Foldable canopy

Abstract

A foldable canopy in which the right side members are rotatable towards the left side members and the left side members are rotated towards the first right side members such that the angles between the first and second top sides and respectively coupled side members decreases such that in a folded configuration, the first and second left side hinges are closer to the first hub than to the second hub and the first and second right side hinges are closer to the second hub than to the first hub.

1 . A foldable canopy comprising:
 a first top member having a first end and a second end; a second top member having a first end and a second end; a first right side member having a first end and a second end; a second right side member having a first end and a second end; a first left side member having a first end and a second end; a second left side member having a first end and a second end;   a first hub and a second hub;   the first end of the first right side member is coupled to the first hub; the first end of the second right side member is coupled to the first hub; the first end of the first left side member is coupled to the second hub; the first end of the second left side member is coupled to the second hub;   a first right side hinge for coupling the second end of the first right side member to the first end of the first top member; a second right side hinge for coupling the second end of the second right side member to the first end of the second top member; a first left side hinge for coupling the second end of the first left side member to the second end of the first top member; and a second left side hinge for coupling the second end of the second left side member to the second end of the second top member;   wherein:   as the first right member and the second right side member are rotated towards the first left side member and the second left side member and as the first left side member and the second left side member are rotated towards the first right side member and the second right side member, the angles between the first and second top sides and respectively coupled side members decreases such that the first and second left side hinges are closer to the first hub than to the second hub and the first and second right side hinges are closer to the second hub than to the first hub when the foldable canopy is in a fully folded position.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable canopy as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first linkage assembly coupled between the first right side member and the second right side member to maintain a predetermined distance between the first right side member and the second right side member when the foldable canopy is an open condition and to permit the first right side member and the second right side member to move towards each other to partially fold the canopy; and   a second linkage assembly coupled between the first left side member and the second left side member to maintain a predetermined distance between the first left side member and the second left side member when the foldable canopy is the open condition and to permit the first left side member and the second left side member to move towards each other to partially fold the canopy.   
     
     
         3 . The foldable canopy as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a canopy made of fabric and/or other flexible material. 
     
     
         4 . The foldable canopy as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first top member is a unitary member, the second top member is a unitary member, and the first right side member, the second right side member, the first left side member, and the second left side member are each unitary members. 
     
     
         5 . A foldable canopy comprising:
 a first top member having a first end and a second end; a second top member having a first end and a second end; a first right side member having a first end and a second end; a second right side member having a first end and a second end; a first left side member having a first end and a second end; a second left side member having a first end and a second end;   a first hub and a second hub;   the first end of the first right side member is coupled to the first hub; the first end of the second right side member is coupled to the first hub; the first end of the first left side member is coupled to the second hub; the first end of the second left side member is coupled to the second hub;   a first right side hinge for coupling the second end of the first right side member to the first end of the first top member; a second right side hinge for coupling the second end of the second right side member to the first end of the second top member; a first left side hinge for coupling the second end of the first left side member to the second end of the first top member; and a second left side hinge for coupling the second end of the second left side member to the second end of the second top member;   wherein:   the first right member and the second right side member are rotatable towards the first left side member and the second left side member and the first left side member and the second left side member are rotatable towards the first right side member and the second right side member such that the first and second left side hinges are closer to the first hub than to the second hub and the first and second right side hinges are closer to the second hub than to the first hub when the foldable canopy is in a fully folded position.   
     
     
         6 . A foldable canopy comprising:
 a first top member having a first end and a second end; a second top member having a first end and a second end; a first right side member having a first end and a second end; a second right side member having a first end and a second end; a first left side member having a first end and a second end; a second left side member having a first end and a second end;   a first hub and a second hub;   the first end of the first right side member is coupled to the first hub; the first end of the second right side member is coupled to the first hub; the first end of the first left side member is coupled to the second hub; the first end of the second left side member is coupled to the second hub;   a first right side hinge for coupling the second end of the first right side member to the first end of the first top member; a second right side hinge for coupling the second end of the second right side member to the first end of the second top member; a first left side hinge for coupling the second end of the first left side member to the second end of the first top member; and a second left side hinge for coupling the second end of the second left side member to the second end of the second top member;   wherein:   with the first right member and the second right side member rotated towards the first left side hinge and the second left side hinge and with the first left side member and the second left side member rotated towards the first right side hinge and the second right side hinge, the first and second left side hinges are closer to the first hub than to the second hub and the first and second right side hinges are closer to the second hub than to the first hub when the foldable canopy is in a fully folded position; and   at least 50% of each of the first right side member, the second right side member, the first left side member, and the second left side member are all under arches formed by the first and second top members.