Collapsible shelter having a reinforced truss and telescoping leg

Abstract

A collapsible shelter has a canopy supported by legs and a center post. The legs and center post are rigidly fixed in position by eave and truss assemblies made from scissor type linkages. The ends of the scissor type linkages can be coupled to create a robust frame assembly. A locking button fixes the scissor linkages to the center post and a strap couples secures the interconnections between scissor linkages. The legs telescope in a non-binding manner and include curved footings for easy assembly and disassembly.

1 . A truss assembly for a collapsible shelter frame, comprising: 
 a scissor unit having first and second cross pieces that are pivotally connected substantially about respective midpoints, each cross piece having a first and a second end, the first ends being coupled to a center post and the second ends being coupled to an eave assembly; and    means for selectively fixing an end of the first cross piece with respect to an end of the second cross piece.    
   
   
       2 . A truss assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a coupling assembly that is slidingly mounted to the center post, wherein the coupling of the first end of the first cross piece is accomplished by pivotally attaching the first end of the first cross piece to the coupling assembly and the means is a spring-biased button on the center post to selectively fix the coupling assembly thereto.  
   
   
       3 . A truss assembly as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first end of the second cross piece is pivotally coupled to the center post.  
   
   
       4 . A truss assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the means is a connector having a strap and a buckle, the connector selectively coupling the second ends of the cross pieces.  
   
   
       5 . A truss assembly as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the connector further comprises a portion for connecting to a canopy.  
   
   
       6 . A truss assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second cross piece is substantially horizontal.  
   
   
       7 . A portion of a collapsible frame for a shelter, comprising: 
 a first scissor unit having first and second cross pieces that are pivotally connected substantially about respective midpoints, each cross piece having a first and a second end;    a second scissor unit having third and fourth cross pieces that are pivotally connected substantially about respective midpoints, each cross piece having a first and a second end, wherein the first ends of the first and third cross pieces are pivotally connected, and the first ends of the second and fourth cross pieces are pivotally connected; and    a connector selectively couples the first ends of the first and second cross pieces together.    
   
   
       8 . A portion as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a first leg, wherein the second ends of the first and second cross pieces are pivotally coupled thereto; and    a second leg, wherein the second ends of the third and fourth cross pieces are pivotally coupled thereto.    
   
   
       9 . A portion as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the connector is a strap and buckle.  
   
   
       10 . A portion as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the connector includes a strap and a buckle capable of engaging a hole formed in a canopy for the collapsible shelter frame.  
   
   
       11 . A portion as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising a third scissor unit having fifth and sixth cross pieces that are pivotally connected substantially about respective midpoints, each cross piece having a first and a second end, 
 wherein the first ends of the fifth and sixth cross pieces are pivotally coupled to the first, second, third, and fourth cross pieces such that the connector couples the first ends of the fifth and sixth cross pieces together.    
   
   
       12 . A portion as recited in  claim 11 , 
 wherein the second end of the fifth cross piece is adapted to slidingly engage a center post, and the second end of the sixth cross piece is pivotally coupled to the center post; and    further comprising a spring-biased button to selectively fix the second end of the fifth cross piece to the center post.    
   
   
       13 . A center apex assembly for a collapsible shelter, comprising: 
 a center post having an upper end and a lower end;    a coupling assembly slidingly mounted on the center post intermediate the upper end and the lower end, the coupling assembly having a plurality of mounts for connecting structural members thereto; and    a means for selectively locking the coupling assembly at a position intermediate the upper and lower ends.    
   
   
       14 . A center apex assembly as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the center post telescopes and the upper end of the center post is dome-shaped.  
   
   
       15 . A center apex assembly as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of mounts are formed to receive a substantially horizontal member to improve headroom.  
   
   
       16 . A center apex assembly as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the means is a spring-biased button that can be depressed to allow the coupling assembly to pass over the button.  
   
   
       17 . A truss assembly for a collapsible shelter frame, comprising: 
 a roof assembly; and    at least three leg assemblies for supporting the roof assembly above a surface, each leg assembly having a foot for resting on the surface, wherein the foot has a curved outer rim.    
   
   
       18 . A truss assembly as recited in  claim 17 , wherein each leg assembly is multi-sided in cross-section and each leg assembly includes at least three telescoping portions, wherein at least two portions have locking means, each locking means being on a different side of the leg assembly.  
   
