CA2072002A1

CA2072002A1 - Enclosure and equipment and method of using the enclosure

Info

Publication number: CA2072002A1
Application number: CA 2072002
Authority: CA
Inventors: Dieter Ruhstrat
Original assignee: TA Pelsue Co
Current assignee: TA Pelsue Co
Priority date: 1990-10-01
Filing date: 1991-05-24
Publication date: 1992-04-02
Also published as: WO1992006263A1

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A tent for sheltering workpersons in the field and for facilitating controlling the environment around an equipment cabinet includes a door, two sides and a ceiling. An opening between the sides is adapted to be secured to the cabinet that houses equipment to be serviced. A rear edge of the ceiling is attached to one free edge of a connector. An opposite fixed edge of the connector is connected to a retainer that is removably secured to the top of the cabinet for holding the tent to the cabinet. The length of the connector between the free and fixed edges is sufficient to allow the tent to be placed on the cabinet when stowed, and to be deployed by one operator from he top of the cabinet. The deployed tent defines a protected space for servicing the equipment.

Description

J~

ENCLOSURE FOR EQUIPMENT
AND PSETHOD OF USING llHE ENCLOSURE

Specif ication Technical Field This invention relates to sheltering worlcpersoJIs in the ~ield and more particularly to providing an enclosu:re for facilitating controlling the en~rirs:)nment around a cabinet housing equipment during ~aintenance of such equipmeJ)t .

Backqround Art In the past, protection of worlcpeople has been prov.ided by freestanding structures such a~ th~ tents hown in U.S. Patent 3,B10,482 for a Collapsible Tent and Frame Therefor issued May 14, 1974. Such freastarlding tent~ are used to protect working are~R above open manholes and to prevent rain and snow, etc. fro~ falling into the ~anhole. IIowever, sus:h tents have be~n speci-fically d.e:3igned with four sides so a~s to be ~rees~anding and, depanding on their size, often require two workpersons to deploy the~ in position relative to the manholeO

Wvrk areas adjacent to vehicles have also been protectad by enclosures such as Model Number 6200A V21n and Trailer Tents manufactured by T.A. P~lsue Company of Denver, Colorado. However, such enclcssures have been speci~ically designed to be partly supported on the vehiale adjacent to Ithe work space~ Mor20ver, such ~tent~
have not been designed for placement on top of the vehicle nor for deployment into a deployed po~ition ~rom a stowed position on top of the vehicle. Rather one or two workpersons deploy the Model Number 6200A Tent from the ground adjacent to the vehicle.

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Other ~tructur~s llave been propo~;ed ~or use in defining ~n enc~osure ad~ac@nt to a cabinet ~or telephone equipment. As an example, U.S. Patent 4,834,129 for ~ent Structures For Covering Free-Standing E~uipment issued May 30, 1989 ~hows a thxee dimensional, generally box-like cabinet that houses telephone equipment located in areas remote ~ro~n a central telephone of f ice . Such cabinets have one or mor~ doors, ~ncluding door~ at the front, sides or rear thereof. Such doors are openable to provide access to the telephone e~uipment 'cherein to ~a3cilitate repair of such equipment. The enclosure 6hown in patent number 4, 834 ,129 includes a rigid bas~ frame having the dimensions oiE the entire periphery o~ the ~op of the cabinet. Such rigid ~rame is shown and de~;cribed as being in a permanent, relatively larg~ con~iguration conforming to the periphery o~ the top of the cabinet.
Accordillgly, unless the structural members of the rigid bas~ ~rame are detached ro~ each other a~ter u~e or the ~eparate members are assembled one-by-one into the rectangular rigid base ~rame prior to use, th~ van or other vehicle used by the workper~ons to tr~vel ~rom cabinet to cabinet must be large enough to receive the entire bas frame. Alternatively~, such basa fra~e must be stowed in its original large configuration on the top of the vehicle. Since the rigid base ~ram~ is relatively large, it is dif~icult ~or the workpersons to ~ount and dismount the rigid base frame ~or use in connection with forming the enclosure around the work area adjacent to the ~abinet. Additionally, the base member is sh~wn in patent number 4,834,129 in conne~tion with pivotable ar~s that are permanently secured to the rigid base frame.
Thi~ add~ to the weight of the rigid ba~e fra~e and to the dif~iculty of ~towing the rigid base frame either in or on the vehicle during such time as the rigid base frame and other structure are not being used to ~or~ the enclosure around the work area adjacent to the cabinet.
Additionally, although in use, such frame may be ' -' .
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preattached to the ~abric ~ro~ which t~e enclosure is fabricat~d, in one embodiment such patent teache3 the deployment of the rigid base frame into a ~ully deployed po~ition prior to draping or otherwise placing the fabric thereover to for~ the enclosure. As a result, many separate operations are required as a part of the d~ployment of the tent. such operation~ require a r~latively substantial amount of ti~e a~d thus reduc~ the ti~e available for the ~orkperson to actually work on the repair of the equipment. Alternatively, to ~inimize the deployment ti~e, ~ore than one workperson is required for deploying the enclosure.

Others have provided a variety o~ tents for use with cars. For example, in U.s. Patent 1,3~4,579 a rea~ edge of the roof of a car is used to support the te~t after it is erected on the ground near the car. Some have us2d p~rman~nt housings on a car to carry a tent, ~ th~
bufflper~ounted housing in U.S. Patent 1,71g~055, or in the tray that i~ shown mount d on the top of a car in UOS. Patent 1,752,571. These tents ~re not suit0d for use in the repair of equipment in cabinet~ ~ince the cabinets are o~ten in locations that are inaccessible to a vehicle. Further, the provision of a tent per~anently on every remote cabinet that houses equipment to be serviced would be prohibitively expensive.

~i~closure of I ~ention An ob~ect o~ the present invention is to provide an enclosure for defining a work volume adjacent to equip-ment to be repaired, wherein 6uch ~nclosure may be deployed by one workpersonO

A further object of the present invention i5 to provide an enclosure that includes integral support members and fabric, wherein the enclosure may be , ... , . " . , , . -, ~
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initially stowed in a relatively compact undeploy~d configuration for place~ent on 'cop o~ a c:ab~net only when ~quipmellt in tha cabinet i~ to be ~naintained or rep~ired, and wherein the enclosure ~ay be made ready for deployment from the top o~ the cabinet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an enclosure including integral fabric and supporting members that may be deployed by a ~ingl~
workper~on~ ~rom a compact undeployed position on top of a cabinet that houses e~ipment to be repaired, into a ~ully d~ployed position def ining a work volume adljacent to such cabinet.

A still further object of the pre~ent invention i~
to provide a retainer eactendable over the top of such cabinet in conjunction with ~acilities for securing the retainer to th~ top of he cabinet, wherein the retainer is effective to engage the enclosure and secure sam~ in relation to the cabinet ~s the enclosure i~ deployed for defining the wor~ volu~e adjacent to the cabinei:.

Yet another object o~ the preserlt invention resides in a connector between the previously mentioned retainer and the previously mentioned enclosure, wherein the ~onnector permits the undeployed enclosure to be placed by a single workper~on on top of the retainer in a properly balanced position, with part o~ the enclosure extending beyond the top edges of the cabinet.

An additional object of the present invention re~ide~ in a l:ent for d~ining a work voluma adjacent to a cabinet that houses telephone equipment tv be repaired, wherein a connector limits forward motion of the tent relative to the cabinet during deployment of and before the tent is securely fastened to the cabinet.

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A related object Or th~ present inv~ntion i~ thQ
provision of a ~eam joining ~ free edge o~ the conneGtor to a rear edge o~ the tsnt ~o that the ~ea~ m~y move forward during deployment of the tent to a po~.ition wher2in a strap holds the connector and the seam onto the front of th~ cabinet to prevent the tent from b~ing pushed backward over the cabinet in high wind conditions.

Another related object o~ the present inven ion is the provision of a universal tent clesigned to define a work volume adjacent to many different ~i2e8 and types of cabinets, wherein a retain~r is designed for each different cabinet and is ~electably attached to thQ
universal tent prior to deployment of the universal tent so that one universal tant may be use~ with ~any diffPrent cabinets~

~ ith th2se and other objects in mind, the preaent inven~ion contemplate~ an anclosure assembly ~or de~ining a clos~d anviron~ental volu~e ad~acent to an equip~ent cabinet to be serviced by one op~rator. The enclo~ure ~0 as~embly i~ normally stowed away from the cabinet in a stowed configuration and is designed to be pIaced by th~
on~ operator on a top of the cabinet in a pre-d~ployment con~iguration. In the pre-deployment con~iguration, a tent of ~he assembly is ready for deploy~ent into a ~onfiguration for de~ining the environmental volume. The ~nclosure asse~bly includes a retainer rOr engaging the c~binet to define a ~ixed support extending transversely across the rear of the cabinet. A co~nector having a ~ront edge secured to the ~ix~d support extends laterally ror a fielected distance or langth to a ~re~ edgQ. The tent i5 provided for defining the closed environment.
The tent includes a ceiling panel having a rear portion secured to the free edge of the connector. The distance is selected for permitting the tent and its elongated support rods to be placed on the top of the cabinet with ,. . .

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h ~ ~ajority of the weight of the enclosure assembly re~ting on the cabinelt ~n ~ properly balarlced po~ition.
The connecltor havirlg the sel~cted length al~o li~its the forward movement of the rear portion of the tent ~during S deployment from the pre-deployment conf iguration into a deployed conf iguration . In deployment o~ the tent under windy conditions, this limiting of forward ~ove~ent stabilizes the tent before it is tightly secured to the ca~inet. The connector is al~;o ef~ective during deployment of the tent oiE the enclosure assembly to position the rear portion of the ceiling panel adjacent to a front o~ the top of the cabinet.

After the tent is in the deployed config~ration, a f irst skirt secured to the rear portion of the tent overlies at least a portiorl of th2 ~om~ector. The ceil ing panel ha~ lateral sides. A side panel is connected to eas:~h o~E the lateral sides of the ceiling panel. Each side panel has a ~econd skirt extendable into overlapping relationship with a sid~ of the cabinet. A ~trap extends over the fir3t ~kirt ~nd over the sec:ond skirts and i5 secured for holding the free edlge o~ the connector and the rear portion of t~e c:~iling panel in a fixed po~ition relative to the top of the cabinet, and for holding the second skirts tightly against the sides oP the cabinet.

In another aspect of the present invention, t:he top of the cabinet extends a given distance laterally ~rom the front to a rear thereof. The top has a predetermined shape which is usually rectangular. The retainer is in thQ for~ of a first fabric unit having that predetenmined shape and is adapted to overlie the top ~or de~ining a first rear edge that forms the ~ixe~ support. The connector is formed by a second fabric unit. In one embodiment, the connector has that predetermined shape and the front edge thereof is attached to the first rear 3S edge to form a first seam. The second fabric Ullit has ~ .:
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, ~ .,' 7 ~ 2 the ~ree edge opposite to ~he ~irst 5e~. In th~ one em~odi~ent, the later~l length o~ th~ ~eco~d ~a~ric u~it ~ro~ the fir~t ~eam to the free edge i~ ~ub~tant~ally th~
same as the given distance. The tent has a rear he~
attachad to the free edge of the conneotor to for~ a second movable sea~.

The present invention alco contemplate~ a ~ethod of stowing the tent asse~bly. ~he ten~ as~embly i~ to be placed on the cabinet i~ the stowed con~iguration, 1 then to be attached to the cabin~t in the pre-deployment configuration, and is then to be deployed ~or de~ining the work volume. Each of the ceiling panel and the side panels of the tent has a hu~o For a qiYen panel, such as the oeiling panel or the side panels, four flexible rods extend from within pock~ts o~ the hub. One rod extends to each pocket formed in each corner o~ the panel. The t~nt assembly is stowed or collapsed into the stowed configuration by per~orming the following step~: r ~ upporting the tent (in~luding the panel~, the hubs and the rods thereo~) ~paced ~ro~ the $100r;
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(2~ extending the connector from the tent to a support surface above the floor;

(3) spreading the retainer over the support surface ~o that it is extended substantially to its full ~i~e with the connector extending rom the t~nt over the spread retainer, with the tent and it~ hub~t rods and panels still ~upported at ona ~id2 o~ the retaine;r;

(5) collecting the hubs of each panel ~o that the hubs are aligned, the rod~ thereof extend away fro~ the hubs in parallel relationship, and the panels thereof are gathered;

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(6~ placing the s:ollected hub~, the parallel rods and the gathered panels on the spread retalner WitPI the rods in a properly balanced position, whic:h i~ peraitted by the lateral dimension of the connector; and (7) wrappiny the retainer over a portion of the gathered panels and o~er a portior~ o~ the parallel rods to ~orm the tent assembly into the stowed c~n~iguration.

The present invention also conte~plates a method of deploying a ten~ assembly that include~ the te~t ~or ~e~ining a work volume in front of the ~quip~nt cabinf~t.
The cabinet has at least one door that ~wings fro;~ a closed posi~ion to an open position. The door is to be opened only after the work volume has been established adjacent to ~he door o~ the cabinet. The tent as~sembly irl the above-described stowed configuration is placed on the top of the cabinet Wit21 the hubs of the panel~ at the fron~ Or tho cabinet and ~he rods and the panels extending to or beyond the rear o~ the cabinet. The tent asse~bly is sequentially put in the pre deployment co~fig~ration, and then in ~h~ deploy~d confi~ration.
The method of deploying the ten~ ~rom ~he ~;towed configuratian includes the following steps:

( ~ unwrapping the r~tainer ~roDI the gat:hered panel~ and ~ro~ the parallel rods;

(2) ~ecuring the retainer ~o ~he top o~ the cabinet, whereupon the tent assembly is in the pr~-deployment configuration;

(3) arranging the set of rods of the ceiling panel and of the side panels with one set of the side rods on either side of the set o~ ceilîng rods;

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~ 4) from a location in front of the cabin~t, liPt-in~ the c~iling ~et of rod~ by grasping two ~rked, front ceiling rods and lifting the gra~ped r~dæ ~ro~ the cabinet forwardly and overhead;

(5) moviny the two rods to spread the ceiling panel and the ceiling rods into an open position overhead, the li~ting and moving also lifting the ide panels and the side rod~ and ~oving them forward and transversely o~f the cabinet, 19 (6) extending the connector into a taut position to limit the forward motion of th~ ceiiing panel;

~7) rendering the ceiling panel and the ceiling ro~ self-supporting to maintain the side panels separ-ated; and (8) rendering each of the side panels and the side rods sel~-supporting to ~ertically support the c~iling panel and to define the environmental volume while the connector pr~vents further forward ~otion of th~ csiIing panel and thQ side panels.

~rie~ Description Qf Drawin~

Other objects, f~atures and advantages of the present invention will be apparent fro~ an examina*ion o the following detailed descriptions which include the attached drawings in which:

FIGsO 1~ through 1~ show a variety o~ cabinets that house equipment that requires servicing and that may be used with the enclosure ~or tent) assembly of the present invention, wherein the cabinet of FIG. lA has doors at the front of the cabinet, and the enclosure assembly is shown being placed on the cabinet; the cabinet of FIG. lB

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ha~ doors at the front o~ the cabinet, but th~ lower ~ide~ are ~traight without a lip; the cabinet of FIG~o lC
and lD have doors at the left side; the eabinet ~hown in FI~. lE has doors at the ~ront and the rear; and the S cabinet shown in FIGs. lF and lG is shown provided with a central raised top;

FIG. 2 shows a carry bag containing the enclosure assembly and baing carried by one workper~on to the ~abinst;

FIG. 3 shows the en~losure assembly with a retainer wrapped ~round a tent and the hands oP the operator grasping the retainer;

FIG. 4 shows the tant assembly on the cabi.net wi~h the retainer wrapped around the tent, and in dashed lines shows the retainer unwrapped and resting on ~he top of the cabinet;

FIG. 5A i~ an enlarged view o~ a corner o~ th~
cabinet covered by the retainer;

YIG. 5B i~ an enlarged cross sectional view of the front edg~ of the cabinet showing air outlets;

FIG. 6 i~ a view Qf the retainer and a connector that ~oins the tent to the retainer;

FIGs. 7A through 7I ~how the deploy~ent o~ the te~t, wherein FIG. 7A show~ the operator grasping two rods associated with a c~ilinq panel; FIG. 7B ~hows the operator lifting and spreading the two ceilirlg panel rods; FIG. 7C ls a side elevational view of the deploy-ment of the tent showiny a taut connector limiting forward movement of the tent during deployment; FIG. 7D
shows the ceiling panel deployed and separating the side :, 1 2 ~ 0 ~

panel~; PIG. 7E sh3ws the op~rator deploying the left side panel; FIG. 7F ~hows a strap overlying a ~kirt on the top of the tent and s~rts at the ~ide o~ the tent for securing the tent to the cabinet; FIG~ 7G shows the tent deployed and the operator securing he top skirt and ~ide skirts to the cabinet by tightening a strap; FIG. 7 shows the operator clvsing the environmental (or work) volume by zipping a front door closed; and FIG. 7I shows the connector held on~o the cabinet by th~ ~trap, with a movable seam between the tent, the connector and th~
upper skirt being adjacent to the front of th~ cabinet;

FI~. 8 is a plan view æhowing the tent a~sembly - spread out on a surface;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view o~ a sea~ of the tent;

FIGs. lOA through lOD are cros~-sectional views ~howing tWQ embodimenta of the connector ~or use with di~ferent length rods o~ the tent, in each case showing the tent as~embly properly balanc~d on the cabinet;

FIG. 11 is a view of a clip for securing the strap ~o a bottom edge of the cabinet;

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a hub for holding the rods;

FI~. 13 ~8 a cross-sectional view of the hub and one rod;

FIG. 14 is a plan view o~ the hub with the rods in a deployed configuration de~ining the letter X;

FIG. 15 is a view of the hub with the rods parallel to each other in a stowed configuration;

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FIGsO 16A through 16E, in con~iunotion wlth FIG 7A
and 4, show the sequenoe of step~ ~or ~towinSl the ten~
a~sembly ~rom the deployed coniEiguration to the pre-deployment configuration to the stowed configuration;

5FIGs. 17A, 17B, 17t: and 17D show other embodiments of the retainer that are adapted to it cabinets with clifferent size or 6hape tops; and FIG. ~8 is a perspective view o~ an additional embodiment of the re~ainer, wherein the retainer i5 10adapted to function with two c:onnectors and with two tents that can be deployed on opposite sides of the cabinet.

Mode(s~ . For Carryin~_Out The Invention Th~

15An en~losure a~sembly 29 of the presen* inventi3n is designed for use with a cabinet 30, such as the cabinet~
3 ûA and 3 OB shown in respective FIGs . lA and lB . The cabinet 30 ~ay house equiplllent 31 (FIG. lC) to be serviced. Access to the eguipmenlt 31 iB proYided by 20doors, such as doors 32A o~ the cabinet 30A, doors 32B
(FIG. lB), ~ront doors 32C (FIG. lC), a ~ide door 33 on a cabin~t 30C ~FIG. lD) or doors 34 o~ the front and rear of another cabinet 3 OE ( FIG . lE) .

The eguip: nent 31 iE~ sensitive to the environment, 25such as the temperature of th~ ambient air. The enclo-sure assembly 29 is designed to be deployed before opening the doors 32A, 32E~, 32C or 34, so that a work volume or enclosed space 36 (FIG. 7G) may be established and, for example, the temperature thereo~ controlled 30before the. doors 32A, 32B, 32C or 34 are opened. In this manner, the equipment 31, which may be sensitive . ::, : : -~ .. ,., : . . . :. .
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telephone switching equipment, or example, i~ protected fro~ the ambient environ~nellt as the ~quip~ent 31 is serviced ~

For purposes of' describing th~ enclosure assembly 29 o~ the present inverltion, the side 35 of the cabinet 30 that has doors, such as th~ doors 32A, 32C or 34, is referred to as the front side or front 35F o~ the cabinet 30. The opposite side 3S that generally doe~ not have doors 32A (as in the cabinet 3ûA) is referred to as lo the rear side or rear 35P~ of th~ cabinet 30. The sides 35 that extend between the fxollt ~;ide 35F and the rear ~ide 35R are referred to as the sides 355L or 35SPs according to whether such ~ide is respectively on tbe left or th~ right as one faces the doors 32P~ or 34 of the cabinet 30, for example. In the embodiment o~E the cabinet 30 shown in FIG. lE, door~ 34 are provided in both the front side 35F and the rear side 35R.

Referring to FIGo lB, the depth of the ca~ilaet 30B
from the front side 35F to the rear ~ide 35R i6 referred to as e~cterlding in a l~teral direction 6hown by a lateral dimension line 37, wh~reas the width o~ the cabinet 30 ~cross the side 35F that has the doors 32B i~ re~erred to as extendirl51 in a transverse direction shown by a transver~e dimension lina 38. The c:abinet 30A has a top 39 pro~Jideà with edges 40 that defins the p~ri~eter of the top 39. The edge 40 that is at the top o:E the ~ront ~ide 35F i5 referred to as the top edge 40F. The edge 40 that i8 at the top of the rear side 3sj~ is referred to as the top edge 40R. Si~ilarly, the edge 40 that i5 at th~ top of the le~t ~ide 35SL (not ~ho~n in FIG. lB - see similar side in FIG. lE) is referred to as the top edge 40SL, and the top edge 40 that is at the top of the right side 35SR is referred to as the top edge 40SR. The doors 32C in FIG. lC and the door~ 34 in FIG. lE are shown in an open position that is more than , .

90~ from the closed position. The open door~ 32A, 32B or 34 ~ay extend apart ~ore than the transverse di~ension 38 of the top 39 o~ the cabinets 30.

Another cabinet 3OF is shown in Figs. lF and lG.
This cabinet 30F may be of the type manu~actured by Reliance Electric and is provided with central sides 35G
that support the cabinek 30F. The centr~l sides 35G
extend transversely along the line 3BW that ~5 longer than a transv~rse line 38C that define~ the transverse dimension o~ the cabinet 30F. The lateral dep~h 37S of the central side 35~ is less than th~ lateral depth 37C
of the cabinet 3OF. Further, the top 39 o~ the cabinet 30F is stepped, and is higher at a central section 39C
tha~ extends transversely ~rom the central sides 35G.
The top 39 also has a ~ront lower section 39F that is lower than the central higher section 39C and that defines the upper surfac~ of the cab~net 30F. A lower rear section 39R of the top 39 i5 shown in FIG. lG.
Doors 32G are ~own on the ~ront side 35F of the cabinet 30F, and may also be on the r~ar side 35R of the eabinet 30F.

It is to be understood, then, that the enclosure assembly 29 may be used to define the work VOlUm2 36 adjac~nt to any side 35 of th~ cabinet 30 that is provided with the ~oors 32A, 32B, 32C, 32G, 33 or 34.

General DesQr tion o~ the Inventio~

Referring now to FIGs. 6 and 7GI the present inven-tion generally includes the enclosure assembly 29 fordefining the work volume 36 (FIG. 7G), which may be a closed environmental volume adjacent to the equipment .

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cabinet 30 t3 be servired by an ~perator 41. The enclo BUre a5gembly 29 i8 ~or~ally ~towed aw~y ~ro~ the ~abine~ 30 in a s~owed con~iguration ~ . 2~ and i8 designed to be placed by the one operator 41 (FIG. lA) on the top 39 of the cabinet 30 in a pre~deployment oonfiguration (see dashe~ lines in FI~. 4~. In tha pre deploym~nt configuration, a tent 42 o the as~e~bly 29 i~
xeady ~or deployment into a deployed con~iguration ~FIG. 7G) ~or defining the e~vironm~ntal volume 36 (FIG.
7G).

In describing the tent assembly 29, the terms ~front, n nrear" and "side~ ar~ used consistently with the use of those terms to de~cribe the cabinet 30. Thu~, a "front" of the tent assembly ~9 is in the direction o~
the front 35F of the cabinet 30, for exampleO The enclosure assembly 29 includes a retainer 43 (des:Lgnated 43~ in FI~. 6) for ~ngaging the cabinet 30 to d~fine a ~ixed ~upport 44 (de~ignated 44A in FIG. 6) extending tr~nsversely ~see line 38 in ~IG. lB~ ~cros~ the rear edge 40R t~IG lB~ o~ the top 39 of the cabinet 30~ A
conn~c~or 45 (designated 45A in ~IG. 6~ having a front edge 46 secured to the ~ixed suppor~ 44 extends laterally for a selected length or di tance (see line 47A in FIG.
6) to a ~rae edge 48. The retainer ~3 is identified by dot~ in th~ FIGURES ~or ease in di~;tingui~;hing it from lthe connector 4 5 .

