US20040050413A1

US20040050413A1 - Cabana structure

Info

Publication number: US20040050413A1
Application number: US10/201,515
Authority: US
Inventors: Sandy Cooper
Original assignee: Garden Meadow Inc
Current assignee: Garden Meadow Inc
Priority date: 2002-07-24
Filing date: 2002-07-24
Publication date: 2004-03-18

Abstract

A portable and collapsible cabana structure is provided to enable ease of carrying to the beach or pool site, ease of assembly and ease of collapse, after use, to again enable ease of portability. The main body of the cabana structure is provided by three rectangular panels, the first of which is generally vertical, downwardly from approximately half to two-thirds of the height of the assembled cabana, to the ground, at the rear thereof; the second rectangular panel slopes upwardly and forwardly of the cabana from the first panel toward the front of the cabana; and, the third rectangular panel extends generally horizontally from the front of the second panel toward the front of the cabana. Viewing the structure from the front of the cabana, the left and right sides thereof are each made up of three triangular panels, the middle panel of which enables the admission to the cabana of air and light. To provide structural efficacy to each of the above-mentioned panels, a plurality of critical stiffening poles fit securely in channels and pockets provided by the panels, which are usually made of sheet plastic or synthetic material.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to portable and collapsible beach and/or pool-side cabana huts, and more particularly to such huts which provide tautness for the sides thereof and yet which can be collapsed for providing portability and ease of assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is common to think of a cabana or a cabana hut as a relatively permanent structure found normally at pool and beach clubs. Such permanent structures offer the ability of the user to sit or lie down at the beach, camping or at a pool. With respect to sitting or lying down in collapsible or portable structures, other than a tent-like structure, no existing portable structures have the structural ability to effectively provide the option of use on a beach, camping, at a picnic or at pool-side, as does the present invention.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a structurally efficacious cabana, which is collapsible and thereby portable;

A further and more particular object is to provide a collapsible and portable cabana structure, which is light-weight and easy to assemble and disassemble; and

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a portable and collapsible cabana which presents the capability of being large enough in size to provide room for two users to do those things commonly done at the beach, camping, picnic and at pool-side, and yet which is sturdy enough to withstand beach winds and other like beach hazzards.

