Portable and collapsible canopy structure

Abstract

A portable and collapsible canopy structure, capable of being set-up and locked in a set-up condition, and likewise unlocked and collapsed from the set-up condition to a collapsed condition for transportation and storage, comprises a lever system allowing for single-user operation for set-up and break-down, wherein the user remains outside the unit, preferably at a single corner of the canopy frame. Further, the lever system provides means for locking the frame in the set-up condition for safe use, and likewise unlocking the frame for collapsing the canopy structure for transport and storage. More particularly, a lever member engages with a rib linkage associated with one corner of the frame to extend said rib linkage to an extended condition, the extension of which coordinates simultaneous extension of the other rib linkages, as well as extension of horizontal supports connected between the corners of the canopy frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable and collapsible canopy structure comprising:
 a frame assembly being movable between a set-up condition and a collapsed condition, said frame assembly comprising:
 a plurality of vertical supports defining a perimeter for the frame assembly in the set-up condition; 
 a plurality of rib linkages, each pivotally connected to a respective vertical support and extending from said vertical support towards a central hub where the plurality of rib linkages meet, each said rib linkage being adapted for movement between an extended condition corresponding to the set-up condition of the frame assembly and a retracted condition corresponding to the collapsed condition of the frame assembly; and 
   a lever member pivotally connected to one of the plurality of rib linkages for facilitating movement of said rib linkage between the extended and retracted conditions, wherein the lever member also locks the frame once in its set-up condition; and   a fabric cover, configured to cover at least a portion of the frame assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The portable and collapsible canopy structure according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of extendable horizontal supports each pivotally connected to and extending between an adjacent pair of vertical supports around the perimeter of the frame assembly and adapted for movement between an extended condition corresponding to the set-up condition of the frame assembly and a retracted condition corresponding to the collapsed condition of the frame assembly;
 wherein use of the lever member to facilitate movement of the rib linkage to which it is connected between the extended and retracted conditions of said plurality of rib linkages also facilitates movement of the plurality of horizontal supports between their respective extended and retracted conditions.   
     
     
         3 . The portable and collapsible canopy structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the rib linkage associated with the lever member comprises:
 a first upright arm pivotally connected to the vertical support associated with said rib linkage;   a second upright arm pivotally connected to the first upright arm, wherein a center hub cap is mounted at a distal end of said second upright arm;   a first lift tube pivotally connected to the first upright arm;   a second lift tube pivotally connected to the first lift tube and to the second upright arm; and   a center support tube pivotally connected between the second upright arm and the second lift tube, wherein a center hub support is mounted at a distal end of said center support tube;   wherein the lever member is pivotally connected to the rib linkage such that pivoting movement of the lever member influences movement of the first upright arm and first lift tube, which influences movement of the second upright arm and second lift tube, which influences movement of the center support tube, all of which move the center hub cap and the center hub support between an engaged condition corresponding to the set-up condition of the canopy frame assembly and a disengaged condition whereby the frame assembly can be moved to its collapsed condition.   
     
     
         4 . The portable and collapsible canopy structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the lever member is pivotally anchored to the vertical support associated with the rib linkage to which the lever member is connected. 
     
     
         5 . The portable and collapsible canopy structure according to  claim 1 , further comprising a secondary locking mechanism securing the rib linkage associated with the lever member to the vertical support to which said rib linkage is connected when said rib linkage is in its extended condition. 
     
     
         6 . The portable and collapsible canopy structure according to  claim 3 , wherein the rib linkage further comprises an under leg pivot tube pivotally connected between the vertical support associated with the rib linkage and at least one of the first upright arm and the first lift tube. 
     
     
         7 . The portable and collapsible canopy structure according to  claim 6 , further comprising a rib linkage locking assembly for securing the rib linkage in its extended condition, said rib linkage locking assembly comprising a hook provided on the under leg pivot tube adapted to receive the first lift tube when the rib linkage is in its extended condition. 
     
     
         8 . The portable and collapsible canopy structure according to  claim 7 , wherein the rib linkage locking assembly further comprises a strap positioned at a terminal end of the first lift tube to facilitate movement of the first lift tube into and out of engagement with the hook. 
     
     
         9 . A portable and collapsible canopy structure comprising:
 a frame assembly being movable between a set-up condition and a collapsed condition;   a fabric cover, configured to cover at least a portion of the frame assembly; and   a lever member pivotally connected to the frame assembly for assisting a user in moving the frame assembly to its set-up condition wherein manipulation of said lever member effects movement of the frame assembly from at least the collapsed condition to the set-up condition;   wherein said lever member further assists a user in locking the frame assembly once in said set-up condition so that movement of said frame assembly to its collapsed condition is inhibited;   wherein said canopy structure defines a set-up footprint which comprises at least one corner, wherein the lever member is pivotally connected to the frame assembly at one corner of the canopy structure so that a user can move the frame assembly to its set-up condition from said one corner of the canopy structure.   
     
