AU638377B1 - Device for preventing folding of a lower joint for a one touch type dome shaped tent - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 638377 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: r

I

n Name of Applicant: Baejin Corporation Actual Inventor(s): Dong Soo Ju Address for Service: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: DEVICE FOR PREVENTING FOLDING OF A LOWER JOINT FOR A ONE TOUCH TYPE DOME SHAPED TENT Our Ref 293168 POF Code: 114130/175689 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): 6006 6006 Attorney's Docket No. F-1003-P APPLICATION FOR A UNITED STATES PATENT DEVICE FvRP PREVENTING FOLDING OF A LOWER JOINT FOR A ONE TOUCH TYPE DOME SHAPED TENT Filed of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for preventing folding of a lower joint for a one touch type dome shaped tent of kind in which the folding portions can be conveniently folded and spread like the usual automatic umbrellas.

The present invention particularly relates to a device for preventing folding of a lower joint for a one touch type dome shaped tent in which the upper joints and the lower joints are locked simultaneously if the tent is spread. As long as the tent is not folded, the lower joint are not folded but will maintain the spread state under any external forces applied, while, if the upper joints are folded in order to fold up the tent, the lower joints S a-e folded in a spontaneous manner,, Background of the Invention The conventional one touch type dome shaped tent is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, and the structure shown in these drawings is the basis for applying the device of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of the spread stare of the conventional one touch type dome shaped tent.

As shown in this drawing, frame members 2 are joined to a hub 1 of the central peak if the tent, and the frame members 2 extend in all directions from the hub 1, thus the hub 1 forms an easily foldable central joint.

Each of the frame members 2 consists Df an upper segment A, a middle segment B and a lower Segment C. The three segments are joined into an integrated member, while each of the joining portions is privided with a hinge. Among the three segments, the upper segment A and the middle segment B are joined at an upper joint 3 in the form of A while the middle segment B and the lower segment C are connected at a lower joint 4 in the form of V. Thus the upper and lower joints 3, 4 perform folding movements in mutually opposite directions, in such a manner that one whole frame member 2 should form a zig-zag shape, as shown in Figure 3.

Further, as shown in Figure 2, the upper joint 3 is provided with a locking cap 5 to secure the end portion 6 of the joint and .ol..i to prevent inadvertent folding. If the locking cap 5 is pushed S down, the locked state is released, so that the upper joint 3 can be folded in the form of A. In contrast to this, the lower joint S 4 is not provided with such a locking device, but is provided with only a pivotal structure. But an end portion 7 of the joint supports the lower segment C so that the lower segment C can be S folded only outwardly. Thus, if the tent is spread, the frame members are bent like a bow as shown in Figure 2, while if the tent *is folded, the frame members are folded in the form of V.

However, it has been proved through experience that the conventional one touch type dome shaped tent having the above described structure has problems yet to be solved. That is, there is no locking device on the lower joint 4. If a slight pushing force is applied when the tent is spread, the lower joint 4 can be inwardly folded as shown by an imaginary line S of Figure 2, thereby making the tent collapse. Examples of such extenrnal forces T are an abrupt, strong wind; intrusion caused by children playing; kicking by nocturnal walker and the like.

In an attempt to overcome the above described problems, a locking device may be provided also to the lower joint 4.

However, in that case, the problem is that both the upper and lower locking devices have have to be operated one by one by hand.

Such a matter hurts the originally intended feature of the one touch type dome shaped tent which aims at the convenience and speediness of the folding operation. If one manipulation of the upper joint 3 causes the lower joint 4 to be operate locked or released), i will be satisfactory; bur, so far such a device S• has not been invented.

Another problem lies in the joining between the joint and the frame member. Conventionally, the hole of the joint portion has a S circular cross section, and the frame member also has a circular cross section. Therefore, even if the frame mdiber is press-fitted Sinto the hole of the joint portion, a clearance appears between the frame member and the hole. The result is that the frame members can S be twisted, thereby bringing problems to folding or spreading the tent.

Summary of the Invention The present invention is intended to overcome the above described disadvantages of the conventional one touch type dome shaped tent.

Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide a device to prevent the folding of a lower joint for a one touch type dome shaped tent in which the cross sections of both the frame member and the hole of the joint portion can collapse into a straight line at some portion thereof, and a locking device is provided also to the lower joint in such a manner that both the upper and lower joints can be locked or released with only one touch manipulation.

In achieving the above object, the lower frame segment which is connected to the lower joint is provided in an advanceaboe and withdrawable manner, and the movability of the lower segment is supported by an elastic means.

