CA2505778A1 - Multi-purpose ocst tents - Google Patents
Multi-purpose ocst tents Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2505778A1 CA2505778A1 CA002505778A CA2505778A CA2505778A1 CA 2505778 A1 CA2505778 A1 CA 2505778A1 CA 002505778 A CA002505778 A CA 002505778A CA 2505778 A CA2505778 A CA 2505778A CA 2505778 A1 CA2505778 A1 CA 2505778A1
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- Prior art keywords
- tent
- tanning
- poles
- flexible
- sun
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Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H15/00—Tents or canopies, in general
- E04H15/32—Parts, components, construction details, accessories, interior equipment, specially adapted for tents, e.g. guy-line equipment, skirts, thresholds
- E04H15/34—Supporting means, e.g. frames
- E04H15/36—Supporting means, e.g. frames arch-shaped type
- E04H15/40—Supporting means, e.g. frames arch-shaped type flexible
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G13/00—Protecting plants
- A01G13/02—Protective coverings for plants; Coverings for the ground; Devices for laying-out or removing coverings
- A01G13/04—Cloches, i.e. protective full coverings for individual plants
- A01G13/043—Cloches, i.e. protective full coverings for individual plants with flexible coverings
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
- A01G9/14—Greenhouses
- A01G9/16—Dismountable or portable greenhouses ; Greenhouses with sliding roofs
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H15/00—Tents or canopies, in general
- E04H15/28—Umbrella type tents
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H15/00—Tents or canopies, in general
- E04H15/30—Tents or canopies, in general convertible, e.g. from one type tent to another type tent, from tent to canopy or from tent cover into diverse articles
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H15/00—Tents or canopies, in general
- E04H15/32—Parts, components, construction details, accessories, interior equipment, specially adapted for tents, e.g. guy-line equipment, skirts, thresholds
- E04H15/34—Supporting means, e.g. frames
- E04H15/42—Supporting means, e.g. frames external type, e.g. frame outside cover
- E04H15/425—Flexible supporting means
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H15/00—Tents or canopies, in general
- E04H15/32—Parts, components, construction details, accessories, interior equipment, specially adapted for tents, e.g. guy-line equipment, skirts, thresholds
- E04H15/34—Supporting means, e.g. frames
- E04H15/44—Supporting means, e.g. frames collapsible, e.g. breakdown type
- E04H15/48—Supporting means, e.g. frames collapsible, e.g. breakdown type foldable, i.e. having pivoted or hinged means
- E04H15/50—Supporting means, e.g. frames collapsible, e.g. breakdown type foldable, i.e. having pivoted or hinged means lazy-tongs type
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A40/00—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production
- Y02A40/10—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in agriculture
- Y02A40/25—Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor
Abstract
Modern Outdoor Cold/Cool Season Sun-Tanning (OCST) tents have been introduced.
The main purpose of such tents is to provide heat protection for a sun-tanner in cold or cool weather condition. These tents are made by applying modifications on modern camping tents, and hence they enjoy structural advances of modern tents, therefore they are collapsible, low-weight, user-friendly, flexible, strong, stylish and likeable. With special covers, named OCST covers, sheets, and flies, such tents are convertible and can be used for both camping and sun-tanning in all seasons.
The main purpose of such tents is to provide heat protection for a sun-tanner in cold or cool weather condition. These tents are made by applying modifications on modern camping tents, and hence they enjoy structural advances of modern tents, therefore they are collapsible, low-weight, user-friendly, flexible, strong, stylish and likeable. With special covers, named OCST covers, sheets, and flies, such tents are convertible and can be used for both camping and sun-tanning in all seasons.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to ColdlCool Season Sun Tanning (OCST) tents.
OCST is an abbreviation adopted by this inventor and will be conventionally used in the present application, where a wide spectrum of tent structural designs will be addressed with specific arrangements to optimize the absorption of sunrays, protect the interior heat and maintain the ventilation.
The tents of the present disclosure allow a user to take a sun tan in cold or cool but sunny days of winter, spring or fall. Modern OCST tents of this disclosure will be user-friendly, stylish and likeable, as they use the latest structural improvements and advances of camping and recreational tents.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The prior arts have not upgraded the structural configuration of such tents and do not employ efficient structural deigns. In fact, this art has remained in early stages, as prior art devices are not user friendly, flexible, collapsible, light, nor stylish, main reasons such tents are not popular, as they deserve, even in cold countries with long winters.
The majority of the prior arts belongs to many years ago and do not apply the structural advances of camping tents. Examples are the U.S. patent nos. 407,434 to Evans;
408,204 to Babbitt; 1,669,484 to Mowry; 1,772,219 to Kempton; 1,946,567 to Braunworth;
The present invention relates to ColdlCool Season Sun Tanning (OCST) tents.
OCST is an abbreviation adopted by this inventor and will be conventionally used in the present application, where a wide spectrum of tent structural designs will be addressed with specific arrangements to optimize the absorption of sunrays, protect the interior heat and maintain the ventilation.
The tents of the present disclosure allow a user to take a sun tan in cold or cool but sunny days of winter, spring or fall. Modern OCST tents of this disclosure will be user-friendly, stylish and likeable, as they use the latest structural improvements and advances of camping and recreational tents.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The prior arts have not upgraded the structural configuration of such tents and do not employ efficient structural deigns. In fact, this art has remained in early stages, as prior art devices are not user friendly, flexible, collapsible, light, nor stylish, main reasons such tents are not popular, as they deserve, even in cold countries with long winters.
The majority of the prior arts belongs to many years ago and do not apply the structural advances of camping tents. Examples are the U.S. patent nos. 407,434 to Evans;
408,204 to Babbitt; 1,669,484 to Mowry; 1,772,219 to Kempton; 1,946,567 to Braunworth;
2,478,765 to Kim; 2,493,328 to Wandyak; 2,666,441 to Powers; 3,051,185 to Reynolds;
3,128,781 to Kirkham; 3,165,110 to Brooks; 3,271,786 to Joy; 3,453,786 to Rebarechk;
2,483,871 to Wilson;
3,812,616 to Koziol; 4,031,674 to Rand; and 4,161,180 to Tiger, 4,320,744 to Eben V. Fodor;
2,483,871 to Wilson;
3,812,616 to Koziol; 4,031,674 to Rand; and 4,161,180 to Tiger, 4,320,744 to Eben V. Fodor;
4,719,935 to Gustanfson.
The prior arts do not modify the modern structural designs for the application of coldlcool season sun-tanning. A significant prior art, found in the U.S.
patent no. 4,320,744 to Eben V. Fodor (1982), has a few major disadvantages that stems from the fact that the inventor has suggested his own structural design rather than performing modifications to the more advanced structural designs of his time. For instance, the disclosed structures includes closed loop support framings over the boundary of the base panel and right angle members connected to and over the base framing that makes the construction difficult and the structure weaker or less flexible. Another disadvantage of this prior art is that the framing poles are passed through sleeve like portions over all the extents of the poles that makes the construction of the tent difficult.
Also, because the light-transmitting material is permanently engaged, and the poles are run through the sleeves, it is not convenient to replace the cover, add extra layers, or change the sheets.
In no structural design of the present disclosure, framing poles are entirely enclosed by sleeve-like portions, nor support framings, in the base panels, are being used, unless in some pop-up structures that have not been addressed in the prior arts. The covers and flies of all presented tents here, except some of the pop-up tents, are easily and temporarily engaged to the framing at plurality of points, mainly by using plastic hooks or clamps via fabric loop portions connected to the body and are easily attached or detached from the framing.
Therefore, they are easier to set-up, fold and replace. Furthermore, with the current disclosure, one may easily replace the light-transparent sheets, or other fabric parts and flies. These are only a few of important improvements over the prior arts of outdoor coldJcool season sun-tanning tents (conventionally referred to as OCST tents, by this inventor).
