GB2135354A - Tents - Google Patents

Abstract

A tent (10) has multiplicity or inflatable tubular elements (11) of flexible material connected together. The tubular elements when inflated form a self-supporting arch structure. The tent (10) is anchored to the ground by ropes and stakes (15) and has end closures (16) detachably mounted on the arch structure. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in tents The invention relates to tents.

According to the invention there is provided a tent comprising a multiplicity of inflatable tubular ele ments offlexible material connected together, the tubular elements when inflated forming a self-sup porting arch structure, and meansforanchoringthe tent to the ground or other support surface.

The tubular elements are preferably circular in cross-section when inflated.

Each tubular element preferably has valve means for allowing inflation and deflation thereof.

The arch structure is preferably semi-circular in cross-section.

The anchorage means preferably comprise ropes attachedto the tubular elements for attachmentto the ground orother support surface byforexample, stakes.

The tent may comprise end closures for closing end openings of the tent, and the end closures are preferably made oftheflexible material.The end closures are preferably detachably mounted on the arch structure, and preferably mounted at the connection between the outermost pair oftubular elements at each end of the tent. Each end closure preferably has a flap therein.

The end closures are preferably mounted by means of hooks on the arch structure or the closures and loops on the other of the arch structure and the closures. The loops are preferably on the arch structure and the hooks on the closures.

The flexible material is preferablywaterproof.

By way of example one embodiment of a tent according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of a tent; Figure 2 is a view illustrating the shape of tubes of thetentwhen inflated; Figure 3 is a view illustrating attachment of an end closuretoajoin between tubular elements; and Figure4 is an enlarged view illustrating a suspension pointforan end closure.

As shown in Figure 1, a tent generally indicated at 10 comprises a series of inflatable tubular elements 11 secured together. Figure 2 shows a detail of the shape at the elements 11 which, when inflated, are circular in cross-section. The elements 11 are offlexible sheet material which is waterproof, impermeable to air and also lightweight,forexample a plastics material ora rubber based material. The elements 11 are heat sealed together.

Each tubular element 11 is provided with an air inlet valve 12 through which air can be introduced into an associated element 11 to inflate the element or allowed to escape from an associated element 11 to deflate the element.

In orderto anchorthetent 10 to the ground or other support surface, points of attachment 13 for ropes are provided on each element 11. Ropes 14 attached to the attachment points 13 are anchored to the ground or othersupportsurface by pegs 15.

Aclosure 16 is provided at each end ofthetent 10.

The closures 16 are ofthe same flexible sheet material as the tent 10, although it will be appreciated that other sheet materials could be used. The closures 16 are detachably mounted on the tent 10 by means of a set of hooks 17 on the closures, and a set of rope loops 18 on the tent 10. The rope loops 18 are positioned aroundthejoin between the outermost pairoftubular elements 11 at each end of thetent 1 0.

Each closure 16 has a flap 19 formed therein to afford entryandexittothetent 10.

An advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that a tent is provided which is self supporting, no framework or other support being necessary for the tentwhen inflated. The presence of air columns in the elements 11 provides insulation and differentsizes of tent can conveniently be provided by altering the length and size of the elements 11 and also the number of elements 11. Should one element 11 be punctured, the whole tent will not collapse.

1. Atentcomprising a multiplicity of inflatable tubular elements offlexible material connected together, thetubular elements when inflated forming a self-supporting arch structure, and means for anchoring the tentto the ground or other support surface.

2. Atent as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the tubular elements are circular in cross-section when inflated.

3. Atentas claimed in Claim 1 orClaim2wherein each tubular element has valve means for allowing inflation and deflation thereof.

4. Atent as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the arch structure is semi-circular in crosssection.

5. Atent as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the anchorage means comprise ropes attached to the tubular elements for attachment to the ground or other support surface.

6. Atent as claimed in Claim 5 comprising stakes for attaching the ropesto the ground or other support surface.

7. Atent as claimed in any preceding Claim comprising end closures of flexible material for closing end openings ofthetent 8. Atent as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the closures are detachably mounted on the tent.

9. Atent as claimed in Claim 8wherein the end closures are mounted by means of hooks on the closures orthe arch structure and loops on the other of the closures and the arch structure.

10. Atent as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the hooks are on the closures and the loops are on the arch structure.

11. Atent as claimed in any one of Claims 7to 10 wherein the closures are mounted atthe connection between the outermost pair oftubular elements at each end of the tent.

