US3441037A - Cabana - Google Patents

Description

S. T. TRANSEAU April 29, 1969 CABANA Sheet of5 Filed Sept. 5-, 1967 r INVENTORL f/iermm .7 75'4236't6 ATTORNEYS Sheet 2 of5 Apnl 29, 1969 s. T. TRANSEAU CABANA Filed Sept. 5, 1967 Z 4 m. wmw l w hm mmm mww n fi INVENTOR. x fiermmz'frameam ATTORNEYS P 1969 s. T. TRANSEAU 3,441,037

Filed Sept. 5, 1967 OABANA Sheet 3 015 i j 5i f) w iz f l i3 fil HI 1%" W H j w 7 g L I /%Z L "h- )M 5 15 1 1 E, 5? 2 INVENTOR. i5; {2 j Jammfflzwazw I ATTORNEYS s. T. TRANSEAU April 29, 1969 CABANA Sheet of5 Filed Sept. 5, 1967 IN VEN TOR. J'fiermza ZZwwazw QCQQM ATTORNEYS S. T. TRANSEAU CABANA April 29, 1969 sneetiors Filed Sept. 5, 1967 h V NVENTOK I Jerwzzz 7' TfM' ea Scam ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 135-1 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a cabana which is unusually flexible for adjustment to meet conditions of sun, wind, and rain. The cabana has a frame comprising inverted U-shaped end bows and a middle bow connected near the center by ridge poles, and having one, or preferably two or more, cover halves which slidably engage on each side of each bow, cooperating cover halves being capable of interconnection or detachment from inside the cabana. Collars near the lower ends of the sides of the bows prevent unintended removal of the cover halves and aid in inserting the lower ends of the bows into the ground. Ground cloths may optionally be used.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION The present invention is concerned with a cabana primarily intended for use on the beach, in times of relaxation, but also suitable for use at amusement parks, camps, recreation areas and in the yards of homes.

A purpose of the invention is to provide a cabana which is compact and will fit in a car, which is light in weight, and can be easily carried, set up and taken down by two people or even one person.

A further purpose is to provide protection from sunshine, extreme heat, cold, wind, rain, blowing sand, insects and the like, in outdoor locations.

A further purpose is to provide a cabana which is so compact that it can be carried continuously in the trunk of a car and will be available where required for enjoyment of the outdoors, and to provide the required protection.

A further purpose is to provide a cabana which has a frame, one of which slidably engages on each vertical U-shaped bows each having vertical sides, and each having a half-roof portion extending inward from each side and each of which has near the center a connecting fitting, with ridge poles having cooperating connecting fittings, each ridge pole extending from one end bow to the middle bow and connected to the connecting fittings on the bows.

A further purpose is to provide cover halves on the frame, one of which slidably engages on each veriical side and the adjoining half-roof portion of each bow, the bows being unobstructed against sliding of the cover halves on the sides and adjoining half-roof portions.

A further purpose is to hinge each bow on each side and provide means for locking the hinges in extended position.

A further purpose is to permit joining together of cover halves at the center of the ridge from inside the cabana.

A further purpose is to prevent removal of the cover halves from the bows by providing removable collars near the lower ends of the bows.

A further purpose is to employ a plurality of cover halves separately slidable on each side of each bow, permissibly forming a roof by one set of cover halves and forming sides or mosquito netting by another set of cover halves.

A further purpose is to employ a ground cloth at the bottom of the sides and to connect the ground cloth to 3,441,037 Patented Apr. 29, 1969 the sides by elastic loops so that tension on the ground cloth will not deflect the sides.

A further purpose is to make an adjustable playpen by a ground cloth including side walls whose height is subject to adjustment according to the age of a child.

A further purpose is to drive pointed ends of the bows into the ground by pressure on collars near the lower ends of the sides of the bows.

Further purposes appear in the specification and in the claims.

