GB2393155A

GB2393155A - Canopy/awning for use with a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2393155A
Application number: GB0321605A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stuart William Bannister
Original assignee: CARNOPY Ltd
Current assignee: CARNOPY Ltd
Priority date: 2002-09-16
Filing date: 2003-09-15
Publication date: 2004-03-24
Also published as: WO2004025056A1; GB0221365D0; GB0321605D0; AU2003267601A1

Abstract

A canopy 3 for use with a vehicle comprises a frame 11, 12 for supporting one end of the canopy above the ground and support means 5, 6 for holding the other end of the canopy above the ground and connected to a portion of said vehicle. The support means may be hooks (53, figure 5), or resilient bands for attaching a portion of the canopy over the top of an upwardly opening rear door. Further straps and hooks (76, 78 figure 6) may attach the canopy to the rear wheel arches of the vehicle. The frame may comprise a pair of upright poles interconnected at their upper ends by a cross-member, and they may be provided with ground engaging devices (16, figure 3) having a helical element (19) for being turned to engage the ground.

Description

2393 1 55

Canopy for use in association with a vehicle.

This invention relates to a canopy for use In assocabon with a motor vehicle to create, adjacent the car, a sheltered and/or shaded area.

s A variety of tents and canopies are known. The object of this Invention Is to provide a relatively light, economically priced and easily erected canopy especially suitable for use In association with a vehicle for those attending all day sporting events and the like. By way of example, users might wish to use the canopy to 10 shelter from Inclement weather during sporting events, air shows and the like, to take refreshments or a picnic, or for use In activities such as fishing or car boot sales. According to the Invention, there Is provided a canopy for use with a vehicle, the 15 canopy compnsng a frame for supporting one end of the canopy above the ground and support means for holding the other end of the canopy above the ground and connected to a portion of said vehicle.

Preferably, said support means Is operable for connecting said other end of the 3() canopy to an upwardly opening rear-door of said vehicle.

The canopy may comprise an end portion for extending over said door, and a holding band for extending beneath said door from one to another side of the end porton.of the frame.

The canopy may Include an end portion for extending over said door and door edge hook means connected to said end portion and operable for engaging an edge of said door.

Preferably, the canopy Includes an end portion for extending over said door and wheel arch hook means connected to said end portion and operable for engaging a wheel arch of a vehicle.

The frame may include at least one upright support pole.

Said frame can comprise two or more upright support poles and at least one cross-member having ends connected to respective ones of said poles.

s Preferably, the canopy is supplied with a ground engagement device for holding the end of a pole, the device composing a helically screwed member for being turned to engage the ground l O For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 is a rear view of a vehicle with a canopy supported by the vehicle; 1 ' figure 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle and canopy of figure 1, Figure 3 is perspective view of a pole mounting device; 0 Figure 4 is a perspective view of a vehicle with a second embodiment of a canopy; figure 5 is a perspective view of a canopy support device; 05 Figures 6 and 7 are a side view and top view respectively of part of a vehicle and a third embodiment of a canopy: Figure 8 is a section on line v'-v''' in figure 6; 3() figure 9 is a section on line x-'x in figure 7; figure 10 is an enlarged detail from figure 9,

Figure 11 Is a plan view of fabric portions of the canopy of figure 6; and Figure 12 Is an exploded perspective view of part of the figure 6 canopy showing how it may be modified to comprise side portions.

figures 1 and 2 show a relatively large family motor vehicle 1 such as an MPV or four-wheel drive vehicle with a rear door 2 that opens by the bottom edge of the door being swung up about hinges (not shown) at the top of the door space. The door has a stable fully open position, Be it Will stay open In this position, with the I(.) door generally horizontal or sloping upwards away from the rear of the vehicle The door Is shown In this fully open position.

A canopy 3 Is erected with its forward end 4 supported by being laid over the door 2. To hold the end 4 of the canopy In place, there Is a holding band 5 of flexible 15 material extending between the sides of the canopy under door 2 The band could be of elastic material and/or could have a length adjusting device (not shown). In addition, or as an alternative to the band 5, there could be two hooks 6 which extend forward from the vehicle end of the canopy and engage the top, Be the hinged part, of the door 2.

