GB2221933A

GB2221933A - Tent supported by a cycle

Info

Publication number: GB2221933A
Application number: GB8914277A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew James Rogers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-08-18
Filing date: 1989-06-21
Publication date: 1990-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2009-06-21
Also published as: GB2221933B; GB8819685D0; GB8914277D0

Abstract

A poleless camping shelter for use in association with a pedal cycle 11 relies on guy means 15a, 15b connected to the pedal cycle and under tension between tent pegs secured to the ground to maintain the cycle stably upright and to carry the limp sheet material of a tunnel form tent 13. At least one sidewall 21 may have a fly zip 45 for access to and from the interior of the shelter. <IMAGE>

Description

Camping Shelter Systems This invention relates to camping shelter systems and is particularly concerned with camping shelter systems for use in association with pedal cycles.

Camping shelter systems in the form of tents respectively to be maintained erect by one or more poles are inconvenient for carriage by pedal bicycle and the present invention seeks to provide a camping shelter system devoid of support poles thereby facilitating the carriage by bicycle of the system.

According to the present invention a camping shelter system which is for use in association with a pedal cycle comprises: (a) a body of limp sheet material having at least one longitudinal fold line and being developable to an erect state to define a tent skin having a tunnel configuration of height diminishing progressively from one end to the other; and (b) in respect of the said at least one fold line, an individual guy run in two parts respectively extending from the said tent skin at the ends of the fold line and having a portion, external to the tent skin beyond the end thereof of maximum erect height, adapted to be coupled in use of the system, to an upper part of a pedal cycle; and in which: (c) the size and shape of the tent skin and the respective lengths of the said two guy run parts are such that when, in use of the system, the guy run is fastened with the said coupling portion to the said upper part of a cycle with the cycle in an upright attitude, both of the two guy run parts may be secured, as by tent pegs, to the ground taut at opposite sides of the cycle, the tent skin then being supported erect, by the inclined taut guy run alone, with its lower boundaries in contact with the ground, and the cycle being maintained stably upright by equal and opposite tensile forces in the guy run; and (d) the manner of attachment of the tent skin to the said at least one guy run is such that the tent skin is not subject to tearing forces, regardless substantially of tension developed, at least under normal usage, in the said at least one guy run.

Preferably the said junction portion of the said at least one guy run comprises fastener means adapted to be releasibly secured to a said cycle part and having a part to which the guy run is or may be connected. The fastener means may comprise a clamp for releasible engagement with the cycle part and having a ring threading an opening therein and to which the two guy run parts are or may be connected.

In the hereinafter described embodiment the guy run comprises first and second guy means each adapted to be connected to the said fastener means part.

The tent skin may have along the said at least one fold line an integral open-ended pocket arrangement: and one of the said parts of the guy run associated with the said fold line is a continuous element threading the said pocket arrangement.

Preferably, however, the tent skin has along the said at least one fold line an individual elongate member secured integral with the tent skin and being substantially inextensible under tension; and one of the said parts of the guy run has first and second portions, respectively for connection to the elongate inextensible member at the extremities thereof. The elongate inextensible member may have first and second ring elements respectively connected to the said extremities of the inextensible member to which the said first and second portions are to be respectively connected in use.

The foregoing and other features of a camping shelter system in accordance with the invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a pictorial representation of the camping shelter system when erected; Figs. 2a and 2b are diagrams respectively illustrating features of two forms of guy run employable in the system; and Figs. 3a and 3b show, diagrammatically, alternative fastener means.

The camping shelter system which is for use in association with a pedal cycle 11 comprises a body 13 of limp sheet material and first and second guy runs 15a, 15b, respectively.

The body 13 has first and second longitudinal fold lines 17a, 17b, respectively, and is developable, as illustrated, to the erect state to define a tent skin having a tunnel configuration of height diminishing progressively from one end l9a, to the other 19b.

The tent skin 13 has first and second identical trapezoidal sidewall portions as 21 a roof portion 23 and first and second trapezoidal endwall portions as 25.

The lower boundaries as 27 of the sidewall portions 21 are respectively longer than their upper boundaries 29 and the forward boundaries, as 31, are respectively longer than their rear boundaries 33.

The side boundaries of the roof portion 23 are respectively common at the fold lines, 17a, 17b, with the sidewall portions 21; and the endwall portions 25 have their upper boundaries respectively common with the end boundaries of the roof portion 23 and their side boundaries common with the end boundaries of the sidewall portions 21.

The guy runs 15a, 15b are each in two parts A, B, extending, respectively, from the tent skin at the ends of the fold lines 17a, 17b. The guy runs each have a portion 34 external to the tent skin beyond the end 19a of maximum erect height the said portions 34 being adapted to be coupled, in use of the system, to an upper member, the cross-bar in Fig. 1, of the cycle 11.

The size and shape of the tent skin and the respective lengths of the guy run parts A, B are such that when, as shown, the guy runs 15a, 15b, are engaged at their coupling portions 34 to the cycle cross-bar, with the cycle in an upright attitude, both of the guy run parts A, B, of each guy run 15a, 15b, may be secured as by tent pegs (not shown) to the ground, taut at opposite sides of the cycle. The tent skin is then held erect under tension in the parts A; and the counter acting tensions in the parts A, B serve to maintain the cycle stably upright.

The manner of attachment of the guy runs to the tent skin is such that the said tent skin is not subject to tearing forces, regardless substantially of tension developed, at least in normal usage of the system, in the guy runs.

As shown in Fig. 2a the tent skin may be provided with open-ended pocket arrangements as 35 along the fold lines 17a, 17b, through which the guy runs 15a, 15b may respectively be threaded. Or the tent skin may be provided (Fig. 2b) with inextensible elongate strengthening members, as 37, integral and co-extensive with the fold lines 17a, 17b; and at each of the members 37 there may be a ring element, as 39.

The guy run parts A, B are (Fig. 3a) separate parts each provided at one end with a latched hook as 40.

Fastener elements in the form of clamps as 41 adapted to be secured to the cycle cross-bar carrying rings, as 43 threaded through openings through the clamps 41 to which the latched hooks 39 may be connected.

The clamps 41 and hooks 39 together constitute the coupling portions 31 of the guy runs.

Alternatively (Fig. 3b) the coupling portions 31 may be constituted by clamps 41, as before, and a single latched hook through which the guy run may be threaded.

Access to and egress from the interior of the shelter provided is by way of a dog-leg or like flap provided with a fly zip 45 in a sidewall 21.

The shelter is provided with the usual ground sheet 47.

Claims

1. A camping shelter system, which is for use in association with a pedal cycle and which comprises: (a) a body of limp sheet material having at least one longitudinal fold line and being developable to an erect state to define a tent skin having a tunnel configuration of height diminishing progressively from one end to the other; and (b) in respect of the said at least one fold line, an individual guy run in two parts respectively extending from the said tent skin at the ends of the fold line and having a portion, external to the tent skin beyond the end thereof of maximum erect height, adapted to be coupled in use of the system, to an upper part of a pedal cycle; and in which: (c) the size and shape of the tent skin and the respective lengths of the said two guy run parts are such that when, in use of the system, the guy run is fastened with the said coupling portion to the said upper part of a cycle with the cycle in an upright attitude, both of the two guy run parts may be secured, as by tent pegs, to the ground taut at opposite sides of the cycle, the tent skin then being supported erect by the inclined taut guy run alone with its lower boundaries in contact with the ground, and the cycle being maintained stably upright by equal and opposite tensile forces in the guy runt and (d) the manner of attachment of the tent skin to the said at least one guy run is such that the tent skin is not subject to tearing forces, regardless substantially of tension developed, at least under normal usage, in the said at least one guy run.

2. A camping shelter system as claimed in claim 1 in which the said junction portion of the said at least one guy run comprises fastener means adapted to be releasibly secured to a said cycle part and having a part to which the guy run is or may be connected.

3. A camping shelter system as claimed in claim 2 in which the fastener means comprises a clamp for releasible engagement with the cycle part and having a ring threading an opening therein and to which the two guy run parts are or may be connected.

4. A camping shelter system as claimed in claim 2 or 3 in which the guy run comprises first and second guy means each adapted to be connected to the said fastener means part.

5. A camping shelter system as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 in which the tent skin has along the said at least one fold line an integral open-ended pocket arrangement; and one of the said parts of the guy run associated with the said fold line is a continuous element threading the said pocket arrangement.

6. A camping shelter system as claimed in any preceding claim in which the tent skin has along the said at least one fold line an individual elongate member secured integral with the tent skin and being substantially inextensible under tension; and one of the said parts of the guy run has first and second portions, respectively for connection to the elongate member at the extremities thereof.

7. A camping shelter system as claimed in claim 6 in which the elongate inextensible member has first and second ring elements respectively connected to the said extremities of the inextensible member and to which the said first and second portions are to be respectively connected in use.

8. A camping system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.