EP0545637A1 - Structure portable auto-déployable et méthode - Google Patents

Structure portable auto-déployable et méthode Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0545637A1
EP0545637A1 EP19920310834 EP92310834A EP0545637A1 EP 0545637 A1 EP0545637 A1 EP 0545637A1 EP 19920310834 EP19920310834 EP 19920310834 EP 92310834 A EP92310834 A EP 92310834A EP 0545637 A1 EP0545637 A1 EP 0545637A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fabric
loop
self erecting
structure according
erecting portable
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP19920310834
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Jack H. Garton
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Gartin Jack H
SAMOLE SIDNEY
Original Assignee
Gartin Jack H
SAMOLE SIDNEY
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gartin Jack H, SAMOLE SIDNEY filed Critical Gartin Jack H
Publication of EP0545637A1 publication Critical patent/EP0545637A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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

Definitions

  • This invention relates to structures and more particularly to portable self erecting structures such as hiking or camping tents, beach shelters or the like.
  • Portable structures such as tents have existed far back into human pre-history, paralleling the nomadic lifestyle of early man.
  • One of the principle problems associated with portable structures is the difficulties associated with erecting them.
  • improvements have been made to simplify the erection process as is shown be the following patents:
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved self erecting portable structure which has a simple internal frame which allows manufacture at low cost.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved self erecting portable structure which has a simple internal frame in which a single rod or wire is joined at its ends with a single connector to form the framework of the structure.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved self erecting portable structure which has a simple internal frame in which a single rod or wire is joined at its ends with a single connector to form a structure of higher inherent reliability.
  • a self erecting portable structure which comprises a single rod or wire joined at its ends by a single connector to form an of endless loop structure comprising at least a first lower loop means and a second upper loop means.
  • a first fabric means having sleeves at each end is provided in a transverse position such that one portion of the first lower loop means and another portion of the second upper loop means is contained in the sleeve at one end of the first fabric means and such that still another portion of the first lower loop means and of the second upper loop means is contained in the sleeve at the other end of the first fabric means.
  • Elastic tension in the first lower loop means and the second upper loop means pulls the first fabric means taut to form a first lower surface of the structure.
  • a second fabric means having sleeves at each end is provided in a longitudinal position such that one portion of the second upper loop means is contained in the sleeve at one end of the second fabric means and such that another portion of the second upper loop means is contained in the sleeve at the other end of the fabric means.
  • Elastic tension in the second upper loop means pulls the second fabric means taut to form a second upper surface of the structure which is separate from the first lower surface so that an interior structure space is created which can be accessed from all sides of the structure. Further, the interior structure space is created without the need for external stakes, pegs or ropes and without the need for internal poles or supports.
  • the first lower loop means and the second upper loop means together with the accompanying fabric means can be readily folded in upon themselves to form four loops of smaller diameter.
  • the elastic energy of this folded structure is easily contained by strap and a zippered cover so that the complete structure is portable and easily stored in a closet or the trunk of an automobile.
  • the stored elastic energy allows the structure to "pop up" into its final configuration with no further action from the user, thus providing the self erecting feature which makes the structure so convenient to use.
  • the present invention can be employed in a wide variety of forms by changing the size and shape of the first and the second fabric means and of their sleeves.
  • the present invention can take the form of a completely closed camping tent with screened doors and windows as required or the form of an open ended sun screen or beach shelter which can be accessed from the front and sides without sacrificing the features of being self erecting and highly portable.
  • Figure 1 is a side view of the self erecting portable structure according to the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a top view of the self erecting portable structure according to the present invention.
  • Figure 3 is a pictorial view of one embodiment of the self erecting portable structure according to the present invention in which the structure is completely enclosed and has a door.
  • Figure 4 is a pictorial view of another embodiment of the self erecting portable structure according to the present invention in which the structure is adapted as an open ended sun screen or beach shelter.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 have been created to show a minimal embodiment which can be used to illustrate the essential features of the present invention.
  • self erecting portable structure 10 comprises a single rod or wire 12 joined at its ends by a single connector 14 to form an of endless loop structure having a first lower loop means 12A and a second upper loop means 12B.
  • a first fabric means 20 having a sleeve 22 at one end and having a sleeve 24 at the other end is provided in a transverse position such that one portion 12C of the first lower loop means 12A and another portion 12D of the second upper loop means 12B is contained in sleeve 24.
  • another portion 12E of the first lower loop means and a portion 12F of the second upper loop means is contained in the sleeve 22 at the other end of the first fabric means 20.
  • Elastic tension in the first lower loop means 12A and the second upper loop means 12B pulls the first fabric means 20 taut to form a first lower surface of the structure.
  • a second fabric means 30 having a sleeve 32 at one end and having a sleeve 34 at the other end is provided in a longitudinal position such that one portion 12G of the second upper loop means 12B is contained in sleeve 32 and such that another portion 12H of the second upper loop means 12B is contained is sleeve 34.
  • Elastic tension in the second upper loop means 12B pulls the second fabric means taut to form a second upper surface 30A of the structure which is separate from the first lower surface 20A so that an interior structure space 40 is created which can be accessed from all sides of the structure. Further, this interior structure space is created without the need for external stakes, pegs or ropes and without the need for internal poles or supports.
  • Figures 1 and 2 clearly demonstrate the endless loop structure of rod or wire 12 joined at its ends by single connector 14 since it can be seen that both rod portions 12C and 12D form transitions between first lower loop means 12A and second upper loop means 12B as they pass through sleeve 24 while rod portion 12E both enters and exits sleeve 22 from first lower loop means 12A and rod portion 12F both enters and exits sleeve 22 from second upper loop means 12B.
  • Figure 3 shows a more practical embodiment of the present invention in the form of a fully enclosed hiking or camping tent.
  • the first lower fabric means has been expanded to form the floor 50 of the tent while the second upper fabric means has been expanded to provide a roof 52, a back side 54 (hidden in this view) and a front side 56.
  • a screen door 58 has been added to allow entrance and exit to the tent.
  • Additional fabric portions 60 and 62 have been added to form enclosing connections between the roof 52, the back side 54, and the front side 56.
  • FIG. 1 also shows schematically (as a dotted line) a continuous rod or wire means 74 passing through all of the sleeve portion 66-72 as an endless loop with rod portions 74A and 74B performing the transitions from a first lower loop means 74C to a second upper loop means 74D as was originally described for the minimal embodiment of Figures 1 and 2.
  • Figure 4 shows still another practical embodiment of the present invention in the form of an open ended sun shade or beach shelter.
  • the first lower fabric means of the minimal embodiment is once again extended to form a floor portion 80 of the shelter.
  • the second upper fabric means of the minimal embodiment is similarly extended to form a roof and back portion 82.
  • the sleeve means of the minimal embodiment have also been extended to form sleeve portions 84 and 86 which surround the periphery of the fabric portions to form the seams which interconnect the fabric portions and simultaneously containing the endless loop of the continuous rod means (not shown).
  • Fabric gussets 88 are added to stabilize the structure.
  • a practical method of implementing the rod or wire means forming the endless loop is to use a spring steel wire which is covered with a rubberized coating to minimize abrasion to the fabric sleeve.
  • Other elastic materials such as fiberglass or gaphite fiber rods would also be suitable.
  • Both of the embodiments of Figures 3 and 4 are designed to function successfully without stakes or pegs since they can be held in place on the ground by the weight of the occupants or the weight of items stored inside them.
  • another convenient method is to use the attached pockets 90 which can be filled with sand to provide anchors which will hold the shelter in place.
  • the embodiments of the present invention cannot also make use of stakes or pegs if they are desired.
  • the first lower loop means and the second upper loop means together with the accompanying fabric means can be readily folded in upon themselves to form four loops of smaller diameter.
  • the elastic energy of this folded structure is easily contained by a strap and a zippered cover so that the complete structure is portable and easily stored in a closet or the trunk of an automobile.
  • the stored elastic energy allows the structure to "pop up" into its final configuration with no further action from the user, thus providing the self erecting feature which makes the structure very convenient to use.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
  • Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)
  • Telephone Set Structure (AREA)
EP19920310834 1991-11-29 1992-11-26 Structure portable auto-déployable et méthode Withdrawn EP0545637A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US80027891A 1991-11-29 1991-11-29
US800278 1991-11-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0545637A1 true EP0545637A1 (fr) 1993-06-09

