[0001] The present invention relates to a field tent, and a relative tent mounting kit.
[0002] Field tents which are transportable for civil defense or military camps or for field
hospitals are known in the art.
[0003] In particular, the medium-sized residential tents of the background art, intended
for medium-long term use, for example, tents with dimensions of about six meters by
six meters, require a long time for the unfolding thereof, even up to 45 minutes.
Such timings, in certain situations, may be excessive.
[0004] Quick unfolding tents exist in the background art, in which an outer load-bearing
structure supports an inner tent which is attached to the structure by means of special
tie rods and pulleys. Such type of tent allows for a quick unfolding, even over a
time span of about ten minutes.
[0005] Unfortunately, even though such quick unfolding tents allow to obtain a first shelter
from bad weather, they do not allow the maintenance of the structure in the medium
to long term, due to the poor load-bearing capacities and the low insulation capacity
in cold temperatures and under atmospheric agents. Furthermore, to maintain the structure
for a certain period of time, it is necessary to install special tie-rods that allow
to increase the load-bearing features.
[0006] The need is therefore felt for a quick assembly field tent capable of being assembled
quickly and which is capable of maintaining both the load-bearing features and the
thermal insulation degree of tents with a medium-long term duration.
[0007] One of the objects of the present invention is to propose a field tent and a mounting
kit capable of overcoming the aforesaid drawbacks of the background art.
[0008] Such objects are achieved by means of a field tent and a kit in accordance with the
attached independent claims. The dependent claims describe preferred or advantageous
embodiments.
[0009] The features and advantages of the field tent and of the kit in accordance with the
invention will however be evident from the following description of preferred embodiments
thereof, given by way indication and not by way of limitation, with reference to the
attached Figures, in which:
Figure 1 shows an axonometric view of a field tent in accordance with an embodiment
of the invention;
Figure 2 shows an axonometric view of a field tent in accordance with an embodiment
of the invention in which the outer sheet is not present;
Figure 3 shows a front elevation view of the field tent in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention;
Figure 4 shows a sectional view along the section plane AA of Figure 2 of a structural
element in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 shows an enlargement of a detail of Figure 3.
[0010] With reference to the aforesaid Figures, reference numeral 1 generally indicates
a quick assembly field tent. It is clear that field tent means any tent adapted to
be used in the military sector or by civil defense operators to set up temporary hospitals
or for temporary hospitalization as personal accommodation or as a command center,
meeting room, field office, club or meeting recreational tent or laundry. From now
onwards, for simplicity, the field tent 1 will be indicated simply with the term tent.
[0011] The tent 1 comprises a plurality of arch frames 10, 11, 12 which extend vertically
by a predefined height H with respect to a supporting surface P. The arch frames 10
are arranged in a mutually spaced-apart manner along a longitudinal direction X perpendicular
to the vertical direction and lying on the supporting surface P. Each arch frame 10,
11, 12 comprises one or more structural elements 100, each having a pair of first
channels 150, 151 with an open annular section which extend along a prevailing direction
(Y) of the structural element.
[0012] The plurality of arch frames is therefore arranged to form the arch of the tent 1.
[0013] The tent 1 comprises at least one outer sheet 2, comprising at least one enlarged
edge portion 21 received in a channel 151 of the pair of first channels 150, 151 with
an open annular section of the structural element. The outer sheet 2 is arranged so
as to form an outer cover of the tent 1, for example the most external cover directly
subjected to atmospheric agents.
[0014] The tent 1 comprises at least an inner sheet 3, shaped so as to comprise a roof portion
31 and vertical side walls 32 joined to the roof portion 31. Such inner sheet 3 is
arranged internally to the outer sheet 2 and at least partially spaced from the outer
sheet 2.
[0015] Furthermore, the inner sheet 3 comprises a hooking portion 33 which is enlarged with
respect to the thickness of the inner sheet 3. Such hooking portion 33 is arranged
on the side of an outer side 300 of the inner sheet 3, i.e., facing towards the outer
sheet 2 (or on the opposite side from the accessible inner volume V of the tent).