In the present disclosure, popular structural designs of camping tents will be modified for OCST application, covering several classes of structural designs, such as dome, geodesic, tunnel, hoop, single-hoop, single-wall, double-wall, shelter, cabin, pop-up, room, and umbrella tents that have not been modified for such applications, in the prior arts. In the present disclosure, OCST
tents of such types with the most efficient structural designs will be addressed and optional features of electric heating, automatic ventilation, safety and alarm systems, solar heat collectors and power supplies will be introduced. Automatic ventilation, auxiliary apertures, breath holes and breathable layers are also suggested to ensure a satisfactory level of oxygen in the interior at all the times. Oxygen andlor Carbon Dioxide detection and alarm systems may also be used to announce hazard conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A main object of the present invention is to introduce new types of coldlcool season sun-tanning tents formed by modification of popular and effective designs of camping tents. This way OCST tents will take the advantage of the structural advances of camping tents. This is an important improvement in the art of cold/cool season sun-tanning tents by which strong, flexible, wind/shock-proof, user-friendly structural designs will be employed to increase the popularity and likeability of such tanning tents. With this objective the following OCST
tents are suggested as a novel improvement in this era:
i) A-shape, Dome, Hoop, Single-hoop, Tunnel, Geodesic, Hybrid, Single-wall OCST Tents:
Having at least one resiliently flexible pole of longitudinally connected tubular segments, optionally with run-through flexible elastic (or non-elastic) cord(s), is one distinguished feature of the members of this class. The cord will keep the segments together when the tent is being stored, transported or being constructed and avoid losing the segments and helps ease of construction. Another important feature that makes an improvement over the prior art designs is that these structures do not use any framing over the ground panel. These structural designs are well-known and widely used in camping tents, but have never been introduced for the application of sun tanning in cold or cool conditions. In this disclosure, modifications will be made on such camping tents to make them specific-for or convertible-to OCST
tents. Figs. S-26 are illustrative and non-limiting examples of such tents.
ii) Pop-up or Self Erectable OCST Tents:
Having at least one loop of resiliently flexible, coilable material such as flat spring steel stock is the distinguished feature of all members of this class. These structural designs have been widely used in varieties of applications, ranging from beach sun shelters to kid's playing tents and even laundry and food baskets, but have never been modified for the application of sun-tanning in cold and cool seasons. Figs. 27-35 are illustrative and non-limiting examples of such structures, to be modified for OCST applications.
One way is to use light-transmitting flexible material such as vinyl, to cover the folding panels, in the same manner as in normal camping tents. Another method is to apply the OCST
cover, after the spring structure is erected to its expanded position. For this purpose as shown in Fig. 27, rings or sleeve-like portions, made of either rubber, plastic, metal, resistive fabric or cords, may be used as hinges to keep the balance of the spring structure, in the erected position, after which the OCST cover or transparent sheets may be applied. The base panel and one or more side panels) may be covered by normal fabrics permanently. Zippers or other attachment tools will be readily available on fabric portions of the skeleton for connecting the flexible sheets. To facilitate this, fabric or light-transmitting material may be used to enclose the panels boundaries as sleeve-like portions, where zippers or other attachment tools such as Velcro tapes are permanently connected, for the application of light-transmitting panels.
In all cases, a separate OCST cover may be worn on the structure for extra heat protection.
iii) OCST Shelters:
These are the simplest designs of a shelter or tent and usually are consisted of one or more vertical posts, and a canopy of light-transmitting flexible material such as clear vinyl sheets. The posts may be one or more trekking poles, optionally with adjustable length.
Figs. 24-26 show examples of such tents.
Similar strategy may be used to make larger cabins or room tents, where each of the vertical posts may be foldable, expandable and may have a large heavy base support, and hence self standing. Fig. 41 shows a room-like shelter of this type. The installation process is easy: first apply the cover, then expanding the posts to its expanded position.
Alternatively the cover may be permanently engaged on the borders and/or on the ceiling, however the peripheral covering may be applied separately, at the time of application, by zippers, Velcro tapes or other aids.
Therefore, one object of this application is the covering sheets with all auxiliary attaching aids, as accessories for the above shelters.
iv) Umbrella OCST tents:
An interesting method of using the sun during cold and cool season is to take the sun while doing fun activities, e.g. at a food or card play table in the protection of an umbrella that will cover the ceiling and peripheries of the interior with light-transmitting flexible materials such as clear vinyl, as in Fig 40.
To make such OCST table umbrella tents, any structural design of table-umbrella may be used.
Examples of such structural designs are available in the following U.S. patent nos.: 451570 to Painter (1891), 2905187 to Croce (1959), 3383814 to Rowe (1968), 3765434 to Riggs (1973), 4586525 to Glatz et al., 4606366 to Collet, 5785069 to Glatz (1998).
Dome-like umbrella tents that usually are shorter than table umbrellas, without the main central post, may also be modified for OCST applications. Fig. 36-39 are examples of such tents with structural design of the U.S. patent nos. 2,864,389 to Smith et al.;
3,794,054 to Watts (1974): Fig.37; 3,8?4,397 to W. Oberhaus (1975): Fig. 36; 4,202,363 to Watts, Crowford and Nichols (1980): Fig. 38; 6,854,476 to Chai (2005): Fig. 39.
v) OCST Cabin or Room tents:
Modern camping cabins or room tents have never been modified for the application of sun-tanning in cold and cool seasons and are another object of the present disclosure. As a criterion, one may recognize such tents by their size however usually they come in foldable! collapsible structures, Figs. 11-12 and 41-45. Many of these tents are similar to dome-like tents with extra vestibules and/ or rooms, with the applications of extra poles and supported canopies, as in Fig.
11. Additional room sections may be used as privacy! changing rooms or sunshades.
Cabin or room tents may weigh a lot but provide a lot of space. Examples of such structures with detailed description of parts and methods of construction can be found in the U.S.
patent numbers: 4607656 to Carter (Fig. 41); 4641676 to Lynch; 4779635 to Lynch; 5638853 to Tsai; 5701923 to Losi Jr. et al.; 6772?80 to Price. One step for modifying such tents for the purpose of sun-tanning in cold/cool season, is to replace a big portion of the body that faces the sun, with a light-transmitting material such as clear vinyl. Other sections may be made of breathable heat insulative materials that can be arbitrarily thick depending on the weather or applications. Also it is always recommended to have extra sheets for adding to the layers of the tents for extra heat protection.
vi) OCST Cover:
An object of the present disclosure is to introduce an OCST cover that can be worn on a tent structure, converting a camping tent to a sun-tanning tent for cool or cold conditions. The cover will include the base panel and body that can be partly made of fabrics and partly made of light-transmitting material such as clear or non-clear vinyl. Figs.!-4 show examples of such covers.
All parts may be permanently attached or temporarily engaged by using zippers, Velcros ~, buttons or similar aids. All parts may be replaceable and will be available as accessories.
Zippers, Velcros ~, buttons, or similar aids are provided around the boundaries for adding extra layers of heat protection. Manually controlled breathable apertures, and l or breath holes may also be added for ensuring the proper ventilation of fresh air. Provisions for connecting an automatic air pump may also be considered on the cover.
vii) Multi-purpose Covers and Flies Another object of this invention is to introduce mufti-purpose exchangeable flies, body, and sheets as accessories, with aid for easy replacement and / or installation, such as zippers, Velcros ~, buttons ar the like. They may be transparent (e.g, clear vinyl), translucent (e.g. non-clear vinyl), or nontransparent (e.g. polyester or nylon fabric coated with waterproof material). With such accessories the tent may be used for sun-tanning, camping and as a shade.
Translucent sheets may be used for privacy tanning.
viii) Additional Heating and Ventilation Devices:
Another object of this invention is to introduce the optional application of electric heaters, mat heating elements, automated ventilation, solar heat collectors and solar power supplies.
ix) OCST Tanning/ Sleeping Bags or Micro-tents:
Illustrative and non-limiting examples of OCST tanning! sleeping bags are shown in Figs. 46-47.
These bags are similar to normal sleeping bags and after replacing their cover may function as sleeping bags. In fact any types of a sleeping bag may be modified to make OCST tanning or mufti-purpose OCST tanning! sleeping bags, which by convention of this application, are called micro-tents also. The body or top compartment may be replaceable so that a user can add one or more layers) of light-transmitting material when tanning, where the sheets will be available as accessories to the bag. The sheets may be transparent, translucent, single-layer, multilayer, foamed arid may be replaced with similar materials as in the base for heat protection when used as a normal sleeping bag. Accessory covers or sheets may be connected to the base using zippers provided at the peripheral borders of the bag, where zippers may be concealed and protected under extensions of the heat insulative layers. Additional framing may be added for ease of breathing and movement, in which case the tent may look like a small tunnel tent.
FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF OCST TENTS
In geographical high-width locations with cold long winters, inhabitants have minor exposure to the sun during long cold winters. The inventor's idea of Outdoor Cold/Cool Sun-Tanning (OCST) is an effort to increase the exposure of users to the sun during cold and cool seasons.