These and other objects of the present invention are provided in a portable, easily assembled and disassembled structure which is generally comprised of nine panels, the first three of which are larger than the others and rectangular in shape to form in sequence the back, the sloping top and the top front of the cabana structure. The other six panels are triangular in shape and three are fully connected to the edges at the left side of the aforementioned three rectangular panels; and the other three are at the right side edges, also fully connected to the first three rectangular panels. The six triangular panels are isosceles triangles and connected to the adjacent triangular panel, fully along the edge of one of the two equal sides. The point connecting the two equal sides of each triangle are coincident, for each triangle, with the two other triangular panels, at which point there is a means for anchoring the cabana in the sand or grass. Stakes are also used to anchor the structure at the two back corners of the cabana. The middle triangular panel on each side of the structure is made of the same plastic or synthetic light-weight material envisioned for the whole structure, and includes small openings to let in air and light. The structure of the cabana of the present invention is assembled by means of the various channels provided on the cabana inside of the light-weight plastic or synthetic material forming the “skin” of the cabana. Into such channels are fitted poles, and/or other stiffeners, some or all of which are movable and/or removable to disassemble the cabana for placement in a carrying bag, also made of light-weight plastic or synthetic material. Critically, at least two stiffeners are provided to make the entire structure taut and sturdy by supporting and expanding the triangular panel sides. Channels may be non-elongated loops, and the two critical stiffeners end in pockets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiment of the present invention, with alternatives and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0007]
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a carrying bag for the disassembled cabana structure; [0008]
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the carrying bag and the disassembled structure of the cabana; [0009]
FIG. 3 shows the unfolding of the disassembled cabana, as the first step for assembly thereof; [0010]
FIG. 4 shows the second step of unfolding, following the FIG. 3 unfolding step, for assembling the cabana for use; [0011]
FIG. 5 shows one side of the cabana structure using one set of three triangular panels, further advancing toward complete assembly; [0012]
FIG. 6 shows the complete expansion step for the rectangular panels and the six side triangular panels; [0013]
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line [0014] 7-7 of FIG. 6 and showing the taut-providing critical stiffening poles being placed into channels to give efficacy to the portable cabana, when it is assembled;
FIG. 8 shows the fully assembled cabana with both critical poles in place, adjacent the side triangular panels of the structure; [0015]
FIG. 9 shows the detail of the critical pole structure and assembly at one side of the collapsible cabana; [0016]
FIG. 10 is a sectional view, taken along the line [0017] 10-10 of FIG. 9, showing a representative connecting and stiffening structure for the intersection of the rectangular with triangular panels of the cabana;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED, ILLUSTRATIVE AND REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, the carrying [0018] bag 10 for a cabana structure according to the present invension is shown in FIG. 1, as including a handle 12 or other convenient means for carrying the disassembled cabana.
FIG. 2 shows the carrying [0019] bag 10, in an exploded view, with respect to the cabana structure generally designated 14. Critical stiffening poles 16 are elongated, with a female, inside threaded opening defined at one end, and a male outside threaded surface at the other end. Sleeves 18 are usually of a flexible material such as plastic or rubber and are intended to cover (in a press fit) the junction point between two critical stiffening poles 16, as would occur when one stiffening pole is screwed into another. Such a use of critical stiffening poles 16 and sleeves 18 are shown, particularly in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9, whereby four critical stiffening poles 16, and at least two sleeves 18 are used to provide a tautness and a stability to the entire structure by use of a side construction, generally designated 20, at each side of the cabana as is particularly shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings.
FIG. 3 illustrates the removed cabana structure, with respect to [0020] bag 10, and is to show specifically that the removed structure 10 is capable of folding and unfolding at its center point generally designated 22, with the unfolding or initial assembly step for the cabana structure being in directions shown by arrows 24 in FIG. 3. The unfolding at center point 22 is facilitated by means of rigid insert stiffening poles 26 (FIG. 4), and the use of skin 28 of the cabana structure acting as a hinge, between insert stiffening poles 26 at the center point.
Particularly in FIGS. 6, 8 and [0021] 9, it may be seen that the assembled cabana structure includes three rectangular panels 30, 32, 34, from front to back of the assembled cabana, each arranged between insert stiffener poles 26. Each of those insert stiffener poles for the long sides of rectangular panels 30, 32, 34 is generally described as in two inline parts, each part being of approximately equal length. As previously noted, parts of poles 26 extend generally rightwardly and leftwardly in the finished structure, and before assembly, have a space therebetween at approximately center point 22. Upon assembly, one of the steps is to join the two parts of each generally horizontal insert stiffening pole 26 to the other inline part. This is accomplished, also as described previously, by reference to the most-forward (in the orientation of the assembled cabana; e.g. FIG. 6) insert stiffening pole 26′. That forward pole 26′, in two parts, near center point 22, has a female threaded end and the other part has a male threaded end. Upon assembly, they are joined by simply grasping the skin 28 covering the insert pole stiffening area and moving the two parts of pole 26′ to thread one part into the other. Other stiffening poles 26, bordering the long sides of the rectangular panels, are assembled in the same manner. Of course, the skin 28 is permanently sewn to form channels 27 defined by skin 28. Such channels, as to rectangular panels 30, 32, 34 are formed for holding insert stiffening poles 26 and 26′, two parts of a pole in each panel, a first pole at the most forward (cabana orientation) long side of panel 30, a second pole at the rearward long side of panel 30, a third at the rearward long side of panel 32, and a fourth at the bottom-most (see FIG. 6) long side of panel 34, all such channels formed by skin 28. In each panel, an important step in the assembly is to join the two parts of each horizontally oriented (see FIG. 6) insert stiffening pole 26. Such joining is as previously described by threading one part into the other by the user manipulating such parts by grasping the pole parts through the portion of the skin 28 used to form channels 27.
