Shelter having a tarpaulin supported by a cable assembly that is selectively tightened

Abstract

A roof assembly for a shelter having an eave assembly and a cable assembly with a first cable portion extending between corners of the eave assembly horizontally and a second cable portion extending from each corner to an apex. A center post has a lower end coupled to the first cable portion and an upper end coupled to the second cable portion. When the cable assembly is tightened, the center post supports a tarpaulin. A mechanism, integral to the eave assembly, includes a lever rotatably mounted to a first elongated tube of the roof assembly, the first tube defining an elongated slot and receives a second tube. An arm extends from the lever and through the elongated slot to engage the second tube such that when the lever moves, the eave assembly expands to tension the cable assembly.

1 . A tightening mechanism for a shelter having a roof assembly at least partially supported by cable, the tightening mechanism comprising: 
 a lever rotatably mounted to a first elongated tube of the roof assembly, the first tube defining an elongated slot and an interior for receiving a second tube; and    an arm extending from the lever and through the elongated slot to engage the second tube such that when the lever moves, the arm moves between first and second positions,    wherein at the first position, the second tube is urged out of the first elongated tube so that a size of the roof assembly is increased and, at the second position, the second tube is urged into the first elongated tube so that the size of the roof assembly is reduced.    
   
   
       2 . A tightening mechanism as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second lever rotatably mounted to a third tube of the eave assembly, the third tube defining an elongated slot and an interior for receiving an adjacent tube; and 
 a second arm extending from the second lever and through the elongated slot of the third tube to engage the adjacent tube such that the second lever moves the arm between first and second positions, wherein at the first position, the size of the eave assembly is further increased, at the second position, the size of the eave assembly is further reduced.    
   
   
       3 . A tightening mechanism as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a corner tube, the corner tube forming a shoulder for connecting to the second tube at one end and a spring loaded button for engaging a corner connector at another end.  
   
   
       4 . A tightening mechanism as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of turnbuckles coupled to the cable for further tightening the cable.  
   
   
       5 . A tightening mechanism as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a center post supported by the cable.  
   
   
       6 . A tightening mechanism as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the center post telescopes.  
   
   
       7 . A tightening mechanism as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the arm is pivotally mounted to the lever.  
   
   
       8 . A roof assembly for a shelter comprising: 
 a) an eave assembly for coupling to a plurality of supporting legs;    b) a cable assembly including i) a first cable portion extending between opposing corners of the eave assembly in a substantially horizontal manner and ii) a second cable portion extending from each corner to an apex, the apex being above the eave assembly;    c) a center post having a lower end coupled to the first cable portion and an upper end coupled to the second cable portion; and    d) means for selectively increasing tension in the cable assembly.    
   
   
       9 . A roof assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the roof assembly is pyramidal shaped.  
   
   
       10 . A roof assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the means is a tightening mechanism for selectively expanding a size of the eave assembly, the tightening mechanism including: 
 a lever rotatably mounted to a first elongated tube of the roof assembly, the first tube defining an elongated slot and an interior for receiving a second tube; and    an arm extending from the lever and through the elongated slot to engage the second tube such that when the lever moves, the arm moves between expanded and reduced positions.    
   
   
       11 . A roof assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the means is a telescoping feature of the center post.  
   
   
       12 . A roof assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the means is a plurality of turnbuckles connected between each corner and the cable assembly.  
   
   
       13 . A roof assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the lower end of the center post is selected from a group of configurations consisting of a circular disk defining two channels, a tube defining four holes, four tubes extending from a central body, and four tubes extending generally perpendicularly to the central post for receiving the first cable portion.  
   
   
       14 . A roof assembly as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a tarpaulin secured to the shelter and substantially covering the eave assembly, cable assembly and center post.  
   
   
       15 . A roof assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the eave assembly is substantially square.