As proved both scientifically and experimentally, the sunshine in the winter is strong enough to warm up a solar radiator up to about 80°C. The key point is to absorb the rays and keep the heat insulated from outside. This is a fundamental thermodynamic principle. However, for human beings, fresh air and ventilation are important factors to be considered, in relation with the use of the sun energy.
Along the line of OCST idea, special tents have been presented, in this disclosure, to facilitate the use of sun in cold seasons. In winter the sun shines in an oblique angle, scanning a horizontal angle from the sunrise to the sunset. Therefore, an OCST tent should be light-transmitting, at least on the peripheral sides facing the sun and may be light absorbing or reflective on the sides opposite to the sun. The OCST tents and cabins, disclosed here, will provide for appropriate ventilation, warmth, and sunshine with safety and health-care provisions.
More design objectives are cost-effectiveness, portability, user-friendliness, ease of set up and style.
OCST Tentlcabin A basic OCST tent or cabin, applicable in rather warm sunny days of fall or spring, is consisted of the followings:
i) Light-transmitting material, such as vinyl, over a large portion of the body ii) A fabric base panel, preferably waterproof attached to the body in a waterproof manner. The fabric may be nylon coated with waterproof material.
iii) Additional heat-insulative, flexible, low-weight, floor insulation layers) similar to sleeping bags that can be attached to the base panel permanently or temporarily by using zippers, Velcros ~, buttons, or similar aids.
iv) Optional openings (such as zippered windows or breathable sheets) for ventilation v) Optional UV protection coating or sheets vi) Optional sheets, eye-covers, pillows vii) Optional thermometers The interior temperature and ventilation can be controlled manually by using zippered windows) andlor entrance(s). Breathable sheets, optionally multi-layer, may be used on the walls opposite to the sun to provide for appropriate ventilation.
Automatic Temperature Control System An automatic ventilation and temperature control system, aimed for fresh air and controlled temperature, consisted of a sensors, adjustable potentiometer, fan (or air pump), battery, electronic circuit board, relays and wirings may be included in an OCST tent.
The battery may be rechargeable, in which case a charger, a panel with a fuse and an electric cord will be added to the system. The ventilation of this tent may work for a few hours because of the low power consumption of the controlled fan. A solar electric power supply can also be used to feed the battery charger. Figs. 21-22 show OCST tents with automatic ventilation. An alarm system may be included when the application of the tent is not safe.
OCST Tent/ Cabin in Cold Conditions:
In many cases, by using one or more extra layers) of heat- protection over the base panel, and adding one or more layers to the body, an OCST tent will function properly, in cold conditions.
These extra sheets will be available as accessories to the tent and may be connected by using zippers, buttons, Velcros ~, or similar aids. However, an electric or solar heater may also be used. In case an electric heater is being used, a generator, municipal power supply or a solar electric generator may be necessary for long lasting operation of the heater, however a battery can function for a few minutes as the start up heating of the tent. A solar heat collector may also be used. The mat or the base panel insulative layers) may be equipped with heating wires or elements, optionally controllable by a remote control consul.
More Provisions:
i) UV protection layers or coatings may be applied on the body of OCST tents or cabins. Alternatively, UV protection sheets and or cotton eye protections may be used.
ii) Moisture absorber agents may be implemented in the tents (or cabins) to avoid extra humidity.
iii) Cutters and/or emergency exit zippers for ensuring the safety.
Greenhouse Applications and OCST Tents:
Any type of OCST tent after some modifications may be used as a greenhouse.
The basic properties and features of a greenhouse is well known and is not a subject matter of this disclosure, however, the structural designs of available greenhouses, to this date, does not include some of the structural designs of OCST tents, introduced here.
Pop-up tent structures and variety of room-type or cabin tents are well-known and being used for greenhouse applications. Umbrella structures are also introduced for this purpose, (U.S.
patent nos. 4,033,366 to Forget and 4,068,421 to Marovich). Also, an inflatable-pole dome-like structure has been introduced for this purpose, by Fritts et al. (1991) in the U.S, patent no.
The prior arts do not modify the modern structural designs for the application of coldlcool season sun-tanning. A significant prior art, found in the U.S.
patent no. 4,320,744 to Eben V. Fodor (1982), has a few major disadvantages that stems from the fact that the inventor has suggested his own structural design rather than performing modifications to the more advanced structural designs of his time. For instance, the disclosed structures includes closed loop support framings over the boundary of the base panel and right angle members connected to and over the base framing that makes the construction difficult and the structure weaker or less flexible. Another disadvantage of this prior art is that the framing poles are passed through sleeve like portions over all the extents of the poles that makes the construction of the tent difficult.
Also, because the light-transmitting material is permanently engaged, and the poles are run through the sleeves, it is not convenient to replace the cover, add extra layers, or change the sheets.
In no structural design of the present disclosure, framing poles are entirely enclosed by sleeve-like portions, nor support framings, in the base panels, are being used, unless in some pop-up structures that have not been addressed in the prior arts. The covers and flies of all presented tents here, except some of the pop-up tents, are easily and temporarily engaged to the framing at plurality of points, mainly by using plastic hooks or clamps via fabric loop portions connected to the body and are easily attached or detached from the framing.
Therefore, they are easier to set-up, fold and replace. Furthermore, with the current disclosure, one may easily replace the light-transparent sheets, or other fabric parts and flies. These are only a few of important improvements over the prior arts of outdoor coldJcool season sun-tanning tents (conventionally referred to as OCST tents, by this inventor).
In the present disclosure, popular structural designs of camping tents will be modified for OCST application, covering several classes of structural designs, such as dome, geodesic, tunnel, hoop, single-hoop, single-wall, double-wall, shelter, cabin, pop-up, room, and umbrella tents that have not been modified for such applications, in the prior arts. In the present disclosure, OCST
tents of such types with the most efficient structural designs will be addressed and optional features of electric heating, automatic ventilation, safety and alarm systems, solar heat collectors and power supplies will be introduced. Automatic ventilation, auxiliary apertures, breath holes and breathable layers are also suggested to ensure a satisfactory level of oxygen in the interior at all the times. Oxygen andlor Carbon Dioxide detection and alarm systems may also be used to announce hazard conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A main object of the present invention is to introduce new types of coldlcool season sun-tanning tents formed by modification of popular and effective designs of camping tents. This way OCST tents will take the advantage of the structural advances of camping tents. This is an important improvement in the art of cold/cool season sun-tanning tents by which strong, flexible, wind/shock-proof, user-friendly structural designs will be employed to increase the popularity and likeability of such tanning tents. With this objective the following OCST
tents are suggested as a novel improvement in this era:
i) A-shape, Dome, Hoop, Single-hoop, Tunnel, Geodesic, Hybrid, Single-wall OCST Tents:
Having at least one resiliently flexible pole of longitudinally connected tubular segments, optionally with run-through flexible elastic (or non-elastic) cord(s), is one distinguished feature of the members of this class. The cord will keep the segments together when the tent is being stored, transported or being constructed and avoid losing the segments and helps ease of construction. Another important feature that makes an improvement over the prior art designs is that these structures do not use any framing over the ground panel. These structural designs are well-known and widely used in camping tents, but have never been introduced for the application of sun tanning in cold or cool conditions. In this disclosure, modifications will be made on such camping tents to make them specific-for or convertible-to OCST
tents. Figs. S-26 are illustrative and non-limiting examples of such tents.
ii) Pop-up or Self Erectable OCST Tents:
Having at least one loop of resiliently flexible, coilable material such as flat spring steel stock is the distinguished feature of all members of this class. These structural designs have been widely used in varieties of applications, ranging from beach sun shelters to kid's playing tents and even laundry and food baskets, but have never been modified for the application of sun-tanning in cold and cool seasons. Figs. 27-35 are illustrative and non-limiting examples of such structures, to be modified for OCST applications.
One way is to use light-transmitting flexible material such as vinyl, to cover the folding panels, in the same manner as in normal camping tents. Another method is to apply the OCST
cover, after the spring structure is erected to its expanded position. For this purpose as shown in Fig. 27, rings or sleeve-like portions, made of either rubber, plastic, metal, resistive fabric or cords, may be used as hinges to keep the balance of the spring structure, in the erected position, after which the OCST cover or transparent sheets may be applied. The base panel and one or more side panels) may be covered by normal fabrics permanently. Zippers or other attachment tools will be readily available on fabric portions of the skeleton for connecting the flexible sheets. To facilitate this, fabric or light-transmitting material may be used to enclose the panels boundaries as sleeve-like portions, where zippers or other attachment tools such as Velcro tapes are permanently connected, for the application of light-transmitting panels.