[0016] The hooking portion 33 mainly extends along a direction parallel to the longitudinal
direction X.
[0017] In accordance with the invention, the tent 1 comprises a plurality of pulling cables
4, 4', 4", in which each pulling cable 4, 4', 4" comprises at a first end 41 thereof
a hooking device 5, 5', 5" comprising a seat with an open annular section 51 in which
the hooking portion 33 is slidably inserted in a direction parallel to the longitudinal
direction X. The hooking portion 33 is inserted in the seat with an open annular section
51 so that the hooking portion 33 is constrained to remain in the open annular seat
51 when stressed in the other directions of the space perpendicular to the longitudinal
direction X.
[0018] The pulling cable 4 is therefore subjected to tension, for example, by means of special
pulleys fastened to the arch frame 10, to support the inner sheet 3 in the unfolded
configuration thereof to form the accessible inner volume V of the tent, which provides
a shelter. When the pulling cable 4 is subjected to tension, the hooking portion 33
remains inside the open annular seat 51.
[0019] Preferably, the arch frame 10 is constructed with a plurality of structural elements
including vertical legs 100, 100' which define the vertical walls of the tent, a plurality
of ridges 100a, 100b which extend at an angle with respect to the legs 100, 100' and
which meet at the vertex 1000 of the tent 1. A plurality of purlins 160, which extend
longitudinally, extend between the arch frames 10.
[0020] The arch frame 10 is preferably a free-span tent frame without inner poles.
[0021] Preferably the legs 100, 100' are assembled on feet 116, 116' which rest on the surface
P on which the tent 1 is built. Preferably, during installation, the feet 116 allow
the legs 100, 100' to be rotated from a horizontal position to a vertical position.
[0022] Furthermore, preferably, the tent 1 may comprise strands 118 in predetermined positions
which extend between the various structural elements to provide greater support and
stability to the structure.
[0023] In a preferred embodiment, for example, shown in Figure 4, the structural element
100 is preferably with a quadrangular section, for example, it is an empty-box-shaped
element. Preferably, the structural element 100 is formed from extruded metal, and
more conventionally from extruded aluminum.
[0024] Preferably, near the corners of the quadrangular shape, the channels 150, 151, 152,
153 with an open annular section or in a C-shape are formed, which extend along the
entire length of the structural element 100.
[0025] Preferably, the pair of first channels with an open annular section 150, 151 is arranged
at two corners of the quadrangular section and a pair of second channels with an open
annular section 152, 153 is arranged at the other two remaining corners of the quadrangular
section.
[0026] "Open annular shape" or "C-shape" means a shape or an arrangement which has a mouth
leading towards an enlarged cavity. The mouth is narrowed with respect to the enlarged
cavity and provides an undercut arrangement so that an enlarged object within the
enlarged cavity may not be pulled, without deformation, through the mouth.
[0027] The channels 150, 151, 152, 153 are used to engage the enlarged edge portion 21.
[0028] Preferably, the enlarged edge portion 21 and/or the enlarged hooking portion 33 is
formed by folding an edge portion of the fabric of the sheet backwards on itself to
form a pocket which receives a piece of cable to produce the enlarged or bulb-shaped
cross-section, as shown in Figure 4 or in Figure 5. The enlarged edge portion 21 and/or
the enlarged hooking portion 33 is axially inserted in one of the channels with an
open annular section to respectively fasten the sheet to the structural element or
to the hooking device 5.
[0029] Preferably, the enlarged hooking portion 33 is a channel formed with the fabric of
the sheet inside which a cable is inserted, preferably a cable of plastic or elastomeric
material more rigid than the sheet material or a metal cable.
[0030] A particular example of such a type of enlarged edge portion 21 or enlarged hooking
portion 33 is the "Two Flap" Keder design, produced by the American company Keder,
Inc. of Rindge, N.H.
