US20060169311A1

US20060169311A1 - Height adjustment structure for a canopy

Info

Publication number: US20060169311A1
Application number: US11/343,788
Authority: US
Inventors: John Hwang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-01-31
Filing date: 2006-01-31
Publication date: 2006-08-03
Also published as: CN2771415Y

Abstract

A canopy has a framework including a plurality of vertical poles and a roof frame. A height adjustment structure for adjusting the height of the roof frame includes a sliding sleeve disposed around each vertical pole, to which the roof frame is connected. The sleeve can slide along the pole so that a through hole on a sidewall of the sleeve is aligned with one of the holes provided on the vertical pole. A spring loaded press plate pivotally mounted on the sidewall of the sleeve has a locking pin at one end which can extend into the through hole on the sleeve and the hole on the pole to lock the sleeve at a desired height along the pole.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a canopy, and in particular, it relates to a height adjustment structure for a canopy.
2. Description of the Related Art
Canopies are useful for outdoor activities as a sun or rain shelter. For example, it may provide a place for resting and dining at outdoor parties, or provide a place for resting when camping, etc. Existing canopies are typically made up of framework and a cover. To make it convenient for carrying and storing, the framework can be disassembled and re-assembled when needed. The framework may be disassembled when the canopy is not in use for convenient carrying and storing. Even so, there are still some shortcomings in existing canopies. Under different circumstances or at different times, users may have different requirements for the height of the canopy. For example, due to change of the direction of the sun, proper adjustment may be required in the height of the canopy, but the height of existing canopies depend on the height of the vertical poles in the framework and cannot be adjusted. Adjustment of the height requires changing the height of the vertical poles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a height adjustment structure for a canopy that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
The present invention solves the above technical problem by providing a simple height adjustment structure of the canopy that is convenient to use.
To solve the above technical problem, a height adjustment structure for a canopy is provided, which includes: a vertical pole having a plurality of holes defined thereon; a sliding sleeve disposed around the vertical pole and having connecting parts formed thereon, the sliding sleeve having a through hole defined on a sidewall thereof; and a spring loaded press plate pivotally mounted on the sidewall of the sleeve and having a locking pin at one end. The sliding sleeve is slideable along the vertical pole to align the through hole with one of the holes on the vertical pole, and the locking pin of the press plate is capable of extending through the through hole of the sleeve and a hole on the vertical pole aligned with the through hole, thereby locking the sleeve at a desired height.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a framework for a canopy incorporating the above height adjustment structure.
Because holes are provided along the pole, when the sliding sleeve slides up and down to a certain location along the pole, the locking pin pressing against the surface of the pole will fall into the hole to lock the sliding sleeve. The sliding sleeve may be connected with the roof frame of the canopy and the height of the roof may be changed by adjusting the location of the sliding sleeve on the pole. The height adjustment structure has a simple structure that used the cooperation between the locking pin and the holes on the pole to lock the sliding sleeve to the pole. In addition, the use of a press plate structure and lever action makes it easy to use.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a height adjustment structure for a canopy according an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a spring loaded press plate useful in the structure of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 illustrates another example of a spring loaded press plate useful in the structure of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 illustrates a canopy incorporating a height adjustment structure of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a height adjustment structure for a canopy according an embodiment of the present invention includes a vertical pole 1 and a sliding sleeve 2 disposed around the pole. A spring loaded press plate 21 is pivotally mounted on a sidewall 20 of the sliding sleeve 2 between two protruding plates 25 by a mounting pin 212 which extends through a pair of holes on the plates 25. A spring 22 is wound round the mounting pin 212 to bias the press plate 21. One end of the press plate 21 has a locking pin 211 which extend into a through hole (not shown in the drawings) in the sidewall of the sleeve 20. Under the spring tension of the spring 22, the press plate 21 urges the locking pin 211 against the surface of the pole 1 inside the sleeve 20.
Connecting parts are formed on the sleeve 20 to connect it with other components of the canopy. In the illustrated example, the connecting parts are a pair of plates 23, 24 with through holes.
In addition, several holes 11 are formed along the pole 1. When the sliding sleeve 2 slides up and down to proper locations along the pole 1, the through hole on the sleeve is aligned with one of the holes 11 on the pole 1, and the locking pin 211 pressed against the surface of the pole 1 will fall into the hole 11 to lock the sliding sleeve 2 relative to the pole 1.
The spring loaded press plate 21 may be designed to have various shapes as required, two examples of which are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The plates 25 used to mount the press plate 21 may be directly formed on the sleeve 20, or fixed on the side of the sleeve 20 by welding or other means.
FIG. 4 shows a canopy incorporating a height adjustment structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. The framework structure of the canopy includes four poles 1 and a roof frame 3 installed on the poles. The roof frame 3 is made of several sets of interconnected beams. The sliding sleeve 2 is disposed around the pole 1, and connecting parts 23, 24 on the sliding sleeve 2 are connected to movable ends of the roof frame 3. When the sliding sleeves 2 slide up and down along the poles 1, they will push the whole roof frame 3 and cause it to be raised or lowered. Since a number of holes 11 are provided on the pole 1, users may use the locking pin 211 to cooperate with the holes 11 at different heights to effect the adjustment of the height of the roof frame 3.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modification and variations can be made in the height adjustment structure for a canopy of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A height adjustment structure for a canopy, comprising:

a vertical pole having a plurality of holes defined thereon;

a sliding sleeve disposed around the vertical pole and having connecting parts formed thereon, the sliding sleeve having a through hole defined on a sidewall thereof; and

a spring loaded press plate pivotally mounted on the sidewall of the sleeve and having a locking pin at one end,

wherein the sliding sleeve is slideable along the vertical pole to align the through hole with one of the holes on the vertical pole, and wherein the locking pin of the press plate is capable of extending through the through hole of the sleeve and a hole on the vertical pole aligned with the through hole, thereby locking the sleeve at a desired height.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the sliding sleeve includes two protruding plates each having a hole, wherein the spring loaded press plate includes:

a mounting pin extending through the two holes on the two plates, the press plate pivoting around the mounting pin; and

a spring wound around the mounting pin to urge the locking pin into the through hole of the sleeve.

3. A framework of a canopy, comprising:

a plurality of vertical poles each having a plurality of holes defined thereon; and

a roof frame connected to the vertical poles;

wherein each vertical pole includes a height adjustment structure including:

a sliding sleeve disposed around the vertical pole and having connecting parts formed thereon for connecting to the roof frame, the sliding sleeve having a through hole defined on a sidewall thereof; and

4. The framework for a canopy of claim 3, wherein the sliding sleeve includes two protruding plates each having a hole, wherein the spring loaded press plate includes: