Tent positionable between collapsed and erect conditions

Abstract

 A tent (10) is disclosed having a skeleton support (18) for supporting a flexible tent body (12). The skeleton support comprises tent poles (16) and an apex junction member (20) for pivotally supporting one of the ends (22) of each of the tent poles (16). The opposite end of each of the tent poles (16) is coupled to the tent body (12). Each tent pole (16) is further provided with a joint member (56), movable between a first position for allowing pivotal movement of the pole (16) to facilitate movement of the tent (10) to its collapsed condition, and a second position in which the tent pole (16) is held in a tensioned non-pivotal position for holding the tent (10) in its erect condition.

Description

Background of the Invention:

Field of the Invention:

[0001] This invention relates generally to tents, and more particularly to a tent having an improved skeleton support means to facilitate movement of a tent between collapsed and erect conditions.

Description of the Prior Art:

[0002] One of the most enjoyable and relatively inexpensive recreational pursuits indulged in by families is camping. In addition to family camping, children generally love to indulge in organizational camp outings arranged, for example, by scout groups. When not indulging in the real thing, children love to act out camping in the backyard of the home. The need constantly exists for tents that can be erected in a short period of time, and when the camping is over, conveniently collapsed for storage.

Summary of the Invention:

[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide a tent that is readily positionable between collapsed and erect conditions. The tent comprises:
a flexible tent body;
skeleton support means for supporting the tent body, the skeleton support means comprising tent poles and apex junction means for pivotally supporting first ends of each of the tent poles;
means for coupling each of the opposite second ends of the tent poles to the tent body;
means for connecting the tent body to the skeleton support means; and
one-way joint means on each tent pole movable between a first position for allowing pivotal movement of the tent pole to facilitate movement of the tent to its collapsed condition, and a second position in which the tent pole is releasably held in a tensioned non-pivotal position for holding the tent in its erect condition.

[0004] Another object of the invention is to provide the tent skeleton support means with an apex junction means comprising a base member having a plurality of sockets. Each socket is adapted to receive a ball portion adjacent the cylindrical end of one of the tent poles for allowing pivotal movement of the tent pole relative to the base member to facilitate movement of the tent to its collapsed condition. The base member further has a partially blind elongated slot merging with each socket for receiving the cylindrical end of the tent pole for limiting pivotal movement of the tent pole in a direction for collapsing the tent.

[0005] Still another object of the invention is to provide a one-way joint means for each tent pole formed of first and second pole sections comprising a block secured to a tip of the first pole section, the block having a shoulder and a pair of spaced apart walls extending from the shoulder forming a first elongated slot, parallel to the pole, for receiving a tip of the second pole section. A pivot pin extends through the pair of walls and the tip of the second pole for providing a pivot about which the first and second pole sections pivot.

Brief Description of the Drawings:

[0006] In the detailed description of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a segmental side-elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the tent of this invention in its erect condition;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the apex junction means of the skeleton support, with a portion thereof broken away and showing two empty sockets and two sockets fitted with ball portions at the ends of two tent poles;

Fig. 3 is a side-elevational view of the apex junction means of Fig. 2 with a portion of the cover broken away;

Fig. 4 is a segmental section view taken substantially along line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a segmental section view taken substantially along line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a segmental section view similar to Fig. 5 showing pivotal movement of the ball portion end of a tent pole relative to the base member to facilitate collapsing and folding the tent into a small compact package;

Fig. 7 is a segmental side-elevational view of an adapter for releasably securing a tent pole end to the tent body;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side-elevational view of the one-way joint means in a position for allowing pivotal movement of the joint means and tent into its collapsed condition;

Fig. 9 is an end view of the joint means of Fig. 8 taken substantially along line 9-9 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the one-way joint means in a non-pivotal position for holding the tent pole in a tensioned position for supporting the tent in its erect condition, as seen in Fig. 6.

Detailed Description of the Invention:

[0007] Because tents and parts thereof are well known, the present description will be directed in particular to elements forming part of, or cooperating directly with, tent apparatus in accordance with the present invention. It is to be understood that elements not specifically shown or described may take various forms well known to those' skilled in the art.

[0008] With reference to Fig. 1, a preferred embodiment of a tent 10 of this invention is disclosed, comprising a tent body 12, only a part of which is shown, formed from any suitable fabric material, canvas or the like. The tent body 12 has angularly spaced elongated sleeves 14 extending outwardly from the body for receiving flexible tent poles 16 of plastic or the like. The tent poles are part of a skeleton support means 18 for supporting the tent body. The skeleton support means 18 further comprises an apex junction means 20 at the tent apex for pivotally supporting one of the ends 22 of each of four tent poles 16, only one of which is shown fully in Fig. 1.

