AU2012100411A4 - Folding roof tent bad weather upgrade - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract The invention enhances the performance of folding car roof top tents in bad weather situations. With traditional folding car roof top tent designs, moisture can find its way into the tent through pooling spots over the tent entrance area or the mattress acting as a wick. The improvement is achieved by means of introducing an additional pole as well as a mattress protector into the tent design. D k inside view

Description

1 Description Car roof top tents have long been know and used to provide accommodation in camping, work or expedition situations. They come in two different types of construction, namely hard shell roof top tents and folding roof top tents. This patent application applies to folding models only, which all share a similar basic design, i.e. they have 2 or 3 n-shaped poles hinged at the centre of the tent (labels A, B and C in attached drawings 1-3) and a separately hinged n-shaped pole over the tent entrance (label D), which in some models can also be hinged at the same pivot point as the other poles. This folding roof top tent design is commonly used, since it is tried and proven, however, there is one drawback when using these models in heavy rain or snowfall conditions: theses tent are prone to pooling water between the pole over the entrance and its adjacent pole (labels D and C). Pooling water will eventually result in water leaking into the tent and compromising its main functionality of providing shelter from the elements. Moreover, in these conditions the tent's sleeping mattress (most commonly made from foam with a cotton or poly-cotton cover) touching the tent canvas, will result in the undesirable effect of moisture wicking through the tent walls at the points of contact. The invention at hand solves these adverse weather problems by proposing an additional tent pole in the entrance area of the tent and a mattress protector. 1. pole in entrance area By introducing an additional pole (label E), which connects the entrance pole (label D) with either of the poles labeled B or C, the tent roof is prevented from sagging and pooling water or snow over the entrance area. The introduced pole supports the tent roof in this area and helps water and snow run-off. The introduced pole is removable, as it would prevent the tent from folding back together, if it was a permanent installation. To achieve this, both pole ends are equipped with clip on connectors (label G) and the roof tent design has been modified to accommodate a pole sleeve over the tent entrance through which the pole is fed (label F). If the pole is not 2 required (i.e. in good weather conditions), the sleeve remains closed. The pole is of a telescopic nature, so it can be tensioned to achieve the necessary tent roof support. 2. mattress protector By introducing an impermeable barrier between the tent's sleeping mattress and its hull material, the issue of moisture wicking through can be avoided (see drawing 4). It is proposed that such a barrier should be made from materials such as vinyl, PVC or similar and projects above the mattress by at least a few centimetres. To prevent the protector from sliding, it is wedged in between the underside of the mattress and the tent base. It may even be fixed in position by means of velcro connectors, stitching, rivets or screws. So as to not damage the mattress protector when folding the tent, fins or cut-outs around the tent centre hinges of the tent may be deployed.

Claims (2)

1. A folding car roof tent design wherein the introduction of an additional, telescopic pole over the entrance area eliminates the common problem of water or snow pooling in that area of the tent's roof.

2. A folding car roof tent mattress protector, which prevents ingress of moisture into the tent, by supplying a barrier between the mattress and the tent hull, which otherwise cause the wicking of moisture through the tent hull when they get in contact with each other.