Brief Description of the Drawing Views The above object and other advantages of the present invention ooo will become more apparent by describing in detail the preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings in which: S Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the constitution of the conventional one touch type dome shaped tent: Figure 2 illustirates the constitution of the joint and the e* 9$ S folded state of the conventional tent; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the constitution of the lower joint portion of the frame member according the present invention: Figure 5 illustrates a state in which the locking state of the lower joint is automatically released when folding the tent; Figure 6 illustrates a state in which the lower joint portion is automatically locked when spreading the tent; Figure 7 illustrates a state in which the frame members exert forces toward the joining portions each other when the tent is spread; and Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing the cross section of the line D-D of Figure 4.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment As shown in the drawings, frame members 2 are extended in all directions, and each of the frame members 2 is provided with an upper joint 3 and a lower join$ 4. The device of the present invention can be applied to the tent having the constitution of Figures 1 ar.d 2. The lower joint 4 of the device of the present invention is provided with a socket 10 at the end of a middle segment B of the frame member 2, and the opposite walls of the 000 socket 10 is proveded with a pair of pin holes 11 as shown in Figure 4. Further, the socket 10 forms a recess 12,and, at the inner end of the recess 12, there is provided a supporting step 13.

A lower frame segment C is provided with a connecting portion 14. The connecting portionn 14 is provided with a round projection 15 which is engaged with the supporting step 13 of the middle frame segment B, while the connecting portion 14 is also provided with an elongated slot 16 at a position corresponding to the pin hole 11.

The connecting portion 14 of the lower segment C is coupled with the socket 12 of the middle segment B, and a pin 18 is inserted into the pin hole 11 and the elongated slot 16 after aligning them, thereby joining the two segments B,C. Here, the body of the pin 18 is hollow, and a rivet is inserted into the hollow space, so that the socket 10 and the connecting portion 14 can be connected together, and that the pin 18 can be secured into the pin holes 11, thereby making it possible for it to move up and down within the elongated slot 16. At the neck of the lower segment C, a coil spring 19 is installed, with the lower end of the spring 19 being supported by an annular projection 20. The leading end of the spring is fitted with a cap shaped spring seat 21, and abuts to the tip of the socket 10 of the middle segment B.

The connecting portion 14 is inserted into the recess 12 if the socket 10, and can pivot around the pin 18 so as for the connecting portion 14 to advance and withdraw within the range of the elongated slot 16. when the tent is spread, as the segments move closer to each other by the compressing forces of the frame member, then the coil spring 19 is compressed. Under this condition, the round projection 15 of the connecting portion 14 is abutted to the supporting step 13 of the connecting portion 14, and the pin 18 is o. positioned at the lower portion of the elingated slot 16 of the 9.9o9.

S• connecting portion 14. Meanwhile, when the tent is folded, as the compressing forces of the frame members are released, the compressed spring exerts a restoring force, so that the middle and 9.

lower segments B,C should depart from each other, thereby making it possible to easily fold the lower segment C as shown in Figure The reason is that the round projection 15 of the connecting portion 14, which has been abutted to the supporting step 13 of the S socket 10m departs from the step 13, and the pin 18 of the socket is positioned in the upper portion of the elongated slot 16 of the connecting portion 14.

Figure 7 illustrates a state in which the upper, middle and lower segments A,B,C exert compressing forces on each other toward joining portions H, as shown by the arrow marks. That is, when the tent is spread, and when the frame members are bent, the respective segments of the frame members exert forces toward the relevant joining portions H by the pulling action of the tent fabric. Owing to such a phenomenon, when the tent is spread, the middle segment B and the lower segment C are compressed toward toward each other as shown in Figure 6, with the result that the round projection is mounted upon the supporting step 13. Under this condition, the coil spring 19 is compressed, and, owing to the two securing points, the round projection 15 and the pin 18, the locking of the lower joint 4 is maintained, with the folding of the lower segment C being prevented, when the tent is kept spread ~continuously, the pulling action of the tent fabric continues, and therefore, the locked state of the lower joint 4 is continuously *o e* S maintained. Under this condition, even if an external force is S applied to the lower joint 4 or to the lower frame segment C, the lower joint can not be folded.

6 On the other hand, if the locked state of the upper joint 3 is **e released in order to fold up the tent, the pulling force of the tent fabric is released, and the compressed spring 19 exerts a restoring force, with the result that the two segments B,C depart from each other, thereby making it possible to fold the lower segment C in a V form.