Family

ID=25177964

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19920310834 Withdrawn EP0545637A1 (fr) 1991-11-29 1992-11-26 Structure portable auto-déployable et méthode

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0545637A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU654062B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2084127A1 (fr)
MX (1) MX9206800A (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5642538A (en) * 1995-09-18 1997-07-01 Creative Toy Products, Inc. Self-erecting play yard structure
EP1061206A3 (fr) * 1999-06-17 2002-01-23 Hugeway Investment Limited Structure autoporteuse et autostable
US7954504B2 (en) 2004-01-05 2011-06-07 Price R Justin Fast-erecting portable structure
WO2022032324A1 (fr) * 2020-08-14 2022-02-17 Gould Rod Pare-soleil pliable portable pour animal de compagnie

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3960161A (en) * 1974-11-05 1976-06-01 Norman Lowell R Portable structure
US3990463A (en) * 1975-10-17 1976-11-09 Lowell Robert Norman Portable structure
US4858634A (en) * 1988-07-18 1989-08-22 Mcleese Eddie S Self erecting structure

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4825892A (en) * 1988-02-29 1989-05-02 Pure Concepts, Inc. Instantly stable, quickly erectable and quickly collapsible portable structure

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3960161A (en) * 1974-11-05 1976-06-01 Norman Lowell R Portable structure
US3990463A (en) * 1975-10-17 1976-11-09 Lowell Robert Norman Portable structure
US4858634A (en) * 1988-07-18 1989-08-22 Mcleese Eddie S Self erecting structure

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5642538A (en) * 1995-09-18 1997-07-01 Creative Toy Products, Inc. Self-erecting play yard structure
US5809592A (en) * 1995-09-18 1998-09-22 Creative Toy Products, Inc. Self-erecting play yard structure
EP1061206A3 (fr) * 1999-06-17 2002-01-23 Hugeway Investment Limited Structure autoporteuse et autostable
US7954504B2 (en) 2004-01-05 2011-06-07 Price R Justin Fast-erecting portable structure
WO2022032324A1 (fr) * 2020-08-14 2022-02-17 Gould Rod Pare-soleil pliable portable pour animal de compagnie

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
MX9206800A (es) 1994-06-30
CA2084127A1 (fr) 1993-05-30
AU654062B2 (en) 1994-10-20
AU2967092A (en) 1993-06-03

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PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

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Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

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Inventor name: GARTON, JACK, H.

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Effective date: 19960611