In the drawings I have chosen to illustrate a few only of the numerous embodiments in which the invention may appear, selecting the forms shown from the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory operation and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective showing the cabana of the invention in its carrying case.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective showing the cabana of the invention erected but with the roof and sides open.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective similar to FIGURE 2 showing the roof in place on both sides and mosquito netting in position, flaps being turned back to show capability of holding them open.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective of the cabana of the invention with one end, the roof and both sides covered and the other end open.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective similar to FIGURE 4 but showing both ends closed except for turning back one flap to show this capability. A portion of the roof is broken away at one corner for clearer illustration of the structure.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective of the cabana of the invention with the roof fully'in place, the sides and one end closed and a ground cloth in position as for example for occupancy by a small child.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the cabana of the invention, with the roof turned back at one corner to show the structure beneath it, and with the roof broken away to show the middle bow.

FIGURE 8 is a vertical section through the cabana of the invention in front of the remote end bow, illustrating in dot and dash lines how the sides of the bows can be folded for positioning in the carrying case.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary axial section through the hinged joint with the sleeve in position to hold the hinge straight.

FIGURE 10 is a section on the line =10-10 of FIG- URE 9.

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary axial section through hinge joint showing the hinge partially bent to the position which the sides of the bows will assume in the carrying case.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary axial section through a collar near the bottom of the side of the bow.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary axial plan section showing the connection of the ridge poles to the bows.

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of FIGURE 13 but showing a variation in the method of fastening the ridge pole.

FIGURE 15 is a section on the line 15-15 of FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary perspective partially in section showing the connection of the roof to one of the bows and also the relationship of the mosquito netting side to the roof, with the side cover gathered down.

FIGURE 17 is a view similar to FIGURE 16 showing the mosquito netting side wall gathered up and the side cover in position.

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary sectional perspective showing the attachment of the roof to the bows adjoining the ridge pole and also showing the joining of the two roof halves above the ridge pole.

FIGURE 19 is a plan view of one type of ground cloth which may be employed in the device of the invention, omitting the bows.

FIGURE 20 is a side elevation of a cabana according to the invention, omitting the covers, but illustrating a modified form of ground cloth adapted to form a playpen.

Existing cabanas available for use on beaches, in recreation areas, and in yards and lots, present difficulties which it is desired to correct by the present invention. Some of the existing cabanas are heavy to transport and thus have limited mobility. Others are difiicult to erect or require considerable personnel for the purposes of erection. Still others have very limited variation in arrangement of the parts, so that they are not adaptable to various directions and conditions of sun, heat, cold, wind, rain, blowing sand or the like.

This patent application has been prepared with awareness of Wieber, US. Patent 2,804,083 showing an enclosure having merely end bows covered by a tent cover; Nelson, US. Patent 1,498,111 showing a tent supported by a center pole and radiating frame; and Nimmo, US. Patent 3,056,415; Gesser, US. Patent 2,898,924; Benka et al., US. Patent 3,055,380 all showing tent frames with cross connection which would obstruct any slidable cover half. Cline, US. Patent 2,531,501 provides a shelter which is supported on common pivoted bows.

The cabana of the present invention is light, can readily be carried by one person, and can be erected rather quickly by two people or even by a single person. It has a wide variation in position and arrangement of covers so that it can be used under varying conditions.

The frame of the cabana of the invention employs only three bows, two at the ends and one in the middle. The bows are desirably hinged so that they can be folded. Each of the bows near the center of the top has a connection and ridge poles having cooperating connections are used to interconnect one body with the next. It will be noted that the sides and half-roof portions of each body are available for sliding of covers in any desired adjustable poistion.

Thus it is posible according to the invention to have slidably engaged with the bows at each side a cover half which is capable of forming a roof, a cover half which is capable of cooperating to form a side wall, and also a cover half of screening which can exclude insects. Thus in disassembled form there is no need to separately fold the cover halves since they can simply remain interconnected to the sides of the bows.

Once the cabana frame has been erected, the cover halves can be pushed down to provide complete sunshine, or the roof cover half on each side can be brought up into the roof position and cross connected at the ridge. If desired, however, only one roof cover half need be in place, the other half being allowed to admit the sun, or the wind. With the roof cover halves in position, or one of them in position, side walls can be formed to complete the protection, or the side walls can be gathered in a lower position so as to permit the extension of screens over the side walls. In any of these positions, cooperating cover halves can be joined at the ends to provide an end construction, or their end flaps can be left open or folded back out of the way.