At the other end of the canopy, away from the vehicle, it is supported by a frame 10 with two upright support poles 11 and an arched cross-member 12 between the tops of the poles 11. The lower end of each pole 1 1 Is fixed to a flanged foot 15.

This foot can stand directly on hardstanding or, for erection on grass or like soft 25 ground, the foot can be supported on a ground engaging device 16 as shown in figure 3. Device 16 comprises a disc shaped ground engaging plate 17 with two spaced apart lugs 18 that, between them, receive the foot 15. Extending from the underside of plate 17, Is a pointed wire screw 19 somewhat like a cork screw but larger. It can be engaged with the ground by turning it using the lugs 18 for 30 purchase. The foot of the pole 11 Is then engaged between the lugs

The canopy Is shaped to provide a portion 20 which extends over and down In front of the arched cross-member 12. The canopy also has side extensions 21 which, tensioned by pegged guy lines 22, extend out from the sides of the canopy to increase the area beneath the canopy and give shade at the sides, s Figure 4 shows another canopy This is generally similar to the embodiment of figures 1 and 2 but has a shallow ridge type roof. Here the roof support frame comprises a shallow triangular cross- member 40 and two members 41 extending from the apex of member 40 back to the corners of the front of the canopy.

Figure 5 shows a support device 50 for the car end of the canopy of figure 1 and 2 or the canopy of figure 5. The support device 50 comprises an elongate strip 51 with two bars 52 extending from one edge of the strip near the respective ends thereof. The outer ends of the bars have flat spade like portions 53 for engaging l the door 2. The strip 51 could be of soft padded construction and the bars 52 could be straps while the portions 53 are rectangular hooks for engaging the upper edge of the open rear door 2 of the vehicle, / e the edge which Is hinged to the top of the door opening. The strip 51 then lies between the canopy and the door 2 to support the canopy above the door. Meanwhile, the straps 52 extend over the rear 20 door and the window In the rear door to the door upper edge. Here the hooks are engaged with the door.

In each embodiment shown, the support frame could be modified by the addition of more support frame elements. For example, by having more horizontal 25 members at roof level. In particular, there could be horizontal members (not shown) extending from the tops of the poles 11 forward to the rear of the vehicle.

Instead of an upwardly opening rear door, the vehicle might have a sideways opening door. In that case, the arrangements for fixing the canopy to the vehicle SO may be modified to suit. For example, the end of the canopy may be fixed to the top of the door space.

s A third embodiment of a canopy according to the Invention, shown In figures 6 to 11, Is made of polyurethane coated woven polyester fabric (sometimes referred to as Oxford fabric and comprises a roof portion 61 and rear and side wing portions 64 and 65 as best shown In figure 11. One rear wing portion 64 and one side wing S portion 65 is provided at each rear corner 62 of the roof portion 61, ret At each corner nearest the vehicle 63.

The wing portions 64 and 65 and the roof portion 61 could have been cut from a single piece of fabric or as separate pieces. In the latter case, the portions are cut 10 and then sewn to each other along the dashed lines 67. Either way however, the wing portions at each corner of the roof portion are sewn together along the dash/cross line 68. In figure 11, only the wing portions at one corner of the roof portion 61 are shown as sewn along line 68. At the other corner, the wing portions are Illustrated as they are before they are sewn. At this time, the portions are I 5 planar or rather are free to take up a planar arrangement If required. When they are brought together and sewn at line 68 they become constrained to be folded down to define a shallow pocket 70. Pocket 70 Is able to be laid over and to extend down over each side of the raised rear door 72 of the vehicle 63.

JO At the rear end of the roof portion 61, there are fixed by sewing for example or by the use of clips or hooks, two adjustable straps 73 which, when the canopy Is erected, extend back over the door 72. These straps 73 each have a hook portion 74 able to be hooked over the top edge of the door 72, the door extending forwards and upwards at this time, so as to maintain the canopy pulled over the 25 door Also, at each canopy wing portion corner 75 at the outer end of the stitch line 68, there are fixed, by sewing for example or by clips or hooks as before, two adjustable length straps 76 each with a hook 78 at its free end by which the J0 canopy can be secured to a respective one of the two rear wheel arches 80 of the vehicle.