In all cases, a separate OCST cover may be worn on the structure for extra heat protection.
iii) OCST Shelters:
These are the simplest designs of a shelter or tent and usually are consisted of one or more vertical posts, and a canopy of light-transmitting flexible material such as clear vinyl sheets. The posts may be one or more trekking poles, optionally with adjustable length.
Figs. 24-26 show examples of such tents.
Similar strategy may be used to make larger cabins or room tents, where each of the vertical posts may be foldable, expandable and may have a large heavy base support, and hence self standing. Fig. 41 shows a room-like shelter of this type. The installation process is easy: first apply the cover, then expanding the posts to its expanded position.
Alternatively the cover may be permanently engaged on the borders and/or on the ceiling, however the peripheral covering may be applied separately, at the time of application, by zippers, Velcro tapes or other aids.
Therefore, one object of this application is the covering sheets with all auxiliary attaching aids, as accessories for the above shelters.
iv) Umbrella OCST tents:
An interesting method of using the sun during cold and cool season is to take the sun while doing fun activities, e.g. at a food or card play table in the protection of an umbrella that will cover the ceiling and peripheries of the interior with light-transmitting flexible materials such as clear vinyl, as in Fig 40.
To make such OCST table umbrella tents, any structural design of table-umbrella may be used.
Examples of such structural designs are available in the following U.S. patent nos.: 451570 to Painter (1891), 2905187 to Croce (1959), 3383814 to Rowe (1968), 3765434 to Riggs (1973), 4586525 to Glatz et al., 4606366 to Collet, 5785069 to Glatz (1998).
Dome-like umbrella tents that usually are shorter than table umbrellas, without the main central post, may also be modified for OCST applications. Fig. 36-39 are examples of such tents with structural design of the U.S. patent nos. 2,864,389 to Smith et al.;
3,794,054 to Watts (1974): Fig.37; 3,8?4,397 to W. Oberhaus (1975): Fig. 36; 4,202,363 to Watts, Crowford and Nichols (1980): Fig. 38; 6,854,476 to Chai (2005): Fig. 39.
v) OCST Cabin or Room tents:
Modern camping cabins or room tents have never been modified for the application of sun-tanning in cold and cool seasons and are another object of the present disclosure. As a criterion, one may recognize such tents by their size however usually they come in foldable! collapsible structures, Figs. 11-12 and 41-45. Many of these tents are similar to dome-like tents with extra vestibules and/ or rooms, with the applications of extra poles and supported canopies, as in Fig.
11. Additional room sections may be used as privacy! changing rooms or sunshades.
Cabin or room tents may weigh a lot but provide a lot of space. Examples of such structures with detailed description of parts and methods of construction can be found in the U.S.
patent numbers: 4607656 to Carter (Fig. 41); 4641676 to Lynch; 4779635 to Lynch; 5638853 to Tsai; 5701923 to Losi Jr. et al.; 6772?80 to Price. One step for modifying such tents for the purpose of sun-tanning in cold/cool season, is to replace a big portion of the body that faces the sun, with a light-transmitting material such as clear vinyl. Other sections may be made of breathable heat insulative materials that can be arbitrarily thick depending on the weather or applications. Also it is always recommended to have extra sheets for adding to the layers of the tents for extra heat protection.
vi) OCST Cover:
An object of the present disclosure is to introduce an OCST cover that can be worn on a tent structure, converting a camping tent to a sun-tanning tent for cool or cold conditions. The cover will include the base panel and body that can be partly made of fabrics and partly made of light-transmitting material such as clear or non-clear vinyl. Figs.!-4 show examples of such covers.
All parts may be permanently attached or temporarily engaged by using zippers, Velcros ~, buttons or similar aids. All parts may be replaceable and will be available as accessories.
Zippers, Velcros ~, buttons, or similar aids are provided around the boundaries for adding extra layers of heat protection. Manually controlled breathable apertures, and l or breath holes may also be added for ensuring the proper ventilation of fresh air. Provisions for connecting an automatic air pump may also be considered on the cover.
vii) Multi-purpose Covers and Flies Another object of this invention is to introduce mufti-purpose exchangeable flies, body, and sheets as accessories, with aid for easy replacement and / or installation, such as zippers, Velcros ~, buttons ar the like. They may be transparent (e.g, clear vinyl), translucent (e.g. non-clear vinyl), or nontransparent (e.g. polyester or nylon fabric coated with waterproof material). With such accessories the tent may be used for sun-tanning, camping and as a shade.
Translucent sheets may be used for privacy tanning.
viii) Additional Heating and Ventilation Devices:
Another object of this invention is to introduce the optional application of electric heaters, mat heating elements, automated ventilation, solar heat collectors and solar power supplies.
ix) OCST Tanning/ Sleeping Bags or Micro-tents:
Illustrative and non-limiting examples of OCST tanning! sleeping bags are shown in Figs. 46-47.
These bags are similar to normal sleeping bags and after replacing their cover may function as sleeping bags. In fact any types of a sleeping bag may be modified to make OCST tanning or mufti-purpose OCST tanning! sleeping bags, which by convention of this application, are called micro-tents also. The body or top compartment may be replaceable so that a user can add one or more layers) of light-transmitting material when tanning, where the sheets will be available as accessories to the bag. The sheets may be transparent, translucent, single-layer, multilayer, foamed arid may be replaced with similar materials as in the base for heat protection when used as a normal sleeping bag. Accessory covers or sheets may be connected to the base using zippers provided at the peripheral borders of the bag, where zippers may be concealed and protected under extensions of the heat insulative layers. Additional framing may be added for ease of breathing and movement, in which case the tent may look like a small tunnel tent.
FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF OCST TENTS
In geographical high-width locations with cold long winters, inhabitants have minor exposure to the sun during long cold winters. The inventor's idea of Outdoor Cold/Cool Sun-Tanning (OCST) is an effort to increase the exposure of users to the sun during cold and cool seasons.
As proved both scientifically and experimentally, the sunshine in the winter is strong enough to warm up a solar radiator up to about 80°C. The key point is to absorb the rays and keep the heat insulated from outside. This is a fundamental thermodynamic principle. However, for human beings, fresh air and ventilation are important factors to be considered, in relation with the use of the sun energy.
Along the line of OCST idea, special tents have been presented, in this disclosure, to facilitate the use of sun in cold seasons. In winter the sun shines in an oblique angle, scanning a horizontal angle from the sunrise to the sunset. Therefore, an OCST tent should be light-transmitting, at least on the peripheral sides facing the sun and may be light absorbing or reflective on the sides opposite to the sun. The OCST tents and cabins, disclosed here, will provide for appropriate ventilation, warmth, and sunshine with safety and health-care provisions.
More design objectives are cost-effectiveness, portability, user-friendliness, ease of set up and style.
OCST Tentlcabin A basic OCST tent or cabin, applicable in rather warm sunny days of fall or spring, is consisted of the followings:
i) Light-transmitting material, such as vinyl, over a large portion of the body ii) A fabric base panel, preferably waterproof attached to the body in a waterproof manner. The fabric may be nylon coated with waterproof material.
iii) Additional heat-insulative, flexible, low-weight, floor insulation layers) similar to sleeping bags that can be attached to the base panel permanently or temporarily by using zippers, Velcros ~, buttons, or similar aids.
iv) Optional openings (such as zippered windows or breathable sheets) for ventilation v) Optional UV protection coating or sheets vi) Optional sheets, eye-covers, pillows vii) Optional thermometers The interior temperature and ventilation can be controlled manually by using zippered windows) andlor entrance(s). Breathable sheets, optionally multi-layer, may be used on the walls opposite to the sun to provide for appropriate ventilation.
Automatic Temperature Control System An automatic ventilation and temperature control system, aimed for fresh air and controlled temperature, consisted of a sensors, adjustable potentiometer, fan (or air pump), battery, electronic circuit board, relays and wirings may be included in an OCST tent.
The battery may be rechargeable, in which case a charger, a panel with a fuse and an electric cord will be added to the system. The ventilation of this tent may work for a few hours because of the low power consumption of the controlled fan. A solar electric power supply can also be used to feed the battery charger. Figs. 21-22 show OCST tents with automatic ventilation. An alarm system may be included when the application of the tent is not safe.
OCST Tent/ Cabin in Cold Conditions:
In many cases, by using one or more extra layers) of heat- protection over the base panel, and adding one or more layers to the body, an OCST tent will function properly, in cold conditions.
