Portable shelter
View Patent ↗An embodiment of the present invention relates to a portable shelter, whether being of the type having a floating canopy or an umbrella. The shelter includes a support including an upright. A canopy is supported by the support. The canopy includes an expandable frame, and a sheet of material supported by the frame. The frame includes retractable ribs supporting the sheet. The frame also includes a stretcher arrangement for stretching out each rib from the support. The stretcher arrangement includes a first stretcher for coupling between the support and the rib; and a second stretcher for coupling to the first stretcher.
1. A portable shelter including:
a support including an upright;
a canopy for being supported by the support; and
a depth indicator to indicate depth of the support in the ground, the depth indicator being dynamic and expanding with depth;
wherein the canopy includes an expandable frame, and a sheet of material supported by the frame;
wherein the frame includes retractable ribs supporting the sheet, each rib being articulated, pivotally expandable and including:
a proximal member, and a distal member pivotally coupled to the proximal member so that the proximal member and the distal member overlap when the rib is fully expanded;
wherein the frame further includes a stretcher arrangement for stretching out each rib from the support, the stretcher arrangement including:
a first stretcher coupled between the support and one of the ribs; and
a second stretcher coupled between the first stretcher and a runner for running along the support.
2. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sheet of material is supported by the frame at a fixed end and extends from the frame to a fluttering free end opposite the fixed end; the majority of the sheet being unsupported and fluttering in the breeze to provide suitable shade for at least one person.
3. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sheet of material folds in on itself when the frame is collapsed.
4. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the proximal member is not coupled to an end of the distal member.
5. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an end of the distal member is pivotally coupled to the stretcher arrangement.
6. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the distal member folds up and in toward the proximal member when collapsing the shelter, the frame including two or four ribs.
7. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the stretcher arrangement includes three or more stretchers.
8. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 1 , further including at least one stabilizing protrusion for stabilizing the support in the ground, each protrusion being retractable and/or radially extending from the support.
9. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 1 , further including: a screw terminating the support for screwing into the ground.
10. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second stretcher is pivotally and/or slidably coupled to the first stretcher.
11. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 1 , further including a third stretcher.
12. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the rib and first stretcher are pivotally mounted at fixed locations to the support.
13. A portable shelter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support extends from the ground at a single location.