   
       19 . A truss assembly as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the locking means is a spring-biased button that can be depressed to allow the at least three telescoping portions to pass within each other.  
   
   
       20 . A truss assembly as recited in  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the spring-biased buttons has a flat end that allows coupling to a hole formed in the respective portion even when the respective portion is telescoped inside another portion.  
   
   
       21 . A truss assembly as recited in  claim 17 , 
 wherein each leg includes at least three telescoping portions and forms a plurality of holes that are offset and    further comprising at least two spring-biased buttons on each leg assembly for engaging the plurality of holes to selectively set a length of the leg assembly.    
   
   
       22 . A collapsible shelter comprising: 
 a center post having an upper and a lower end;    an eave assembly having 
 a first scissor unit having first and second cross pieces that are pivotally connected substantially about respective midpoints, each cross piece having a first and a second end;  
 a second scissor unit having third and fourth cross pieces that are pivotally connected substantially about respective midpoints, each cross piece having a first and a second end,  
 wherein the first ends of the first and third cross pieces are pivotally connected, and the first ends of the second and fourth cross pieces are pivotally connected;  
   a connector selectively coupling the first ends of the first and second cross pieces together;    at least two leg assemblies, each leg assembly having a foot for resting on the surface, wherein the second ends of the first and second cross pieces are pivotally coupled to a first leg, and wherein the second ends of the third and fourth cross pieces are pivotally coupled to a second leg;    a third scissor unit having fifth and sixth cross pieces that are pivotally connected substantially about respective midpoints, each cross piece having a first and a second end, the first ends being coupled to the center post and the second ends being coupled to an eave assembly such that the connector selectively couples the second ends of the fifth and sixth cross pieces together; and    means for selectively fixing the first end of the fifth cross piece with respect to the first end of the sixth cross piece.    
   
   
       23 . A collapsible shelter as recited in  claim 22 , further comprising a connector assembly that is slidingly mounted to the center post intermediate the upper and lower ends, the connector assembly having a plurality of mounts for connecting structural members thereto, and wherein the coupling of the first end of the fifth cross piece is accomplished by pivotally connecting the cross piece to the mount of the connector assembly.  
   
   
       24 . The collapsible shelter as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the first end of the sixth cross piece is pivotally coupled to the center post.  
   
   
       25 . The collapsible shelter as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the means is a spring-biased button on the center post that can selectively fix the connector thereto or be depressed to allow the coupling assembly to pass over the button.  
   
   
       26 . A collapsible shelter as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the connector is a strap and a buckle.  
   
   
       27 . A collapsible shelter as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the connector further comprises a portion for connecting to a canopy.  
   
   
       28 . A collapsible shelter as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the sixth cross piece is substantially horizontal.  
   
   
       29 . A collapsible shelter as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the center post telescopes.  
   
   
       30 . A collapsible shelter as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the upper end of the center post is dome-shaped.  
   
   
       31 . A collapsible shelter as recited in  claim 22 , wherein each leg assembly is multi-sided in cross-section and each leg assembly includes at least three telescoping portions, wherein at least two portions have locking means, each locking means being on a different side of the leg assembly.  
   
   
       32 . A collapsible shelter as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the locking means is a spring-biased button that can be depressed to allow the at least three telescoping portions to pass within each other.  
   
   
       33 . A collapsible shelter as recited in  claim 32 , wherein at least one of the spring-biased buttons has a flat end that allows coupling to a hole formed in the respective portion even when the respective portion is telescoped inside another portion.  
   
   
       34 . A collapsible shelter as recited in  claim 22 , 
 wherein each leg includes at least three telescoping portions and forms a plurality of holes that are offset and    further comprising at least two spring-biased buttons on each leg assembly for engaging the plurality of holes to selectively set a length of the leg assembly.    
   
   
       35 . A collapsible shelter as recited in  claim 34 , wherein each spring-biased button may engage more than one of the plurality of holes.  
   
   
       36 . A collapsible shelter as recited in  claim 34 , wherein a middle portion of the at least three telescoping portions is longer than a top portion of the at least three telescoping portions.  
   
   
       37 . A collapsible shelter as recited in  claim 22 , wherein a foot of a leg assembly has a curved outer rim.