[0031] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, therefore, the structural element
100 also comprises a pair of second channels with an open annular section 152, 153
which extend along a prevailing direction of the structural element. Furthermore,
at least one second sheet 2', comprising at least one second enlarged edge portion
22 received in a channel 152 of the pair of second channels with an open annular section
152, 153 of the structural element, said second sheet 2' being arranged in a spaced
manner with respect to the outer sheet 2 in the direction that proceeds from the outside
of the tent 2 towards the inside of the tent.
[0032] It is clear that, preferably, further respective enlarged edge portions 21', 22'
of further respective sheets are inserted in the remaining channels 150 and 153 of
the structural element.
[0033] Preferably, the enlarged edge portion 21 and the channel of the pair of first open
annular section channels 151 form a kedler-type coupling.
[0034] Preferably, the enlarged coupling hooking portion 33 and the open annular seat 51
form a kedler-type coupling.
[0035] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the tent 1 comprises at least one
second inner sheet 3', joined to and arranged inside the inner sheet 3. Preferably,
therefore, a double inner sheet is formed.
[0036] Preferably, the second inner sheet 3' is joined to the inner sheet 3 only in some
joining regions 300, 300', 300" and is at least partially internally spaced from the
inner sheet 3 in the remaining regions internally, i.e., it is spaced towards the
interior of the inner volume V. This allows to create a further layer of thermal insulation
with the outside. Preferably, the second inner sheet 3' is joined to the inner sheet
3 by means of hooking means, preferably ogives.
[0037] In a preferred embodiment, shown for example in Figures 2 and 5, the hooking device
5, 5', 5" is a metal section bar, preferably an aluminum section bar, which extends
longitudinally substantially over the entire length of the inner sheet 3.
[0038] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the enlarged hooking portion
33 is arranged at the joining portion between the roof portion 31 and the vertical
side walls 32. This allows to obtain well laid out vertical side walls 32, minimizing
the risk of them forming a catenary shape between an arch frame and the next one,
therefore increasing the internal work volume of the tent and improving the overall
aesthetics.
[0039] Furthermore, preferably, the enlarged hooking portion 33 is arranged at the vertex
of the roof portion 31, obtaining further volumetric and aesthetic advantages.
[0040] Furthermore, preferably, the hooking portion 33 extends substantially longitudinally
over the entire length of the inner sheet 3.
[0041] It is apparent that it is also an object of the present invention a mounting kit
for a tent 1 described in the previous paragraphs. The kit comprises a plurality of
structural elements 100, 100', 100a, 100b, each having a pair of first channels with
an open annular section 150, 151 which extend along a prevailing direction of the
structural element. Furthermore, the kit comprises at least one outer sheet 2, comprising
at least one enlarged edge portion 21 adapted to be received in a channel of the pair
of first channels with an open annular section 151 of the structural element. The
external sheet 2 is adapted to be arranged so as to form an outer cover of the tent
1.
[0042] The kit further comprises an inner sheet 3, shaped so as to comprise a roof portion
31 and vertical side walls 32 joined to the roof portion 31. Such inner sheet 3 is
adapted to be arranged internally to the outer sheet 2 and at least partially spaced
from the outer sheet 2.
[0043] Preferably, the inner sheet 3 is therefore a large sack, in the shape of a tent,
which only needs to be unfolded.
[0044] As previously described, the inner sheet 3 further comprises a hooking portion 33
which is enlarged with respect to the thickness of the inner sheet 3. Such hooking
portion 33 is arranged on an outer side 300 of the inner sheet 3.
[0045] The kit further comprises a plurality of pulling cables 4, 4', 4", wherein each pulling
cable 4, 4', 4" comprises at a first end 41 thereof a hooking device 5, 5', 5" comprising
an open annular seat 51 in which the hooking portion 33 is suitable for being slidably
inserted.