~`he tent 42 is provided ~or de~ining the closQd work volume 3~. The ~ent 4~ include~ a ceiling panel 49 tFigs. 6 and 7I) having a rear edge 50 secured to the ~ree edge 48 o~ the connector ~5. The di~tancc 47 ~FI~
8) is sel~cted for allowing the ~ent 42 to be properly balanced or positioned on the top 39 of the cabinet 30 in the pre-deployment configuration prior to deployment.
A.lso, the selected distance 47 enables the connector 45 to limit the forward movement (see arrow 51A in FIG. 7C) ,.: .

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o~ khe rear edge 50 of the tent 42 during deployment fro the pre-dep.loyment c:on~igur~tion (FI~ ) into 1:he d~ployed configuration ~FIt;;. 7~;~. The connector 45 i~
also ef ~ective during deployJDent o~ the tent 42 to posi-tion the rear edge 50 oP the ceiling panel 49 adjacent to the front edge 40F of the top 39 of the cabin~t 30 (FIG. 7I~.

A~tex the . ent 42 is in the deployed con~iguration, a first ~kirt 51B secured to the rear edg2 50 of the tent 42 overlies at least a portiorl o~ ~he connef~.tor 45 ~designated 45B in FIC:. 7I). As shown in FIG. 7F, the ceil~ng panel 49 has lateral sides 5~I. ans31 52R. 1!. side panel 53L and 53R is connected to th~ respective lateral sides 52L and 52R of the ceiling panel 49. Each side panel 53L and 53R has a second skirt 54 extendable into overlapping relationship with a side 35SL or 35SR o~ the cabinet 3 0 . Then, a strap 55 that iB secured to the first s36irt 51B and to the second skirts 54 i8 tightened after a clip 56 is secured to an inverted u-~haped channel that ~orms a lip 5~ (FIG. 7G) along e~ch sid~ 355L and 35SR of the cabinet 30 for holdin5~ the ~ree edge 48 of the c:onnecto:r 45 and the rear edge 50 oiE the cailing panel 49 in a fixed position relative to the top 3 9 of the cabinet 3 0 t FIG . 7 I ) .

In ~nother a~pect of the invention, the top 39 of the cabinet 30 extends a distanc:e laterally (see line 37 in FIG. 113) from the front 35F to the rear 40R of the cabinet 30 to define th~ depth of the top 39. The top 39 ha~ a predetermined shape, which i~ usually rectangular.
In a first embodiment ~FIG. 6), the retainer 43A is in the form o~ ~ firs~ fabric unit 59 having that predetermined ~hape and adapted to overlle the top 39 for defining the first rear edge that forms the fixed support 44A. The connector 45A is formed by a second fabric unit 60, that in the first embodimen~ has that 1 7 ~ 5 predeterDIined shape. The coamector 45~ has the front edge 46 (~ 6) attached to the rear ~dge (or ~ixed support) 44~ of the retainer 43A to form a first ~ea~ 61 (FIG. 6)o The second fabric unit 60 has the free edge 48 opposite to the first seam 61. The lateral length (i.e.
the selected length 47A) of the second fabric unit 60 from the first seam 61 to the free edge 48 i~; selected a~;
described below, and is preferably the saD!e as the depth 37 of the top 39 of the cabinet 30. The tent 42 has a rear hem 62 attac:hed to the free edge 48 and to the ~ir~t skirt 51B to form a second or mova~le sea~ 63 (FI~;. 7I)., The length 47 may be marginally les~ than o~e longer tllan the depth 3 7 as long a~ the ~ovabl~ gea~ 63 i8 at the front edge 40F of the cabinet 30 when the tent 42 is deployed.

21ethod of Stowin~ Tent ~ssembly 2~

The present invention also includes a method of stowîng the tent asse~bly 29 ~o that the tent asseDIbly 29 can easily be arranged ~rom the stowed c:onfiguration 2 0 ( FIG . 2 ) to the pre-deployment conf iguration on the cabinet 30 ~FIS;. 4) ~o the deployed con~iguration ~FIG. 7G~ for defining the work volume 36. The ceiling panel 49 has a hub S4 ~FI~ ) and the side panel~ 53L
and 53R each have one of the hubs 64. For a given p.anel, ~uch as the ceiling panel 49 or t~e ~ide panels 53L and 53R, four flexible rods 66 extend from within a pocket 67 (FIG. 12) at the hubs 6d,. One rod 66 extend~ to each pockQt 6~ formed in each corner 69 o~ the panels 49, 53L
and 53R ~Figs. 7E and 8~. $he tent asse~nbly 29 i5 collapsed into the stowed con~iguration (FIG. 2) by performing the following steps:

(1) supporting the ~ent 42, including the panels ~9 and 53, the hubs 64 and the rods 66 thereof, spaced ~rom ., . . , : , . . .
, . ~, - ; ..
' ~ ; ~'~ . : . :
.

- : , ~2~2 the floor, uch a~ the ~ur~ace on which the op~rator 41 i~ stand~ng in Fig~. 7D and 7E;

(23 extending the connector 45 rom the tent 42 to a support surfac~ ~e.g. he top 39 of the çabinet 30 above the floor;

(3) spreading the retainer 43 over the support surface 39 so that it is extended substantially to i~
full size/

~4~ collecting the hubs 64 of each panel 49 and 53 0 #0 that the hubs 64 are aligned, the rodæ 66 therecf extend away ~rom th~ hubs 64 in parallel relationship, and the panels 49 and 53 thereof are gathered;

(5) placing the oollected hubs 64, the parallel rod~ 66 and the gath~red panels 49 ~nd 53 on ~he spread retainer 43 with the rods 66 properly balanced on the top 39, which is permitted by the lateral dimension 47 of the connector 45; and (6) wrapping the retainer 43 o~er a portion o th~
gathered panels 49 and 53 and over portions of the parallel rods 66 to form the tent 4~ ass~mbly 29 into th~
stow~d co~figuration (FIG. 2~.

Method of DeployingL~the Tent 42 The present inven~ion al~o includes a method o~
deploy~ng thQ tent 42 for defining the work volume 3~ in ~ront oP the equipmen~ cabinet 30. The cabinet 30 ha~ at least one of the ~oors 32A, 32B, 32C, 32G or 34 (see FIGs. lA through lG) that swing~ from the closed position (FIG. lA~ to the open position (FIG. lC), the open position being at one side of the work volume 36. The tent assembly 29 in the above-described stowed , :

, . ~
.. . .. . ..

- ~9 ::

con~iguratiGn (FIG. 2) is placed on the top 39 of the cabinet 30 with thQ hub~ 6~ o~ the panel~ 49 and 53 at the ~ront 35F oP the cabinet 30 and the rod~ 6S and the panels 49 and 53 extending to or ~eyond the rear edge 40R
5 of the cabinet 30 (Figs. lOA-lOD). The method oî
deploying the tent 42 from the stowed configuration is generally described as including the ~ollowlng steps:

Ste~ One unwrapping the retainer 43 fro~ the gath2red ceiling p~nels 49 and 53 and ~ro~ the parallel 10 rods 66;

Step ~wo securing the rPtainer 43 to the top 39 of the cabinet 30 ~FIG. 16E), whereupon th~ tent asse~bly 29 is in the pre-deployment configuration (FIG. 4);

step Three arranging the rods 66 of the ceiling 15 panel 49 and o~ the side panel~ 53~ and 53R with the side panel rods ~hown as 66S) on ~ither side of the c~iling panel rods (shown as 66~) ~FI~. 4~;

Step Four fro~ a location in front of t~e cabinet 30, li~ting the ceillng panel rods 66 by grasping two selected ones 66A and 66~ of the ceiling panel rods 6~ ~FIG. 7~) and li~ting the grasped rods 66~ and 66B ~rom the cabinet 30 ~orwardly a~d overhead (FIG. 7B);

Step~Eive ~oving the free ends 65B o~ the two rods 6~A and 66B apar~ to spread the ceiling panel 49 and the ceiling rods 66 into an open position ~FI~s. 7~, 7C
and 7D) over the head of the operator 41 (FIG. 7D), the li~ting and mov~ng of the rods 66A and 66B also being effective to lift the side panels 53L and 53R and the side rods 66 and move them forward and transversely off the cabinet 30 into the position shown in FXG. 7C;

, ' : - ~ ' .
:~' ` `: ., ,' .
.

S~ep Si~ extending th~ connector 45 ~nto a taut 2osition ~FIG. 7C~ to limit the forward ~otion o~ the ceiling panel 49;

Step Seven rendering the ceiling panel 49 and the ceiling rods 66 salf-supporting to maintain the side panels 53L and 53R ~eparated ~PIG. 7D);

Step Ei~ht rendering each o~ the side panel~ 53L
and 53R and the sid~ rod~ 66 self-supporting (FIGs. 7E, 7G and 7H) to vertically support the ceiling panel 49 and define the work volume 36 while the connector 45 prevents further forward motion of the ceiling panel 49 and of the side panels 53L and 53R; and St ~_Nine when the work volume 36 ~ust be an envixonmental volume having controlled temperature, ~or example~ releasing a front door 70 fro~ fasteners 71, unrolling the door 70, and securing the door 70 to each of the side panels 53, as by the ~ippering step shown in FIG. 7~.

Detailed Descr ~ion_o~ the Preferred E~bodi~ents RefQrring now to FIG. 8, the tent assembly 29 is ~hown in plan view with all of the elements o~ the t~nt assembly 29 spread out a~ if on a ~lat surface. The tent a~se~bly 29 includ2s the t~nt 42, the connector 45 and the retainer 43.

Detailed Desc~ ion of_The Tent ~

In FIG. 8 the tent 42 is shown ~onnected to the connector 45 at the rear edge 50 of the ceiling panel 49 along the second ~eam 63. The ceiling panel 49 and the side panels 53 L and 53 R of the tent 42 of the present invention may be constructed as disclosed in U.S. Patent ' :.- ~, ': ::

.: .~' " " '' ' ;.
' . ' . . ` ` ~ :
''. `: ~ : .~' ' :
. .

-21 ~ J~J

~o~ 4,285,354 i~sued on Augu6t 25, l9~1, to T. A. Pelsue Company for a Multipurpose Tent, which patent is incorporated herein by re~erence. FIGs. 12 through lS
show the hub 64 that cooperates with opposite ends 65A
and 65B of the rods 66 that are respactively received in pockets 67 of the hub 64 and pocke~s 68 o~ the cQrners 69 of the tent 42. FIGs. 12 through 15 show the hub 64 as including a hu~ base 72 having four o~ the pocket~ 67 spaced at ninety degree intervals. Each pocket 67 defines part of a sphere and is adapted to receiv~ a generally spherically-shaped end 73 of a rod ternina1 7 that i~ plac~d ov~r the ends 65A and 65B of each rod 66.
The end 73 of each rod terminal 74 conPorms to the shape of the hub pock~t 67 to permit th~ end 73 to rotate 1$ freely within the volume of a cone. The rod terminals 74 are retained in the pockets 67 ~y a hub cover plate 75.
The cover plate 75 has four slots 76. Each 610t 76 limits the rotation of its respective rod terminal~ 74 to one plane that is perpendicular to the plane of the hub base 72. Edge~ 77 o~ the ~lots 76 are rounded and extend over the end~ 73 of the ter~inal 74 to retain the ends 73 in the pockets 67 while per~itting ~uch rotation. A
fa~tener such as a screw 78 holds the cover plate 75 to the hub base 72. The coQperation of the hub base 72 and ~he cover plat~ 75 allow the rods ~6 in the terminal. 74 to as~ume a radial orient~tion ( FIG . 14 ) - which corresponds to the deployed configuration of ~he tent 42) and to assume a parallel orientation ~FIC:. 15 - which corresponds to the stowed and the pre-deploy~ent configuration~ of the tent ~2).

Now considering one hub 6~ with its ~our rods 66 assembled with one of the panels, such as the ceiling panel 49 shown in FIG. 7D, each such panel has one of the tent pockets 68 in each corner 69 thereof as shown in FIG. 8. The pockets 68 are provided on the inside surfaces of the panels 49 and 53. The hub 64 and the .