[0009] With reference to Figs. 2 - 6, the apex junction means 20 comprises a base member 24 having four sockets 26 for receiving adapters 28 at the ends 22 of each tent pole 16. Each adapter 28 comprises a cylindrical end portion 30 merging with a ball portion 32, as best seen in Figs. 5 and 6. The cylindrical end portion 30 has a blind bore 34 for receiving end 22 of tent pole 16. The adapter 28 is secured to the tent pole by an arcuate washer 36 that is insertable through an elongated slot 38 in the ball portion 32 and pressed into locking engagement with the periphery of the tent pole. A substantially similar adapter 28, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 7, is provided at the opposite end 40 of each tent pole 16, in which similar parts are denoted by the same numerals primed. In these adapters 28′, the cylindrical end portion 30′ is provided with a pair of opposed detents 42 extending laterally outwardly from the periphery of the cylindrical end portion, only one of which is shown in Fig. 7. The adapters 28′ further have an annular stop ring 44 to limit the insertion of cylindrical end portion 30′ into openings in circular grommets at the end of outwardly extending tent flaps 46, as seen in Fig. 1. When an end portion 30′ is inserted, the detents 42 are initially depressed upon passage through the opening in the grommet and then expand for releasably securing the adapter end portion 30′ and tent pole 16 to the tent flap 46.

[0010] The base member 24 further has a partially blind elongated slot 48 on the undersurface thereof, merging with each socket 26 for receiving the cylindrical end portion 30 of each adapter 28 for limiting pivotal movement of the tent pole 16 in one direction, as best seen in Fig. 5. The one direction is indicated by arrow A in Figs. 1 and 5, and occurs when the tent poles 16 are tensioned for supporting the tent 10 in its erect condition. The apex junction means 20 further comprises a square cup-shaped cap member 50, which is secured by screws 52 or the like, to the base member 24 for holding the ball portions 32 within the sockets 26.

[0011] With reference to Figs. 8 - 10, a tent one-way joint means 54 is disclosed for joining the tips 56, 58 of two tent pole sections 60, 62 forming each tent pole 16. One tip 56 of tent pole section 60 is rotatably secured to a block member 64 of the joint means 54. The block member 64 has a blind bore 66 for receiving the tip 56 of tent pole section 60, and further has a recess 68 in the block member 64 in register with the tent pole section tip 56. The section tip is secured to the block member 64 by an arcuate washer 70 insertable through the recess 68 and pressed into locking engagement with the tent pole section tip 56. The block member 64 also has a shoulder 72 and a pair of spaced apart walls 74 extending from the shoulder forming a slot 76 parallel to the section pole tip 56. The slot 76 receives a sleeve 78 having a blind bore 80 for receiving the tip 58 of tent pole section 62, which is rigidly secured thereto by a press fit or the like. A pivot pin 82 extends through the pair of walls 74, and through an opening in the sleeve 78 to provide a pivot about which the tent pole section 62 pivots. The block member 64 additionally has a collar 84 for receiving one end of a strap 86 for securing the block member 64 to the tent body 12. The sleeve 78 further has a hook finger 88 to which laces, on corners of a rain fly, not shown, are secured for covering the top of the tent in the event of rain.

[0012] The tent body 12 is normally in its collapsed condition, with the joint means 54 in the position shown in Fig. 8. In this position, one end 22 of each of the tent poles 16 is pivotally secured to the apex junction means 20, and the opposite tent pole end 40 is releasably secured to the body tent flap 46. To place the tent 10 in its erect condition, the apex junction means 20 is raised upwardly and each tent pole section 62 is rotated in a clockwise direction in Fig. 8, until sleeve 78 engages the shoulder 72 on the block member 64. The tent block member is then rotated in either direction of rotation approximately 180° into the position illustrated in Fig. 10. In this position, the pole sections 60, 62 are tensioned and exert a force in the direction of arrow A, causing the shoulder 72 to exert a force against the sleeve 78 for releasably holding the tent in an erect condition, as seen in Fig. 1.

[0013] To collapse the tent 10, each block member 64 is grasped and rotated approximately 180° in either direction into the position illustrated in Fig. 8, allowing the tent pole sections 60, 62 to pivot towards one another for collapsing the tent.

[0014] While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described with particularity, it will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one having ordinary skill in the art upon being apprised of the present invention. It is intended to encompass all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A tent positionable between collapsed and erect conditions comprising:
a flexible tent body;
skeleton support means for supporting the tent body, the skeleton support means comprising tent poles and apex junction means for pivotally supporting first ends of each of the tent poles;
means for coupling each of the opposite second ends of the tent poles to the tent body;
means for connecting the tent body to the skeleton support means; and
one-way joint means on each tent pole movable between a first position for allowing pivotal movement of the tent pole toward the tent body to facilitate movement of the tent to its collapsed condition, and a second position in which the tent pole is releasably held in a tensioned non-pivotal position, preventing pivotal movement toward the tent body for holding the tent in its erect condition.