Under this condition, the compression spring 19 which is accommodated into the cap shaped spring seat 21 (which is provided below the connectig portion 14 of the lower segment C) exerts extending forces so as for the connecting portion 14 to move downwardly, while the pin 18 of the lower joint 4 moves to the upper portion of the elongated slot 16. At the same time, the round projection 15 of the connection portion 14 departs from the supporting step 13 which is formed between the walls of the socket of the middl'e segment B of the lower joint 4. Thus the loweL segment C noves upwardly as shown by the arrow mark of Figure 5, so that the lower segment C should be folded up into a V form. Thus, the lower segment C is folded into a V form, the folding point being the pin 18 which passes through holes 11 which are formed on the walls of the recess 12 the socket Further, a part of the cross section of the connecting hole of each of the upper and lower joints are collapsed into a straight line, and the cross section of the frame member 2 to be fitted into the hole 22 is also collapsed into a straight line, with the resust that the twisting of the frame members can be prevented.

According to the present invention constituted as described above,if the frame members 2 are unfolded, and thus if the upper *i joint 3 is locked, the lower joint 4 is also locked. Again, if the upper joint 3 is released from the locked state, the lower joint 4 is also released together.

Therefore, the one touch effect remains same in the presnt invention as in the conventional one touch type tent, but adds another effect such that the locking or release of the lower joint 4 can be achieved with one touch manipulation, thereby giving a solution to the problem inherent to the conventional one touch type dome shaped tent.

Claims (4)

1. A one touu dome shaped tent compric.ng a hub, a plurality of frame members extending from the hub, each frame member consisting of an upper segment, a middle segment and a lower segment, means providing a first hinged connection between the hub and the upper segment, means providing a second hinged connection between the upper segment and the middle segment, first locking means to lock the upper and middle segments against inadvertent folding, said first locking means being releasable so that the upper and middle segments can be folded as an inverted V, means providing a third hinged connection between the middle segment and the lower segment providing second locking means to lock the middle and lower segments against inadvertent folding, said third hinged connection having a locking position and an unlocked position, the third hinged connecton being in locked position when the middle and lower segments are pressed togethe: axially by the weight of the tent and spring means for automatically moving the third hinged connection to unlocked position when the axial pressure is removed.

2. A one touch dome shaped tent as in claim 1, in which one of the middle and lower segments has a pair of said walls to provide a channel, a locking step at one end of the channel, the other end of the channel being open, a pivot pin extending between said side walls, the other of the middle and lower segments having an elongated slot engaged by the pivot pin and a locking projection engageable with the locking step to lock the third hinged connection being unlocked when the locking projection is advenced position, the third hinged connection being unlocked when e locking projection is in a retracted position, and spring means to urge the locking projection towards a retracted position.

3. A one touch dome shaped tent as in claim 2, in which a spring is mounted on one of the middle and lower segments and abuts the other of the middle and lower segments.

4. A lower joint folding preventing device for a one touch type dome shaped tent, said dome shaped tent including upper, middle and lower frame segaments for forming an integrally joined frame, said upper and middle frame segments being connected by an upper joint having a releasable locking device and the middle and lower frame segments being connected by a lower joint, the improvment comprising a socket formed at the lower end of said middle segment, a recess formed within said socket, a supporting step formed at the inner end of said socket, a connecting portion at the end of the lower segment adapted to be coupled with said recess, a projection formed at the end of the connecting portion to engage the supporting step to provide a locked position of the lower joint and being disengageable to provide an unlocked position of the lower joint, said socket having side walls with pin holes, an elongated slot formed in the connecting portion of the lower segment, a fastening pin inserted through the pin holes and the elongated slot formed in the connceting portion of the lower segment, a fastening pin inserted through the pin holes and the elongated slot to permit axial sliding movement of the connecting portion between said locked position and unlocked position and a coil spring installed on the lower frame segment and pressing against an outer tip of the socket to maintain the lower joint in unlocked position except when the weight of the tent overcomes the spring to move the connecting portion to locked position. Dated: 10 June 1992 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys f- BAEJIN CORPORATION S S o• *S S. S *SOS Abstract of the Disclosure A device for preventing folding of a lower joint for a one touch type dome shaped tent is disclosed. If the upper joint is locked-or released, the lower joint is also locked or released automatically A connecting portion 14 of the lower joint is provided with a round projection and with an elongate slot 16, and the middle segment is provided with a socket 10 and a supporting step 13, in such a manner that the round projection can be mounted upon the supporting step. Further a coil spring 19 is installed on the neck portion of the lower segment so that the leading end of the coil spring should able to push the tip of the socket 06*4* os* S*i Pooa 0a