-, -22 ~SI,~

rods 66 are thus located on the inside o~ the panel~ 49 and 53 (FIB. 7E), with tha co~er plat~ 75 oP each hub 6 facing outwardly. In that po~ition, when the bub ba~e 72 is moved inwardly, the rod~ 66 are free to "collapse"
into the parallel position (YIG.15). Each panel 49 (and 53) is dimensioned so that the di~tance fro~ one corner 69 (FIG. 8) to the di~gonally opposite corner 69 i~ less than the aggregate length of the two rod~ 66 and the hub 64 that extend along the same dlaqonal path. In this manner, when the hub 64 i~ pushedl outwardly ~8 sho~n in FIG. 7~ ~out o the tent 42)~ which i5 toward the viewer as shown in FIG. 8, the fabric of the pane~ 49 will stretch and allow the hub 64 to ~ov~, ~vr example, pas~ the horizontal plane of the ~abric of the c~iling pansl 49 to form tha ceiling panel 49 into a relatively flat pyramidal shape ~F}G. 7D~. The side panels 53 also assume a flat pyramidal shape in a si~ilar mannsr. This flat pyramidal-shape represents the deployed con~iguration of one of the side~! 53 and of the ceiling panel 4g. The ~abric remains ~tretched alld force~ the hub 64 toward the out~i~e o~ the plane de~ined ~y the pock~ts 68 at the corners 69 of the tent 42. In the deployed configuration, the panel is sel~-supporting in that, for example, a vertical ide panel 53 will remain erect and will support the weight of the ceiling panel 49~ Also, the deployed ceiling panel 49 will ~upport itsel~ in the sloped position ~hown in FIG. 7G
and will maintain the side panel~ 53 ~pread apart. Forre applied by the operator 41 is required to overcome this stretching force, thus the deplo~ed panels 49 and 53 tend to stay in the d~ployed con~iguration.

As shown in FIG. 16A, the operator 41 may apply the necessary force to move the hubs 64 inwardly. FIG. 16A
shows the hubs 64 o~ the right side panel 53R and of the ceiling panel 49 having been moved inwardly past the plane o~ the corner pockets 68 into a "collapsed"

.,. - . :. . .

, , , : ` ~ . : ;; . ` :

-23~ 7 ~ 5~ ~,3 ~

po~ition. Th~ operator 41 in FIG. 16A ia startirlg to move the hub 64 of the le~t side panel 53L to the right to collapse the panel 53L.

To assist in the deployment of the side panels 53L
S and 53R, a ~loor strap 80 is connPcted to the fron~ of each side panel 53L and 53R. The strap 80 extends between and interconnects the side panels 53L and 53R.
After deploying the ceiling panel 49, the operator 41 ~teps on the qtrap 80 ~FIG. 7E) tv prevent the botto~ of the side panel 53L from moving outwardly as the operator pushes the ro~s 66 and the hub 64 outwardly to deploy the side panal 63L. In a si~ilar manner, the 5trap 80 is used to deploy the side panel 53R.

The ceiling panel 49 and the side panels 53L and 53R
are joined along the edges thereof. For example, FIG. 9 9hows a bound sea~ 81 joining the c~iling panel 49 ta the sid~ panel 53R. The joined side panel~ 53L and 53R and the ceiling panel 49 combine with the front 35~ o~ the cabinet 30, the ground in front of the cabinet 30 and the 20 door 70 to define the work volume 3~.

Windows 82 (FIG. 8) may be provided in the ~ide panel~ 53L and 53R, and in the ront door 70, for exampl~, to provide ventilation for the work volume 35, and ~ay bQ provided (not shown) in the skirt 95R of th~
retainer 43 to p~rmit equipment ven~ilation air to flow through the cabinet 30.

Referring to FIG. 8, the ceiling panel 49 is ~hown having a trapezoidal shape. A rear ed~e 83 o~ the side panels 53L and 53R is shown shorter than a front edge 84. The rods 66 are dimensioned accordingly to maintain these shapes of ~he ceiling panel 49 and the side panels 53. In this manner the ceiling panel 49 will slope from an upper location at a front 85 (FIGs. 7E and : - :
'.;. , -'~ ' 2 ~ 7 ~

B~ o~ the tent to a lower position at a rear 86 of the tent 42, and the ~ide panels 53 exltend from thQ r~ar edge 83 upwardly at an angle to support the ~loped ceiling panel 49. Also, a front opening 87 (FIG. 7G) of the tent 42 will be larger in height 88 and width ag than the height and width of the cabinet 30. This allows easy ~cce~s to the work volume 36 upon opening o~ a flap so of the door 70 that is connected l:o a ~ront edye 91 SFIG. 7H). The flap 90 is opened by releasing fasteners ~2 at ~ides 93 thareof9 which ~asteners may be zippers, for example (FIG. 7H). Strap fastener~, such as that sold under the "Velcro" trademark, may be used to maintain the flap 90 in a rolled-up position adjacent to the front edge 91 of the ceiling panel 49 (FIG. 7G).
Upon closing the flap 90, the work volu~ 36 i~; fully defined and the environment thereof may then be controlled.

Det~iled ~escription of_R~etalner 43 and Conn~ctor 45 The retainer 43 and the connector 45 may be ~abri-cated ~rom tent f~bric. Prototypes o~ the retainer 43 have been ~abricated from fabric having a color~ such as orange, to distinguish ~ro~ the white, ~or exa~ple, ~abric fro~ which the connector 45 and the t~nt 42 are fabricat~d.

The retainer 43 may be designed ~or use with the variou~ typ~s of cabinets 30 shown in ~IGs. lA
through 7G. A ~irst embodiment of the retainQr 43 is shown in FIG. 6 and is referred to a5 the retainer 43A.
The retainer 43A has a rectangular ~hape that confor~s to the shape o~ the top 39 of the cabinet 30A. The retainer 43A is placed on and extends over the edges 40F~ 40R, 40SL and 40SR of the cabinet 30A. The retainer 43A has the rear edge 44 that i5 connected to the front edge 46 of the connector 45. As the tent 42 is deployed, the .... .. . ., : , :. ` ` , '` ' ' ' ~ ' ~ : ' `' . ~ 1 ' '.' .'. `.' ' -25~

tQnt 4~ pull~ the conn~ctor 45 ~orward ro~ t~ position ~hown ln FI~. 6 to the position ~hown in ~IG. 7I ~hQrein the connector 45 extends over the retainer ~3~ For purposes of describing the tent assembly 29 in layout form, the retainer 43A is shown in FIG. 8 rotated around the fixed support 44 out from under the connector 45 into a fully laid-out position. The ~otto~ o~ the top 94 ~FIG. 6~ of the retainer 43A i~ facing up in FIG. 8 and i~ open to allow the retainer 43A to be placed over the top 39 of the cabinet 30A.

In FIG. 6, the retainer 43A is shown in the normal upright position in which it is placed over the top 39 of the cabinet 30A~ and includes the fabric unit 590 The ~abric unit 59 includes the fabric top 94 and ~our skirts 95 that hang or extend downwardly from the top 94.
one of the skirts, referred to as a front skirt 95F, i~
designed to cover an upper ri~ 9~ locat~d at the edge 40F
oP the fro~t 35F of the cabinet 30A as ~hown in FIGs. 5A
and 5B. ~he ~ront skirt 95F extends along the front 35F
of the cabin~t 30A and joins a side kirt 95S at a corner 97. The corner ~7 is held down by a cro~s corner rubber strap 98 ~FIG. 5~.

The side skirts 95S extend along the upper edge~ 40SL and 40SR of the respective sides 35L and 35R
of the cabinet 3OA to the rear 35R o8 the cabinet 30A
whare they join a rear skir~ 95R. A~ shown in F]:G. 6, each side skirt 95S has a discontinuous or two part lower ~ide he~ 99 that extends from the rear 35R upwardly to the Pront 35~ of the cabinet 30~ under a ri~ 96 (FIG. 5B). The rear parts o~ the lower ~ide he~s 95l also axtend to a lower rear hem 100 at the bottom of the rear skirt 95R. A space lO1 is provided between the two parts o~ the side hem 95S. A first or front belt 102 is received in the front side hems 99 and is long enough to extend around the front 35F of the cabinet 30A under the '~" ' ~ " ' .

, :
.

ri~ 96 and rearwardly past the space 101. A econd or rear belt 103 is received in the rear part o~ the side he~ 9~ and in the rear he~ lO0. The rear belt 103 is provided with a buckle 104 at each end. The buckles 104 function with the free ends of the first belt so that the two belts 102 and 103 can be tigh ened at each side 35SL
and 35SR to draw the respective side and rear hems 95S
and 95R toward the cabinet 30A to hold the retainer 43A
on the top 39 of the cabinet 30A. The belts 102 and 103, and ~he hems 99 and lO0 hold the rear edge 44 o~ the retainer 43 tightly against the rear upper corner or edge 40R of the cabinet 30A so that the rear edge 44 functions as the fixed suppor~ 44 described above. Thi~ enables the first seam 61 to be at a fix~d location. As shown in FIG. 6, the side hems 99 slope downwardly so that the rear skirt ssR is wider than the front skirt 95F. This provides additional fabric at the rear 35R of the cabinet to withstand the ~orward force (see arrow 51A in FIGs. 7C
and 7F) from the connector ~5 on the fixed support 44 of ~he retainer 43A as the tent 42 is deployed. As sho~n in FIG. 5B, at the center of the ~ront of the retainer 43A, a narrow (~,g., one inch wide~ strap 105 is connected ~ro~ the front skirt 95F to the front belt 102 to hold the fron~ 9~F of the skirt 95 of the retainer 43A down on the top 39 of the cabinet 30A. In the ev~nt the cabinet 30A has a ventilation opening (not shown) at the rear ~ide 35~, then the rear skir~ 95R is provided with a window or screen vent 106 shown in dashed lines in FIG. 6.

Retainer ~3~

In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, the rear edge 44 of the retainer 43A is held by the front and rear belts 102 and 103 respectively against the rear top edge 40R (FIG. lA) of the cabinet 30A to form the fixed support, identified by the , ! . ~ ~ , "

,. '. ~ ~,. ' ' ` :`

-27~

reference mlmber 44A, coextensively with the rear top sdge 40~ o the cabinet 30A. ~ nother e~ aent o~
the pr~3sent invention shown in FIG. 7I, al retainer 43E~
has a f ixed support 4 4 B that extends transversely across the top 94 o~ the retainer 43B spaced by a distance ~see line 107~ from the rear 35R of the cabinet 30A. In each e~bodiment of the retainer 43~ and 43B, the ~ront edge 46 of the connector 45 is sewn to the fixed ~upport 44 to form the first seam 61. The fir~t ~eam 61 i~ a hinge-like seam around which the front edge 46 o~ the connector 45 may pivot.

In the first embodiment of the retainer 43A and the connector 45A(FIG. 6), the selected length ~7A of the connector 45 and the lateral length of the retainer 43 are the same and are equal to the depth 37 o~ the top 39 of the cabinet 30A. In the ~econd embodi~ent (FIG. 7I), the selected length 47B of the connector 45B i~ l~s5 than K the d~pth 37 of the top 39 of the cabinet 30~ In both cases, the free edge 48 of the connector ~5 pr~erably extends to the front edge 40F of the cabinet 30 as shown in FIGs. 6 and 7I.

Also in both embodiments, and as shown in FIG. 7I, the free edge 48 of the connector 45 is connected to the tent ~kirt 51B and to the rear edge 50 of the c~iling panel 49. This connection is formed by a bound ancl sewn ~eaDI 108. In the deployed configuration o~ the tent 4~, th2 seam 108 ~xtends downwardly over the front rim 96 o~
the ~abinet 30A. A-~ shown in FIG~. 7I and 7G, a ~trap 55 i8 sewn to the tent ~kirt 51B a:nd to the sid~
skirts 54 to hold the connector 45 and the retainer 43 against the cabinet 30 when the connector q5 is fully extended to the front 35F. The strap 55 provides a tight seal between the tent 42 and the cabinet 30 ~o that the work volume 36 will be relatively closed for ease of , ~

-2~

controlling the temperature, for example, in the work volum~ 36.