2. A tent according to claim 1, wherein said first ends of each tent pole has an adapter having an end portion and a ball portion adjacent the end portion, and wherein then apex junction means comprises a base member having a plurality of sockets, each socket adapted to receive one of the ball portions for allowing pivotal movement of the tent pole relative to the base member, and the base member further having a partially blind elongated slot merging with each socket for receiving the end portion of the adapter for limiting the pivotal movement of the tent pole in one direction.

3. A tent according to claim 2 wherein the elongated slot is semi-cylindrical, and merges with a side and bottom of the socket, and wherein the adapter end portion is cylindrical.

4. A tent according to claim 3 wherein the apex junction means further comprises a cap member secured to the base member for holding the ball portions within the sockets.

5. A tent according to claim 3 wherein the pole and end portion and ball portion of the adapter are integral and provided with an axial blind bore for receiving the first end of the tent pole.

6. A tent according to claim 5 wherein the ball portion has a slot in register with the first end of the tent pole, and wherein an arcuate washer is insertable through the slot and into engagement with the periphery of the first end for securing the adapter to the first end of the pole.

7. A tent according to claim 1 wherein each tent pole comprises first and second pole sections having first and second pole section tips, and wherein the joint means comprises a block member secured to the first pole section tip, the block member having a shoulder and a pair of spaced-apart walls extending from the shoulder to form a first slot parallel to the first pole section for receiving the second pole section tip, the joint means further comprising a pivot pin extending through the pair of walls and through the second pole section tip for forming a pivot for the second pole section.

8. A tent according to claim 7 wherein the block member has a blind bore for receiving the first pole section tip, a recess in register with the first pole section tip, and an arcuate washer insertable through the recess onto the periphery of the first pole section tip, for securing the first section tip to the block member.

9. A tent according to claim 7 wherein the skeleton support means partially encircles the tent body, wherein the connecting means comprises elongated sleeves extending outwardly from the tent body for receiving the tent poles, and wherein the joint means is rotatable between the first and second positions, and in the first position of the joint means, the shoulder faces the tent body, and the second pole section pivots toward the tent body, whereby the tent is collapsed, and wherein in the second position of the joint means, the shoulder faces away from the tent body and the second pole section tip and shoulder are forced into engagement when the tent pole is tensioned, whereby the tent is held in its erect position.

10. An apex junction means for pivotally supporting end portions of tent poles, each end portion having a ball portion adjacent thereto, the apex junction means comprising:
a base member having a plurality of sockets, each socket adapted to receive one of the ball portions for allowing pivotal movement of the tent pole relative to the base member, and the base member further having a partially blind elongated slot merging with each socket for receiving the end portion of the adapter for limiting pivotal movement of the tent pole in one direction.

11. An apex junction means according to claim 10, wherein the elongated slot is semi-cylindrical, and merges with a side and bottom of the socket, and wherein the pole end portion is cylindrical.

12. An apex junction means according to claim 11, and further comprising a cap member secured to the base member for holding the ball portions within the sockets.

13. An apex junction means according to claim 12, wherein the pole has a tip, and wherein the end portion and ball portion comprise an adapter provided with an axial blind bore for receiving the tip of the tent pole.

14. An apex junction means according to claim 13, wherein the ball portion has a slot in register with the tip of the tent pole, and wherein an arcuate washer is insertable through the slot and onto the periphery of the tip of the tent pole for securing the adapter to the tent pole.

15. A one-way joint means a tent for for joining first and second pole tips of first and second pole sections respectively of each tent pole, the one-way joint means comprising:
a block member secured to the first pole tip, the block member having a shoulder and a pair of spaced apart walls extending from the shoulder forming a first slot parallel to the first pole tip for receiving the second pole tip, and a pivot pin extending through the pair of walls and the second pole tip about which the second pole section pivots.

16. A one-way joint means according to claim 15, wherein the block member has a blind bore for receiving the first pole tip, a recess in register with the first pole tip, and an arcuate washer insertable through the recess and onto the periphery of the first pole tip for securing the first pole tip to the block.

17. A one-way joint means according to claim 16, wherein the one-way joint means is rotatable between first and second positions, and in the first position of the joint means, the shoulder faces the tent and the second pole section pivots one-way toward the tent, whereby the tent is collapsed, and wherein in the second position of the joint means, the shoulder faces away from the tent, and the second pole section and shoulder are forced into engagement with one another when the tent pole is tensioned, whereby the tent is held in its erect position.

Drawing