     
         10 . The portable and collapsible canopy structure according to  claim 9 , wherein the lever member can further be used to unlock the frame assembly from the set-up condition and assist in moving the frame to its collapsed condition. 
     
     
         11 . The portable and collapsible canopy structure according to  claim 9 , wherein a user can access and use the lever member to assist with set-up and collapsing of the canopy structure from a position outside the footprint of the canopy structure. 
     
     
         12 . The portable and collapsible canopy structure according to  claim 11 , wherein said frame assembly comprises:
 a plurality of vertical supports defining a perimeter for the frame assembly in the set-up condition;   a plurality of extendable horizontal supports each pivotally connected to and extending between an adjacent pair of vertical supports around the perimeter of the frame assembly and adapted for movement between an extended condition corresponding to the set-up condition of the frame assembly and a retracted condition corresponding to the collapsed condition of the frame assembly; and   a plurality of rib linkages, each pivotally connected to a respective vertical support and extending from said vertical support towards a central hub where the plurality of rib linkages meet, each said rib linkage being adapted for movement between an extended condition corresponding to the set-up condition of the frame assembly and a retracted condition corresponding to the collapsed condition of the frame assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The portable and collapsible canopy structure according to  claim 12 , wherein the rib linkage associated with the lever member comprises:
 a first upright arm pivotally connected to the vertical support associated with said rib linkage;   a second upright arm pivotally connected to the first upright arm, wherein a center hub cap is mounted at a distal end of said second upright arm;   a first lift tube pivotally connected to the first upright arm;   a second lift tube pivotally connected to the first lift tube and to the second upright arm; and   a center support tube pivotally connected between the second upright arm and the second lift tube, wherein a center hub support is mounted at a distal end of said center support tube;   wherein the lever member is pivotally connected to the rib linkage such that pivoting movement of the lever member influences movement of the first upright arm and first lift tube, which influences movement of the second upright arm and second lift tube, which influences movement of the center support tube, all of which move the center hub cap and the center hub support between an engaged condition corresponding to the set-up condition of the canopy frame assembly and a disengaged condition whereby the frame assembly can be moved to its collapsed condition.   
     
     
         14 . The portable and collapsible canopy structure according to  claim 13 , wherein the lever member is pivotally anchored to the vertical support associated with the rib linkage to which the lever member is connected. 
     
     
         15 . The portable and collapsible canopy structure according to  claim 13 , further comprising a secondary locking mechanism to maintain the canopy structure in its set-up condition. 
     
     
         16 . The portable and collapsible canopy structure according to  claim 15 , wherein the secondary locking mechanism comprises a spring-biased button and detent system provided on at least one vertical support member, said spring-biased button engaging said detent system once the frame assembly is in its set-up condition. 
     
     
         17 . The portable and collapsible canopy structure according to  claim 15 , wherein the rib linkage further comprises an under leg pivot tube pivotally connected between the vertical support associated with the rib linkage and at least one of the first upright arm and the first lift tube; and
 wherein the secondary locking mechanism comprises a hook provided on the under leg pivot tube adapted to receive the first lift tube when the rib linkage is in its extended condition.   
     
     
         18 . The portable and collapsible canopy structure according to  claim 17 , wherein the secondary locking assembly further comprises a strap positioned at a terminal end of the first lift tube to facilitate movement of the first lift tube into and out of engagement with the hook. 
     
     
         19 . A portable and collapsible canopy frame adapted for movement between a set-up condition and a collapsed condition, same canopy frame comprising:
 a plurality of vertical supports defining a perimeter for the frame assembly in the set-up condition;   a plurality of rib linkages, each pivotally connected to a respective vertical support and extending from said vertical support towards a central hub where the plurality of rib linkages meet, each said rib linkage being adapted for movement between an extended condition corresponding to the set-up condition of the frame assembly and a retracted condition corresponding to the collapsed condition of the frame assembly; and   a lever member pivotally connected to one of the plurality of rib linkages for assisting a user in moving the frame assembly to its set-up condition and locking the frame assembly once in said set-up condition;   wherein said canopy structure defines a set-up footprint which comprises at least one corner, wherein the lever member is pivotally connected to the frame assembly at one corner of the canopy structure so that a user can move the frame assembly to its set-up condition from said one corner of the canopy structure, and   wherein a user can access and use the lever member to assist with set-up and collapsing of the canopy structure from a position outside the canopy frame.   
     
     
         20 . The portable and collapsible canopy frame according to  claim 19 , wherein the lever member is pivotally anchored to the vertical support associated with the rib linkage to which the lever member is connected.