Instant gazebo

Abstract

An instant gazebo is provided which is movable between an open and closed position quickly and which is side supported to allow maximum flexibility for placement of furniture in the gazebo. The gazebo includes an openable and closable canopy to which is connected a screen enclosure which extends completely around the periphery of the canopy. The screen enclosure may remain attached to the canopy in both the open and closed positions of the gazebo. The preferred actuation mechanism for the gazebo includes an elongated curved support arm which slides through a hollow sleeve carried at the top of a supporting mast. The support arm slides through the hollow sleeve as the gazebo is opened or closed. After the support arm is raised by the user, a hand crank is actuated to open the canopy. A rotatable mast support allows the gazebo to be easily rotated about the axis of the mast.

1 . An instant gazebo readily movable between an open and closed position, comprising: 
 a support base,    a mast carried by said support base,    an articulating arm having a first end pivotally mounted to said mast and having a second end,    an elongated, curved support arm having a first end pivotally connected to said second end of said articulating arm and having a second end,    a hollow sleeve carried by said mast, said elongated, curved support arm extending through said hollow sleeve,    a canopy carried by said second end of said elongated, curved support arm,    a screen enclosure connected to said canopy and extending completely around the periphery of said canopy,    said articulating arm and said elongated, curved support arm being movable between a first, closed position in which said support arm is generally vertical and said canopy is closed and hangs adjacent said mast, and a second position in which said elongated, curved support arm is generally horizontal and in which said canopy is closed but is spaced from said mast, and    crank means for opening and closing said canopy and said screen enclosure.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising locking means carried by said mast for preventing rotation of said articulating arm relative to said mast.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said locking means comprises: 
 a rotatable handwheel,    a plurality of radially extending teeth carried by said first end of said articulating arm, and    a second plurality of radially extending teeth that move into and out of engagement with said first plurality of teeth in response to rotation of said handwheel.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said canopy is side supported in both its first closed position and in its second fully deployed position.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said canopy is rectangular and wherein said screen enclosure includes two screen panels zipped together along each side of said rectangle, whereby said screen panels may be readily unzipped and tied back at each corner of said rectangle.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said screen enclosure includes one or more walls that are solid, unscreened fabric.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said mast has a vertical axis and further comprising rotatable mast support means for allowing said instant gazebo to rotate around said vertical axis of said mast.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said rotatable mast support means comprises: 
 a fixed base,    a mast support sleeve for slidably carrying said mast, and    bearing means carried by said fixed base for rotatably carrying said mast support sleeve.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising locking means for preventing rotation of said rotatable mast support means.  
   
   
       10 . An instant gazebo readily movable between an open and closed position, comprising: 
 a support base,    a mast carried by said support base,    a canopy,    a screen enclosure connected to said canopy and extending completely around the periphery of said canopy,    canopy support means for supporting said canopy from the side of said mast, said canopy support means being movable between first closed position in which said canopy is generally vertical, folded and lies adjacent said mast, and a second extended position in which said canopy may be fully opened, and    actuation means for moving said canopy between said open and closed positions.