Referring to FIGs.lOA through lOD, the length or select~d distance 47 of the connector 45 varies in he first and second embodiments of the connector 45A
(FIG. 6) and 45B (FIG. 7I) according to (1~ the length of the rods 66 and (2) the location of the firet or fixed seam, which has previously been referred to using the re~erence number 61. Two of the pockets 68 in the ceiling panel 49 a.rs provided adjacsnt to the bound and sewn seam lOB that join~ the ~onnector 45, the retainer 43 and the skirt 51B, and a rod 66 is received in ~ach o~ the pockets 68. FIG. lOD shows this relation-ship for the first embodiment when the tent 42 is in the deploye~ configuration, whereas FIG. lOB shows this relationship ~or the second e~bodi~ent in the deployed configur~tion~ FIG. lOC show~ his r~lationship of the connector 45A, the retainex 43 and the skirt 51B for the ~irst embodiment when the tent 42 is in the pre-deployed confi~uration on the top 39 of the cabinet 30A, wherea~
FIG. lOA s~ows this relation~hip ~or tha second embodiment. By comparing FIGsO lOA and lOC, it ~ay be observed that the greater selec~ed length 47G (See arrow 47G in FIG. lOc~ o~ the c~nnector 45A o~ th~ fir~t embodi~ent allows the end~ 65B o~ the rods 66G opposite to the hub~ 64 to extend over or cantile~er beyond the rear edge 40R of the top 39 of the cabinet 30 for a gr~ater di~tance (see line llOC) than the distance ~see line 111) permitted by the shorter selected distance 47S
~see arrow 47S in FIG. lOB) of the connector 45B of the ~eicond embodiment. Since it i~ desirable to po~ition the bound and sewn seam 108 at the front 35F of the cabinet 30 in the deployed configuration, the maximum length 47 of the connector 45 i~ the depth 37 ~FIG. lB) of the top 39 of the cabinet 30. In the first embodiment ~FXGs. lOC and lOD), a connector 45A with that length 47A

,, . . :
:, ~ . .......... ... .

~.;:- ., :

-29- ~ ~ t~ 3 ~'j i~ attached to the retainer 43 at the fixed ~a~ 61A, w~ich i~ located at the rear edge 40R of the cab~net 30.
This provid2s the greatest distance llOC of overhang of the rods 66G.

The shorter length 47s of the connector 45B i~ shown in the second embodiment in FIGs. lOA and lOB ~or use with shorter rods 66SS. The seam 61B is located forward of the rear edge 40R o~ the cabinet 30 so that the bound and sewn seam 108 will extend forward (FIG. lOB~ to the ~ront edge 40F of the cabin~t 30. The ends 65B of the rods 66SS that are in the pockets 68 are positioned adjacent to the rear edg~ 40R o~ the cabinet 30 in the pre-deployment configuration, yet the hubs 64 may overhang the front rim 96F by a distance shown by line lllA in FIG. lOA equal to the distance shown by line lllC in FIG. lOC. In this manner, the aggregate weight o~ the hubs 64 for one of the pan~ls 49 or 53 and (2) the portion o~ the rod~ 66 tbat extend over the front edge 35F of the cabinet 30 is less than that required to tip the tent asse~b}y 29 against the ~eight of the portions of the rods 66 that are resting on the top 39 of the cabinet 30 and the weight of the portions o~ the rods 66 that overhang the rear edge 35R of the cabinet 30. This is referred to as having the tent assemb~y "properly balancedN on the top 39 of the cabinet 30. As a result of having the tent assembly properly balanced, there will be no tendency of the hubs 64 and the rod~ 66 to tip forwardly and fa~1 o~f the front 35F
of the cabinet 30 when the tent assembly 29 is in th~
pre-deployment configuration. It ~ay be understood that in both embodiments of the retainer 43 and the connector 45, and as shown in FIG. lOC, the connector 45A
may extend rearwardly from the first seam 61A beyond the rear edge 40R of the cabinet 30. In the ~irst embodiment, the connector 45A may extend for the distance llOC equal to the depth 37 of the top 39 of the . .
., , ~ .: ~ . . . .

- ~ ~
.
. :

-30- 2~

cabinet 30 ~o that the rod~ 66 may be relatively long ~nd aay sub~tantially overhang the rear edg~ 40R o~ the top 39 of the cabinet 30. On t~le other hand, in the second embodiment, the connector 45B extends the shorter distance 111 beyond the rsar edge 40R of the cabinet 30, and is a adapted for use with shorter rods 66S. The shorter rod~ 66SS that cantilever less (or not at all) over the rear edge 4VP~, do not position the hubs 64 at a great di~tance lllA from the front 40F o~ the cabinet 30, lo such that the weight of the hubs 64 and the portions o~
the rods 66 that extend bayond the front 40F o~ th~
cabinet 30 is insufficient to cause the hubs 64 and th~
rods 66 to tip and fall off the cabinet 30.

It may be f urther understood that if one were to atte~pt to place the tent 42 on the cabinet 30 with the xear edge 50 of the ceiling panel 49 secured direc:tly to the front ~kirt 95F o~ the retainer 43, the pl~cing o~
the tent 42 on the top 39 of the cabinet 30 would require the retainer 43 to be loose enough relative to the top 39 s:~f the cabinet 30 to allow the front skirt 95F to mo~e to the rear ~OR of the top 39 o tl~e ca~inet 30 into a position wher~ the retainer 43 could not be secured _o the top 39 of the cabinet 30. On the other hand, i the retainer 43 were fastened (by the straps 102 arld 103) to the top 35 as described, so that the retain~r 43 remains :in position on the top 39 of the cabine"c 3û as secured to the top 39 by the belt~ 102 and 103, then the tent 42 (as connected directly to the retainer 43) cou1d not be placed on the cabinet 30. Rather, the tent 42 would have to be held in a suf~iciently high position a~ to locate the rear edg~ 50 of the ceiling panel 49 at tha ~ront edge 35F o~ the cabinet 30 while the retainer 43 is secured to the top 39 of the cabinet 30. It is believed clear that it would be difficult, if not impossible, for one operator 41 to hold the tent 42 in that position and at the same time fasten the retainer 43 to the cabinet 30 ., ,~
. . ,;~
~, . ~ I

~, ; . .
" ~ ,, 2~2~2 a~ descri~ed above. Ther~fore, by allowing th~ tent a~se~bly 29 to be properly balanc~d on t~e cabinet 30 in the pre-deploy~ent configuration, the conne~tor 43 of the present i~vention provides an unexpected ease of allowing the tent 42 to be supported on the cabinet 30 while the retain~r 43 is being secured to the top 39 vf the cabinet 30, and ~urther temporarily prev~nts the tent 42 from noving too far forward during the deploym~nt of the tent 420 Thus, the tent asse~bly 29 o~ the pre~ent invention ~ay be deployed by the one operator 41 in conditions, such as windy conditions, that axe relativ~ly adverse.

Retainer 43C

Another embodiment o~ the retainer 43 is s~own in FIGs. 17A and 17B for use with di~ferent size cabinets ~0. In partioular, the cabinet~ 30 may have d~ferent depths 58. To provide one retainer that will ~it two common depth~ ~ of the cabinet~ 30, the retain~r 43C
shown in FIGs. 17A and 17B ha~ an inter~ediate ~kirt 95I
~paced fro~ the rear skirt 95R. The `intermediate skirt 95I is She same as the rear skirt 95R, except that it is secured to the fabric top 94 of the ret~iner 43 at a }ocation 113 to provide a shorter selected length 47I~ as compared to the length 47A provided by the rear skirt 95R. When the intermediate skirt 95I i~ us~d, the rear skirt 95R hangs loose (FIG. 17A) at the rQar of the cabinet 30 and the inter~ediate skirt 95I is held tightly by the belt~ 102 and 103 to the upper ri~ 96 of the cabinet 30. When the intermediate ~kirt 95I i~ not used, and to allow us~ o~ the re~r skirt 95R, the inter~ediate skirt i~ folded flat against the underside of the retainer 43C (FIG. 17B) and the retainer 43C i5 used as if the inte~mediate skirt 95I was not there.

~ . .
~ .

, ~' 1 .

Retainer 43~

Another embodi~ent of the retain~r 43 is shown in FIG. 17C and facilitates the use of the tent assembly 29 with cabinets 30 having di~ferent size tops 39. This embodiment provides a releasable fastener 114 between the rear edge 50 of the tent 42 and the sewn and bound seam 108C that joins the skirt 51B to the connector 45. In this manner, if the operator 41 knows that t~e cabinets 30 to be serviced have a particular si2e or shape top 39, and knows the retainer 43 and/or th~ connector 45 that are attach~d to the t~nt 42 are not suita~le for u~e with th~ next cabinet 30 to be serviced, then a new retainer 43D having the appropriate size and shape top 94 may be attached to the same tent 42 aft~r removing the existing retainer ~3 and connector 45 by unfastening the releasable fastener 114. The releasabl~ fast~ner 114 is shown as a zipper, but other fasteners ~uch as those ~old under the trademark "Velcro" may be used, for exampl~

Retainer 43~

FIG. 18 shows another ~mbodi~ent o the retainer 43 for use with the cabinet 30E shown in FI~. lE as having both front and rear doors 34. Either embodi~ent of the retainer 43 shown in FIGs. lOA through lOD may be adapted for use with the cabinet 30E. For purposes of illustration, the embodiment shown in FIG. 18 will be described a3 adapted for use with the cabin~t 30E. The ob~ect of this embodiment i~ to allow the one retainer 43E to be asse~bled with two tent~ 42E1 and ~2E2 so that the two tents 42E1 and 42E2 may be si~ultaneously placed on the top 39 of the cabinet 30E. The tents 42El and 42E2 are then deployed in succession by the one operator 41. To achieve this object, the retainer 43E is provided with two connectors 45El and 45E2, each of which is one half the transverse length 38 of the top 39 of the .

2~2~2 cabinet 30E. The connector 45~ or the tQnt 42El that is to bs~ deployed adjacent to the ~ront 35F o~ the tent 42E, and faces in a direction suitable for that deployment. The connector 45E2 is for the tant 42E2 that is to be deployed adjacent to the rear 35R of the cabinet 30E and faces in an oppo~ite direction suitable for that deployment . In particular, a f ixed support 44E1 of the retainer ~5E is at the rear 35E of the cabinet 30E, ~uch that the connector 45El is free to rotate forward (see arrow 51) in the deployment oiE the tent 421~1 at the front 35F of the cabinet 301:. A fixed ~upport 44E2 of the retainer 43E is located at the front 35F of the cabinet 30E, such that the conneotor 45E2 is ~re~ to :rotate rearwardly (see arrow 115) in the deployment of th~e tent 42E2 at the rear 35R of the cabinet 30E. Even though the connectors 45El and 45E2 are only half of tha 1:ransverse length 38 of' the cabinet 30E, they ~unction in the saD~e manner ~s the full-si2e (full lateral width) ::onnQctors 45 shown in FIG. 6. Thus, for exan~ple, the cormectors 45E1 and 45E2 are effective to prevent the tent~3 42~1 and 42E2 ~roTn moving too far forward and rearward, respec-tively, during deployloent of the tentæ 42E1 and 42E2.

Tent Assembly 29~F

FIGs. lFt lG and 17D show the cabinet 30F with 1:he central raised top section 39C. The retainer 43 is sho~n in the form of another embodiment 43F having ~ront and rear skirts 95FF and 95FR resp~ctively. No side ~kirts nor side hemæ are provided. l~ather, a front he~ 122 (FIG. 17D) is provided with tha front belt 102 ~FIG. lF~, and the rear hem 100 (FIG. 17D) is provided with the rear belt 103 (YIG. lF). The buckle 104 is provid~d on each side 35SL and 35SR of the central section 39C to tightly hold khe retainer 43F to the top 39 of the cabinet 30F.
The retainer 43F is provided with the same fixed su~port , , 2 ~ 2 ~34 44, which in this case extend~ along a rear edge 123 (FIG. 17D) of the central top sec~ion 39C.

The cabinet 30F shown in FIGs. lF and lG is usually of the type shown in FIG~ lE, and has doors 32G at the front 35F and at the rQar 35R. When the cabinet 30F has such front and rear doors 32G, the retainer 43F i8 ~abricated according to the e~bodiment 43E shown in FIG.
18 wherein two tents 42El and 42E2 are provided with two connectors 45E1 and 45E2, resp~ctively. In FIG. lF, such two connectors ar~ shown by the reference numbers 45Fl and 45F2.

