The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 16, 2002
Filed:
May. 07, 1999
Thomas R. Swetish, Racine, WI (US);
Johnson Outdoors Inc., Sturtevant, WI (US);
Abstract
A canopy structure includes a plurality of support beams and a plurality of flexible connecting panels therebetween. Each of the plurality of support beams is formed by an elongate spine extending along an arc and first and second tension panels extending from the strip non-parallel to one another. The connecting panels extend between and interconnect the first and second tension panels of adjacent support beams, respectively. In the exemplary embodiment, each support beam includes a sleeve between the first and second tension panels, wherein the sleeve removably receives the spine. Each spine preferably comprises a strip that has a longitudinal length and a transverse width extending in a plane, wherein the strip is resiliently flexible in a direction non-parallel the plane and inflexible in a direction parallel to the plane and wherein the strip is arcuately deformed along its longitudinal length when inserted into the sleeve. In the exemplary embodiment, the first and second support beams cross one another at an apex. The first and second tension panels of each support beam divergently extend from the spine at a first acute angle proximate the apex and at a second greater acute angle distant the apex.