GB2094367A - Tents - Google Patents

Abstract

A tent 1 comprises poles 3 and a tent covering 2. The poles 3 are formed by a plurality of pole sections 4 hinged together at 5. The poles 3 are received in passageways in the tent covering 2 as at the sleeves 8. The tent can be collapsed and packed without removing the poles from the tent covering and without separating the poles into their component sections, thereby facilitating erection and collapse in adverse weather conditions or darkness. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tents The invention relates to tents.

Conventionally, each of the poles which supports the tent covering when the tent is erected may be disassembled into a plurality of pole sections in order to ease portability of the collapsed and packed tent. During portage, the pole sections may be carried separately from the folded tent covering or rolled in it, but in any event have no operative connection with the tent covering. This may cause difficulties in the erection or collapse of the tent in darkness and/or in adverse weather conditions.

The invention provides a tent comprising poles and a tent covering, each pole comprising a plurality of pole sections hinged one to another such that it is foldable from a condition in which it supports the tent covering to a condition in which the pole sections are parallel and adjacent one to another, and each pole being received in at least one associated passageway of the tent covering regardless of whether the tent is in an erected condition, a collapsed and packed condition or a condition intermediate therebetween.

A tent according to the invention can be collapsed and packed for portage without removing the poles from the tent covering and without separating the poles into their component sections. Erection and collapse of the tent in darkness and/or in adverse weather conditions is thereby made easier.

Preferably each pole is received in two sleeves in the tent covering such that a part of each pole is outside the tent and a part of each pole is inside the tent in its erected condition.

The hinges may desirably be provided with locking means for use when the tent is erected to prevent accidental collapse of the tent poles.

The invention is illustrated by the drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a tent according to the invention in its erected condition; Figure 2 is a series of views in both elevation and plan of a hinge being part of a pole of the tent of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a series of diagrammatic views illustrating the packing of the tent of Figure 1 after its collapse.

With reference to Figure 1, a tent 1 of the tunnel or hoop type comprises a tent covering 2 supported by a plurality of poles 3 (one shown).

Each pole 3 is formed by six pole sections 4a to 4f.

Each of the intermediate pole sections 4b to 4e is connected at each end to the adjacent pole sections by hinges 5. The terminal pole sections 4a and 4fare inserted in sockets 6 secured to a groundsheet 7 of the tent 1. Each pole 3 passes through two sleeves 8 formed in the tent covering 2, such that the pole sections 4c and 4d are wholly within the tent 1, the pole sections 4b and 4e are partially within the tent 1 and partially outside it, and the pole sections 4a and 4f are wholly outside the tent 1. This arrangement reduces the strain on the tent covering 1 adjacent to the hinges 5 when the tent 1 is collapsed and packed.

One of the hinges 5 is illustrated in fuller detail in Figure 2. A central member 9 is provided with apertures 10 for receiving pivot pins, with a central aperture 11, and with an area 12 raised from its surface on each side of the central member. Two wing members 13 are formed with slots 14 and holes 1 5 wherein they can be pivoted to the central member 9 by pivot pins 20. The wing members 13 have blind bores 1 6 for receiving the pole sections 4 as by a force fit. The wing members 13 are formed with shoulders 1 7 and 18 and a rebate 19 each shaped as shown.In the fully open condition the shoulders 1 7 abut the raised areas 12 of the central member 9 preventing further opening of the hinge 5, and the rebates 19 match the central aperture 11 of the central member 9 allowing a cylindrical locking member (not shown) to be inserted into the aperture 11. Because the shoulders 1 8 occlude part of the aperture 11 in the closed condition of the hinge 5, the presence of such a locking member is sufficient to prevent closure of the hinge 5.

The tent 1 may be collapsed by removing the pole sections 4a and 4f from the sockets 6, whereupon the poles 3 straighten and the whole tent may be flattened as shown in Figure 3. The pole sections 4a and 4f may then be folded inwards, followed by the pole sections 4b and 4e and finally the pole section 4d is folded onto the pole section 4c, all as shown by the arrows in Figure 3. The tent 1 may then be rolled up lengthways. This method of folding ensures that the outside of the possibly wet groundsheet 7 does not come into contact with the tent covering 2.

1. A tent comprising poles and a tent covering, each pole comprising a plurality of pole sections hinged one to another such that it is foldable from a condition in which it supports the tent covering to a condition in which the pole sections are parallel and adjacent one to another, and each pole being received in at least one associated passageway of the tent covering regardless of whether the tent is in an erected condition, a collapsed and packed condition or a condition intermediate therebetween.

2. A tent according to claim 1 in which each pole is received in two sleeves in the tent covering such that a part of each pole is outside the tent and a part of each pole is inside the tent in its erected condition.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Tents The invention relates to tents. Conventionally, each of the poles which supports the tent covering when the tent is erected may be disassembled into a plurality of pole sections in order to ease portability of the collapsed and packed tent. During portage, the pole sections may be carried separately from the folded tent covering or rolled in it, but in any event have no operative connection with the tent covering. This may cause difficulties in the erection or collapse of the tent in darkness and/or in adverse weather conditions. The invention provides a tent comprising poles and a tent covering, each pole comprising a plurality of pole sections hinged one to another such that it is foldable from a condition in which it supports the tent covering to a condition in which the pole sections are parallel and adjacent one to another, and each pole being received in at least one associated passageway of the tent covering regardless of whether the tent is in an erected condition, a collapsed and packed condition or a condition intermediate therebetween. A tent according to the invention can be collapsed and packed for portage without removing the poles from the tent covering and without separating the poles into their component sections. Erection and collapse of the tent in darkness and/or in adverse weather conditions is thereby made easier. Preferably each pole is received in two sleeves in the tent covering such that a part of each pole is outside the tent and a part of each pole is inside the tent in its erected condition. The hinges may desirably be provided with locking means for use when the tent is erected to prevent accidental collapse of the tent poles. The invention is illustrated by the drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a tent according to the invention in its erected condition; Figure 2 is a series of views in both elevation and plan of a hinge being part of a pole of the tent of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a series of diagrammatic views illustrating the packing of the tent of Figure 1 after its collapse. With reference to Figure 1, a tent 1 of the tunnel or hoop type comprises a tent covering 2 supported by a plurality of poles 3 (one shown). Each pole 3 is formed by six pole sections 4a to 4f. Each of the intermediate pole sections 4b to 4e is connected at each end to the adjacent pole sections by hinges 5. The terminal pole sections 4a and 4fare inserted in sockets 6 secured to a groundsheet 7 of the tent 1. Each pole 3 passes through two sleeves 8 formed in the tent covering 2, such that the pole sections 4c and 4d are wholly within the tent 1, the pole sections 4b and 4e are partially within the tent 1 and partially outside it, and the pole sections 4a and 4f are wholly outside the tent 1. This arrangement reduces the strain on the tent covering 1 adjacent to the hinges 5 when the tent 1 is collapsed and packed. One of the hinges 5 is illustrated in fuller detail in Figure 2. A central member 9 is provided with apertures 10 for receiving pivot pins, with a central aperture 11, and with an area 12 raised from its surface on each side of the central member. Two wing members 13 are formed with slots 14 and holes 1 5 wherein they can be pivoted to the central member 9 by pivot pins 20. The wing members 13 have blind bores 1 6 for receiving the pole sections 4 as by a force fit. The wing members 13 are formed with shoulders 1 7 and 18 and a rebate 19 each shaped as shown.In the fully open condition the shoulders 1 7 abut the raised areas 12 of the central member 9 preventing further opening of the hinge 5, and the rebates 19 match the central aperture 11 of the central member 9 allowing a cylindrical locking member (not shown) to be inserted into the aperture 11. Because the shoulders 1 8 occlude part of the aperture 11 in the closed condition of the hinge 5, the presence of such a locking member is sufficient to prevent closure of the hinge 5. The tent 1 may be collapsed by removing the pole sections 4a and 4f from the sockets 6, whereupon the poles 3 straighten and the whole tent may be flattened as shown in Figure 3. The pole sections 4a and 4f may then be folded inwards, followed by the pole sections 4b and 4e and finally the pole section 4d is folded onto the pole section 4c, all as shown by the arrows in Figure 3. The tent 1 may then be rolled up lengthways. This method of folding ensures that the outside of the possibly wet groundsheet 7 does not come into contact with the tent covering 2. CLAIMS

1. A tent comprising poles and a tent covering, each pole comprising a plurality of pole sections hinged one to another such that it is foldable from a condition in which it supports the tent covering to a condition in which the pole sections are parallel and adjacent one to another, and each pole being received in at least one associated passageway of the tent covering regardless of whether the tent is in an erected condition, a collapsed and packed condition or a condition intermediate therebetween.

2. A tent according to claim 1 in which each pole is received in two sleeves in the tent covering such that a part of each pole is outside the tent and a part of each pole is inside the tent in its erected condition.

3. A tent according to claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising means for locking the hinges when the poles are in the condition in which they support the tent covering.

4. A tent substantially as described herein with reference to the drawing.