These extra sheets will be available as accessories to the tent and may be connected by using zippers, buttons, Velcros ~, or similar aids. However, an electric or solar heater may also be used. In case an electric heater is being used, a generator, municipal power supply or a solar electric generator may be necessary for long lasting operation of the heater, however a battery can function for a few minutes as the start up heating of the tent. A solar heat collector may also be used. The mat or the base panel insulative layers) may be equipped with heating wires or elements, optionally controllable by a remote control consul.
More Provisions:
i) UV protection layers or coatings may be applied on the body of OCST tents or cabins. Alternatively, UV protection sheets and or cotton eye protections may be used.
ii) Moisture absorber agents may be implemented in the tents (or cabins) to avoid extra humidity.
iii) Cutters and/or emergency exit zippers for ensuring the safety.
Greenhouse Applications and OCST Tents:
Any type of OCST tent after some modifications may be used as a greenhouse.
The basic properties and features of a greenhouse is well known and is not a subject matter of this disclosure, however, the structural designs of available greenhouses, to this date, does not include some of the structural designs of OCST tents, introduced here.
Pop-up tent structures and variety of room-type or cabin tents are well-known and being used for greenhouse applications. Umbrella structures are also introduced for this purpose, (U.S.
patent nos. 4,033,366 to Forget and 4,068,421 to Marovich). Also, an inflatable-pole dome-like structure has been introduced for this purpose, by Fritts et al. (1991) in the U.S, patent no.
5,007,212. Non-collapsible geodesic greenhouses with rigid structures have been introduced in the U.S. patent nos.: 5,996,288 (Aiken-1999) and 4,075,813.
However, collapsible dome-like and geodesic structures, introduced here for OCST
applications, are novel in the art of greenhouse. Also the application of thin, light collapsible aluminum or fiberglass poles with some structural designs, e.g. tunnel-like, hoop, single hoop, is also novel in the art of greenhouse.
However, collapsible dome-like and geodesic structures, introduced here for OCST
applications, are novel in the art of greenhouse. Also the application of thin, light collapsible aluminum or fiberglass poles with some structural designs, e.g. tunnel-like, hoop, single hoop, is also novel in the art of greenhouse.
Claims (22)
1- A sun-tanning or multipurpose sun-tanning/camping tent having a flexible body which is light transmitting, over the entire or at least a big portion of the body letting the sunrays enter the tent, optionally with breath holes and/or manually controllable apertures or windows aided with zippers, Velcros ®, buttons or the like, and having a flexible base panel, where the tent can assume any shapes, including dome, tunnel, hoop, single-hoop, geodesic, semi-geodesic, hybrid, room, cabin, single or double-wall, umbrella, dome-like umbrella, A-shape, modified A-shape, ridge, cylindrical, or spherical shapes, where the structure belongs to at least one of the following groups:
i) a structural design having plurality of resiliently flexible poles, where no support framing is used in the base panel, ii) a structural design having plurality of resiliently flexible poles, where the poles are not entirely enclosed by sleeve-like portions of flexible materials that are connected to the body, iii) a generally tunnel-like, hoop-like, or single-hoop structural design having at least one generally curved resiliently flexible pole(s), each pole standing on its two ends, at a right or acute angle with respect to the base panel, held by forces from the base and the body of the tent, where the tent may be pegged to the ground or any stable objects at plurality of points, where the structure may be of any size for single or multiple users, and it may be even large enough to serve as a room-like or cabin tent, iv) a tunnel-like or hoop-like structural design of part iii, where some poles may be longer or higher than the other(s), and/or the poles may have bends along them, pronouncing the boundaries or increasing the interior space of the tent, v) a tunnel-like or hoop-like structural design of part iii or iv, where the cross-section of the tent may be generally circular, rectangular, trapesoidal, inverted U or inverted V
shapes or the like, vi) a generally dome-like or geodesic structure, having two or more crossing resiliently flexible poles, each held on its feet where it is connected to the base panel, in a right or acute angle with respect to the base panel, where each pole is mainly held by the forces applied by: a) the base panel, b) the body of the tent, c) the fly of the tent (if any), d) the other pole(s), at their crossing points, if the poles are connected by any means, vii) the structure of part vi, where the poles may be or not connected loosely or tightly together at their crossing points by any means such as hub(s), connector(s), tie(s), ring(s), hook(s), biner(s), or the like, viii) a room or cabin having at least one dome-like or geodesic section similar to vi or vii, plus: a) at least one additional pole, b) proper canopy sections with guy ropes, that will add extra room(s), section(s) and/or vestibule(s), that may be used for sunshade, change room, privacy, pet room, storage and the like, ix) a collapsible umbrella type structure of any shapes or configurations, x) a collapsible umbrella type structure having a collapsible support structure which comprises a plurality of pole members that emanate from an upper assembly, where the upper assembly has first and second hub members that, when brought into abutting contact with each other, cause the structure to assume a fully constructed configuration but when separated from each other allow the structure to become collapsed, xi) a collapsible umbrella type structure as in part ix or x, where each pole member is further foldable, so that after collapsing the upper assembly, the structure will be further folded or collapsed into smaller pieces, xii) a collapsible umbrella type structure as in ix-xi, that will assume a generally pyramid or dome-like structure, at least on top of the tent, after the tent is being fully expanded, where the tent may assume a tall, generally cubic or upright cylindrical figure as well as a medium-height pyramid or dome like shapes, where the tent may have a generally square, pentagonal, hexagonal, polygonal or circular base panel, xiii) a structure having two generally inverted-U-shape flexible poles, with or without other framing poles or members, each said U-shape pole held on its feet where it is connected to the base panel, in a right or acute angle with respect to the base panel, where each said U-shape pole is mainly held by the forces applied by: a) the base panel, b) the body of the tent, c) the fly of the tent (if any), d) the other pole(s), at their crossing points, if the poles are connected by any means, xiv) a generally ridge-like structure resembling a generally A-shape (or more correctly A
figure) at least at one end portion, having one or more pairs of curved or straight resiliently flexible corner posts and a curved or straight ridge pole positioned between the top ends of the pair(s) of corner posts and traverse thereto, where hub(s), connector(s) or similar aids are used for the connection of the posts to the ridge pole, where the ridge pole may be connected to (or meet) the base panel at one or two ends, or alternatively may be held elevated from the base panel in one or both ends, by said corner posts, xv) a structural design similar to above part xiv, where extra pole(s) or members may be arbitrarily added to the structure, for adding the space and/or sturdiness, xvi) a structure having plurality of resiliently flexible poles, generally vertical to the base panel forming corner posts of the tent, each pole having two ends, one lower end being connected to the base panel with an acute or right angle with respect to the base panel, the other ends, on top, being connected together by a hub or arbitrarily by a combination of hubs, loop(s), pole segment(s), or similar aids, xvii) a simple shelter-like structural design having at least one generally vertical pole(s), and possibly a few short posts at the corners, supporting a canopy which is light-transmitting at least over a large portion of its surface, where guy ropes may be used for the balance of the structure at one or plurality of point(s) around the canopy, and the canopy may be, arbitrarily, reinforced in plurality of locations such as the hanging point(s), ridge lines, peripheral corner lines, guy spots, etc., where the tent or shelter, arbitrarily, may include a flexible base panel, permanently or detachably connected to the canopy, where the base panel, arbitrarily, may have holes and/or reinforcing aims at points where the vertical pole(s) will be erected, xviii) a simple A-shape shelter, made of a generally tube-like cover hung from a generally horizontal rope, where the rope is supported by plurality of posts at its ends and possibly along its length, where the tent is secured by guy ropes at plurality of points around the canopy, xix) a structural design of parts i-xviii, where each pole (or post) may be formed by plurality of tubular or rod segments, detachably inter-fitted, where each segment has an insert element extending from an end portion thereof and adapted to fit within an end portion of the adjacent segment, xx) a structure of part xix, where an elastic or non-elastic flexible cord will run through the tubular segments to keep them together to facilitate the storage, transportation or construction of the tent, xxi) a structure of parts i-xx, where the segments, rods or poles are made of steel, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, fiberglass, carbon fiber, PVC or other plastics, xxii) a pop-up or self-erectable collapsible structure, xxiii) a pop-up or self-erectable collapsible structure having at least one loop of flexible, coilable, resilient material such as flat spring steel stock, xxiv) a pop-up or self-erecting collapsible structure as in part xxi, of any shape including A-shape, dome-like, saddle-like, pyramid-like, cubic-like shape or classic double-wall after being erected, xxv) a pop-up or self-erecting collapsible structure as in part xxii, where the structure is made of at least one loop of a "figure-eight" configuration, after erected, with the cross-over of the figure eight as the apex of the structure and the loops of figure eight extending downward therefrom, xxvi) A saddle-like pop-up or self-erecting structure, comprising:
