal member pivotally coupled to the proximal member;   wherein the proximal member is not coupled to the end of the distal member so there is overlap when the rib is fully expanded.