Foldable canopy

Abstract

The folding canopy provides a portable, user-friendly structure designed for single-person operation. It features telescoping support legs with three rolling feet equipped with wheels for mobility and one stationary foot with a high-friction surface to assist during deployment and folding. A cable and pulley system, operatively connected to a handle, enables deployment and retraction without requiring the user to step underneath the canopy. As the handle is pulled, the tensioned cable draws a central lower hub toward a central upper hub, causing pivoting elongate members to extend the support legs outward. Sliding feet with curved portions allow the canopy to navigate uneven terrain during deployment and folding. The telescoping legs are adjustable in height via middle brackets with locking mechanisms. Compact when folded, the canopy is easily transportable, making it ideal for outdoor events and recreational activities.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A foldable canopy comprising:
 a canopy cover;   a plurality of support legs, each support leg comprising an upper leg and a lower leg telescopically coupled to one another;   a central upper hub and a central lower hub;   a plurality of elongate members pivotably connected between the central upper hub and the support legs;   wherein three of the support legs each include a wheel rotatably mounted to a lower portion of the upper leg;   wherein a fourth support leg includes a stationary foot having a high-friction surface;   wherein the canopy is configured such that during deployment or folding, the wheels on the three support legs roll along a ground surface while the stationary foot remains fixed.   
     
     
         21 . The foldable canopy of  claim 20 , wherein the wheels are positioned to contact the ground surface when the lower leg is fully retracted into the upper leg. 
     
     
         22 . The foldable canopy of  claim 20 , wherein the lower leg of each support leg having a wheel includes a foot having a front portion and a rear portion, both of which are curved upward to slide over uneven terrain. 
     
     
         23 . The foldable canopy of  claim 20 , wherein the stationary foot includes a plurality of spikes extending downward for penetration into the ground surface. 
     
     
         24 . The foldable canopy of  claim 20  wherein each of the wheels are oriented to be wheeled away from the stationary foot. 
     
     
         25 . A method of deploying a foldable canopy comprising a canopy cover and a plurality of support legs, at least three of which include wheels and one of which includes a stationary foot, the method comprising:
 placing the canopy in a folded position on a ground surface;   pulling a support leg opposite the stationary foot away from the stationary foot, wherein the support legs having wheels roll along the ground surface while the stationary foot remains in a fixed position;   and wherein the pulling step causes a central lower hub to move toward a central upper hub, thereby pivoting elongate members connected between the hubs and the support legs to transition the canopy to a deployed position   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the wheels maintain ground contact when the lower legs of the support legs are retracted into the upper legs of the upper legs. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising guiding sliding feet of the support legs over uneven terrain during deployment. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the stationary foot includes a high-friction surface or downward-extending spikes that resist movement during deployment. 
     
     
         29 . A method of folding a deployed canopy comprising a canopy cover and a plurality of support legs, at least three of which include wheels and one of which includes a stationary foot, the method comprising:
 releasing the support legs from a locked deployed position to a retracted position;   pushing a support leg opposite the stationary foot toward the stationary foot, wherein the support legs having wheels roll along a ground surface while the stationary foot remains fixed; and   wherein the pushing step causes a central lower hub to move away from a central upper hub, thereby pivoting elongate members connected between the hubs and the support legs to transition the canopy to a folded position.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising allowing the wheels to maintain ground contact while the lower legs are retracted during folding. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the feet of the support legs have a curved configuration to slide over obstacles during the pushing step.