AU716173B2

AU716173B2 - Tent bed

Info

Publication number: AU716173B2
Application number: AU24937/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bernd Astor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-06-18
Filing date: 1997-06-16
Publication date: 2000-02-17
Anticipated expiration: 2017-06-16
Also published as: DE29610682U1; AU2493797A; DE19719854C2; DE19719854A1

Description

VJUUitji1 2815/01 Regulatlon 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT off* :0.99 Application Number: Lodged: .9 ~9 9 999 Invention Title: TENT BED The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me TENT BED When camping in the open air using conventional tents, wet ground and the presence of small creatures, in particular, mean that it is not very pleasant, and possibly even dangerous, to lie directly on the ground or, possibly, on a mattress or the like placed on the ground.

The object has thus been to eliminate this disadvantage by way of a novel tent structure or the like which can be set up and dismantled in a short period of time.

This object has been achieved by the tent bed according to the invention, the tent bed including a collapsible frame structure in the form of a bed framework, a tensionable sheet which can be fastened to the frame structure and held above ground level; a tent cover; wherein the tent cover and tensionable sheet are formed from a breathable material and connected together by a connection means to form a fully enclosed interior volume that prevents access by small animals.

The collapsible frame structure a) may be, for example, a collapsible o: camp-bed framework according to the schematic illustration in Figure 1. The 20 only adaptation which additionally has to be made is to provide the end points for the tensioning elements, which serve for holding the tent cover in place.

These end points for example in the form of a tensioning device, screwaction device or clamping device, may be produced, and added, simply and S: inexpensively.

S 25 In principle, it is also possible to use commercially available, collapsible loungers as the collapsible frame structure a).

The collapsible frame structure a) preferably -2comprises plug-in tubes and connecting elements according to the illustration shown by way of example in Figure 2, in the case of which the frame parts and can be plugged into one another in order to save space. This means that the connecting elements/end-socket pieces and are different. The diameters of the openings for receiving the frame parts and have been matched to one another. When setting up the structure, it should be ensured that the marked connecting elements are chosen correctly. It is also expedient here to fit supporting surfaces as a load-bearing base, over the two tubes and the tube and the two tubes (3) can then be plugged into the connecting elements and The free ends of the frame parts and are 15 plugged together via the connecting elements the openings of the connecting elements in the direction of the frame part are larger than in the direction of the frame parts this avoiding the situation where the two sides are confused with one another. In the next i" 20 step, the connecting tube which is preferably bent downwards, is then inserted.

The six feet (10) then have to be introduced, *after which the frame structure a) is ready for receiving the tensionable sheet If the frame parts and are hollow tubes of different diameters, such that the tubes can be plugged into one another, there is the advantage of a lower space requirement for dismantling and transporting the frame structure if, on the other hand, the frame parts are of the same diameter, this simplifies the operation of setting them up and consequently reduces the number of different elements.

Figure 3 shows a frame structure a) with only three different types of tube. All three types of tube can be folded via articulations. For the setting-up operation, the first step is preferably to push the two supporting surfaces over the two longitudinal tubes After the introduction of the tube which is clamped via the articulations, and then of the two tubes (13; which are latched in), the four feet (14) and the 3 two feet (15) have to be fitted. The corner connection of the foot of type (14) has the task of receiving the tubes (11) and (13) simultaneously in a balanced manner. The tensionable sheet can then be drawn on.

The individual parts of the frame structure a) preferably consist of plastic polyethylene, polypropylene, polyacetal, carbon-fibre material, etc) or light metal aluminium); this has the advantage of low weight.

Figure 4 shows an example of the shape (16) of the tensionable sheet b) which can be fastened on the frame structure The tensionable sheet b) preferably consists of fabric or fabric-like material and [lacuna] provided here, by way of example, with three pairs of 15 tensioning devices (22) around the frame structure a).

The border of the tensionable sheet b) is preferably provided with one half of a zip fastener or touchand-close fastener (for the purpose of connection to the tent cover); this half of the zip fastener or touch-and- 20 close fastener is indicated by the line (17) in the figure.

Figure 5 shows an example of the shape of the tent cover which is borne by tensioning elements (18) which, for their part, are fastened at the corner points of the frame structure By way of example, the tent cover c) here is in the shape of the longitudinal half of a hollow cylinder, the cut surface of which defines the size of the bed.

The other half (19) of the zip fastener or touch-andclose fastener is arranged on the bottom border of the tent cover for the purpose of fixed connection to the tensionable sheet b).

The tent cover c) preferably consists of a breathable material, in order to ensure good ventilation. Depending on usage, the cover material may also comprise, for example, a gauze which protects against insects.

Furthermore, the tent cover c) preferably also has a closeable entrance viewing windows (21) may also be provided.

4 o*oo oo *°oo o A number of design variants, e.g. the double-bed variant, fall within the scope of the invention.

Possible dimensions of the inventive tent bed in Figure 6 are, for example: Width: approximately 0.6 m to 1 m Length: approximately 2 m Height: approximately 1.20 m Distance between the surface of the bed and the highest point of the canopy: Average height of the seated quantities [sic] (approximately 1 m) The magnitude of the volume of the collapsed tent bed in Figure 7 is approximately that of a cylinder of 15 length 1 m and of a diameter of approximately 20 to 30 cm; the weight depending on the materials used is usually in the order of magnitude of from approximately 2 to 20 kg.

20 The inventive tent bed permits enjoyable camping in the open air while being protected from the weather, wet ground and the intrusion of animals, and can be set up and dismantled in a short period of time. The special method of connecting the surface of the bed to the canopy via a zip fastener or touch-and-close fastener allows the bed-containing interior to be hermetically partitioned off.

The inventive camp bed can be widely used, e.g.

by tourists (on holiday, camping), the emergency services, the police, the fire service, the armed forces, etc.

Claims

1. A tent bed including: a) a collapsible frame structure in the form of a bed framework, b) a tensionable sheet which can be fastened to the frame structure and held above ground level; c) a tent cover; wherein the tent cover and tensionable sheet are formed from a breathable material and connected together by a connection means to form a fully enclosed interior volume that prevents access by small animals.

2. A tent bed according to claim 1, characterized in that the collapsible frame structure is a collapsible camp-bed framework. S

3. A tent bed according to claim 1, characterized in that the collapsible frame structure comprises plug-in tubes and connecting elements. Si.

4. A tent bed according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the collapsible frame structure consists of plastic or light metal.

5. A tent bed according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that ooQ° the tensionable sheet consists of fabric or a fabric-like material.

6. A tent bed according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a first part of the connection means includes one half of a zip fastener or touch and close fastener on a border of the tensionable sheet.

7. A tent bed according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the tent cover is borne by tensioning elements which are fastened at the corner points of the collapsible frame structure.

8. A tent bed according to claim 6, characterized in that a second part of the connection means includes another half of the zip fastener or touch and close fastener arranged on a bottom border of the tent cover for the purpose of fixed connection to the first part of the connection means on the tensionable sheet.

9. A tent bed according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the tent cover has a closeable entrance. DATED this 14 t h day of December, 1999. DIPL. ING BERND ASTOR WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN VICTORIA 3122 AUSTRALIA .KJS:SJM:PCP P3881AU.doc "KJS:SJM:PCP P3881AU00.doc a S