Portable shelter having frame with moveably coupled canopy support members

Abstract

A portable shelter includes a canopy and a frame assembly that supports the canopy. The frame assembly includes a lower portion that defines an area and a resiliently flexible canopy support member extending over the area and supporting the canopy over the area. The frame assembly further includes a collapsible coupling with a first end operably coupled to the lower portion and a second end operably coupled to the canopy support member. A distance between the first end and the second end is variable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable shelter comprising:
 a canopy; and   a frame assembly that supports the canopy, the frame assembly including a lower portion that defines an area, the frame assembly further including a resiliently flexible canopy support member extending over the area and supporting the canopy over the area, the frame assembly further including a collapsible coupling with a first end operably coupled to the lower portion and a second end operably coupled to the canopy support member, a distance between the first end and the second end being variable.   
     
     
         2 . The portable shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible coupling includes a chain with a plurality of interlocking links. 
     
     
         3 . The portable shelter of  claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve that encompasses at least a portion of the collapsible coupling. 
     
     
         4 . The portable shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the frame assembly includes a plurality of legs that are supported upright, and wherein the lower portion of the frame assembly also includes a plurality of leg supports that interconnect and support respective ones of the legs. 
     
     
         5 . The portable shelter of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of leg supports each include a plurality of pivotally attached, rigid, elongate members. 
     
     
         6 . The portable shelter of  claim 4 , further comprising a strut with a first end operably coupled to the canopy support member and a second end operably coupled to either one of the plurality of legs or one of the plurality of leg supports. 
     
     
         7 . The portable shelter of  claim 6 , wherein the strut is resiliently flexible. 
     
     
         8 . The portable shelter of  claim 6 , wherein the second end of the strut is pivotally coupled to the one of the plurality of legs or the one of the plurality of leg supports to pivot about a plurality of different axes. 
     
     
         9 . The portable shelter of  claim 8 , wherein the second end is coupled via a ball and socket joint. 
     
     
         10 . The portable shelter of  claim 6 , wherein the strut includes a first strut and a second strut, wherein the first end of the first strut and the first end of the second strut are each operably coupled to the same canopy support member. 
     
     
         11 . The portable shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible coupling includes a turnbuckle. 
     
     
         12 . The portable shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the frame assembly is moveable from an extended position in which the canopy is unfurled and a retracted position in which the canopy is furled. 
     
     
         13 . A portable shelter comprising:
 a canopy; and   a frame assembly that supports the canopy, the frame assembly being moveable between an extended position in which the canopy is unfurled and a retracted position in which the canopy is furled, the frame assembly including a lower portion that defines an area, the frame assembly further including a resiliently flexible canopy support member extending over the area and supporting the canopy over the area, the frame assembly further including a chain with a plurality of interlocking links, the chain having a first end operably coupled to the lower portion and a second end operably coupled to the canopy support member.   
     
     
         14 . The portable shelter of  claim 13 , wherein the canopy includes a sleeve that encompasses at least a portion of the collapsible coupling. 
     
     
         15 . The portable shelter of  claim 13 , wherein the lower portion of the frame assembly includes a plurality of legs that are supported upright, and wherein the lower portion of the frame also includes a plurality of leg supports that interconnect and support respective ones of the legs. 
     
     
         16 . The portable shelter of  claim 15 , further comprising a strut with a first end operably coupled to the canopy support member and a second end operably coupled to either one of the plurality of legs or one of the plurality of leg supports. 
     
     
         17 . The portable shelter of  claim 16 , wherein the strut is resiliently flexible. 
     
     
         18 . The portable shelter of  claim 16 , wherein the second end of the strut is pivotally coupled to the one of the plurality of legs or the one of the plurality of leg supports to pivot about a plurality of different axes. 
     
     
         19 . The portable shelter of  claim 13 , wherein the collapsible coupling includes a turnbuckle. 
     
     
         20 . A portable shelter comprising:
 a foldable canopy; and   a frame assembly that supports the canopy, the frame assembly being moveable between an extended position in which the canopy is unfurled and a retracted position in which the canopy is furled, the frame assembly including:
 a plurality of upright, rigid legs that define an area between the plurality of legs; 
 a plurality of scissoring, pivotally attached, rigid leg supports that extend between and interconnect respective ones of the plurality of legs; 
 a plurality of resiliently flexible canopy support members extending over the area and supporting the canopy over the area; 
 a plurality of resiliently flexible struts operably coupled to respective ones of the legs and operably coupled to respective ones of the canopy support members; and 
 a plurality of chains, each with a plurality of interlocking links, the chains each having a first end operably coupled to respective ones of the legs, the chains each having a second end operably coupled to the canopy support member, the chains allowing the canopy support members to resiliently flex relative to the legs when the frame assembly is in the extended position.