A PROFILE RAIL FOR FLOOD PROTECTION OF AN AWNING OR A TENT

Abstract

 A profile rail (1) for flood protection of an awning (4) or a tent is disclosed, which profile rail comprises a slit (2) arranged along the upper side thereof for receiving the edge of a plastic ground cover (5) in such a way that the edge of the plastic ground cover is lifted from the ground and the profile rail forms a barrier preventing water from entering under the plastic ground cover.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a profile rail, which is designed to be used as a means to prevent water from flooding an awning or a tent.

Background of the invention

[0002] It is a well-known problem that, during and after heavy cloudbursts, rain water falling on the top of a caravan and an awning connected thereto as well as on the ground around the caravan and awning will flow under the edge of the awning and into the awning during and on its way from higher to lower points of the ground. Similar problems are known when camping in a tent in rainy weather.

[0003] Such a flooding of an awning or a tent when the surrounding ground is not able to absorb the rain water fast enough have ruined many a camping trip.

[0004] To deal with water entering the awning, campers typically put a plastic ground cover on the ground in the awning. This may be sufficient if only a small volume of water enters the awning - but in the case of a cloudburst, the volume of entering water may be high, causing the water to float on top of the plastic ground cover.

[0005] The typical way of preventing water from entering the awning during cloudbursts is digging a ditch around the caravan and the awning in order to lead the water away.

Brief description of the invention

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution, which in a simple and reliable way overcomes the above-mentioned problems of water flooding awnings.

[0007] The present invention relates to a profile rail for flood protection of an awning or a tent, which profile rail comprises a slit arranged along the upper side thereof for receiving the edge of a plastic ground cover in such a way that the edge of the plastic ground cover is lifted from the ground and the profile rail forms a barrier preventing water from entering under the plastic ground cover.

[0008] The primary function of the invention is to avoid surface water, for instance from heavy rains, from entering an awning or a tent causing annoyance for the camper. The construction and design of the profile rail ensure retention of a plastic ground floor cover used to cover the ground within the awning or the tent and hinder water from entering into the awning and the tent.

[0009] Thus, the profile rail together with the plastic ground cover form an innovative water barrier protecting the awning or the tent from being flooded during cloudbursts.

[0010] In an embodiment of the invention, the profile rail is made from a plastic material, such as for instance acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

[0011] Such materials provide an optimal combination of material strength and flexibility and are able to ensure the necessary frictional forces to secure the plastic ground cover in the right place and position.

[0012] In an embodiment of the invention, the length of the profile rail is between 40 cm and 150 cm, preferably between 80 cm and 120 cm.

[0013] Such lengths make the profile rail easy to handle and position. In order to secure an awning or a tent from being flooded, a number of profile rails can be used end to end, the number depending on the horizontal dimensions of the awning or the tent.

[0014] Typically, it will be enough to place profile rails along the two sides of the awning or tent, which are closest to the highest point on the camp ground. Especially on very flat camp grounds, however, it may be advisable to place profile rails along all sides or the awning or tent.

[0015] In an embodiment of the invention, the height of the profile rail is between 25 mm and 100 mm, preferably between 40 mm and 60 mm.

[0016] In an embodiment of the invention, the width of the profile rail is between 50 mm and 200 mm, preferably between 80 mm and 120 mm.

[0017] Such dimensions of the profile rail have proven to result in the optimal stability and reliability of the flooding protection provided by the profile rails.

[0018] In an embodiment of the invention, the profile rail is provided with one or more holes or other means allowing it to be fixed to the ground with one or more pegs.

The drawings

[0019] In the following, an exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in further detail with reference to the drawings, of which

Fig. 1

is a perspective view of a profile rail according to an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2

is a cross-sectional view of the profile rail shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

is a schematic top view of a caravan and an awning as known in the art,

Fig. 4

is a schematic top view of a caravan and an awning with profile rails according to the present invention,

Fig. 5

is a schematic side view of the ground cover in an awning as known in the art, and

Fig. 6

is a schematic side view of the ground cover in an awning with profile rails according to the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

[0020] Figs. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a profile rail 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. As can be seen in these two figures, the profile rail 1 comprises a slit 2 for insertion of a plastic ground cover 5 (not shown in these figures). In the illustrated embodiment, the profile rail 1 is higher on one side of the slit 2 than on the other side thereof. This facilitates the insertion of the plastic ground cover 5 into the slit 2.

[0021] Fig. 3 is a schematic top view of a caravan 3 and an awning 4 with a plastic ground cover 5 as known in the art. This figure illustrates how water, which is not absorbed by the surrounding ground will often enter the awning 4 when flowing from the highest point 6 to the lowest point 7 of the camp ground. A plastic ground cover 5 may be placed on the ground within the awning 4 to protect a carpet 8 (not shown in this figure) from being wet and dirty.

[0022] Fig. 4 is a schematic top view of a caravan 3 and an awning 4 with a number of profile rails 1 according to the present invention. The difference from Fig. 3 is that, in Fig. 4, part of the edge of the plastic ground cover 5 is inserted into the slits 2 of a number of profile rails 1. These profile rails 1 cause the water to be redirected around the awning 4 on its way from the highest point 6 to the lowest point 7 of the camp ground rather than entering the awning 4.

[0023] Fig. 5 is a schematic side view of a plastic ground cover 5 and a carpet 8 in an awning 4 (not shown in this figure) as known in the art, which allow water to enter the awning 4 freely from any direction.

[0024] Fig. 6 is a schematic side view of a plastic ground cover 5 and a carpet 8 in an awning 4 (not shown in this figure), which is protected from being flooded with profile rails 1 according to the present invention. The figure illustrates how the edge of the plastic ground cover 5 is inserted into the slit 2 of the profile rail 1, whereby water is prevented from entering the awning 4 from the sides, which are protected by profile rails 1. In this way, the carpet 8 within the awning 4 can be kept dry and clean even in the case of severe cloudbursts.

[0025] Thus, an awning 4 or a tent can easily and fast be made "water proof' by simply placing the relevant number of profile rails 1 along the relevant sides of the awning 4 or tent and inserting the relevant edges of the plastic ground cover 5 into the slits 2 of the profile rails 1.

[0026] Obviously, the invention can be used more generally for protecting a given area from being flooded by water flowing across the ground.

List of reference numbers

[0027] 

1.

Profile rail

2.

Slit in profile rail

3.

Caravan

4.

Awning

5.

Plastic ground cover

6.

Highest point on the camp ground

7.

Lowest point on the camp ground

8.

Carpet in awning

9.

Length of profile rail

10.

Height of profile rail

11.

Width of profile rail

Claims

1. A profile rail (1) for flood protection of an awning (4) or a tent, which profile rail comprises a slit (2) arranged along the upper side thereof for receiving the edge of a plastic ground cover (5) in such a way that the edge of the plastic ground cover is lifted from the ground and the profile rail forms a barrier preventing water from entering under the plastic ground cover.

2. The profile rail according to claim 1, wherein the profile rail is made from a plastic material, such as for instance acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

3. The profile rail according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the length (9) of the profile rail is between 40 cm and 150 cm, preferably between 80 cm and 120 cm.

4. The profile rail according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the height (10) of the profile rail is between 25 mm and 100 mm, preferably between 40 mm and 60 mm.

5. The profile rail according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the width (11) of the profile rail is between 50 mm and 200 mm, preferably between 80 mm and 120 mm.

6. The profile rail according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the profile rail is provided with one or more holes or other means allowing it to be fixed to the ground with one or more pegs.

Drawing