All of the adjustment of the cover halves including joining or separating at the ridge and joining or separating at the ends can be accomplished by persons inside the cabana, making it unnecessary for the user to expose himself outside the cabana in order to accomplish such adjustments.

There is no requiremnt at any time that the cover halves on both sides be adjusted the same way. Thus one side can have a roof and a side wall, or a roof and a screen, while the other side is open but has a side wall or a screen, or the other side can be roofed but the lower part left open. Thus, there is complete independence as to whether a particular side has an extended roof, an extended side wall or an extended screen.

A simple ground cloth can be used with a cabana, or the ground cloth can have built into it such accessories as pillows, mattresses, and ditty bags for holding items desired by the user. Optionally the ground cloth can form a playpen and be adjusted to the correct height so that a toddler will remain within the cabana but can see over the top of the side wall.

The ground cloth can be joined to the bows by elastic loops so that in case the configuration of the ground prevents the ground cloth from lying normally flat, it will not distort the bows.

Thus, it will be evident that considering only the top and the side walls, each of which forms two separate pieces, if two persons are using the cabana, one can sun bathe and the other can remain in the shade by adjusting the roof and side walls. If the wind is carrying drifting sand in a certain direction, this problem can be met by adjustment of the roof and side walls on only one side of the cabana. Likewise, if it is desired to enjoy a breeze but to have some privacy, the ends can be left open while the roof and sides are closed.

The cabana is carried in a carrying case 30 having handles 31 and closed by a zipper 32.

When the cabana is to be erected at a suitable site, the bows and attached covers are removed from the carrying case. If a ground cloth is to be employed, the site is first levelled and the ground cloth 34 is spread out. The ground cloth may, if desired, be attached to the bows by elastic loops 35 surrounding the sides of the bows. The bows when removed from the carrying case are desirably placed on the ground stacked in a single pile. The two ridge pole portions are also removed from the carrying case.

Each of the end bows 36 and the middle how 37 is of U-form when open, and consists of sides 38 which when erected are vertical, and a connected roof half 38. The roof halves of each how are joined by a connection 40 near the middle on the end bows or by a connection 41 near the middle on the middle bows. Each of the connections 40 or 41 is capable of cooperating with a ridge pole 42 which has cooperating connections 43 at opposite ends. Thus, the connection on the end bows is a single male or plug 44 having a laterally extending pin 45 engaged by a sleeve connection 46 having a straight slot 47 provided with an offset locking portion 48 to receive the pin and form in effect a bayonet joint on slight relative rotation on the axis of the ridge pole.

In FIGURE 14 I show a modification of the connection in which instead of the pin a spring urged detent 50 protrudes radially from the plug and in locking position extends into a hole 51 at a corresponding point on the sleeve or ridge pole.

The only difference between the connection on the end bows and the connection on the middle bows is that the connection on the end bows is single and the connection on the middle bows is double.

The side of each bow at a convenient point, preferably near the half-roof portion, has a hinge 52 which is capable of permitting the sides to jackknife but can be held in straight position by a sleeve 53 which slides in a reduced section portion 54 of the side until it engages both hinged portions and prevents bending. The sleeve 53 is closely fitted to the side of the bow so that it will remain in frictional engagement at any position at which it is set and it can not unintentionally permit folding.

With the bows opened and the sliding sleeves 53 in position to hold the bows open, the topmost bow, which will be an end bow, is lifted ofl the pile and the middle bow is picked up, being careful that the covers to be described are not entangled with the lower ends of the bows. Holding the middle bow in a vertical position with the U inverted at the desired location, the user by exerting pressure on collars 55 held in position by machine screws 56 passing through openings 56' near the lower ends of the middle bow can press the pointed ends 57 on the sides into the sand or other reasonably soft earth. It is desirable before inserting the pointed ends into the earth to raise the covers above the ground by sliding them up along the sides in order to guard against damage to the fabric of the covers by the foot or the shoe.

