Collapsible canopy framework

Abstract

A structure that is foldable and expandable to support a canopy when a covering is placed on top of the framework includes a plurality of upright supports and a plurality of edge scissor assemblies that interconnect adjacent ones of the upright supports. Mounting brackets are disposed on the upright supports and also between scissor assemblies to fasten outer, end portions of the edge scissor assemblies together or to the upright supports. The mounting brackets each have a plurality of unique single side wall sockets each including a means for limiting torsional twisting of the scissor assemblies fastened in the socket. The limiting means comprises a complementary groove or rib for matingly engaging, in a complementary fashion, a complementary rib or groove, respectively, formed on the end of the scissor member received in the socket and secured therein with a pivot pin. The mounting brackets on each upright support may be relatively movable to allow expansion and contraction of the framework while limiting the side to side stresses on the scissor members pivotally held within the mounting brackets.

1 . In a collapsible frame adapted to support a flexible fabric canopy or tent, the frame having an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration, the frame having a plurality of upright support members oriented alongside one another in the collapsed state and movable outwardly apart from one another toward the expanded state and a plurality of edge scissor link assemblies each interconnecting adjacent support members, each edge scissor link assembly comprising one or more pairs of scissor link members, and a mounting bracket connecting one or more scissor link members to one of either one of the upright support members or another edge scissor link assembly, the mounting bracket comprising:
 a solid body having a plurality of sockets therein each shaped to receive and pivotally hold one end of one of the link members therein, each socket having an inner face, a horizontal wall, and only a single vertical side wall merging substantially at a right angle with the horizontal wall and the inner face of the socket;   a pivot fastener extending through the one end of the link member and into the single side wall to hold the member in the socket and permit rotation of the link member about an axis of the pivot fastener; and   means formed between the horizontal wall of the socket and the end of the link member in the socket for limiting effect of twisting side stresses applied to the scissor link member in the socket.   
   
   
       2 . The mounting bracket as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one of a pair of mounting brackets on each upright support member is a stationary mounting bracket and another of the pair being a slide mounting bracket, the slide mounting bracket being slidably secured to the upright support member and movable between locations proximate to and remote from the stationary mounting bracket when the respective the edge scissor assembly opens and closes. 
   
   
       3 . The mounting bracket as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the means for limiting comprises a groove formed in the horizontal wall extending parallel to the vertical wall and a complementary shaped rib formed on the end of the scissor member engaged with the groove in the socket when the pivot fastener fastens the link member to the vertical wall. 
   
   
       4 . The mounting bracket as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the means for limiting comprises a rib formed in the horizontal wall extending parallel to the vertical wall and a complementary shaped groove formed on the end of the scissor member engaged with the rib in the socket when the pivot fastener fastens the link member to the vertical wall. 
   
   
       5 . The mounting bracket as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the rib and the groove each has a complementary trapezoidal cross sectional shape. 
   
   
       6 . The mounting bracket as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the rib and the groove each has a complementary trapezoidal cross sectional shape. 
   
   
       7 . The mounting bracket as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the rib and the groove each has a complementary curved cross sectional shape. 
   
   
       8 . The mounting bracket as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the solid body has at least two sockets at right angles to each other. 
   
   
       9 . An expandable and collapsible framework structure comprising:
 a plurality of upright support members each having a bottom end positionable on a support surface and a top end opposite the bottom end, the support members oriented alongside one another in the collapsed state and movable outwardly apart from one another toward the expanded state;   a plurality of edge scissor assemblies with there being an edge scissor assembly interconnecting adjacent ones of the support members, each the edge scissor assembly having a pair of link members with outer upper ends and outer lower ends, the edge scissor assemblies operative to open and close whereby the framework structure may move between the expanded and contracted states; and   a plurality of mounting brackets disposed on the upright supports and operative to fasten the edge scissor assemblies thereto, each bracket having at least two sockets each receiving an end of one of the link members of the scissor assemblies therein, each socket having an inner surface, only a single vertical side wall extending from the inner surface, and a horizontal wall extending at a right angle from the side wall, and a pivot pin fastening the end of the scissor assembly member in the socket to the vertical wall, wherein each socket comprises means formed between the horizontal wall of the socket and the end of the link member in the socket for limiting effect of twisting side stresses applied to the scissor link member in the socket.   
   
   
       10 . The structure as claimed in  claim 9  wherein one of a pair of mounting brackets on each upright support member is a stationary mounting bracket and another of the pair being a slide mounting bracket, the slide mounting bracket being slidably secured to the upright support member and movable between locations proximate to and remote from the stationary mounting bracket when the respective the edge scissor assembly opens and closes. 
   
   
       11 . The structure as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the means for limiting comprises a groove formed in the horizontal wall extending parallel to the vertical wall and a complementary shaped rib formed on the end of the scissor member engaged with the groove in the socket when the pivot fastener fastens the link member to the vertical wall. 
   
   
       12 . The structure as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the means for limiting comprises a rib formed in the horizontal wall extending parallel to the vertical wall and a complementary shaped groove formed on the end of the scissor member engaging with the rib in the socket when the pivot fastener fastens the link member to the vertical wall of the mounting bracket. 
   
   
       13 . The structure as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the rib and the groove each has a complementary trapezoidal cross sectional shape. 
   
   
       14 . The structure as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the rib and the groove each has a complementary trapezoidal cross sectional shape. 
   
   
       15 . The structure as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the rib and the groove each has a complementary curved cross sectional shape. 
   
   
       16 . The structure as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the solid body has at least two sockets at right angles to each other. 
   
   
       17 . The structure as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the solid body has a central passage therethrough receiving one of the upright support members therein. 
   
   
       18 . The structure as in  claim 9  further comprising each scissor assembly comprising at least two pairs of scissor members connected together by mounting brackets wherein each mounting bracket has at least two sockets each receiving an end of one of the link members of the scissor member pairs therein, each socket having an inner surface, a single vertical side wall extending at a right angle from the inner surface of the socket, and a horizontal wall extending at a right angle from the single side wall, and a pivot pin fastening the end of the scissor member in the socket to the vertical wall, wherein each socket comprises means formed between the horizontal wall of the socket and the end of the link member in the socket for limiting effect of twisting side stresses applied to the scissor link member in the socket while the structure is in the expanded state. 
   
   
       19 . The structure as in  claim 18  wherein the means for limiting comprises a groove formed in the horizontal wall extending parallel to the vertical wall and a complementary shaped rib formed on the end of the scissor member engaging with the groove in the socket when the pivot fastener fastens the link member to the vertical wall. 
   
   
       20 . The structure as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the means for limiting comprises a rib formed in the horizontal wall extending parallel to the vertical wall and a complementary shaped groove formed on the end of the scissor member engaging with the rib in the socket when the pivot fastens the link member to the vertical wall of the mounting bracket.