As was mentioned previously herein, the sides of this cabana construction are made taut, and are provided with a stability for themselves and the entire structure by means of critical [0022] stiffening poles 16. Each side construction is made up of three triangular panels, FIG. 4 showing each moved into assembly position in the direction of arrows 20′ early in the assembly process, and then spread in the direction of arrow 20″, as shown in FIG. 5. That spreading and the aforementioned tautness and stability are accorded the assembly by means of the insertion of critical stiffening poles 16, which slide through channels 36 in the direction of arrow 38, as shown in FIG. 7 (of course, channels 36 may also be formed as loops, or completely foreshortened channels). Sleeves 18, which are shown in FIG. 2, as well as FIG. 7, are flexible, and yet sturdy enough, to align all four critical stiffening poles 16, for each side construction by press-fitting those poles 16 for holding end to end, four such poles in a row for each side. Another construction would be similar to the end to end threaded joining of insert stiffener poles 26. In any event, the ends of the four pole alignment, for each side construction, conveniently fit in sewn pockets 40 clearly shown in FIG. 7. The triangular panels, designed from bottom to top 42, 44, 46, made from skin 28, are joined by channels 48 into which are permanently sewn the same type of insert stiffener poles 26 as were used at the juncture of rectangular panels. As is shown clearly in FIG. 7, the lowermost portion of insert stiffener poles 26 are exposed through a circular cutout 29 of skin 28. The purpose of cutout 29 is to enable even easier manipulation of poles 26, for instance when assembling or disassembling the cabana, simply by touching pole 26 in cutout 29 and lifting it out of the pocket 31 for the four poles 26 for that side. Similarly, FIG. 9 shows an alternative for cutout 29 whereby poles 26 protrude below channels 48 sewn at various places on the skin 28 of the cabana. This also gives access for removal of poles 26 on each side from the four holding channels provided by pocket 31.
Referring particularly to the enlarged intersection of two rectangular panels with two triangular panels, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a right angle [0023] double receptor 52, with internal threading at each end (alternatively) is used to receive insert stiffening poles 26, one at each end. At least one pole (preferably the lower pole, in the orientation of FIG. 9) is disengaged from each right angle receptor at each of the four intersections (for each side), again to enable the skin 28 to act as a hinge, in order to fold the collapsed cabana assembly from the position in FIG. 4, so that it fits within carrying bag 10. Actually, as shown in FIG. 10, the right angle receptor 52 has one end internally threaded and one end externally threaded to receive insert stiffening poles 26 at the female end thereof.
Straps [0024] 54, 56 of FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are used for staking the four corners of the cabana to provide even further stability.
Lastly, alternatively, a further couple of [0025] critical stiffening poles 16 are usable at the center portion (FIG. 6) of the cabana to enable even more stability and width for the final assembly. In this event, two or four critical stiffening poles 16 can be used in line with sleeves 18, as was indicated for the other critical stiffening poles 16 of FIG. 9.
In order to provide a more complete understanding of the present invention, a brief set of assembly and disassembly steps are now provided. In terms of assembly, the cabana structure stored in carrying [0026] bag 10 is removed therefrom, including critical stiffening poles 16 with sleeves 18. The removed structure is opened at approximately its midpoint 22 by rotating the two halves of the structure in the direction of arrow 24 in FIG. 3, using the skin 28 material as the hinge for such rotations. Again, using skin 28 as the hinges, the side panel constructions 20 are moved in the direction of arrows 20′ of FIG. 4, thereby to provide an inverted “U” structure. The channels 27 sewn into skin 28 are manipulated with the four top horizontal insert stiffener poles 26′, 26 so that insert stiffener pole 26′, and the other insert stiffener poles 26 are joined at approximately midpoint 22. The bottoms of side panels' insert stiffener poles are then manipulated to join with the bottoms of right angle receptors 52, and the same four poles 26 are then placed appropriately within the channels 31 at the front bottoms of sides 20. Most importantly, critical stiffening poles 16 are joined in line with each other and placed through channel 36 for each side 20 of the structure, appropriately fitting in pockets 40. This provides tautness and strudiness to the entire structure. Stakes may then be place appropriately through straps 54, 56 to anchor the entire structure.
Disassembly for storage and carrying in [0027] bag 10 is accomplished by first disconnecting critical poles 16 from the sides 20 and then from each other, or in the alternative, bent at sleeves 18. Either before or after that initial disassembly step, stakes through straps 54, 56 are removed.
At the sides of the structure, insert stiffener poles are removed from [0028] pockets 31, and also from right angle double receptors 52, but only from one bottom end of those receptors. Sides 20 are then folded, first opposite to the direction of arrow 20″ (FIG. 5) to collapse sides 20, in a direction opposite to arrows 20′ (FIG. 4), after which the remaining structure is folded at midpoint 22 following disengagement of the parts of poles 26 bordering the rectangular panels. The entire structure and poles 16 are then placed into carrying bag 10.
The foregoing provides a complete description and understanding of the cabana structure of the present invention; but the scope of the invention is to be accorded only by the following claims: [0029]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A portable and collapsible cabana structure intended for carrying, when collapsed, in a carrying bag, comprising top and back panels and sides, defining a front opening, said panels and sides each being formed by skin; said skin defining channels, through which stiffening poles are placed to provide structural stability, one of said channels formed with said skin in each of said sides, through which a critical stiffening pole is placed; each of said sides forming with said skin a separated pair of pockets, into each of which a critical stiffening pole end is placed for purposes of tautness and stability for the entire structure.

2. A cabana structure according to claim 1, wherein said top and back panels are generally rectangular in shape and said sides are comprised of triangular panels.

3. A cabana structure according to claim 2, wherein said rectangular panels define sewn channels along one of their long sides through each of which channels is placed, when said structure is fully assembled, one of said stiffening poles, in two parts, each part being fixed in line with the other part, for each stiffening pole.

4. A cabana structure according to claim 3, wherein at the ends of each of such stiffening poles is a right angle double receptor, said receptor having two legs arranged at right angles to each other, with one of said legs in line with said parts and the other leg being in line with stiffening poles between said triangular panels and at the edges of said sides, and affixed thereto.

5. A cabana structure according to claim 3, wherein said top and back stiffening poles have said two parts fixed and separable at approximately the midpoint of the long sides of said rectangles.

6. A cabana structure according to claim 4, wherein said legs which are in line with said stiffener poles of said sides, are separable from said stiffener poles of said sides.