SPECIFICATIONArch form tent and frame thereforThis invention relates to tents.
It is well known to campers that the erection of a conventional tent involves a number of steps including unfolding the tent covering, putting together the poles, locating the poles in the tent covering, setting up the tent and locating and adjusting the rope guide lines.
Often at least three of four people are required to erect a tent and unskilled erection of the tent can often result in a tilted or unstable tent. In a case where the ground is uneven certain sides of a conventional tent can end up at right angles with the ground, and consequently the poles and guy lines are unable to withstand a strong wind. In addition components of the tent such as the poles can easily get lost while the tent is unfolded or being stored.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a multi-purpose arch form tent, comprising a foldable stretcher-strut assemblage and an enclosed exterior tent stretched to formation with interior strutting structures to make up altogether for the subject tent characteristic in that the strutting formwork is composed of:A protractor disk: hollow set, complete with a number of divider rods extending from a screw lever with a projecting centre from which divider rods are attached to radially, so that the periphery of the disk is divided into suitable number of equally sized necks.
A number of foot racks, identical to the necks as attached to the protractor disk in number, so that a rabbet in front of the foot rack may get attached to the neck reliably, the flat face on top of the rabbet tilted about 135-155 degrees with respect to the stem of the foot rack, the middle of the foot rack provided with a flexible fix mount, with which to divide the foot rack into an upper, and a lower section termed as struts, and to fold up such struts flush level or else have them stretched to open, the two conuugate struts will stand at a slope of 130-150 degrees when stretched to open, the upper strut being tilted to allow for coupling via the rabbet in front to the neck of the protractor disk, the terminal point of the lower stem sharpened to facilitate plunging in all stability into the earth to secure the tent structure.
An angle-press fix pan: executed to take the form of a flattened circumference complete with parallel, rough dents and a screw hole at the centre, manual exertion thereon will set it to rotate to lie aligned to a screw lever projecting from the centre of the protractor disk, such that the bottom face of the angle-press fix pan accomplished of tight-up rotation will react to oppress the front end of the foot rack for eventual engagement unto the flat face on top of the rabbet so that all the struts on the foot racks will be in a position to be stretched out to open at a slope but reliably secured to the ground.
A waterproof hood: an ellipsoid, characterized in that the female thread groove in middle will serve to couple with the exterior of the press-angle fix pan corresponding to the screw lever in middle of the protractor disk so as to prevent seepage of rainfalls, whereof the enclosed exterior tent consists of:An exterior bodyframe made up of waterproofing, tough strength canvas textures, sewed as it is according to the structure of the strutting members accomplished of setting, to make up for a poly-gonal arch form identical in number to the foot racks.
A round flat top: as the top of the tent, of tough and high strength material, provided with a sky hole in middle aligned to a screw lever at the centre of the protractor disk, to substantiate in a screw-on coupling with the angle-press fix pan by placement through the sky hole, so that the flat front in front of the foot rack may be tight-pressed to yield a fixation in radial directions.
Multiple windows: provided each on a suitable position on the sloped face corresponding to each angular setting, provided with mesh textiles within, the exterior being a window case that may be pulled open or closed, the window may be rolled up for fixing, characteristic in the achievement to multi-side, light accessibility and all-round ventilation, multiple rod canvas: located over all corners of the tent, attached with a foot rack within at about the same level as the setting position of the flexible fix mounting, complete with fastening rope within to fasten that portion of the foot rack below the flexible fix mounting, on both sides of the rod canvas there are provided zippers whilst the bottom is reinforced with base canvas.
Multiple movable ports: as provided on the faces on the undersides of the tent, complete with zippers on both sides, the width being the span covering consecutive zippers on the canvas side of a pair of struts lying face to face, of the same level as the flexible fix mounting so as to facilitate opening, closing, or removal of the movable port, that there is also provided a fastening device to facilitate up-rolling of the port to fixation, and that the port may be set to open as required in full to look like a pavilion.
A bottom canvas, of the same level as the foot racks, toughly structures, leak-proof and abrasion-proof, complete with a standing canvas face on each side, and rod canvas pullable from both sides, characterized in the provision of a snapping device on the canvas to serve to snap on the bottom of the movable port in full and to prevent the infiltration of raindrops.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an arch form tent frame comprising at least three legs each movably connected to a link member so that the legs are capable of movement to a first folded position wherein the legs are substantially parallel to one another and to a second erected position wherein the legs form an erected tent frame, the tent frame including clamp means which in combination with the linkage member can lock the legs into said second position.
Preferably the link member has a screw threaded stub with the legs pivotally connected to the member about the stub and the clamping means comprises a clamping disc screwed on the stub to bear against cam surfaces, such as flats, formed on the legs thereby to urge the legs into said second position and lock then into the position when the disc is screwed home. Each leg can also include at least two sections, adjacent sections being pivotally connected together at elbow joints, the joints restricting pivotal movement between adjacent sections to a predetermined angular range.The legs can also include means to vary the leg length wherein the leg is separated into two parts at this means to vary the leg length and facing ends of the leg parts have opposing threads, an elongate sleeve is adapted to receive the respective leg part so that rotation of the sleeve screws either on to or off both the threads at the same time.