To simplify the description, only one of such connectors i5 described below. Further, such connector is le~gthened laterally as described below to cooperate 7 5 with the ca~inet 30F. FIG. 17D sho~s the cabinet 30F
extending to the front (to the left) b~yond a front edge 40F of tbe centx al section 39C. To position a tent 42F
of the tent ass~lobly 4gF in front of the ca~inet 30F, a s~onn~ctor 45F is secured to the fixed ~upport 44 in the manner of the connector 45A and the retainer 43A. The connector 45F ~FIG. 17D) extend~ forwardly fro~ the fixed support 44 by a lateral depth 37S o~ the central top section 39F and hy a further lateral di~ension so that the tctal lateral dimension ~see }ine 127 i~ FIG. 17D) o~
the connector 45F is sufficient to position a bound and ~wn seam 108F at the front 35F of the cabinet 30F. The bound and ewn seam 108F connects a ~ree edge 48 of the connector 45F to the rear edge 50 of the ceiling panel 49. After deploying the tent 42F in the ~anner described above with xespect to the tent 42A, skirts 51F and 54F o~
the tent 42F are secured as described above. In particular, the skirt 51F is designed to extend over the connector 45F and the skirt~ 54F extend along the sides 35SL and 35SR of the cabinet 30F. The skirts 51F and S4F
are secured to the cabinet 30F by a strap 5SF that I' ' ~ . ` .' ' .......... ~ 1 ' ' ' " :, :. : , . . : , : .

.... .

-35- ~7~

~xtend~ over the skirts 51F and 54F on each side 35SF of th~ cabinet 30F.

Other Features of Tent Assembly 29 As shown in FIG. 5~, the cabinet 30 is provided with vents 112 to aid in circulating air through the cabinet 30. The retainer 43 has an opening 113 adjacent to the front skirt 95F tD allow air to ~low through the vents 112 o~ the cabinet 30 and through the ~crQen 106 tFIG. 6) of the rear sXirt 95R of the retainer 43.

Industrial Applicability Method of Stowin~ Tent Assembly 29 The invention of the present invention also includes a method of s~owing the tent asse~bly 29 so that the tent assembly 29 can easily be arranged from the stowed configuration (PI&. 2) to the pre-deployment configuxation on the cabinet 30 (~IG. 4) to the deployed configuration (FIG. 7G) for defining the work volume 36.
The t~nt assembly 29 is stowed into the stowed configuration ~FIG.2) by performing the following s,tep~:
~ upporting the tent 42, inclllding the panels 43, S3L and 53R, the hubs 64 and the rods 66 thereof, spaced ~rom the floor at one side of a ~upport surface;
(2~ extending the connector 45 from the tent 42 to a support surface abov~ the floor;
(3) spreading the retainer 43 over the support surface ~o that it i~ extended substantially to its full size;

(4) collecting the hubs 64 of each panel 49 and 53 50 that the hubs 64 are aligned, the rods 66 thereof extend away from the hubs 64 in parallel relationship (FIG. 15~, and the panels 49 and 53 thereof are gathered;

:: .
~ :
: . ~, . -: . .
: : . . , . . ~ . . .

- :.: : : . :
.

2 ~3~ J

(5~ placing the collected hubs 64, the parallel rods 66 and the gathered panels 49 and 53 on ~he spread retainer 43 in the properly balanced po6ition, in which the rods 66 may be generally centered on the retainer 43 5from side-to-side and from front-to-rear, which is permitted by the lateral dimension 47 of the connector 45; and (6) wrapping the ratainer 43 over a portion of the gathered panels 49 and 53 and ov~r a portion of the 10parallel rods 66 to form the tent assembly 29 into the ~towed configuration tFIG. 4, solid lines~.

In greater detail, in the înitial manufacture of the tent assembly 29 a cabinet-like or box-like support having a support surface may be available. For purposes 15of illustrating the methvd of stowing, the cabinet ~0 shown in FIG. lB or 7G will be used to illustrate such a support and the top 39 o~ the cabinet 30 will illu~trate the support surface. In the manufacture of th~ tent as~embly 29, a worker (not shown), ~or example, will hold 20the tent 42, the panels 49 and 53, the rods 66 and the hubs 64 above the floor (i.e.~ "up~

To stow the tent assembly 29 from the deployed configuration shown in FIG. 7G, it is understood that upon deployment of the tent 42 adjacent to the cabinet 2530, the tent 42 itself supports itself on the floor (or the ground), such that most of the structure of the tent 42 i~ ~paced from the floor (FIG.16B). Thus, the first step of the method of stowing is either per~ormed at the end of the manufacturing process (by a worker not shown) 30or by having the tent 42 in the deployed configuration (FIG. 7G).

As to stowing step (2), in manufacture, with the tent 42 held in the up position, the connector 45 is extended to the top surface 39 of the cabinet 30. For .

~' `: - '.`
.

stowing from the deployed conf iguration, in FIGo 7G the ~onnector 45 is shown extending fro~ the tent 42 to the top 39 (see also FIG. 7I~.

As to stowing step (3), in manufacture, with the connector 45 extended to the top 39, the retainer 43 is spread over the top 39 (FIG. 4~ to its full size. The tent 42 that has been deployed (FIG. 7G) has the retainer 43 spread over and secured to the top 39 tFIG. 5A)o Stowing step (4~ is performed at both the end of manu~acture and after deployment as shown in ~igs. 16A
and 16B. The hub collecting may ~tart in ~anufactllre the same way as the tent 42 is stowed after deployment if the panels 49, 53L and 53R were deployed in manu~acture. If so, this step starts by pulling the hub 64 o~ ~he side panel 53R into the ten~ 42 to collapse tha side panel 53R. The hub 64 of the ceiling panel 49 is then pulled into the tent 42 to collap~e t~e ceiling panel 49 ~as shown in FIG. 16A). The operator 41 (or worker) then pulls the hub 64 of th left side panel 53L into the tent 42 as sh~wn in F~G. 16A. If during ~anufacture the panels were not deployed, then the hub gathering starts as shown in FIG. 16C in which the hubs 64 o~ each panel 49 and 53 are brought together with the rods 66 parallel (FIG. 15~. As the rods 66 move into pa:rallel relaticnship, the panels 49 and 53 are gathere.d a~d extend near the rods 66 (FIG. 16C).

~5 to stowing step (5), and as shown in FIG. 16C, the collected hubs 64, the parallel rod~ 66 and the gathered panels 49 and 53 are li~ted and placed on the top 94 of the spread retalner 43, which is supported by the top 39 of the cabinet 30. With these items placed on the top 94, the tent assembly 29 is thus returned to the pre-deployment configuration (FIG. 4). Care is taken to position the tent assembly 29 in a properly balanced ,.~ ~ :.: .. : .;

2 ~

location, as discussed aboYe. ~his i~ facilitated by the ~dequate length 47 of khe connector 45.

Stowing step (6) is performed by releasing the retainer 43 from the top 39 (FIGo 4)o If the tent 42 was deployed, this step is per~ormed by loosening the two belts 102 and 103 to allow the sXirts 95 of the retainer 43 to be re~oved from the sides 35 of the cabinet 30.
The retainer 43 is then ~oved into the 801id line position shown in FIG. 4, by which it is wrapped over tAe center portion of the gathered panels 49 and 53 and over the center portion of the parallel rods 66. The tent asse~bly is thus in the stowed con~i~uration (PIG. 4) and may be placed in a carry bag 116 ~FIG. 2~.

Method of Deployment o~ Tent 42 The method of deploying the te~t asse~bly 29 results in the t~t 42 de~ining the work volume 36 in ~ront o~ the equipment cabinet 30. The cabinet 30 has at least one oP the doors 32A, 32B, 32C, 32G or 34 ~se~
FIGs, lA through lG) tha~ swings from the closed po~ition (FIG. lA) to the open position ~FIG. lC), the open position b~ing at one side of the work volume 36. The tent assembly 29 in the above-described stowed configuratio~ (FIG. 2) is placed on the top 39 of the cabinet 30 with the hubs 64 of the pan~ls 49 and 53 at the front of the cabinet 30 and the rods 66 and the panels 49 and 53 extending to and beyond the rear edge 40R o~ the cabinet 30 (FIG. lOC~ or to the rear edge 40R (FIG. 10~). The tent assembly 29 is properly balanced at thi~ ti~e. The method Or d~ploying the tent 42 ~rom the stowed con~iguration (FIG. 2) includes the following steps:
Step One: Unwrapping the retainer 43 from the gathered ceiling panels 49 and 53 and fro~ the parallel rods 66. The unwrapping step is performed as shown in ^ . .
. : ~ j, , . .~ .- ,, -3~

FI~. 4, from the ~olid line position o~ th~ r~tain~r ~3 to the dashed line position.
~ tep Two: Securing the retainer 43 to the top 39 of the cabinet 30, whereupon the tent assembly 29 is in the s pre-deployment configuration. Such securing is accompli~hed by tightening the belts lQ2 and 103 using the buc~les 104 (FIG. 5A), making sure that the skirts ss of th~ retainer 43 extend over the upper edges 40 of the cabinet 30. This secu~ing step tightens the center ~trap 105 to retain the front skirt 95F ovar the ri~ 96, and urge~ the fixed support 44 against the rear edge 40R of the ~abinet 30.
Step Three: Arranging the rods 66 of the ceiling panel 49 and of the side panels 53L and 53R with the side panel rods 66S on either side of the ceiling panel rods 66C ~FIG. 4). If the hubs 64 are not in this arrangement upon unwrapping the retainer 43 ~Step 1~, then the hubs 64 are moved to that arrangement. To identi~y the ceiling hub 64, it may be color coded.
Step Four: As sh~wn i~ FI~s. 7A an~ 7~, f~om a location in front of the cabinet 30, the ceiling pan~l rod~ 66 are lifted by grasping the two selected ones 66A
and 66B of the ceiling panel rods 66 and lifting the qrasped rods 66A and 66B fro~ the ca~inet 30 forwardly ~5 and overhead. The rods 66A and 66B may al~o be color coded for ease of identification. FIG. 7B shows the li~ting of the rods 66A and 66B and the movement thereof of~ the top 94 of the retainer 43. (FIG. 7C sh~ws move-me~t of these elements over the head) of the operator 41.
Step Five: The free ends 65B of the two rods 66A
and 66B are moved apart to 6pread the ceiling panel 49 and the ceiling rods 66 into an open position over the head o~ the operator 41 (FYG. 7D). The lifting and moving of the rods 66A and 6SB is also effective to lift the side panels 53L and 53R and the side rods 66 and move them forward and transversely off the cabinet 30.
FIG. 7C shows the spreading of the free ends 65B of the - - , . ~ . ........... .. . .

, . . . . - : . :.: ......... - : ~

, , , . . . ~ . .
... .. ~ . . ~ . :. .

-40 ~2~

two rods 66~ and 66B, which re~ults in ~ove~ent o~ the rods 66A and 66B fro~ the position shown in FIG~ 15 to that shown in FIG. 14. As the rods 66A and 66B ~o mov~, the rods 66A and 66B spread the ceiling panel 49 and cause the side panels 35L and 35R to fall over the side edges 52 of the ceiling panel 49 into the loose vertical position shown in FIG. 7D.
Step Six~ FIG. 7C show~ the extending of the connector 45 into a taut position t:s li~it the forward motion of the ceiling panel 49. The connector 45 becomes taut as the tent 42 i5 pulled of~ ~he top 39 of the cabinet 30 and off the top 94 of th~e retainer ~3. This limits the forward motion o~ the tent 42 evan though it has not been tightly secured to the top 39 or to the sides 35 of the cabinet 30. The tent assembly 2g has been deployed in windy conditions. The connector 45 is effective ~o hold the rear edge 50 of the ceiling panel 49 to the cabinet 30, yet allows the tent 42 to ~ove in varying wind conditions.
St~p Seven: The rendering of the ceiling pa~el 49 and the ceiling rods 66 ~el~-supporting to ~aintain the side ~anel~ 53L and 53R separated i6 shown in FIGs. 7D
and 7E. To render the ceiling panel 49 self-supporting, th~ ~perator 41 holds the ceiling hub 45 and pushes upwardly against the weight oP the side panels 53L and 53R and of the associated rods 66. The opera~or 41 then holds a rod 66 of the ceiling panel 49 in the right hand ~nd pushe~ the hub 64 of the side pa~el 53L outwardly while ~tepping on the floor strap 80 to deploy the side panel 53L in the manner described above. ~he operator 41 then moves to the right side o~ the tent 42 and while 6tepping on the ~loor strap 80 pushe~ the hub 64 Or the side panel 53R outwardly to deploy the side panel 53R.
As described above, the action o~ deployinq each of the ceiling panel 49 and the ~ide panels 53L and 53R renders such panels self-supporting.