Preferably, the hooks 74 and 78, are relatively wide and may be padded and/or made of relatively soft material such as plastics material to ameliorate damage to the vehicle parntwork.

S The canopy roof portion 61 Is formed with aligned pockets 82 for receiving a relatively light support pole 84, for example of reinforced plastics material such as fibreglass or carbon fibre, which extends across the open vehicle rear door 72 at about the point where it Is highest. If preferred, the pockets could be closed at their outer ends to better retain the pole 84.

Beneath the pockets 82, the canopy Is also provided with two fitted pockets 86 for receiving respective cushioning pads or blocks 88. The pads or blocks 88, which could be of expanded polystyrene for example, space the canopy and the pole 84 from the rear door of the vehicle and help to prevent damage to its pantwork.

The pockets 86 could be omitted If preferred or they needn't be used The blocks are then simply positioned on the open rear door of the vehicle 63 at about where the door Is highest, and the canopy positioned over the door and blocks.

Alternatively, the canopy can be laid In place first and the blocks Inserted 20 afterwards. The position of the blocks and the pole 84 need not coincide, he.

depending on the particular shape of the rear door of the vehicle, the pockets 82 and the pole 84 may or may not coincide with the highest part of the door.

At the front of the canopy roof portion 61, there are two eyelets 90 one at each 25 side of the portion, and aligned pockets 91 between the eyelets for receiving a metal, e.g. steel, support pole 92. Beneath each eyelet 90, there is a metal support post 93 Each post 93 has a short narrowed diameter fixing pin 94 at its upper end.

Onto these pins, there are fitted flattened and pierced end portions 95 of the support pole 92. Also fitted onto the pins 94, above the portions 95 of the pole 92, 30 are the eyelets 90 and then, above that, respective end loops 97 of two guy lines 98 which are provided at each end of the pole 92.

Each of the posts 93, may have a ground fixing device such as that shown in figure 3 or the end of the post may be plain. The guy lines 98 are secured at their lower ends by pegs or hooks as required. The guy lines, or at least one of them at each side of the canopy, may not be necessary if it is not windy.

s The canopy roof portion extends a short distance forward of the pole 92 so as to form an overhanging portion 99 at the front of the canopy. The overhanging portion could be omitted if preferred. Alternatively, the width of the canopy roof portion 61 may be increased, or sewn on extensions may be provided, so as to 10 form depending side portions 100 (only shown in figure 12) which match the portion 99 at the front of the canopy roof. Portions 99 and 100 may be Joined, e.g. by sewing, at their ends 101. The rear end 102 of each side portion 100 could merge with or be connected to, e.g by sewing, the corresponding side wing 65 of the canopy.

Claims

1. A canopy for use with a vehicle, the canopy compnsng a frame for supporting one end of the canopy above the ground and support means for holding the other end of the canopy above the ground and connected to a portion of said vehicle

2. A canopy according to claim 1, wherein said support means is operable for connecting said other end of the canopy to an upwardly opening rear-door of said vehicle.

3 A canopy according to claim 1 or 2, including an end portion for extending over said door, and a holding band for extending beneath said door from one to another side of the end portion.

4 A canopy according to claim 1 or 2, including an end portion for extending over said door and door edge hook means connected to said end portion and operable for engaging an edge of said door.

5 A canopy according to any preceding claim, including an end portion for extending over said door and wheel arch hook means connected to said end portion and operable for engaging a wheel arch of a vehicle.

6 A canopy according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame includes at least one upright support pole.

7. A canopy according to claim 6, wherein said frame comprises two or more upright support poles and at least one cross-member having ends connected to respective ones of said poles.

8. A canopy according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the canopy is supplied with a ground engagement device for holding the end of a pole, the device comprising a helically screwed member for being turned to engage the ground.

9. A canopy substantially as herenbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.