(a) a first continuous resilient substantially closed planar loop base support member contacting the surface upon which the tent is resting when erected, (b) at least a second continuous resilient closed loop support member, secured to the closed loop base support member at at least two points, with portions of the second closed loop support member positioned apart from and above portions of base support member, (c) fabric and flexible light-transparent portions extending around and enclosing the base and other continuous support members, xxvii) The structure of part xxvii, wherein there is further included a third continuous resilient closed loop support member between the first and second resilient support members, xxviii) A pop-up or self erecting collapsible structure, having three or more wall members, each wall member being a flexible frame of a single loop of coilable material when expanded and overlapping loops when collapsed, with peripheral hinge-like channels, rings or wires for constraining the frame into a generally triangular or rectangular shape, each wall member having two sides and a base, with the sides extending from the top of the tent to said base when the wall panel is expanded, in which the sides of each wall member are securely and hingably joined to the adjacent sides of adjacent wall members from said top to said base so that the adjacent sides are held at least generally parallel to one another when the tent is in its expanded configuration, xxix) a pop-up or self-erecting structure as in xxii - xxviii, plus auxiliary framing poles that may be used for adding to the sturdiness of the structure, where the poles preferably will be installed on the cover, in a crossing configuration as in dome-like tents, where the poles may be made of longitudinal connection of segments joining together as described in parts xix-xxi, xxx) a structure similar to a table umbrella with any configuration, xxxi) a structure as in xxx, with at least one generally vertical center or side post, xxxii) a structure having plurality of generally vertical posts supporting a foldable overhead framing, through which the posts are indirectly connected, where the framing will support a canopy which may be arbitrarily light-transmitting over a large portion of its surface, where further the posts may be arbitrarily foldable, collapsible or expandable, xxxiii) a room-like or cabin structure including plurality of generally vertical posts, connected to an overhead framing, e.g. by using hubs, branches, connectors, that may be of any type or configurations including tubular, rod, partially tubular, forming a support for the canopy, where arbitrarily the poles may be tubular and made of either steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, fiberglass, PVC, where some or all of the poles may be arbitrarily collapsible, expandable, or foldable, e.g. made of plurality of segments, longitudinally connected by tubular connectors or their insert end portions, xxxiv) a room-like or cabin structure including plurality of generally vertical posts, and/or at least one generally inverted-U shape pole, where the posts or poles partly depend on the canopy for keeping their balance, and the tent needs to be pegged at plurality of points, when constructed, where the tent can be foldable by overlaying the poles together, where the poles may be arbitrarily collapsible or foldable, where the design may include any of the followings, as well:
i) a base panel that may be of any shapes, e.g. generally square, rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, hexagonal, circular, optionally made by nylon or polyester fabric with waterproof coating, and may be permanently engaged to the body or temporarily connected by using zippers, Velcros ®, buttons or any attachment aids, ii) transparent, opaque or translucent (possibly made of a vinyl) or nontransparent flies, as the tent's accessories, that can be used for multiple purpose of sun-tanning, private sun-tanning or camping and also for protection against normal or harsh windy conditions or for extra heat insulation, and enhanced windproof quality of the tent, iii) exchangeable body, and extra sheets as the tent's accessories, that may be single or multi-layer transparent, translucent or nontransparent layers, so that the tent will be applicable in normal to extreme weather conditions and also useful for camping in such conditions, iv) extra sheets as said in part iii, where zippers, Velcros®, buttons, or other attaching aid are provided on the boundaries of the sheets for multi-layer applications, where the sheets may be transparent, translucent or ordinary textile non-transparent material, v) exchangeable body as said in iii, where extra zippers, Velcros®, buttons, or other attaching aids are provided on the boundaries of the wall panels and possibly on the base panel for multi-layer applications, vi) one or more layer(s) of floor covering, preferably of soft flexible heat insulative material, similar to sleeping bags, that connect to the tent's peripheral boundaries in a permanent or detachable manner using zippers, buttons, Velcros ® or similar aids, to provide the desired level of heat insulation, depending on the weather conditions, where said layers may be provided as tent's accessories or may be conventional sleeping bags that would be spread on the floor without engaging to the tent, vii) heating, ventilation, and/or alarm system that includes any of the following and does not exclude other devices nor necessary wirings: batteries, battery chargers, temperature sensor, oxygen level detector, carbon dioxide level detector, electronic circuit boards, fans, air pumps, panels, fuses, switches, electric heaters, solar collectors and solar power supplies, alarm system for reporting hazard conditions, e.g. low oxygen, high carbon dioxide or extremely cold conditions where the use of tent may not be safe, viii) comfort facilities such as sheets, pillows, eye covers and the like, ix) UV protection sheets, preferably of the quality of passing at least portions of UV-A
that causes tanning, and blocking UV-B rays that are hazard for health, x) one or more zippered entrances in D or inverted T shapes or any other shapes, xi) adjustable window(s) or aperture(s) for manual control of the ventilation and possibly plurality of breath holes and breathable fabric windows and/or sheets, xii) emergency zipper, button or Velcro-assisted exits, emergency exit cutters, and/or emergency alarm to ask for help, xiii) a steam generator that can turn the tent into a steam-sun sauna, xiv) tanning blanket(s), where a tanning blanket is a large sheet of thick aluminum foil, on which a user will lie beneath the overhead canopy. Sunrays are then reflected from the foil to help tan the sides of the tanner's body,
i) a structural design having plurality of resiliently flexible poles, where no support framing is used in the base panel, ii) a structural design having plurality of resiliently flexible poles, where the poles are not entirely enclosed by sleeve-like portions of flexible materials that are connected to the body, iii) a generally tunnel-like, hoop-like, or single-hoop structural design having at least one generally curved resiliently flexible pole(s), each pole standing on its two ends, at a right or acute angle with respect to the base panel, held by forces from the base and the body of the tent, where the tent may be pegged to the ground or any stable objects at plurality of points, where the structure may be of any size for single or multiple users, and it may be even large enough to serve as a room-like or cabin tent, iv) a tunnel-like or hoop-like structural design of part iii, where some poles may be longer or higher than the other(s), and/or the poles may have bends along them, pronouncing the boundaries or increasing the interior space of the tent, v) a tunnel-like or hoop-like structural design of part iii or iv, where the cross-section of the tent may be generally circular, rectangular, trapesoidal, inverted U or inverted V
shapes or the like, vi) a generally dome-like or geodesic structure, having two or more crossing resiliently flexible poles, each held on its feet where it is connected to the base panel, in a right or acute angle with respect to the base panel, where each pole is mainly held by the forces applied by: a) the base panel, b) the body of the tent, c) the fly of the tent (if any), d) the other pole(s), at their crossing points, if the poles are connected by any means, vii) the structure of part vi, where the poles may be or not connected loosely or tightly together at their crossing points by any means such as hub(s), connector(s), tie(s), ring(s), hook(s), biner(s), or the like, viii) a room or cabin having at least one dome-like or geodesic section similar to vi or vii, plus: a) at least one additional pole, b) proper canopy sections with guy ropes, that will add extra room(s), section(s) and/or vestibule(s), that may be used for sunshade, change room, privacy, pet room, storage and the like, ix) a collapsible umbrella type structure of any shapes or configurations, x) a collapsible umbrella type structure having a collapsible support structure which comprises a plurality of pole members that emanate from an upper assembly, where the upper assembly has first and second hub members that, when brought into abutting contact with each other, cause the structure to assume a fully constructed configuration but when separated from each other allow the structure to become collapsed, xi) a collapsible umbrella type structure as in part ix or x, where each pole member is further foldable, so that after collapsing the upper assembly, the structure will be further folded or collapsed into smaller pieces, xii) a collapsible umbrella type structure as in ix-xi, that will assume a generally pyramid or dome-like structure, at least on top of the tent, after the tent is being fully expanded, where the tent may assume a tall, generally cubic or upright cylindrical figure as well as a medium-height pyramid or dome like shapes, where the tent may have a generally square, pentagonal, hexagonal, polygonal or circular base panel, xiii) a structure having two generally inverted-U-shape flexible poles, with or without other framing poles or members, each said U-shape pole held on its feet where it is connected to the base panel, in a right or acute angle with respect to the base panel, where each said U-shape pole is mainly held by the forces applied by: a) the base panel, b) the body of the tent, c) the fly of the tent (if any), d) the other pole(s), at their crossing points, if the poles are connected by any means, xiv) a generally ridge-like structure resembling a generally A-shape (or more correctly A
