GB2249331A

GB2249331A - A tent-like shelter

Info

Publication number: GB2249331A
Application number: GB9123214A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Edward Arthur Birkin; Roy Anthony Obia
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-11-02
Filing date: 1991-11-01
Publication date: 1992-05-06
Also published as: GB9123214D0; GB9023901D0

Abstract

A tent-like shelter which can be erected from within, comprising a plurality of bendable elongate support members (1), and a connecting web (2) with which the support members are co-operable in use to support the web. A connecting member (11), conveniently an annular ring, has bores to receive upper ends of the support members to locate them with respect to one another whilst the lower ends of the support members are located in the ground. The support members have to be bent to be mated with the ring and to fit within the shelter formed by the web, location of the other ends of the support member serves to anchor the shelter. The poles are held bent and serve to tension the web. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: A tent-like shelter DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a tent-like shelter, bivvy, or the like.

Traditionally the fisherman has been content to accept the fishing brolley as his only source of shelter. More recently it has been proposed to use the brolley as a support for a cape-like structure providing additional side protection and secured in place by guy ropes and/or with additional poles. The stem of the brolley or other internal poles prove restrictive and erecting the shelter is time consuming which is a disadvantage in wet whether and the need to weight down the cape with rocks or such as tent pegs proves time consuming and can add to difficulties in windy weather.

There is a need for a shelter which can be more easily erected.

In arriving at a solution to this particular problem we have arrived at a tent-like structure which has more general applications and which is advantageous in relation to known tent-like structures at least in relation to speed of erection.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a tent-like shelter comprising a plurality of bendable elongate support members and a connecting web with which the support members are co-operable in use to support the web, and connecting means for locating at least some of the support members with respect to one another.

Preferably the connecting means may comprise a link extending between adjacent support members, but more preferably the connecting member serves to locate all the support members with respect to one another Conveniently, location of the support members is by having a respective end thereof captured by the connecting means. A preferred connection means comprises a member, say annular or disc-like, having a plurality or bores to receive ends of the respective support members.

The connection web comprises a canvas, cloth or other such foldable material interconnecting at least mid and/or lower portions of the support elements, and in the preferred embodiment the connecting web forms an outer cover of the desired shape, particularly domelike. The connection web has internal sleeves, loops or other means for receiving said support members to locate at least a portion thereof in relation to the connection web and preferably a mid portion thereof. More particularly the connection web has an integral ground sheet.

The lower end of the support members provides for ground engagement and are preferably configured to be received in the ground thereby locating the lower ends of the support elements. This is conveniently provided by spiked ends of or associated with the support members.

Where an integral ground sheet is provided this has holes, typically adjacent the boundary with the outer cover, to permit the spikes to be engaged in the ground by passage through the holes. For complete weather proofing a suitable sealing arrangement may be provided around the holes.

Access to the interior of the shelter is by way of an openable and closable portion of the outer cover.

The unstressed shape of the support elements is straight such that when received in the sleeves of the outer cover the support elements and the cover can be simply rolled up together for transportation purposes.

Assembly of the tent-like shelter according to the preferred embodiment with integral ground sheet simply calls for laying the unit on the ground and unfolding as far as possible, opening the access opening in the outer cover and stepping inside. The bottoms of the poles are pushed outwardly and the tops located one by one in the connection member by bending. The ground sheet can be smoothed outwardly with the supports being moved outwardly and eventually pushed into the ground thereby locating the tent-like shelter without the need for external guy ropes or pegs.

The present invention will now be described further by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevational view of an erected shelter with its side cut away to review internal detail, Figure la is a plan view of the erected shelter assuming the outer cover to be transparent for illustration purposes, Figure 2 is a detailed view showing the configuration of the lower portion of a support element in its ground engaging position, and Figures 3 and 4 are plan and side views of one embodiment of connecting member.

Referring to the drawings, the tent-like shelter comprises an outer cover 1 made up of any suitable fabric material and having a generally dome-like configuration when erected, and having an integral ground sheet 2. The structure also comprises a plurality of flexible rods, six in the illustrated embodiment - items 3 to 8 - and a connection member 11.

A plastics material such as nylon 66 is particularly suitable for the support elements.

The outer cover of the tent serves as a connecting web for the support elements and has elongate sleeves 9 to receive the support elements. In practice the support elements are accommodated within the sleeves 9 for convenience of assembly as described further hereinafter. As illustrated the middle one third of the support elements as a combination within the sleeve 9.

The lower ends of the flexible rods are provided with stainless steel spikes as illustrated at 10 in Figure 2 and a flange part 10a provides for cooperating engagement with the ground sheet 2 surrounding an aperture through which the spikes 10 pass. The connecting member comprises a disc or annular member 11 having six radial bores to receive the upper end of each of the support elements 3 to 8 in a push-fit manner.

The distance by which the ends are received in the connecting member and the resilient stressing of the support elements ensures that they remain in place.

Assembly of the tent-like structure calls for spacing out the support elements to the extremity of the ground sheet and locating the spiked ends in the ground.

The support rods are then flexed inwards and inserted into the holes in the connection member. Assembly of the tent is then complete. A door flap is provided in the outer cover by means of zip fasteners, items 12 and 13 in the illustrations.

Additional security can be provided by pegs and additional peg holes in the ground sheet as at 14 spaced immediate the support elements and again this facility can be effected from within tent.

Dismantling of the tent calls for flexing of the support elements and removal from the connecting block 11 and then removal of the support elements from their fixture in the ground. The support rods then assume a straight line configuration and with the outer cover and ground sheet attached can be rolled up as a unit for transportation purposes. By arranging for the support rods to be captive with the outer cover, erection and dismantling can be perfdrmed very quickly as will be apparent from the above.

Claims

1. A tent-like shelter comprising a plurality of bendable elongate support members and a connecting web with which the support members are co-operable in use to support the web, and connecting means for locating at least some of the support members with respect to one another.

2. A shelter as claimed in claim 1 in which the connecting means comprises a link extending between adjacent support members.

3. A shelter as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the connecting means serves to locate all the support members with respect to one another.

4. A shelter as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 in which location of the support members is by having a respective end thereof captured by the connecting means.

5. A shelter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the connecting means comprises a member having a plurality of bores to receive ends of the respective support members.

6. A shelter as claimed in claim 5 in which the member comprises an annulus or disc.

7. A shelter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the connection web comprises a canvas, cloth or other such foldable material interconnecting at least mid and/or lower portions of the support elements.

8. A shelter as claimed in claim 7 in which the connecting web forms an outer cover of the desired shape.

9. A shelter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the connection web has internal sleeves, loops or other means for receiving said support members to locate at least a portion thereof in relation to the connection web and preferably a mid portion thereof.

10. A shelter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the connection web has an integral ground sheet.

11. A shelter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the lower end of the support members provides for ground engagement.

12. A shelter as claimed in claim 11 in which the lower end of the support members are configured to be received in the ground thereby locating the lower ends of the support members.

13. A shelter as claimed in claim 11 or 12 in which the lower end of the support members have spiked ends.

14. A shelter as claimed in claim 10 in which the integral ground sheet is provided with holes adjacent the boundary with the web to permit the support members to be engaged in the ground by passage through the holes.

15. A shelter as claimed in claim 14 in which a suitable sealing arrangement is provided between the holes and the support members.

16. A shelter as claimed in claim 8 or any claim appendant thereto in which access to the interior of the shelter is by way of an openable and closable portion of the outer cover.

17. A shelter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the unstressed shape of the support elements is straight such that when received in the sleeves of the outer cover the support elements and the cover can be simply rolled up together for transportation purposes.

18. A shelter constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

19. A method of assembling a tent-like shelter having an outer cover with integral ground sheet and with means for receiving support members comprising laying the ground sheet on the ground and unfolding as far as possible, opening an access opening in the outer cover and stepping inside, pushing the bottoms of the support members outwardly and locating their tops one by one in a connection member by bending, smoothing out and eventually locating their lower ends in the ground thereby locating the shelter and without the need for external guy ropes or pegs.

20 A method of erecting a tent or shelter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. A method of erecting a tent or shelter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1; A tent-like shelter comprising a plurality of bendable elongate support members and a connecting web, forming an outer cover of the tent, with which the support members are cooperable in use to support the web, and connecting means for locating at least some of the support members with respect to one another and wherein the connection of the bendable elongate support members with the connecting means is made from within the connecting web.

9 A shelter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the connection web has internal sleeves, loops or other means for receiving said support members to locate at least a portion thereof in relation to the connection web and preferably a mid portion thereof.

12 A shelter as claimed in claim 11 in which the lower end of the support members are configured to be received in the ground thereby locating the lower ends of the support members.