Outdoor canopy

March 4, 1958

2,825,352

C. W. LEMEN

OUTDOOR CANOPY

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March 4, 1958

C. W. LEMEN

OUTDOOR CANOPY

2,825,352

Filed July 23. 1954

Sheets-Sheet 2

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ATTORNEYS

United States Patent Office _p, , _{d M}²’⁸²⁵’³9⁵5‘

Patented Mar. 4, 1951

2,825,352 OUTDOOR CANOPY

Charles W. Lemen, Springfield, Ohio, assignor to The Springfield Tent &amp; Awning Company, Springfield, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio

Application July 23, 1954, Serial No. 445,410

Claims. (Cl. 135—5)

This invention relates to an outdoor canopy of economical and sturdy construction and which finds particular use on golf courses, lawns and swimming pools where resistance to wind, for example, is of importance.

The invention particularly contemplates the provision of an outdoor canopy in which the canopy cover and the frame therefor is tiltably mounted and readily securable in the tilted position for the achievement of maximum shade from sun up to sun down.

The invention further contemplates an outdoor canopy which is readily manipulated and is of low cost, simplified mechanical construction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an outdoor canopy in which the canopy cover is securely and simply affixed to the tiltable canopy frame.

An important object of the invention is the provision of an outdoor canopy having a tiltable canopy cover provided with tilting means which are not adversely affected corrosion-wise.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the outdoor canopy of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2—2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the structure of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the right hand portion of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view taken on line 5—5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective fragmentary view of a portion of the structure of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a central portion of the canopy;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8—8 of Figure 7 particularly illustrating the means for retaining the canopy cover securely;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the canopy cover;

Figure 10 is a view taken on line 10—10 of Figure 1;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the structure of invention illustrating other retaining means for the canopy cover; and

Figure 12 is a bottom plan view of the structure of Figure 11.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in Figure 1 a positioned outdoor canopy and provided therefor at 1, 3 are foundations in the form of cylindrical concrete blocks. Mounted in these blocks are spaced tubular stanchions 5, 7 in the form of pipes, the upper ends of which support therebetween a frame of box-like shape indicated generally at 9. Stretched over the frame 9 and supported thereby is a canopy cover 11.

The box-like frame is pivotally supported by means provided at the upper ends of the stanchions 5, 7 and the frame 9 is constituted by horizontally extending support members 13, 15, each of substantially rectangular shape and spaced apart vertically by a plurality of metal webs welded thereto and extending therebetween as at 17 (Figure 1). Also welded between the frames at opposed longitudinal ends of the canopy as at 19, 20 (Figures 2 and 3) are end plates to which are secured the means for effecting pivotal movement of the box-like frame 9 as noted more particularly hereinafter.

Referring now specifically to Figures 1-3, inclusive, it will be noted that the upper end of the stanchion 7 is provided with an elbow 21 which is threaded at 23 to receive a plug 25 having a reduced portion 27 into which bolt 29 is screwed.

As shown most clearly in Figure 3 the end plate 20 is provided with an aperture through which reduced portion 27 of plug 25 passes freely, the aperture being of a sufficient size to permit the plate 20 to rotate about the reduced portion 27. The reduced portion 27 is suitably of a cross sectional shape which permits rotatable movement of the plate 20 thereof about portion 27 and may suitably be 4, 5 or 6 sided, or even circular, and the portion functions to support the frame 9 rotatably; thus the portion 27 constitutes a bearing for the frame.

A washer 31 is provided between the reduced portion 27 and the head of the bolt 29 and is spaced slightly from the end plate 20 (Figure 2) in the operative position of the structure, and serves to retain the plate 20 against lateral movement.

The arrangement of the opposite ends of the frame is identical and accordingly the plate 19 (Figure 4) is pivotally mounted with respect to elbow 22 as described in connection with Figures 2 and 3.

Referring now to Figures 4-6, inclusive, the plate 19 is of lesser thickness than the diameter of the tubular pipe members constituting the frames 13, 15, and accordingly plate 19 is suitably provided with metallic pads 33 welded thereto, and to these pads there are attached by screws 35 bar members 37 of semicircular shape.

