Bicycle shelter assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9822528-B1
Application number	US-201715467745-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 23, 2017
Priority date	Mar 23, 2017
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to shelter assemblies for bicycles that can be custom designed in a variety of configurations using a relatively small number of modular, easily assembled components. The shelter assembly comprises at least first and second uprights, a crossbar bridging the first and second uprights, and a plurality of roof panels secured to the crossbar. Each roof panel is constructed from a shielding element and one or more rafter elements, which allows each roof panel to be independently rotatable to a plurality of different angles. By securing the roof panels to the crossbar, and in some embodiments the uprights, in a desired configuration, one may prepare a shelter assembly that is custom designed for a particular installation location.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A shelter assembly comprising:
a. first and second uprights;
b. a crossbar bridging the first and second uprights;
c. a plurality of roof panels secured to the crossbar, each roof panel comprising one or more rafter elements and a shielding element;
each rafter element comprising a body and a clamp,
the body comprising an upper body portion and a lower body portion separated along a length of the body by a slot, the slot being configured to receive the shielding element;
the clamp comprising a first portion integral with the body and a second portion, the second portion being attached to the first portion to form an aperture configured to accept the crossbar;

each shielding element being secured within the slots of the one or more rafter elements by a plurality of fasteners; and
wherein each roof panel is independently rotatable to a plurality of different angles by loosening one or more fasteners that attach the first portion and the second portion of the clamp, and each roof panel is securable to the crossbar at a desired angle by tightening the one or more fasteners that attach the first portion and the second portion of the clamp.

2. The shelter assembly of claim 1 , wherein each roof panel comprises two rafter elements.

3. The shelter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shielding element is a sheet of glass.

4. The shelter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the roof panels are also configured to be secured to the first upright and the second upright.

5. The shelter assembly of claim 4 , further comprising one or more roof panels secured to the first upright, the second upright, or a combination thereof.

6. The shelter assembly of claim 5 , further comprising one or more roof panels secured to the first upright and one or more roof panels secured to the second upright, the roof panels secured to the first and second uprights extending in the same direction as at least some of the plurality of roof panels secured to the crossbar.

7. The shelter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of roof panels are positioned at angles between about 20 degrees and about −20 degrees relative to horizontal.

8. The shelter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of roof panels extend from only one side of the crossbar.

9. The shelter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of roof panels extend from two sides of the crossbar.

10. The shelter assembly of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of roof panels are positioned at substantially the same angle relative to horizontal.

11. The shelter assembly of claim 9 , wherein
the plurality of roof panels extending from one side of the crossbar are positioned at an angle between about 1 degree and about 20 degrees relative to horizontal, and
the plurality of roof panels extending from the other side of the crossbar are positioned at an angle between about −1 degree and about −20 degrees relative to horizontal.

12. The shelter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of roof panels comprises a set of roof panels extending from one side of the crossbar, the set of roof panels comprising at least a first roof panel positioned at an angle between about 1 degree and about 20 degrees relative to horizontal and a second roof panel positioned at an angle between about −1 degree and about −20 degrees relative to horizontal.

13. The shelter assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second uprights comprises a T-joint at an upper end, each side of the T-joint being configured to attach to a crossbar.

14. The shelter assembly of claim 13 , further comprising an end cap covering at least one side of the T-joint.

15. The shelter assembly of claim 1 , further comprising
a. a third upright;
b. a second crossbar bridging the second upright and the third upright;
c. a plurality of roof panels secured to the second crossbar, each roof panel comprising one or more rafter elements and a shielding element;
each rafter element comprising a body and a clamp,
the body comprising an upper body portion and a lower body portion separated along a length of the body by a slot, the slot being configured to receive the shielding element;
the clamp comprising a first portion integral with the body and a second portion, the second portion being attached to the first portion to form an aperture configured to accept the crossbar;

each shielding element being secured within the slots of the one or more rafter elements by a plurality of fasteners; and
wherein each roof panel is independently rotatable to a plurality of different angles by loosening one or more fasteners that attach the first portion and the second portion of the clamp, and each roof panel is securable to the crossbar at a desired angle by tightening the one or more fasteners that attach the first portion and the second portion of the clamp.

16. The shelter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the slots of the one or more rafter elements extend at least 50% of the length of the shielding element.

17. The shelter assembly of claim 16 , wherein the slots of the one or more rafter elements extend about 66% of the length of the shielding element.

18. The shelter assembly of claim 1 , wherein a first set of three roof panels extend from a first side of the crossbar and the first set of roof panels span substantially the length of the crossbar.

19. The shelter assembly of claim 18 , wherein a second set of three roof panels extend from a second side of the crossbar and the second set of roof panels span substantially the length of the crossbar, and
wherein the first set of roof panels and the second set of roof panels are substantially aligned.

20. The shelter assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one bicycle parking structure or bicycle rack positioned underneath the plurality of roof panels.

Assignees

• Everlast Climbing Ind Inc

Inventors

• Greenblatt Joel
• Kennedy Lageson Andrew Patrick

Classifications

• E04H1/1205

  Small buildings erected in the open air (E04H1/1272 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E04B7/163 Primary

  characterised by a pivoting movement of the movable roof parts (E04B7/166 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E04H6/005

  Garages for vehicles on two wheels · CPC title

• B62H3/04

  involving forked supports of brackets for holding a wheel (B62H3/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E04D3/06

  of glass or other translucent material; Fixing means therefor (fixing glass panes by means applicable to windows E06B3/54) · CPC title