Tiltable partial canopy

Abstract

A tiltable partial canopy for two chaise lounges side by side using a tension strap that spreads the canopy open to its maximum extent. The tension strap passes through tensioners to frictionally retain the canopy at a desired tilt angle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tiltable partial canopy, comprising:
 a bottomless collapsible and expandable substantially rectangular frame formed from a front member, a rear member, and two side members, said side members defining a width of said frame;   a spreadable and collapsible canopy substantially spanning said width of said frame, having first and second edges substantially parallel to said front member and said rear member, detachably rotatably mounted to rotate around a horizontal axis,   wherein said horizontal axis is substantially parallel to said front member and said rear member, substantially between said front and rear members, and substantially coplanar with, or above, a plane containing said frame,   wherein said canopy is spreadable to form an opened partial canopy having a maximum extent that is less than 180 degrees when said first and second edges are rotated around said horizontal axis in opposite directions;   tensioners attached to said front and rear members of said frame; and   a detachable tension strap having first and second ends, attached at said first end to said first edge of said canopy, passes through said tensioners, and detachably attached at said second end to said second edge of said canopy, having a strap length that spreads said canopy to substantially said maximum extent when said first end of said strap is attached to said first edge of said canopy, then passes through said tensioners, and then said second end of said strap is attached to said second edge of said canopy, to frictionally retain said opened canopy tilting at a desired and adjustable tilt angle between said front and rear members of said frame.   
     
     
         2 . A tiltable partial canopy according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein detaching said second end of said tension strap from said second edge of said canopy allows said canopy to be collapsed;   whereby said canopy can be detached from said frame;   whereby said members of said rectangular frame and said tensioners can be collapsed for storage and transportation, and   whereby at a later time, said members of said rectangular frame and said tensioners can be assembled and said canopy can be detachably remounted to rotate around said horizontal axis, and said tension strap can be reattached to said edges of said canopy through said tensioners to frictionally retain said opened canopy tilting at a desired and adjustable tilt angle between said front and rear members of said frame.   
     
     
         3 . A tiltable partial canopy according to  claim 1 , wherein said maximum extent is less than 120 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . A tiltable partial canopy according to  claim 1 , wherein said maximum extent is less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . A tiltable partial canopy according to  claim 1 , wherein said members of said rectangular frame are all removable and detachable from each other into separate members. 
     
     
         6 . A tiltable partial canopy according to  claim 1 , wherein two of said members of said rectangular frame are hingedly attached to the remaining two of said members, and the remaining two of said members are hinged near the middle to be foldable, whereby said remaining two of said members can be folded to collapse said frame for storage and transportation. 
     
     
         7 . A tiltable partial canopy according to  claim 1 , wherein said tensioners comprise tension blocks attached to said front and rear members. 
     
     
         8 . A portable fixably angularly adjustable canopy partial shade for a plurality of chaise lounges, comprising:
 a bottomless collapsible and expandable rectangular frame formed from a front member, a rear member, and two side members, all detachably attached to each other, said frame being large enough to receive said chaise lounges side by side;   a plurality of ribs, each shaped as a flat arch with rounded corners, substantially spanning the width of said frame, and high enough to clear said chaise lounges, rotatably mounted to rotate around a horizontal axis,   wherein said horizontal axis is substantially parallel to said front member and said rear member, substantially between said front and rear members, and substantially coplanar with, or above, a plane defined by the frame;   a spreadable and collapsible canopy having front and rear edges mounted on said ribs,   wherein said canopy is spreadable to form an opened canopy having a maximum extent of less than 180 degrees when said first and second edges are rotated around said horizontal axis in opposite directions;   tension blocks attached to said front and rear edges of said frame;   a detachable tension strap detachably attachable to said front edge of said canopy and attached to said rear edge of said canopy, and passing under said front and rear edges of said frame, and through said tension blocks, having a length so that said tension strap spreads said canopy open when said ends of said strap are attached to said edges of said canopy and said strap passes though said tension blocks, to provide friction to maintain tension in said tension strap, and to frictionally retain said opened canopy tilting at a desired and adjustable tilt angle between said front and rear members of said frame; and   whereby detaching said tension strap collapses said canopy,   whereby said canopy can be detached from said rectangular frame,   whereby said members of said rectangular frame and said tension blocks can be disassembled for storage and transportation, and   whereby at a later time, said members of said rectangular frame and said tensioners can be assembled and said canopy can be detachably remounted to rotate around said horizontal axis, and said tension strap can be reattached to said edges of said canopy to frictionally retain said opened canopy tilting at a desired and adjustable tilt angle between said front and rear members of said frame.