[0046] Preferably, all the components of the kit have shapes and dimensions such as to be
inserted in a container for transport, for example, an ISO 20' container, or in standard
463 L air-transportable pallets.
[0047] According to an aspect, it is a further object of the present invention, a quick
assembly exoskeleton-type field tent, i.e., a tent without the outer sheet 2 and only
comprising the arch frames and the inner sheet 3 and/or the second inner sheet 3'.
For example, a tent shown in Figure 2.
[0048] Preferably, therefore, the technical features described above with reference to the
inner sheet 3 and to the second inner sheet 3', to the hooking device 5, to the pulling
cables and to the arch frames are also applicable to the exoskeleton-type field tent.
[0049] In particular, the exoskeleton-type field tent comprises a plurality of arch frames
(10, 11, 12), optionally made as described in the previous paragraphs, which extend
vertically by a predefined height (H) with respect to a supporting surface (P) and
arranged in a mutually spaced-apart manner along a longitudinal direction (X) perpendicular
to the vertical direction and lying on the supporting surface (P). Such plurality
of arch frames is arranged to form the arch of the tent (1).
[0050] The exoskeleton-type field tent comprises at least one inner sheet 3, shaped so as
to comprise a roof portion 31 and vertical side walls 32 joined to the roof portion
31. The inner sheet 3 is arranged internally to the plurality of arch frames 10, 11,
12 and at least partially spaced from the arch frames 10, 11, 12. The inner frame
3 is installed so as to leave the arch frames totally visible to an observer.
[0051] The inner sheet 3 comprises a hooking portion 33 enlarged with respect to the thickness
of the inner sheet 3, arranged on an outer side 300 of the inner sheet 3, i.e., turned
towards the arch frames 10, 11, 12. The enlarged hooking portion 33 mainly extends
along a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction X, as in the case of the
field tent described above.
[0052] Furthermore, as for the field tent, a plurality of pulling cables 4, 4', 4" supports
the inner sheet 3 in a hanging manner. I.e., each pulling cable 4, 4', 4" is subjected
to a tension to support the inner sheet 3 in the unfolded configuration thereof to
form an accessible inner volume V of the tent. Each pulling cable 4, 4', 4" comprises
at a first end 41 thereof a hooking device 5, 5', 5" comprising a seat with an open
annular section 51 in which the hooking portion 33 is slidably inserted in a direction
parallel to the longitudinal direction X. Thereby, the hooking portion 33 is constrained
to remain in the open annular seat 51 when stressed in the other directions of the
space perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, said pulling cable (4) being.
[0053] As for the field tent, the hooking device 5, 5', 5'' is a metal section bar, preferably
an aluminum section bar, extending longitudinally substantially over the entire length
of the inner sheet 3 so as to provide a kedler-type coupling between the enlarged
hooking portion 33 and the open annular seat 51.
[0054] Innovatively, the quick assembly tent and the kit according to the present invention
allow to solve the drawbacks associated with the background art. In particular, the
tent according to the present invention allows to obtain very quick inner sheet unfolding
and assembly times, and, at the same time, it ensures the possibility of easily obtaining
a tent with a medium-long term duration, by virtue of the possibility of installing
on the same load-bearing structure also one or more outer sheets, typical of medium-long
term tents.
[0055] Therefore, by virtue of the present invention, the load-bearing features of medium-long
term duration tents are maintained, and at the same time the possibility of a rapid
installation of a tent with the inner sheet alone or with inner sheet and second inner
sheet, i.e., with double inner sheet, is ensured.
[0056] Furthermore, by virtue of the presence of an outer sheet and of an inner sheet, the
insulation features of the medium-long term tents are ensured.
[0057] Furthermore, advantageously, by virtue of the possibility of simply installing a
further inner sheet and/or a further outer sheet, for a total of four sheets, the
thermal insulation features of the tent are further improved compared to any tent
of the background art.
[0058] Furthermore, advantageously, the use of a load-bearing structure, conventional in
medium-long term tents, avoids the use of tie rods outside the tent.