Referring now to Figure 5 the stanchion 5 is provided with a J-bolt 39 the shank 41 of which extends through opposed apertures of the stanchion. The shank 41 is threaded at 43 and receives the nut portion 45 of a handle 47.

The remote end of the J-bolt at 49 extends into an upper aperture (Figure 5) of the stanchion vertically spaced above the shank of the J-bolt, and the base 51 of the J together with the stanchion 5 encompasses therebetween a portion of the bar member 37 and securely retains the bar member. Thus the box-like frame 9 is securable in pivotal position with respect to the stanchions 5, 7 by adjustment of bar member 37 with respect to J bolt. It will be understood that the opposed ends of the box-like frame with respect to the mounting for pivotal movement of the frame are identical, and that the handle 48 and the bar 38 (Figure 1) correspond to the handle 47 and the bar 37.

To pivotally move the box frame it is simply necessary to partially unthread the handles 47, 48 on their Jbolts, which loosens the J-bolts from the bar members 37, 38, respectively, and the box-like frame is then merely pushed or pulled into position pivotally on the reduced bearing portions of the plugs, whereafter the handle 47 is again threaded back onto the shanks of the particular Jbolt and bears against the corresponding stanchion to securely draw the associated bar member against the stanchion. This operation is of course performed at each end of the structure to permit rotation and securing of the frame which supports the canopy.

Referring now more specifically to Figures 2 and 7-9, inclusive, it will be noted that the canopy 11 comprises a first depending decorative portion 53 and a second reinforcing strip portion 55 (Figure 9) suitably sewn to the cover 11. This strip 55 extends completely around the canopy and itself has depending pocket members 57 sewn

2,,826,362 λ - : 3 thereto; Preferably four pocket members 57 are provided, two of which extend over a major portion of the length of the canopy, and the other two of which are U-shaped and extend around the ends of the canopy. One of these end U-shaped portions is indicated at 57': a Figured. ' ....

Positioned in these pocket members 57 are metal rods 59 and when the canopy is positioned; as shown most clearly in Figure 8, J-bolts 61 suitably provided-through the spaced webs-17 have the hooked portion thereof se- F cured about the rods 59, while the shank of the J-bolt is retained in position by nuts 63 threaded on the shank.

Referring now to Figure 7, it will be noted that the support member 13 is continuous and constituted of pipe : members connected together by a suitable nipple- cl 65. ’· Similarly the upper frame 15 consists of pipe members suitably joined by connectors 67, and the connectors 67 are provided -with' transverse members 69 which extend, laterally of the canopy 11 (Figure 1) and supports the same. . ; / ' - /

To reduce wear on the canvas .canopy the canopy is itself reinforced at 71 as most clearly shown in Figures 1, 7 and 10. The depending strips of the canvas, as shown at 72. assist in retaining the cover 11 and the stiffening member 69 positioned together; ! 25

Referring now to Figures 11 and 12 wherein a further embodiment of one arrangement of the invention is shown, there is illustrated in Figure 11 a canopy 11' which is supported on a box-like frame constituted of vertically spaced frame members. 13', 15', spaced, apart . .30 by webs 17' welded therebetween. In this instance the / canopy.il' has sewn thereto as at 73 a depending por- ; tion which is suitably provided with a lacing 75 for engagement with the pipes constituting’the frame member 15'. m ;R_r. W 35

Also in this instance the frame 15' has suitably welded _:thereto at 77 a small plate. 79 through which a hut and bolt indicated generally, at ST pass and to which bolt a transverse stiffening member 69' is secured. Thus the canopy 11' is supported by the. frame indicated: generally 40 at9’. . .

It will thus be noted that there has been described . / a rugged structural arrangement for an outdoor canopy which is of simple mechanical components, economical: to produce and extremely serviceable. .45

It will, be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different, usages and conditions and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention, as may fall within the scope of the appended claims. 50