.
,, , . ~. . ~ .~

, ' , ' '; ' . : , , ~, 2 ~ ~ 2 ~
-4~-~tep_Ei~ht: Rendering each of the side panels 53L
and 53R and th~ side rods selP-supporting is shown in FIG. 7E. The panels 53L and 53R are deployed and vertically support the ceiling panel ~9 to define the work volume 36 while the connector 45 prevents further forward motion 51 of the ceiling panel ~9 and o~ the ~ide panels 53~.and 53R. FIG. 7E illustrates the operator 41 holding a rod 66 with the left hand and pushing the rod~
66 and the hub 64 outwardly to deploy the left sid¢ panel 53L as described above. This renders the side panel 53L
self-supporting, and i~ repeated for the right side panel 53R. FIG. 7F shows the operation o~ the connector 45 in preventing further forward motion 51 o~ ~he tent 42.
After the panels 49 and 53 are deployed, the tent 42 is tightly secured to the sides and top of the cabinet 30. Thi~ is done by means of the strap 55 that is secured to the skirts 51B, 54L and S4R and the cllp 56.
The strap 55 is tightened by drawing on the adjustable buckle after the clip 5~ is placed under a ledge or o~fset lip 119 of the cabinet 30~ The clip 56 is shown in FIG. 11 having a generally L-sh~ped configuration with a lip 120 for engaging the lip 57 of ~he cabinet 30 (FIGs. lA and 113.
gt~L_~in~: When the work volume 36 ~ust be an environmental volume having controlled tempPrature, ~or exa~ple, the front door 70 i5 released fro~ the ~asteners 71, unrolled, and secured to eaeh of the side panels 53, as by the zippering step ~hown in FIG. 7~1. In thi~ manner, the tent 42, with the ground in front of the cabinet 30 and the front 35F of tbe cabinet 30, de~ines the enclosure or work volu~e 36 within which the operator 41 may work wh~le servicing the equipment 31. - In the event of windy weather, the operator 41 may place elongated weights 126 on the bases of the side panels 53S
and the door flap 90. ~he operator 41 then controls the environment within the tent 42, as by supplying warmed air through an inlet 125. To start the servicing, the , .. . . ~ -.- . ~ ..
: ,, : .
. ~ : : : .
.~: I . . . . ...... .

operator opens the doors, such as the door~ 32A in FIG.
1~. Due to the trapezoidal shape o~ the ceiling panel 49, the deployed side pan~l~ 53S ~re positioned at an angle 121 (such as 135) with respect to the front 35F of the cabinet 30 (FIG. 8). This allows the operator 41 to open the doors 32A as wide a~ pos~ible to expose the eqllipment 31 for servicing.

The abov~ dascribed st~wing and deploying processes may be performed with each embodi~aent of the retainer 43 and of the connector 45 since each ~unctions to permit or assist in the stowinq according to steps (1~ tllrough (6~
and the deployment according to steps one through nine.
In addition, the deployment ~nay include use of additional straps 117F and 117R that ~re routed horizontally around the front and the back o~ cabinet 30B below the doors 32B
(FIG. lB). Buckles 117B axe use~ to ~;ecure the straps 117F and 117R. The buckles 11713 are released ~rhen the tent assembly 29 is stowed. To as~;~le the s'traps 117F
and 117R to the tent assembly 29, the ~kirts 54 are sewn to the front strap 117F near th~ ~ront corners of the c:abinet 30 ~a1: loca~ions 117C in FIG. 113~. A snap connector 118 ~such as a Fastex Company clip, Nodel No. 67SP~Z) attached to the strap 117F is used to cornect with a mating portion of the connector 118. The matiJIg portion o~ the connector 118 is secured to the s~rap 55 .-~FIG~ ~G3. In this manner, the strap 55 and the s,traps 117F and 117P~ hold the skirts 5~ and 54 securely a~ainst ~the side~ 35L and 35R of the cabinet 30B ~FIG. lB, ~or example). In the case of the cabinet 30E shown in FIG. 18, or the cabinet 30F ~hown in FIG. lF as having respective rear and front doors 3~ and 32~, one of th~
tents 42E1 or 42E2 i~ deployed first, and then the other tent is deployed.

While the preferred embodiments have been described in order to illustrate the fundamental relationships of :~ ~

,. :,... .

-43- ~72~

the present invention, it ~hould be under~tood that nu~erous variations and ~odifications ~ay ~e ~ade to these embodiments without dsparting ~ro~ the t~achings and concepts o~ the present invention. Accordingly, it should be clearly understood that the ~orm of the present inve~tion described above and shown in the accompanying drawings is illustrative only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to les5 than thak described in the following clai~s.

, : ~ . , . . ~

.
.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An enclosure assembly for defining a closed volume adjacent to a cabinet to be serviced by one oper-ator, said enclosure assembly normally being stowed away from the cabinet and being designed to be placed by the one operator on a top of the cabinet for deployment into a configuration for defining the volume, said enclosure assembly comprising:
means for engaging said cabinet to define a fixed support extending across at least a portion of the cabinet;
connector means having a first edge secured to said fixed support and extending laterally for a selected distance to a free edge; and means for defining said closed volume, said defining means including a first panel having a first portion secured to said free edge of said connector means.

2. A tent assembly for enclosing a work volume in front of a cabinet, the cabinet having a first edge and a top extending a selected distance laterally from a second edge to the first edge, the top having a pre-determined shape, said tent assembly comprising:
first fabric means having the predetermined shape and adapted to overlie the top for defining a first rear edge;
second fabric means having a hinge edge attached to said first rear edge to form a first hinge seam, said second fabric means having a free edge opposite said first hinge seam; and a tent for defining said work volume, said tent having an attachment edge attached to said free edge to form a movable seam.

3. An enclosure assembly for defining a closed environmental volume adjacent to an equipment cabinet to be serviced by one operator, said enclosure assembly normally being stowed away from the cabinet and being designed to be placed by the one operator above the cabinet for deployment into a configuration for defining the environmental volume, the cabinet having at least one door at a front of the cabinet, the door being open and received in the environmental volume during servicing of the equipment, the cabinet having a rear opposite to the front and spaced therefrom by a given distance in a lateral direction, the cabinet having sides extending from the front to the rear, said enclosure assembly comprising:
a flexible cover designed for tightly engaging and covering at least portions of the top and upper sides of the cabinet so that said cover is retained on the cabinet, said cover having a rear edge;
means for defining said closed environment, said means comprising a tent having a ceiling panel, two lateral edges and a side panel connected to each of said two lateral edges of said tent, said ceiling panel having a first rear portion extending between said two lateral edges, each of said side panels having a second rear portion, each of said ceiling panel and said side panels including a set of support rods movable from a stowed rods into a deployed position defining the letter X, said sets of support rods being in said mutually parallel relationship when placed on said cover above said cabinet with the front of each rod extending beyond the front of the cabinet and the rear edge of the cabinet; and a first flexible connector interposed between and secured to each of said first rear portion of said ceiling panel and said rear edge of said cover.

4. Apparatus for holding a tent adjacent to an equipment cabinet, said tent being adapted to cover a work area of a floor in front of the equipment cabinet, the cabinet having at least one door that swings across the work area from a closed position to an open position, the open position being at one side of the work area, the cabinet having a top and generally vertically extending sides, at least one of the sides having at least one of said doors therein to define a front of said cabinet opposite to a rear of the cabinet, the work area being adjacent to the front of the cabinet, said tent being deployable from the top of the cabinet when the door or doors are in the closed position, the top of the cabinet being adjacent to an upper rim area of the sides of the cabinet, the tent having a ceiling panel defined by four perimeter strips, the perimeter strips comprising first and second side strips and front and rear strips extending between the side strips, the tent further comprising a first side panel secured to the first side strip, the first and second side panels and the ceiling panel being designed for covering the work area when the tent is deployed, said apparatus comprising:
a fabric retainer for enclosing at least portions of the top and the upper rim area of said cabinet, said retainer having a front edge corresponding to the front of the cabinet and a rear edge corresponding to the rear of the cabinet;
means for holding said retainer in a position enclosing at least portions of the top and the upper rim area; and a fabric connection having a first edge and a second edge, said first edge being secured to said rear edge of said retainer, said connection having a selected dimension from said first edge to said second edge extending in a lateral direction from said front edge to said rear edge of said retainer, said second edge of said connection being attached to the rear strip of the ceiling panel of the tent.

5. A method of stowing the tent and the apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein the tent is deployed from a stowed configuration for covering said work area, each of said ceiling panels and said side panels including a hub and support rods connected to the hub, said hub allowing said rods thereof to move into parallel relationship relative to each other; said method comprising the steps of:
supporting the panels, the hubs and the rods of the tent spaced from the floor;
extending the connection from the tent to a support surface above the floor;
spreading the retainer over the support surface so that the retainer is extended substantially to the full size thereof;
collecting the hubs of each panel so that the hubs are aligned, the rods thereof extend away from the hubs in parallel relationship, and the panels thereof are gathered;
placing the collected hubs, the parallel rods and the gathered panels on the spread retainer in a properly balanced panels and parallel rods to provide the tent and the apparatus in the stowed configuration.

6. A method of deploying a tent for covering work area in front of an equipment cabinet, the cabinet having at least one door that swings across the work area from a closed position to an open position, the open position being at one side of the work area, the cabinet having a top and generally vertically extending sides, at least one of the sides having at least one of the doors therein to define a front of the cabinet opposite to a rear of the cabinet, the work area being adjacent to the front of said cabinet, the tent being deployable from the top of the cabinet when the door or doors are in the closed position, the top of the cabinet being adjacent to an upper rim area of the sides of the cabinet, the tent having a ceiling panel defined by four perimeter strips, said perimeter strips including first and second side strips and front and rear strips extending between said side strips, said ceiling panel including a hub having pockets therein and corners provided with pockets, a rod having a first end received in one of said hub pockets and an opposite end received in one of said corner pockets, said tent including a first side panel secured to said first side strip and a second side panel secured to said second side strip, said side panels each having hub having pockets therein and corners provided with pockets, a rod having a third end received in said side hub pocket and a fourth end received in one of said side corner pockets, said first and second side panels and said ceiling panel being designed for covering the work area when said tent is deployed; the tent including a fabric retainer for enclosing said top and upper rim area of said cabinet, said retainer having a front edge corresponding to the front of said cabinet and a rear edge corresponding to the rear of said cabinet; the tent assembly including means for holding said retainer in a position enclosing said top and upper rim area; the tent further including a fabric connection having a first edge and a second edge, said first edge being secured to said rear edge of said retainer, said connection having a selected dimension from said first edge to said second edge extending in a lateral direction from said front edge to said rear edge of said retainer, said second edge of said connection being attached to said rear strip of said ceiling panel of said tent; the tent, the retainer and the connection having been stowed according to the method of claim 5; said method of deploying said tent comprising the steps of:
unwrapping the retainer from the gathered panels and from the parallel rods;
securing the retainer to the top of the cabinet;
arranging the sets of rods of the ceiling panel and of the side panels with one set of the side rods on either side of the set of ceiling rods;
from a location in front of the cabinet, lifting the ceiling set of rods by grasping two selected ones of the ceiling rods and lifting the grasped rods from the cabinet forwardly and overhead;
moving the two grasped rods to spread the ceiling panel and the ceiling rods into an open position overhead;
the lifting and moving also lifting the side panels and the side rods and moving them forward and transversely of the cabinet;
limiting the forward motion of the ceiling panel by extending the connector into a taut position;
rendering the ceiling panel and the ceiling rods self-supporting to maintain the side panels separated; and rendering each of the side panels and the side rods self-supporting to vertically support the ceiling panel and define an environmental volume around the work area while preventing forward motion of the ceiling panel and the side panels beyond that limited by the connector.

7. An enclosure assembly for defining a closed volume adjacent to equipment having a support surface provided with a front and a rear, said assembly including elongated support members stored in a generally parallel relationship, hubs for pivotally joining one end of selected ones of the support members to leave opposite ends of the support members free to pivot around the hubs, and fabric covering one of the hubs and the support members joined thereto, the improvement comprising:
flexible elongated means having a first end secured to said enclosure assembly adjacent to the free ends of the elongated support members for permitting the support members to rest on the support surface in a properly balanced position extending off the front of the support surface, said flexible elongated means having a second end; and means for retaining said second and in a fixed position at the rear of the support surface;
said flexible elongated means permitting the support members, the hubs and the fabric to be moved from the properly balanced position forward to the front of the support surface for defining said closed volume adjacent to the equipment, said flexible elongated means limiting said forward movement of the hubs, the elongated members and the fabric.