Accordng to a still further aspect of the invention there is provided an arch form tent including an arch form tent frame as described in any one oF claims 1 to 6. Preferably the tent skin includes doors between adjacent legs, the doors comprising a flap closed by at least one zip.
The present invention therefore provides an arch form tent capable of serving as a field camping tent, as a sunshade at a seashore resort, as a resting pavilion in recreational grounds, as a sales tent, or else as a shade to cover extemporary articles, without using guy lines, and having economical space usage. In addition, the employment of doors between each leg allows each base of the tent to be partly opened as desired or to be opened fully so that the tent forms a regular pavilion. The provision of legs which can be moved from an erected position to a folded position reduces the risk that the legs and like members may get lost. In addition one individual alone can erect the frame into a stable form thereby saving in manpower and time. Also the collapsing and transport of the tent is greatly simplified.
By having each leg adjustable in length by means of a double head screw jacket or sleeve, each leg that is established against the ground can be adjusted by rotation of the sleeve, thus adapting the frame to various uneven ground surfaces. By having each leg in at least two sections the tent can take the form of a poly angular arch structure, similar to a pyramid or a mongolian pack, with a stable structure each side thereof tilted upwards such that wind produces a downward pressure on the tent.
Examples of the present invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tent frame in accordance with the present invention;Figure 2 is a perspective view of a tent skin adapted to cover the frame shown in Fig. 1;Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the tent legs joined to thelink member;Figure 4 is an enlarged three-dimensional view of an angular press-rod;Figure 5A is a perspective view of the double head screw jacket in the lower leg half;Figure 5B is a perspective view of the double head screw jacket in the upper leg half;Figure 6 is a perspective view of the elbow mounting connecting upper and lower leg halves.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the tent frame shown in Fig. 1 in a folded up form.
Referring to the drawings a tent frame in accordance with the invention comprises six legs 6 assembled together so that they can be folded up or stretched out in full. Each leg 6 is divided into two longitudinal leg halves 63 and 64 which are joined together at elbow mountings 61. The upper leg half 64 comprises two struts of hollow tube 641 and 642 connected together by a double head screw jacket or sleeve 65. Into the lower end of the strut 641 there is slidably located a flexible mounting 62. The upper end of the strut 641 is machined with a left-handed thread 643 to fit into a left-handed female thread groove 651 formed in the lower end of the double head screw jacket 65.
The slot 642 has an outer diameter such that it may be introduced into the hollow tube of the strut 641. Into the upper end of the strut 642 there is slidably located the lower end of an angular press-rod 66. The lower end of strut 642 is machined with a righthanded thread to fit into a right-handed female thread groove 652 formed in the upper end of the double head screw jacket 65. The front end of the left-handed thread 643 is provided with a notch 644 to receive a stop 645. As struts 641 and 642 are screwed into the double head screw jacket 65, the righthanded thread 646 enters into the tubing of the upper end of the strut 641. A guidance groove 647 provided in the right-handed threaded screw 646 locates slidably with the stop 645 so that when the double head screw jacket 65 is rotated both struts 641, 642 react together rather than having a relative rotational movement.
As the double head screw jacket 65 is rotated in one direction both struts 641 and 642 slide together since relative rotation is prevented by stop 645 and guidance groove 647. Consequently a rotary movement in one direction achieves shortening of the upper leg half 64. Conversely, when it is desired to increase the length of the upper leg half 64, the double head screw jacket 65 is rotated counter-clockwise, whereupon the strut 641 and 642 slide apart to achieve extension of the upper leg half 64.
The lower leg half 63 comprises two struts of hollow tubes 631 and 632 connected together by another double head screw jacket 68. The upper end of the strut 631 is welded to a flexible mounting 67 and the lower end thereof is machined with a right-handed thread 633 to fit into a right-handed female thread grooves 681 formed in the upper end of the double head screw jacket 68. The upper end of strut 632 is machined with a left-handed thread 634 to fit into a left handed female thread groove 682 formed in the lower end of the double head screw jacket 68. The lower end of the strut 632 is welded to a fix cone 69 which is to be plunged into the ground by means of the pointed tip.
Therefore as the double head screw jacket 68 is rotated in one direction both ends of the struts 631 and 632 approach to thereby shorten the lower leg half 63 and if the screw jacket 68 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction the ends of struts 631 and 632 move apart to thereby lengthen the lower leg half 63.
The two leg halves are joined together at the elbow mounting 61. A guidance path 61 3 on the inner wall of the elbow mounting 61 guides the ball 624 when the upper leg half 64 is pivoted about cotter pin 611. At each end of the path there is fixing hole 614 or 615. The fixing hole 615 is the correct location for the ball of the leg half when the tent frame is erected, that is to say at about 130-150 degrees with respect to the lower leg half 63. The fixing hole 614 is the correct location for the ball of the leg half when the tent frame is folded, that is to say flush with both sides of the lower strut 63.
