GB2204337A - Play tent foldable against a wall for storage - Google Patents

Abstract

There is disclosed a play tent formed by a flexible sheet 14 mounted between U-shaped frame members 10, 12 one 10 of which is intended to be secured to a wall and the other of which is movable from a position overlying the first to a position on the floor whereby the tent can be moved between a stowed and deployed position with ease. <IMAGE>

Description

PLAY TENT This invention concerns a play tent.

Various kinds of play tent are known. One very popular kind includes a collapsible framework which can be erected to support a fabric cover defining side walls and a gable-ended roof. These can be assembled for use either in the house or the garden but have a number of disadvantages. Firstly they can be time-consuming to assemble and dismantle, these operations frequently require to be performed by an adult and finally a suitable storage space must be provided for them when not in use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a play tent which overcomes at least to some extent the disadvantages aforesaid.

According to the present invention there is provided a play tent comprising a flexible sheet mounted between two generally U-shaped frame members the first of which is adapted to be secured to a wall in an inverted position and the second of which is movable between a position generally parallel with the overlying said first member and a position where it is swung forwardly to engage the floor, the sheet member then forming walls and a roof to the play tent.

Additional frame members may be provided to provide additional support to said sheet between the first and second frame members aforesaid.

The second frame member may enclose sheeting to form a ground sheet when the play tent is deployed.

One or more walls of the sheet may be provided with apertures filled with transparent sheet material forming windows.

One or more walls of the sheet may be provided with an aperture closed by a removable panel to form a doorway to the play tent. Such removable panels may include portions covered with mesh to provide for air circulation.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, one form of play tent embodying the invention.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the play tent when deployed or erected for use; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the play tent when stowed against the wall for storage; and Figure 3 shows a partially sectioned perspective view of the play tent of Figures 2 and 3 in its deployed condition.

Referring now to the drawings, it wil be seen that the play tent is essentially comprised Dy three generally U-shaped frame members 10, 11 and ;2 which support a canopy 14 of flexible sheet material.

As clearly seen from Figure 3, the frame members 10, 11 and 12 are located in tubular pockets on the underside of the canopy 14.

When the play tent is in use the first frame member 10 is located in a vertical plane against a vertical wall to which it may be secured for as long as desired by engagement of a hook 15 adapted to be secured to the wall with an eyelet 16 in the canopy 14 adjacent the top centre of the frame member 10 and with the frame member 12 located against the floor and lying in a plane at right angles to the plane of the frame member 10 and with the frame member 11 angularly spaced between the frame members 10 and 12 as clearly showed in Figure 3.

The frame members 10, 11 and 12 are hingedly connected by flexible plastic hinge members 17 and 18 arranged at the junction of the wall and floor.

When the play tent is not required for use the frame member 12 may simply be lifted and folded back to overly the frame member 10 with the frame member 11 located therebetween, whereby the whole assembly is stowed in a generally vertical plane adjacent the wall.

When the play tent is deployed for use the canopy 14 defines a roof which may include apertures 19 forming windows which may be covered by transparent sheet material or a mesh material allowing passage of air. The cover 14 also defines side walls which may include similar apertures 19 and a door panel 20 which may be secured and closed by a sliding fastener arrangement 21. Such door panel should include apertures 22 closed by mesh material to ensure ventilation to the interior of the play tent.

Preferably and as clearly shown in Figure 3, the tent incorporates a ground sheet 23 secured within the frame member 12. The ground sheet 23 may include a foam layer insert 24 for comfort purposes.

After a child has finished with the play tent it may be collapsed into its stowed position as shown in Figure 2 and small toys and the like within the tent may be left on the ground sheet 23 and stowed neatly away simultaneously with stowing of the tent by the simple act of moving the frame member 12 to its vertical position. For this purpose, the ground sheet may turn upwardly and extend into the frame member 10 for a short distance so as to form a bag to contain such toys and the like when the play tent is collapsed for storage.

Clip members 25 are provided to hold the frame member 12 adjacent the frame member 10 when the tent is in its stowed position.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible.

Claims (7)

1. A play tent comprising a flexible sheet mounted between two generally U-shaped frame members the first of which is adapted to be secured to a wall in an inverted position and the second of which is movable between a position generally parallel with the overlying said first member and a position where it is swung forwardly to engage the floor, the sheet member then forming walls and a roof to the play tent.

2. A play tent according to claim 1 having additional frame members to provide additional.

support to said sheet between said first and second frame members.

3. A play tent according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the second frame member encloses sheeting to form a ground sheet when the play tent is deployed.

4. A play tent according to any one of claims 1 - 3 wherein one or more walls of the sheet are provided with an aperture filled with transparent sheet material forming windows.

5. A play tent according to any one of claims 1 - 4 wherein one or more walls of the sheet are provided with an aperture closed by a removable panel to form a doorway of the play tent.

6. A play tent according to claim 5 wherein said removable panel includes a portion covered with mesh to provide for air circulation.

7. A play tent substantially as described herein with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawings.