Collapsible shelter

Claim 2

A shelter frame, comprising: at least first and second upwardly extending poles; and a linkage assembly linking the first and second poles, the linkage assembly including first and second scissors-type linkages each having respective first structural members pivotally coupled to respective second structural members, the first structural member in the first scissors-type linkage being pivotally coupled to the first structural member in the second scissors-type linkage, and a linking device pivotally secure a predetermined portion of the second structural member in the first scissors-type linkage to the second scissors-type linkage at a point on the second scissors-type linkage vertically spaced from the predetermined portion of the second structural member in the first scissors-type linkage and to pivotally secure a predetermined portion of the second structural member in the second scissors-type linkage to the first scissors-type linkage at a point on the first scissors-type linkage vertically spaced from the predetermined portion of the second structural member in the second scissors-type linkage.

Claim 3

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first structural members are a first predetermined length, the second structural members are a second predetermined length, and the first predetermined length is substantially greater than the second predetermined length.

Claim 4

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second structural members define first ends pivotally secured to a respective pole and second free ends, and the linking device is pivotally secured to the second free ends of the second structural members.

Claim 5

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 3, wherein the linking device comprises a first linking member pivotally secured to the free end of the second structural member in the first scissors-type linkage and to the first structural member in the second scissors-type linkage, and a second linking member pivotally secured to the free end of the second structural member in the second scissors-type linkage to the first structural member in the first scissors-type linkage.

Claim 6

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the linking device comprises a first linking member pivotally secured to the second structural member in the first scissors-type linkage and to the first structural member in the second scissors-type linkage, and a second linking member pivotally secured to the second structural member in the second scissors-type linkage to the first structural member in the first scissors-type linkage.

Claim 7

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second structural members in the first scissors-type linkage are pivotally connected at a first pivot point, the first and second structural members in the second scissors-type linkage are pivotally connected at a second pivot point, the first structural members are pivotally connected to one another at a third pivot point, and the linking device is pivotally connected to first structural member of the first scissors-type linkage at a fourth pivot point located between the first and third pivot points.

Claim 8

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 6, wherein the linking device is pivotally connected to first structural member of the second scissors-type linkage at a fifth pivot point located between the second and third pivot points.

Claim 9

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first structural members are respectively pivotally secured to first and second sliding connectors to slide along the first and second poles, and the second structural members are respectively pivotally secured to first and second fixed connectors on the first and second poles.

Claim 10

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second poles extend upwardly in respective first and second directions, and the first and second directions have respective horizontal and vertical components.

Claim 11

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the linkage assembly defines a first linkage assembly, the shelter frame further comprising: third and fourth upwardly extending poles; a second linkage assembly linking the second and third poles; a third linkage assembly linking the third and fourth poles; and a fourth linkage assembly linking the first and fourth poles.

Claim 12

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the point on the second scissors-type linkage is above the predetermined portion of the second structural member in the first scissors-type linkage, and the point on the first scissors-type linkage is above the predetermined portion of the second structural member in the second scissors-type linkage.

Claim 13

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the point on the second scissors-type linkage is below the predetermined portion of the second structural member in the first scissors-type linkage, and the point on the first scissors-type linkage is below the predetermined portion of the second structural member in the second scissors-type linkage.

Claim 14

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the point on the second scissors-type linkage is substantially vertically aligned with the predetermined portion of the second structural member in the second scissors-type linkage, and the point on the first scissors-type linkage is substantially vertically aligned with the predetermined portion of the second structural member in the first scissors-type linkage.

Claim 15

A shelter frame, comprising: at least first and second upwardly extending poles; at least a first linkage assemblies linking the poles, the linkage assembly including first and second scissors-type linkages each having respective first structural members pivotally coupled to respective second structural members, the first structural member in the first scissors-type linkage being pivotally coupled to the first structural member in the second scissors-type linkage, and a linking device pivotally secure a predetermined portion of the second structural member in the first scissors-type linkage to the second scissors-type linkage at a point on the second scissors-type linkage vertically spaced from the predetermined portion of the second structural member in the first scissors-type linkage and to pivotally secure a predetermined portion of the second structural member in the second scissors-type linkage to the first scissors-type linkage at a point on the first scissors-type linkage vertically spaced from the predetermined portion of the second structural member in the second scissors-type linkage; and a canopy support including a head connector, and at least first and second canopy support rods, each support rod including a first rod member pivotally secured to a second rod member, the first rod members also pivotally secured to a respective pole and the second rod members also pivotally secured to the head connector.