The lower half of the elbow mounting 61 is penetrated by another cotter pin 61 2 which passes through a cotter hole 671 in the lower leg half flexible mounting 67. A hole 672 is provided adjacent the cotter hole 671 to accommodate a spring 673 and a fixing ball 674. A guidance path 616 on the inner wall of the elbow mounting 61 guides the ball when the lower leg half is pivoted about the cotter pin 612. At the end of each path there is a fixing hole 617 and 618. The fixing hole 618 is the corrent location for the ball of the leg half when the tent is erected. Fixing hole 61 7 is the correct location for the ball of the leg half when the tent frame is folded, that is to say lying flush when both faces of the upper leg half 62.
The angular press-rod located into the upper end of strut 642 is illustrated in Fig. 4 and includes a flat face 661 and a hook 664.
The hook connects with a central link member 8 which comprises a spoked disc having the outer rim divided into six necks 82 by spokes 81. The hook 662 hooks onto a neck 82 and is pivotablly locked thereto by a tongue and screws 666. Consequently each of the six legs can be connected to the link member 8. An axle 83 of the link member includes a thread which is inserted through a threaded aperture provided in a locking disc 7. As the disc is rotated on to the axle 83 and tightened up, it exerts pressure against the angular press-rod 66. The flat pan face 661 is arranged to lie at about 135-1 55 degrees with respect to the upper leg half 64. Consequently the locking disc keeps all the six feet 6 at a predetermined tilted angle with respect to the disc plane. The locking disc can be loosened to increase stability of the tent frame.A water repellant coverlet 9 can be provided over the axle to waterproof the tent.
Therefore in use to erect the frame the locking disc 7 is rotated to produce a tightening effect on the hook flat faces sandwiched between the locking disc and the central link member 8. Consequently all the upper leg halves together open out to a predetermined angle to form a stabilised balanced frame of the tent. The lower leg halves 63 are pivoted at the elbow mounting 61 to open out the frame still further, and by rotation of the double head screw jacket 65 and 68 in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction longitudinal adjustments of both upper and lower leg halves can be achieved to establish the frame of an arch form tent.
To fold up the frame the lower leg half 63 is bent at the elbow mounting 61 so that each lower leg half is parallel with the upper leg half. By undoing the locking disc 7, the flat faces 661 are no longer urged into the predetermined angular relationship. The frame can then be folded into a slim form with the legs parallel with the axle 83 thus accomplishing the dismantling of the frame for storage.
Referring specifically to Fig. 2 it is seen that a frame in accordance with the invention can be covered by an outer skin 5 to form an arch form tent. The skin is manufactured from quality tough textile and is provided with a central hole to facilitate access of the axle 83.
Skin 5 is designed to give a hexagonal arch form tent, each side complete with a window 51 and a port 52. The interior of the window 51 is a mesh tissue 511 serving to keep off mosquitoes, flies and other insects in addition to allowing ventilation. The window 51 can be rolled up for fixation by the union of a fix rope 512 to a button 513 above. Closing the window is achieved by attaching a button snap 514 to the window 51. The ventilation and light access are excellent because a window 51 is provided on each side of the tent.
The skin 5 is formed so that each of the six sides of the tent is provided with a port or door 52. Access to the port 52 is achieved by pulling open or closed a hinged coupling of a two-way sutured zipper 531 on the material 53 at each of the six corners of the tent and with zippers 521 on both sides of the port 52. Once two-way zippers 521 and 531 are pulled to open, the port 52 can be rolled up to allow one pair of exterior fastening ropes 522 together with another pair of fastening ropes 523 extending from within the tent to serve to fix the port 52 on the upper side of the skin. The material 53 can be attached to the lower leg half 63 by fastening on both sides of the leg 6 with a pair of interior fastening ropes 532.
The skin also comprises ground sheet material 54 linking the base of material 53 and also being sewed to barrier 541. The barrier includes a snap button 542 to connect with a corresponding button (not shown) of port 52 to thereby seal up the port 52 to prevent base seepage of rainfall into the tent. The number of ports can be selected as required and when all ports are rolled up the tent has an appearance like a pavilion.
To assemble the frame within the skin the closed up frame is passed through a port 52 so that the axle 83 protrudes through the central aperture in the skin 5. By rotating the disc 7 all the flat faces 661 are urged to open out the upper leg halves of each foot 6. The lower leg half 63 are then pivotally opened out one by one and the fixed cone 69 on the bottom of each foot is passed through iron rings (not shown) on each corner of the ground sheet and pushed into the ground.
The length of the upper leg half 64 can be increased by rotating the double head screw jackets 65, thus tightening up the skin 5.
These adjustments can take place to cope with uneven contours of the ground, specifically such adjustments require rotation of the double head screw jacket 68 to suit terrain peculiarities. Dismantling of the tent is done in reverse sequence. The waterproof coverlet 9 acts to waterproof the central aperture of the skin.