figure) at least at one end portion, having one or more pairs of curved or straight resiliently flexible corner posts and a curved or straight ridge pole positioned between the top ends of the pair(s) of corner posts and traverse thereto, where hub(s), connector(s) or similar aids are used for the connection of the posts to the ridge pole, where the ridge pole may be connected to (or meet) the base panel at one or two ends, or alternatively may be held elevated from the base panel in one or both ends, by said corner posts, xv) a structural design similar to above part xiv, where extra pole(s) or members may be arbitrarily added to the structure, for adding the space and/or sturdiness, xvi) a structure having plurality of resiliently flexible poles, generally vertical to the base panel forming corner posts of the tent, each pole having two ends, one lower end being connected to the base panel with an acute or right angle with respect to the base panel, the other ends, on top, being connected together by a hub or arbitrarily by a combination of hubs, loop(s), pole segment(s), or similar aids, xvii) a simple shelter-like structural design having at least one generally vertical pole(s), and possibly a few short posts at the corners, supporting a canopy which is light-transmitting at least over a large portion of its surface, where guy ropes may be used for the balance of the structure at one or plurality of point(s) around the canopy, and the canopy may be, arbitrarily, reinforced in plurality of locations such as the hanging point(s), ridge lines, peripheral corner lines, guy spots, etc., where the tent or shelter, arbitrarily, may include a flexible base panel, permanently or detachably connected to the canopy, where the base panel, arbitrarily, may have holes and/or reinforcing aims at points where the vertical pole(s) will be erected, xviii) a simple A-shape shelter, made of a generally tube-like cover hung from a generally horizontal rope, where the rope is supported by plurality of posts at its ends and possibly along its length, where the tent is secured by guy ropes at plurality of points around the canopy, xix) a structural design of parts i-xviii, where each pole (or post) may be formed by plurality of tubular or rod segments, detachably inter-fitted, where each segment has an insert element extending from an end portion thereof and adapted to fit within an end portion of the adjacent segment, xx) a structure of part xix, where an elastic or non-elastic flexible cord will run through the tubular segments to keep them together to facilitate the storage, transportation or construction of the tent, xxi) a structure of parts i-xx, where the segments, rods or poles are made of steel, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, fiberglass, carbon fiber, PVC or other plastics, xxii) a pop-up or self-erectable collapsible structure, xxiii) a pop-up or self-erectable collapsible structure having at least one loop of flexible, coilable, resilient material such as flat spring steel stock, xxiv) a pop-up or self-erecting collapsible structure as in part xxi, of any shape including A-shape, dome-like, saddle-like, pyramid-like, cubic-like shape or classic double-wall after being erected, xxv) a pop-up or self-erecting collapsible structure as in part xxii, where the structure is made of at least one loop of a "figure-eight" configuration, after erected, with the cross-over of the figure eight as the apex of the structure and the loops of figure eight extending downward therefrom, xxvi) A saddle-like pop-up or self-erecting structure, comprising:
(a) a first continuous resilient substantially closed planar loop base support member contacting the surface upon which the tent is resting when erected, (b) at least a second continuous resilient closed loop support member, secured to the closed loop base support member at at least two points, with portions of the second closed loop support member positioned apart from and above portions of base support member, (c) fabric and flexible light-transparent portions extending around and enclosing the base and other continuous support members, xxvii) The structure of part xxvii, wherein there is further included a third continuous resilient closed loop support member between the first and second resilient support members, xxviii) A pop-up or self erecting collapsible structure, having three or more wall members, each wall member being a flexible frame of a single loop of coilable material when expanded and overlapping loops when collapsed, with peripheral hinge-like channels, rings or wires for constraining the frame into a generally triangular or rectangular shape, each wall member having two sides and a base, with the sides extending from the top of the tent to said base when the wall panel is expanded, in which the sides of each wall member are securely and hingably joined to the adjacent sides of adjacent wall members from said top to said base so that the adjacent sides are held at least generally parallel to one another when the tent is in its expanded configuration, xxix) a pop-up or self-erecting structure as in xxii - xxviii, plus auxiliary framing poles that may be used for adding to the sturdiness of the structure, where the poles preferably will be installed on the cover, in a crossing configuration as in dome-like tents, where the poles may be made of longitudinal connection of segments joining together as described in parts xix-xxi, xxx) a structure similar to a table umbrella with any configuration, xxxi) a structure as in xxx, with at least one generally vertical center or side post, xxxii) a structure having plurality of generally vertical posts supporting a foldable overhead framing, through which the posts are indirectly connected, where the framing will support a canopy which may be arbitrarily light-transmitting over a large portion of its surface, where further the posts may be arbitrarily foldable, collapsible or expandable, xxxiii) a room-like or cabin structure including plurality of generally vertical posts, connected to an overhead framing, e.g. by using hubs, branches, connectors, that may be of any type or configurations including tubular, rod, partially tubular, forming a support for the canopy, where arbitrarily the poles may be tubular and made of either steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, fiberglass, PVC, where some or all of the poles may be arbitrarily collapsible, expandable, or foldable, e.g. made of plurality of segments, longitudinally connected by tubular connectors or their insert end portions, xxxiv) a room-like or cabin structure including plurality of generally vertical posts, and/or at least one generally inverted-U shape pole, where the posts or poles partly depend on the canopy for keeping their balance, and the tent needs to be pegged at plurality of points, when constructed, where the tent can be foldable by overlaying the poles together, where the poles may be arbitrarily collapsible or foldable, where the design may include any of the followings, as well:
i) a base panel that may be of any shapes, e.g. generally square, rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, hexagonal, circular, optionally made by nylon or polyester fabric with waterproof coating, and may be permanently engaged to the body or temporarily connected by using zippers, Velcros ®, buttons or any attachment aids, ii) transparent, opaque or translucent (possibly made of a vinyl) or nontransparent flies, as the tent's accessories, that can be used for multiple purpose of sun-tanning, private sun-tanning or camping and also for protection against normal or harsh windy conditions or for extra heat insulation, and enhanced windproof quality of the tent, iii) exchangeable body, and extra sheets as the tent's accessories, that may be single or multi-layer transparent, translucent or nontransparent layers, so that the tent will be applicable in normal to extreme weather conditions and also useful for camping in such conditions, iv) extra sheets as said in part iii, where zippers, Velcros®, buttons, or other attaching aid are provided on the boundaries of the sheets for multi-layer applications, where the sheets may be transparent, translucent or ordinary textile non-transparent material, v) exchangeable body as said in iii, where extra zippers, Velcros®, buttons, or other attaching aids are provided on the boundaries of the wall panels and possibly on the base panel for multi-layer applications, vi) one or more layer(s) of floor covering, preferably of soft flexible heat insulative material, similar to sleeping bags, that connect to the tent's peripheral boundaries in a permanent or detachable manner using zippers, buttons, Velcros ® or similar aids, to provide the desired level of heat insulation, depending on the weather conditions, where said layers may be provided as tent's accessories or may be conventional sleeping bags that would be spread on the floor without engaging to the tent, vii) heating, ventilation, and/or alarm system that includes any of the following and does not exclude other devices nor necessary wirings: batteries, battery chargers, temperature sensor, oxygen level detector, carbon dioxide level detector, electronic circuit boards, fans, air pumps, panels, fuses, switches, electric heaters, solar collectors and solar power supplies, alarm system for reporting hazard conditions, e.g. low oxygen, high carbon dioxide or extremely cold conditions where the use of tent may not be safe, viii) comfort facilities such as sheets, pillows, eye covers and the like, ix) UV protection sheets, preferably of the quality of passing at least portions of UV-A
that causes tanning, and blocking UV-B rays that are hazard for health, x) one or more zippered entrances in D or inverted T shapes or any other shapes, xi) adjustable window(s) or aperture(s) for manual control of the ventilation and possibly plurality of breath holes and breathable fabric windows and/or sheets, xii) emergency zipper, button or Velcro-assisted exits, emergency exit cutters, and/or emergency alarm to ask for help, xiii) a steam generator that can turn the tent into a steam-sun sauna, xiv) tanning blanket(s), where a tanning blanket is a large sheet of thick aluminum foil, on which a user will lie beneath the overhead canopy. Sunrays are then reflected from the foil to help tan the sides of the tanner's body,
2- A sun-tanning tent as in claim 1, where the light-transmitting sheets are made of either of the following: i) clear or non-clear vinyl or PVC, ii) inflatable sheets, iii) foamed plastics, iv) nylon sheets with fine encapsulated cells of air within, v) multiple layers of any of types said in i-iv or other light-transmitting materials.