8. A method of deploying an enclosure assembly for defining a closed environmental volume adjacent to an equipment cabinet to be serviced by one operator, said enclosure assembly normally being stowed away from the cabinet and being designed to be placed by the one operator above a top of the cabinet for deployment into a configuration for defining the environmental volume, the cabinet having a front and a rear opposite to the front and spaced therefrom by a given distance in a lateral direction, said enclosure assembly comprising a flexible cover designed for tightly engaging at least portions of the top and upper sides of the cabinet to be retained on the cabinet, said cover having a rear edge;
tent means for defining said closed environment, said tent means comprising a tent having a ceiling panel, two lateral edges and a side panel connected to each of said two lateral edges of said tent, said ceiling panel having a first rear portion extending between said two lateral edges, each of said side panels having a second rear portion, each of said ceiling panel and said side panels including a set of support rods movable from a stowed position parallel to each other and to the other set of rods into a deployed position defining the letter X, said sets of support rods being in said mutually parallel relationship when placed on said cover above said cabinet with the front of each rod extending beyond the front of the cabinet and the rear of each rod extending rearwardly to or beyond the rear edge of the cabinet; and a first flexible connector interposed between and secured to each of said first rear portion of said ceiling panel and said rear edge of said cover; said enclosure assembly being on the top of the cabinet in the stowed position with the retainer spread over the top of the cover so that the cover is extended substantially to the full size thereof and the hubs of each panel are aligned and the rods thereof extend away from the hubs in parallel relationship, and the panels thereof are gathered; the collected hubs, the parallel rods and the gathered panels being on the spread retainer in a properly balanced position and the cover being wrapped over a portion of the panels and parallel rods; said method of deploying said enclosure assembly comprising the steps of:
unwrapping the cover from the gathered panels and from the parallel rods;
securing the cover to the top of the cabinet;
arranging the sets of rods of the ceiling panel and of the side panels with one set of the side rods on either side of the set of ceiling rods;
from a location in front of the cabinet, lifting the ceiling set of rods by grasping two selected ones of the ceiling rods and lifting the grasped rods from the cabinet forwardly and overhead;
moving the two grasped rods to spread the ceiling panel and the ceiling rods into an open position overhead;
said lifting and moving also lifting the side panels and the side rods and moving them forward and transversely off the cabinet; and limiting the forward motion of the ceiling panel by extending the connector into a taut position.

9. An enclosure assembly according to claim 1, wherein:
said distance is selected for limiting the movement of said first portion during said deployment.

10. An enclosure assembly according to claim 1, wherein:
said connector means is effective during said deployment of said enclosure assembly to position said first portion of said panel adjacent to a front of the top of the cabinet.

11. An enclosure assembly according to claim 10, further comprising:
first skirt means secured to said first portion of said defining means for overlying at least a portion of said connector means.

12. An enclosure assembly according to claim 11, further comprising:
means extending over said first skirt means for holding said free edge of said connector means and said first portion of said first panel in a fixed position relative to the top of the cabinet.

13. An enclosure assembly according to claim 11, further comprising:
said first panel having lateral sides; and a side panel connected to each of said lateral sides of said first panel, each said side panel having second skirt means extendable into overlapping relation-ship with the sides of the cabinet.

14. An enclosure assembly according to claim 13, further comprising:
said holding means also extending over said second skirt means for holding said second skirt means in said overlapping relationship with the sides of the cabinet.

15. An enclosure assembly according to claim 1, wherein:
said distance is sufficient to allow said enclosure assembly to be properly balanced on the top of the cabinet.

16. An enclosure assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:
said defining means includes elongated members adapted to rest on the cabinet parallel to the top prior to said deployment; and said distance being selected according to the length of said elongated members.

17. An enclosure assembly according to claim 16, wherein:
said distance is at most equal to the lateral dimension of the top of the cabinet; and said fixed support is located relative to the top of the cabinet according to the length of said elon-gated members.

18. An enclosure assembly according to claim 1, wherein:
said fixed support extends across at least a portion of a rear edge of the cabinet; and said connector means extends toward a front of the cabinet.

19. A tent assembly according to claim 2, further comprising:
said first fabric means including a first fabric panel having said predetermined shape defined by a plurality of perimeter edges and a fabric skirt extending from each of said perimeter edges, said first rear edge extending along one of said perimeter edges;
said second fabric means including a second panel having said hinge edge;
said first rear edge and said hinge edge being sewn together to form said first hinge seam; and said tent including a third fabric panel having said attachment edge, said free edge and said attachment edge being sewn together to form said movable seam.

20. A tent assembly according to claim 19, further comprising:
fourth and fifth panels being sewn to opposite sides of said third panel to form sides of said tent.

21. A tent assembly according to claim 20, further comprising:
each of said fourth and fifth panels having a first fabric flap extending generally past said movable seam; and a second fabric flap sewn to said third panel and adapted to extend past said movable seam.

22. A tent assembly according to claim 19, further comprising:
said fabric skirt is provided with a hem; and means received in said hem for urging said hem against the sides of the cabinet when said first fabric panel is overlying the top of the cabinet.

23 A tent assembly according to claim 19, further comprising:
said third panel is provided with at least three corners and a pocket in each of said corners, said tent further including at least three flexible rods, one end of one of said rods being received in one of said pockets, said tent further including a hub pivotally connected to each opposite end of said rods, two of said pockets and the one ends of said rods received therein being adjacent to said movable seam and said hub being secured to the center of said ceiling panel;
said tent being adapted to be stowed by pivot-ing said rods on said hub and moving said rods into generally parallel relationship to collapse said third panel, and said second fabric means being flexible to permit said tent to be placed on the top of the cabinet with the one ends of said parallel rods extending to or beyond the first edge of the cabinet and the hub of said rods being positioned adjacent to the second edge of the cabinet.

24. A tent assembly according to claim 23, wherein:
said flexible second fabric means is dimen-sioned laterally to allow said hub to be moved forward until said movable seam is adjacent to the second edge of the cabinet, whereupon said second fabric means prevents further forward movement of said movable seam.

25. A tent assembly according to claim 24, wherein:
as said on hub, spread said two pockets apart and to pivot on said hub, spread said two pockets apart and deploy said third panel into a self-supporting configuration; and said attachment edge of said third panel being effective to support one side of said deployed panel on said cabinet to define a top of said work volume.

26 . A tent assembly according to claim 19, wherein said tent assembly is adapted for use with different cabinets having different selected distances across the tops thereof, said tent assembly further comprising:
said first fabric means having a second rear edge spaced rearwardly from said first rear edge;
a second fabric skirt extending from said second rear edge; and said first skirt of said first rear edge being usable with a cabinet having a relatively short selected top distance and said second skirt being usable with a cabinet having a relatively long selected top distance.

27. An enclosure assembly according to claim 2, wherein the cabinet has a door that is openable through an arc in excess of 90° from the front of the cabinet, further comprising:
said tent having a ceiling panel provided with a front edge opposite to said attachment edge, said front edge being longer than said attachment edge to front said ceiling panel trapezoidal in shape to provide room thereunder to receive the door in the open position thereof.

28. An enclosure according to claim 27, further comprising:
said ceiling panel of said tent having sides extending between said attachment edge and said front edge;
a side panel secured to each said side, each said side panel having a short edge adjacent to said attachment and a long edge adjacent to said front edge of said ceiling panel; and means for deploying said side panels so that said ceiling panel is supported in an inclined position with said front edge higher than said attachment edge.

29. An enclosure assembly according to claim 3, further comprising:
said tent is deployed by pulling said support rods for said ceiling panel frontward so as to pull said connector on top of said cover;
said flexible connector having a lateral connection distance selected to permit said first rear portion of said ceiling panel to move forward with said pulled rods and become aligned with the front of the cabinet adjacent to the door; and means for holding said aligned first rear portion of said defining means and said second rear portions of said side panels against the sides of the cabinet adjacent to the door to seal said ceiling panel and said side panels of said tent to the cabinet.

30. An enclosure assembly according to claim 3, further comprising:
a flap secured to and extending laterally from said ceiling panel on the outside thereof and adapted to extend under said holding means to hold said aligned first rear portion sealed to the top of the cabinet.

31. An enclosure assembly according to claim 3, further comprising:
said first flexible connector having a selected connection distance between said first rear portion and said rear edge, said distance being selected according to the length of said support rods so that said support rods are properly balanced when placed on said cover above said cabinet.

32. An enclosure assembly according to claim 3 wherein the cabinet has at least one of the doors at the front and at least one of the doors at the rear, wherein one of said enclosure assemblies is provided for each of the front and the rear of the cabinet, further comprising:
said cover having a front edge;
one of said defining means being provided for the front of the cabinet and one of aid defining means being provided for the rear of the cabinet; and a second flexible connector interposed between and secured to each of said front edge of said cover and said first rear portion of said ceiling panel of said defining means for said rear of the cabinet.

33. An enclosure assembly according to claim 29, wherein:
said holding means comprises:
means for encircling at least a portion of the cabinet below the door; and means connected to said encircling means for holding said aligned first rear portion and said second rear portions against the sides of the cabinet.

34. A method of deploying the tent defined in claim 4, wherein the tent is connected to the apparatus defined in claim 4, the tent and the apparatus being in the stowed configuration defined in claim 5, the method of deploying the tent comprising the following steps:
unwrapping the fabric retainer from the gathered panels and from the parallel rods;
arranging the set of rods of the ceiling panel and of the side panels with one set of the side rods on either side of the set of ceiling rods, from a location in front of the cabinet, lifting the ceiling set of rods by grasping two selected ones of the ceiling rods and lifting the grasped rods from the cabinet forwardly and overhead;
moving the two grasped rods to spread the ceiling panel and the ceiling rods into an open position overhead;
the lifting and moving also lifting the side panels and the side rods and moving them forward and transversely off the cabinet;
extending the connector into a taut position to limit the forward motion of the ceiling panel;
rendering the celling panel and the ceiling rods self-supporting to maintain the side panels separated; and rendering each of the side panels and side rods self-supporting to vertically support the ceiling panel and cover the work area while the connector prevents further forward motion of the ceiling panel and the side panels.

35. An enclosure assembly according to claim 7, wherein the fabric includes a ceiling panel having a two dimensional shape provided with at least first and second corners and a pocket at each of the corners, the free end of a first of the support members being received in a first of the pockets and extending to a first of the hubs, the free end of a second of the support members being received in a second of the pockets and extending to the first hub, the ceiling panel having a rear edge extending between the first and second pockets, said enclosure assembly further comprising:
said first end of said flexible elongated means being connected to the rear edge of the ceiling panel, said first end of said flexible elongated member being positioned by the enclosure assembly adjacent to the rear of the support surface when the support members are properly balanced on the support surface;
the enclosure assembly being movable forward off the support surface to extend said flexible elongated member and tend to pull it forward so that said first end is adjacent to the front of the support surface; and said retaining means being effective to retain said second end at a fixed location to resist the forward pulling so that the rear edge of the ceiling panel connected to said first end is held adjacent to the front of the support surface against further forward movement.

36. An enclosure assembly according to claim 35, wherein:
said second end of said flexible elongated means holds the rear edge of the ceiling panel while allowing the elongated support member to pivot on the first hub to deploy the ceiling panel, the deployed ceiling panel covering an area adjacent to the front of the support surface.

37. An enclosure assembly according to claim 36, wherein a side panel is connected to each side of the ceiling panel and hangs from the deployed ceiling panel, and wherein the support surface is the top of a cabinet that houses the equipment, the cabinet having opposite sides, said enclosure assembly further comprising:
skirt means extending to the rear from each of the ceiling panel and the side panels for covering a portion of the top of the cabinet and a portion of the sides of the cabinet; and means for urging said skirt means toward the top and the sides of the cabinet to seal the ceiling panel and the side panels to the cabinet.

38. An enclosure assembly according to claim 7, further comprising:
means for releasably securing said permitting means to said fabric.

39. An enclosure assembly according to claim 2, wherein the tent is adapted for use with other cabinets having tops of different predetermined shapes, said assembly further comprising:
additional first fabric means having the predetermined shape corresponding to that of the top of the other cabinets; and means for releasably connecting said attachment edge to said free edge to permit the same tent to be used with different ones to said first and additional first fabric means.

40. A tent assembly according to claim 21, further comprising:
strap means secured to each of said first fabric flaps and adapted to extend horizontally around the cabinet for holding said first fabric flaps against the cabinet.

41. The method of claim 5, wherein:
said placing step positions the collected hubs, the parallel rods and the gathered panels generally centered on the spread retainer from side-to-side and from front-to-rear of the top of the cabinet.