Claim 16

A shelter frame, comprising: at least first and second upwardly extending poles; at least a first linkage assemblies linking the poles, the linkage assembly including first and second scissors-type linkages each having respective first structural members pivotally coupled to respective second structural members, the first structural member in the first scissors-type linkage being pivotally coupled to the first structural member in the second scissors-type linkage, and a linking device pivotally secure a predetermined portion of the second structural member in the first scissors-type linkage to the second scissors-type linkage at a point on the second scissors-type linkage vertically spaced from the predetermined portion of the second structural member in the first scissors-type linkage and to pivotally secure a predetermined portion of the second structural member in the second scissors-type linkage to the first scissors-type linkage at a point on the first scissors-type linkage vertically spaced from the predetermined portion of the second structural member in the second scissors-type linkage; and a canopy support including a head connector, and at least first and second canopy support rods, each support rod including a first rod member pivotally secured to a second rod member, the first rod members also pivotally secured to a respective pole and the second rod members also pivotally secured to the head connector.

Claim 17

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 14, further comprising: third and fourth poles; second, third and fourth linkage assemblies; and third and fourth canopy support rods.

Claim 18

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first structural members are respectively pivotally secured to first and second sliding pole connectors to slide along the first and second poles, the second structural members are respectively pivotally secured to first and second fixed connectors on the first and second poles, and the first rod members are respectively pivotally secured to the first and second fixed connectors.

Claim 19

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 16, wherein the canopy support further includes at least first and second linking rods respectively pivotally secured to the first and second sliding connectors and to the first and second canopy support rods.

Claim 20

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first and second linking rods are respectively pivotally secured to the first rod members of the first and second canopy support rods.

Claim 21

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first and second linking rods are pivotally secured to the first and second canopy support rods by respective first and second sliding canopy support rod connectors.

Claim 22

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first rod members are pivotally secured to the second rod members by respective pivot connectors, each pivot connector including wall members to prevent the first and second rod members from pivoting beyond a predetermined orientation.

Claim 23

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first structural members are a first predetermined length, the second structural members are a second predetermined length, and the first predetermined length is substantially greater than the second predetermined length.

Claim 24

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second structural members define first ends pivotally secured to a respective pole and second free ends, and the linking device is pivotally secured to the second free ends of the second structural members.

Claim 25

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 22, wherein the linking device comprises a first linking member pivotally secured to the free end of the second structural member in the first scissors-type linkage and to the first structural member in the second scissors-type linkage, and a second linking member pivotally secured to the free end of the second structural member in the second scissors-type linkage to the first structural member in the first scissors-type linkage.

Claim 26

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 14, wherein the linking device comprises a first linking member pivotally secured to the second structural member in the first scissors-type linkage and to the first structural member in the second scissors-type linkage, and a second linking member pivotally secured to the second structural member in the second scissors-type linkage to the first structural member in the first scissors-type linkage.

Claim 27

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first and second structural members in the first scissors-type linkage are pivotally connected at a first pivot point, the first and second structural members in the second scissors-type linkage are pivotally connected at a second pivot point, the first structural members are pivotally connected to one another at a third pivot point, and the linking device is pivotally connected to first structural member of the first scissors-type linkage at a fourth pivot point located between the first and third pivot points.

Claim 28

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 25, wherein the linking device is pivotally connected to first structural member of the second scissors-type linkage at a fifth pivot point located between the second and third pivot points.

Claim 29

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first structural members are respectively pivotally secured to first and second sliding connectors to slide along the first and second poles, and the second structural members are respectively pivotally secured to first and second fixed connectors on the first and second poles.

Claim 30

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first and second poles extend upwardly in respective first and second directions, and the first and second directions have respective horizontal and vertical components.

Claim 31

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 14, wherein the point on the second scissors-type linkage is above the predetermined portion of the second structural member in the first scissors-type linkage, and the point on the first scissors-type linkage is above the predetermined portion of the second structural member in the second scissors-type linkage.

Claim 32

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 14, wherein the point on the second scissors-type linkage is below the predetermined portion of the second structural member in the first scissors-type linkage, and the point on the first scissors-type linkage is below the predetermined portion of the second structural member in the second scissors-type linkage.

Claim 33

A shelter frame as claimed in claim 14, wherein the point on the second scissors-type linkage is substantially vertically aligned with the predetermined portion of the second structural member in the second scissors-type linkage, and the point on the first scissors-type linkage is substantially vertically aligned with the predetermined portion of the second structural member in the first scissors-type linkage.