[0059] Furthermore, by virtue of the presence of an aluminum section bar arranged near the
junction region between the vertical side walls and the walls of the roof of the inner
sheet, a tent is obtained with vertical walls, not deformed, with an optimal inner
working volume. I.e., it applies to both the field tent and the exoskeleton-type field
tent.
[0060] It is clear that, preferably, the exoskeleton-type field tent has a double inner
sheet, i.e., the inner sheet which is directly subjected to the atmospheric agents
and the second inner sheet 3' arranged internally to the inner sheet 3 which has a
thermo-insulating function.
[0061] Still advantageously, by virtue of the possibility of mounting an outer sheet directly
on the arch frame which supports the inner sheet, it allows to install a shading outer
sheet without the need for further modifications, therefore improving the summer use
features.
[0062] A person skilled in the art, in order to satisfy specific needs, may modify the embodiments
of the tent and of the kit according to the present invention, or replace elements
with others functionally equivalent.
[0063] Such variants are also included in the scope of protection as defined by the following
claims.
1. Quick assembly field tent (1), comprising:
- a plurality of arch frames (10, 11, 12) which extend vertically by a predefined
height (H) with respect to a supporting surface (P) and arranged in a mutually spaced-apart
manner along a longitudinal direction (X) perpendicular to the vertical direction
lying on the supporting surface (P), each arch frame (10, 11, 12) comprising at least
one structural element (100) having a pair of first channels with an open annular
section (150, 151) which extend along a prevailing direction of the structural element,
said plurality of arch frames being arranged to form the arch of the tent (1);
- at least one outer sheet (2), comprising at least one enlarged edge portion (21)
received in a channel of the pair of first channels with an open annular section (151)
of the structural element, said outer sheet (2) being arranged s as to form an outer
cover of the tent (1);
- at least one inner sheet (3), shaped so as to comprise a roof portion (31) and vertical
side walls (32) joined to the roof portion (31), said inner sheet (3) being arranged
internally to the outer sheet (2) and at least partially spaced from the outer sheet
(2), said inner sheet (3) comprising a hooking portion (33) enlarged with respect
to the thickness of the inner sheet (3), said hooking portion (33) being arranged
on an outer side (300) of the inner sheet (3), i.e. facing the outer sheet (2), and
extending mainly along a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction (X);
- a plurality of pulling cables (4, 4', 4"), wherein each pulling cable (4, 4', 4")
comprises at a first end (41) thereof a hooking device (5, 5', 5") comprising an open
annular seat (51) in which the hooking portion (33) is slidably inserted in a direction
parallel to the longitudinal direction (X) and so that the hooking portion (33) is
constrained to remain in the open annular seat (51) when stressed in the other directions
of the space perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X), said pulling cable (4)
being subjected to tension to support the inner sheet (3) in its unfolded configuration
to form an accessible inner volume (V) of the tent.
2. Field tent (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one structural element (100)
also comprises a pair of second channels with an open annular section (152, 153) which
extend along a prevailing direction of the structural element,
and wherein the tent further comprises at least one second sheet (2'), comprising
at least one second enlarged edge portion (22) received in a channel (152) of the
pair of second with an open annular section (152, 153) of the structural element,
said second sheet (2') being arranged in a spaced manner with respect to the outer
sheet (2) in the direction that proceeds from the outside of the tent (1) towards
the inside of the tent.
3. Field tent (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one
second inner sheet (3'), joined to the inner sheet (3).
4. Field tent (1) according to claim 3, wherein the second inner sheet (3') is joined
to the inner sheet (3) only in some joining regions (300, 300', 300") and is at least
partially internally spaced from the inner sheet (3) in the remaining regions internally,
i.e. it is spaced towards the interior of the inner volume V.
5. Field tent (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the enlarged
hooking portion (33) is a channel formed with the fabric of the sheet inside which
a cable is inserted, preferably a cable of plastic or elastomeric material more rigid
than the sheet material or a metal cable.
6. Field tent (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the enlarged
hooking portion (33) and the open annular seat (51) form a kedler-type coupling.