12. Atent as claimed in any of Claims7to 11 wherein each end closure has a flap therein.

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

Claims (14)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in tents The invention relates to tents. According to the invention there is provided a tent comprising a multiplicity of inflatable tubular ele ments offlexible material connected together, the tubular elements when inflated forming a self-sup porting arch structure, and meansforanchoringthe tent to the ground or other support surface. The tubular elements are preferably circular in cross-section when inflated. Each tubular element preferably has valve means for allowing inflation and deflation thereof. The arch structure is preferably semi-circular in cross-section. The anchorage means preferably comprise ropes attachedto the tubular elements for attachmentto the ground orother support surface byforexample, stakes. The tent may comprise end closures for closing end openings of the tent, and the end closures are preferably made oftheflexible material.The end closures are preferably detachably mounted on the arch structure, and preferably mounted at the connection between the outermost pair oftubular elements at each end of the tent. Each end closure preferably has a flap therein. The end closures are preferably mounted by means of hooks on the arch structure or the closures and loops on the other of the arch structure and the closures. The loops are preferably on the arch structure and the hooks on the closures. The flexible material is preferablywaterproof. By way of example one embodiment of a tent according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of a tent; Figure 2 is a view illustrating the shape of tubes of thetentwhen inflated; Figure 3 is a view illustrating attachment of an end closuretoajoin between tubular elements; and Figure4 is an enlarged view illustrating a suspension pointforan end closure. As shown in Figure 1, a tent generally indicated at 10 comprises a series of inflatable tubular elements 11 secured together. Figure 2 shows a detail of the shape at the elements 11 which, when inflated, are circular in cross-section. The elements 11 are offlexible sheet material which is waterproof, impermeable to air and also lightweight,forexample a plastics material ora rubber based material. The elements 11 are heat sealed together. Each tubular element 11 is provided with an air inlet valve 12 through which air can be introduced into an associated element 11 to inflate the element or allowed to escape from an associated element 11 to deflate the element. In orderto anchorthetent 10 to the ground or other support surface, points of attachment 13 for ropes are provided on each element 11. Ropes 14 attached to the attachment points 13 are anchored to the ground or othersupportsurface by pegs 15. Aclosure 16 is provided at each end ofthetent 10. The closures 16 are ofthe same flexible sheet material as the tent 10, although it will be appreciated that other sheet materials could be used. The closures 16 are detachably mounted on the tent 10 by means of a set of hooks 17 on the closures, and a set of rope loops 18 on the tent 10. The rope loops 18 are positioned aroundthejoin between the outermost pairoftubular elements 11 at each end of thetent 1 0. Each closure 16 has a flap 19 formed therein to afford entryandexittothetent 10. An advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that a tent is provided which is self supporting, no framework or other support being necessary for the tentwhen inflated. The presence of air columns in the elements 11 provides insulation and differentsizes of tent can conveniently be provided by altering the length and size of the elements 11 and also the number of elements 11. Should one element 11 be punctured, the whole tent will not collapse. CLAIMS

1. Atentcomprising a multiplicity of inflatable tubular elements offlexible material connected together, thetubular elements when inflated forming a self-supporting arch structure, and means for anchoring the tentto the ground or other support surface.

2. Atent as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the tubular elements are circular in cross-section when inflated.

3. Atentas claimed in Claim 1 orClaim2wherein each tubular element has valve means for allowing inflation and deflation thereof.

4. Atent as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the arch structure is semi-circular in crosssection.

5. Atent as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the anchorage means comprise ropes attached to the tubular elements for attachment to the ground or other support surface.

6. Atent as claimed in Claim 5 comprising stakes for attaching the ropesto the ground or other support surface.

7. Atent as claimed in any preceding Claim comprising end closures of flexible material for closing end openings ofthetent

8. Atent as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the closures are detachably mounted on the tent.

9. Atent as claimed in Claim 8wherein the end closures are mounted by means of hooks on the closures orthe arch structure and loops on the other of the closures and the arch structure.

10. Atent as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the hooks are on the closures and the loops are on the arch structure.

11. Atent as claimed in any one of Claims 7to 10 wherein the closures are mounted atthe connection between the outermost pair oftubular elements at each end of the tent.

12. Atent as claimed in any of Claims7to 11 wherein each end closure has a flap therein.

13. Atent as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the flexible material is waterproof.

14. Atent substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.