With the center bow thus erected in a vertical position, one of the end bows can then be moved away from it until it correspondingly stretches the cover halves, and while in a vertical position one of the ridge poles is slid around the connectors at both ends and if a bayonet joint type is used, rotated to lock. Then lining this end bow up parallel to the middle bow, and raising the cover halves to protect them against damage, the collars on the end bow can be pressed to force the points on the end bow into the ground sufficient to hold it in place.

Next the opposite end bow is erected in a similar manner. The whole frame is now checked to make sure that the bows are vertical, the spacing between bows is correct as determined by the ridge poles and also as determined by the sliding engagement of the cover halves with the sides of the bows. After any required corrections have been made, the bows can all be firmly set into the ground by additional pressure on the collars until the collars are approximately at ground level.

In the preferred embodiment, each side of the cabana has in slidable engagement with it three sets of cover halves. When slidable engagement is referred to, it will be understood that this can be achieved by making a hem, as in a curtain, or by applying loops of tape which complete a surrounding relation with respect to the bows. The tape loops, of course, can be capable of being opened as by securing them with buttons or snaps, but it is often most convenient to hold the cover halves in place by the collars, and remove the collars by loosening the set screws when it is desired to slide off the cover halves over the ends of the particular sides of the bows.

It will be evident that each cover half is in slidable engagement with the same side of each of the bows, and is kept reasonably stretched by the position at which the various bows are placed with respect to one another.

Adjoining the roof area on each side of each bow and in freely slidable engagement on the bow without obstruction, is a roof half 60 having sliding portions 61 surrounding the bows, side and roof wall portions 62 and end flaps 63. Means are provided at the ridge to join the two halves together operating from the inside. A very satisfactory way of doing this is by sewing strips of a pressure engaging and pull detaching material 63' on one of the halves, a convenient form of this being card clothing or an equivalent used to attach womens skirts called Velcro, conveniently cooperating with a keeper portion 63 on the opposite flap, preferably formed of rough textile fabric. Likewise on one of the end flaps at each end there are strips of similar pressure engaging and pull detaching material 65, cooperating with keepers 65' permitting the flaps to be engaged to one another from the inside or permitting them to be fastened back out of the way. As a means of holding the flaps out of the way, auxiliary pressure engaging and pull detaching strips 66 cooperating with keepers 66 have been applied.

It will be understood that the roof halves can be assembled to make a complete roof with adjoining upper side walls, or one of them can be fixed in this form and the other can be gathered out of the way.

At a suitable point on the side walls, in slidable engagement with the side walls, I provide side wall cover halves 70, each of which has bow surrounding portions 71, side wall panels 72 and end flaps 73, with pressure engaging and pull detachable material 74 cooperating with keepers 74', to permit engagement of the end flaps from the inside and auxiliary pressure engaging and pull detachable material 76 cooperating with keepers 76', to permit holding the end flaps back out of the way if desired. The side wall covers can be arranged to close the distance between the bottom of the roof and the ground, as for example for protection against wind or rain, sand or insects, or they may be completely gathered out of the way in the upper position or the lower position, or they may be partially gathered.

Conveniently surrounding the side walls at a point above the side wall covers and below the roof halves, I provide cover halves which are of insect netting, conveniently mosquito netting having bow surrounding portions 81, side wall panels 82 and end flaps 83, pressure engaging and pull detaching material '84 for closing the end flaps and pressure engaging and pull detaching material 85 for holding the end flaps out of the way. It will be evident, of course, that any of the cover halves not desired can be removed by removing the machine screws 56 and taking off the collars, making the change in cover halves and then reapplying the collars and inserting the machine screws.

In the above description of the device itself, discussion has been made of assembly.

For disassembly it is desirable to detach the roof cover halves from one another at the top, and slide all the covers down on the bows until they are near the bottom. Then the connections between the ridge poles are released as by turning the ridge poles and pulling out if a bayonet joint is used, or pulling them out endwise if a snap joint is used. The ridge poles are then removed. The sleeves on the hinges are then slid longitudinally to make the hinges operative to permit the hinged joints to bend so that each lower side wall portion can jackknife, carrying with it the side cover halves which will fold into place. With the bows folded, they can be stacked on top of one another to form a neat pile and then placed in the carrying case, with the cover halves still connected to the bows.

It will be evident that the collars near the bottom of each bow serve two purposes. They serve as a means of pushing the pointed ends of the bows into the ground. Second, they serve as a means of retaining all covers on the bows so that it is not necessary to properly fold the covers in disassembling and to unfold them in assembly. This feature of carrying the covers on the bows is one of the great conveniences in erecting and disassembling the device.

If, however, it is desired to remove the covers as for cleaning, this can readily be done by removing the machine screws and removing the collars.

It will be evident that the bows will in most cases preferably be made of metal, preferably a corrosion resistant metal such as aluminum or stainless steel tubing for the bows proper, and wrought metal parts for the connections. It will be evident, however, that the frame can be made of plastic such as nylon. The covers will desirably be of fabric or of flexible plastic sheet. They are capable of being produced in numerous different colors and with printing or the like applied, as for example the names of colleges, cities or fraternities. Color combinations can be used to meet the needs of various organizations. Size can be adjusted merely by using different covers and extra bows for increased length or different bows for increased width.

The cabana of the invention can be used around home, as for example, as a playpen for small children or as a childs house for older children.

Various forms of ground cloths can be used with the device of the invention, or a ground cloth can be entirely omitted. In FIGURE 19 a ground cloth '34 has loops 3-5 adapted to receiver the lower portions of the bows under the collars, the loops being of elastic as previously described to adjust for differences-in spacing of the bows or contours of the ground. The ground cloth 34' as shown has a body portion 86 which may be a mattress if desired, pillows 87 and pockets 88 for storage, access being gained by opening slide fasteners 90. This and other ground cloths will be removed and rolled up separate from the cabana for the purposes of storage.

FIGURE 20 shows more in detail the ground cloth 34 of FIGURE 6, the end bows 36 and middle bow 37 being inserted through elastic loops 35 which are under the collars 55. In this case the ground cloth has not only a body portion 86 on the ground but has four side walls 91, each provided with a hem 92 at the top into which a suitably wood, plastic or metal stiffening rod 93 extends, the side walls being adjustable in height according to the age of a child and being adjusted in the correct height by tying laces 94 extending through any one of a series of adjustment holes 95 in the sides of the bows. The holes 95 are omitted in other figures merely for simplicity in illustration. It will be understood that covers will usually be provided but have been omitted in FIGURE 20 so as to show the ground cloth more clearly.

In view of my invention and disclosure, variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cabana, a frame comprising two end and one middle inverted U-shaped bows, each having two vertical sides, each having a half roof portion extending inward from each side, and near the center each having a connecting fitting, hinges on each vertical side of each bow, means for locking the hinges in extended position, ridge poles having cooperating connecting fittings, each ridge pole extending from one end bow to the middle bow and connected with the connecting fittings on the bows, cover halves one of which slidably engages on the upper portion of each vertical side and the adjoining half roof portion of each bow, the bows being unobstructed against sliding of the cover half on the sides and adjoining half-roof portions, means accessible from the inside of the cabana for joining together the cover halves at the center of the ridge, further cover halves separately slidable on lower portion of each vertical side of the bows from inside the cabana, and completing the projection in cooperation with the cover halves first mentioned, and removable collars near the lower ends of the vertical sides of the bows preventing unintended removal of the respective cover halves.

2. A cabana of claim 1, in combination with a ground cloth near the bottom of the sides, the ground cloth having a bottom and also having side walls adjustable in height, and fastening means for securing the side walls to the sides of the bows in an adjusted position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 992,383 5/1911 Paul 135-4 2,296,358 9/1942 Marinsky et al 135-1 2,865,386 12/1958 Burns 135-1 3,052,249 9/1962 Seaman et al 1351 KENNETH DOWNEY, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 1354

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