3- A sun-tanning tent as in claim 2, where the base panel, and non-transmitting walls and flies may be made of nylon or polyester fabrics coated with waterproof materials.
4- A sun-tanning tent as in claims 1-3, where the base is inflatable.
5- A sun-tanning tent as in claims 1-4, where the supporting poles are inflatable, eliminating the need of other framings.
6- A light-transmitting sheet or cover, as an accessory for sun-tanning tents, rooms, or cabins with attachment aids such as zippers, Velcro tapes, buttons, where the light-transmitting material may be made of clear or non-clear vinyl or PVC, and the non-transmitting portions may be made of nylon or polyester fabrics preferably coated with waterproof material, where additional aids may be included, such as: i) breath holes/vents/ windows, ii) breathable fabrics, iii) entrance aided with zippers or said attachment tools,
7- An OCST cover, for a sun- tanning tent, having i) light-transmitting flexible material(s), such as clear vinyl or PVC, covering the overall or a large portion of the body, ii) a flexible panel as the base, where the walls, ceiling, and the base may be permanently engaged or temporarily connected using any attachment aids, such as zippers, Velcros ®, buttons or the like, where the base panel and non-transmitting sheets may be made of nylon or polyester fabrics preferably coated with waterproof material, iii) entrances aided with said attachment tools, iv) and breathable fabrics and/or breath holes/windows/vents in plurality of locations for proper ventilation,
8- A cover as in claim 6 or 7, with additional attachment aids, such as zippers, buttons, Velcros®, for adding extra layers of light-transmitting material, nontransparent sheets, reflective or absorbing tanning blankets and the like.
9- A set of transparent, translucent, nontransparent sheets with attachment aids, such as zippers, Velcros ®, or buttons, as an accessory to a multi-purpose camping/ sun-tanning tent, where the material used is as mentioned in claim 7.
10- A combination set including a tent of claims 1-5, with any of the following additional tools:
foldable chairs, tables, beds, cots, light-transmitting or non-transmitting sheets/ covers/ flies, comfort sheets, pillows, eye covers, UV protection covers/ sheets, tanning blankets.
foldable chairs, tables, beds, cots, light-transmitting or non-transmitting sheets/ covers/ flies, comfort sheets, pillows, eye covers, UV protection covers/ sheets, tanning blankets.
11- A sun-tanning or multi-purpose sun-tanning / sleeping bag, for the use of one or two people, including at least: i) a flexible base panel possibly made of polyester or nylon fabric which may be arbitrarily coated with water proof material, that may have elevated boundaries, and may permanently or detachably engaged with layer(s) of heat-insulative flexible materials similar to sleeping bags, where the base panel may arbitrarily include inflatable layer(s) and/or reflective tanning blankets or sheets such as a thick aluminum foil that reflects the sunrays to help tan the sides of body, where the base panel and any of its layers may be permanently engaged or temporarily connected by zippers, Velcros ® or similar aids, ii) at least one layer of a flexible light-transmitting material, such as clear or non-clear vinyl, for covering the top and/or the peripheries of the bag, where the cover may arbitrarily be replaceable making the bag possibly useful for normal sleeping bag operation and/or attaching extra layers or changing the cover, iii) entrance aided be zippers, Velcros ®, buttons or the like, iv) breathing provision(s), such as breath holes, windows or vents aided by zippers or the like, breathable fabrics, open head or face compartment, etc.
12- A sun-tanning or multi-purpose sun-tanning / sleeping bag as in claim 11, with plastic or metal framing, that may arbitrarily resemble the shape and structural design of any tent as in the above claims, e.g. tunnel or hoop-like without guy ropes, supporting the cover for a large enough interior space for ease of breathing and movements, where the framing may be made of thin shapeable iron rods or resiliently flexible flat spring steel stock, or resiliently flexible plastic or metal bars or poles.
13- A bag or micro-tent as in claim 11, having at least one loop of resiliently flexible coilable material, that may be used, to add a pop-up or self-erecting feature to the micro-tent, in a similar way as claimed for pop-up structures, at least on the head compartment for ease of breathing, or alternatively overall the micro-tent for ease of movements and breathing.
14- A bag or micro-tent as in claim 12 wherein plurality of spring-aided and/or resiliently flexible coilable plastic or metal bars, poles, rods and/or loops has been used
15- A bag or micro-tent as in claim 11 with pop-up or self-erectable body portions, with a generally tunnel-like configuration, using at least one loop or segment of resilient, flexible, coilable materials, such as flat spring steel stock or flexible rubber rods or the like.
16- A bag or micro-tent as in 11, having a head compartment providing extra room for comfortable breathing and movements, where the framing may be made with resiliently flexible coilable or non-coilable plastic or metal segments or poles held flexed in generally curved shapes.
17- A bag or micro-tent as in claim 11, having auxiliary framing to make the cover held flexed over the base compartment, giving a box or tunnel-like shape to the tanning bag, where the head part may be higher than the feet part, and the frame members may be made of shapeable, resiliently flexible, or rigid metal or plastic bars, forming corner posts, or curved poles as in cylindrical, tunnel or dome-like tents, where alternatively the framing material may also be of resiliently flexible and coilable material, as in pop-up structures, assuming a saddle-like or generally rectangular cubic or tunnel like figure.
18- A bag or micro-tent as in claims 11-17, that uses springs in the self-erectable parts.
19- A bag or tent as in claims 1-18, where the light-transmitting sheets are made of clear or non-clear vinyl or PVC, foamed nylon or plastic of light-transmitting quality, nylon sheets with fine encapsulated cells of air within, or alternatively inflatable layers of light-transmitting material.
20- a sun-tanning or mufti-purpose sun-tanning/camping tent or micro-tent of a proper type as said in any of the above claims, which includes a cot or bed-like compartment that holds the tent or micro-tent above the ground level, where the bed or cot may be arbitrarily of a foldable structure and it may be permanently or temporarily engaged with the tent structure.
21- a greenhouse of arbitrary size and shape for plants, made of a structural design of parts iii-xvi of claim 1, where arbitrarily each pole may be formed by plurality of tubular or rod segments, detachably inter-fitted, where each segment has an insert element extending from an end portion thereof and adapted to fit within an end portion of the adjacent segment, where arbitrarily an elastic or non-elastic flexible cord may run through the tubular segments to keep them together, facilitating the storage, transportation or construction of the tent, where each segments, rods or poles may be made of steel, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, fiberglass, carbon fiber, PVC or other plastics.
22- a greenhouse cover for greenhouse structure of claim 21 that includes light-transmitting flexible material, e.g. clear or non-clear vinyl or PVC, for peripheral walls and a flexible base panel made of nylon, polyester, fabric or the like, with proper entrance, ventilation, auxiliary sheets similar described for OCST tents and covers.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002505778A CA2505778A1 (en) | 2005-04-20 | 2005-04-20 | Multi-purpose ocst tents |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002505778A CA2505778A1 (en) | 2005-04-20 | 2005-04-20 | Multi-purpose ocst tents |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2505778A1 true CA2505778A1 (en) | 2006-10-20 |
Family
ID=37114176
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002505778A Abandoned CA2505778A1 (en) | 2005-04-20 | 2005-04-20 | Multi-purpose ocst tents |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2505778A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2494863A (en) * | 2011-09-16 | 2013-03-27 | Sunless Solutions Ltd | Inflatable sun tanning booth |
| WO2015079085A1 (en) * | 2013-11-26 | 2015-06-04 | Campos Navarro José Emilio | Tent |
| CN115088532A (en) * | 2022-07-28 | 2022-09-23 | 福建永强力加动力设备有限公司 | Multifunctional plant greenhouse shed |
-
2005
- 2005-04-20 CA CA002505778A patent/CA2505778A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2494863A (en) * | 2011-09-16 | 2013-03-27 | Sunless Solutions Ltd | Inflatable sun tanning booth |
| WO2015079085A1 (en) * | 2013-11-26 | 2015-06-04 | Campos Navarro José Emilio | Tent |
| CN115088532A (en) * | 2022-07-28 | 2022-09-23 | 福建永强力加动力设备有限公司 | Multifunctional plant greenhouse shed |
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