7. Field tent (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the enlarged
edge portion (21) and the channel of the pair of first open annular section channels
(151) form a kedler-type coupling.
8. Field tent (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the structural
element (100) is a metallic element with a quadrangular section, wherein the pair
of first channels with an open annular section (150, 151) is arranged at two corners
of the quadrangular section and the pair of second channels with an open annular section
(152, 153) is arranged at the other two remaining corners of the quadrangular section.
9. Field tent (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hooking device
(5, 5', 5") is a metal section bar, preferably an aluminum section bar, which extends
longitudinally substantially over the entire length of the inner sheet (3).
10. Field tent (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the enlarged
hooking portion (33) is arranged at the joining portion between the roof portion (31)
and the vertical side walls (32).
11. Field tent (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the enlarged
hooking portion (33) is arranged at the vertex of the roof portion (31).
12. Field tent (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hooking portion
(33) extends longitudinally substantially over the entire length of the inner sheet
(3).
13. Exoskeleton-type quick assembly field tent, comprising:
- a plurality of arch frames (10, 11, 12) which extend vertically by a predefined
height (H) with respect to a supporting surface (P) and arranged in a mutually spaced-apart
manner along a longitudinal direction (X) perpendicular to the vertical direction
and lying on the supporting surface (P), said plurality of arch frames being arranged
to form the arch of the tent (1);
- at least one inner sheet (3), shaped so as to comprise a roof portion (31) and vertical
side walls (32) joined to the roof portion (31), said inner sheet (3) being arranged
internally to the plurality of arch frames (10, 11, 12) and at least partially spaced
from the arch frames (10, 11, 12), said inner sheet (3) comprising a hooking portion
(33) enlarged with respect to the thickness of the inner sheet (3), said hooking portion
(33) being arranged on an outer side (300) of the inner sheet (3), i.e. facing the
arch frames (10, 11, 12), and extending mainly along a direction parallel to the longitudinal
direction (X);
- a plurality of pulling cables (4, 4', 4"), wherein each pulling cable (4, 4', 4")
comprises at a first end (41) thereof a hooking device (5, 5', 5") comprising an open
annular seat (51) in which the hooking portion (33) is slidably inserted in a direction
parallel to the longitudinal direction (X) and so that the hooking portion (33) is
constrained to remain in the open annular seat (51) when stressed in the other directions
of the space perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X), said pulling cable (4)
being subjected to tension to support the inner sheet (3) in its unfolded configuration
to form an accessible inner volume (V) of the tent.
14. Field tent according to claim 13, wherein the hooking device (5, 5', 5") is a metal
section bar, preferably an aluminum section bar, extending longitudinally substantially
over the entire length of the inner sheet (3) so as to provide a kedler-type coupling
between the enlarged hooking portion (33) and the open annular seat (51) .
15. Mounting kit for a tent according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising:
- a plurality of structural elements (100), each having a pair of first channels with
an open annular section (150, 151) which extend along a prevailing direction of the
structural element;
- at least one outer sheet (2), comprising at least one enlarged edge portion (21)
suitable for being received in a channel (151) of the pair of first channels with
an open annular section of the structural element, said outer sheet (2) being suitable
for being arranged s as to form an outer cover of the tent (1);
- at least one inner sheet (3), shaped so as to comprise a roof portion (31) and vertical
side walls (32) joined to the roof portion (31), said inner sheet (3) being suitable
for being arranged internally to the outer sheet (2) and at least partially spaced
from the outer sheet (2), said inner sheet (3) comprising a hooking portion (33) enlarged
with respect to the thickness of the inner sheet (3), said hooking portion (33) being
arranged on an outer side (300) of the inner sheet (3);
- a plurality of pulling cables (4, 4', 4"), wherein each pulling cable (4, 4', 4")
comprises at a first end (41) thereof a hooking device (5, 5', 5") comprising an open
annular seat (51) in which the hooking portion (33) is suitable for being slidably
inserted.