GB2382358A

GB2382358A - Tensioning bar for tent canopy

Info

Publication number: GB2382358A
Application number: GB0224151A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Nash
Original assignee: Kevin Nash Tackle Ltd
Current assignee: Kevin Nash Tackle Ltd
Priority date: 2001-11-27
Filing date: 2002-10-17
Publication date: 2003-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-17
Also published as: GB2382358B; GB0128395D0; GB0224151D0

Abstract

A tensioning bar (30) comprises an upwardly convex bar (32) with connectors (34) at its ends which, in use, is removably connected between two raised ribs (16a, 16b) of a tent (10) which are connected to ground support poles (18). The connectors may be in the form of forks (Figure 2) at the ends of the bar or in the form of apertures in flattened ends of the bar. Also claimed is a collapsible frame tent in combination with a tensioning bar as previously defined, the tent having a canopy (12) stretched over ribs that extend radially from a hub (16), wherein, when erected some of the ribs (14) rest directly on the ground and two ribs (16a, 16b) are raised off the ground and are connected to support poles (18), and where the bar is removably connected between the two raised ribs.

Description

FRAME TENT ACCESSORY The present invention relates to an accessory for use with collapsible frame tents.

The tents that are used by anglers need to be light, collapsible and easy to erect. To meet these objectives, collapsible frame tents are known that generally resemble an umbrella. More particularly, the tents comprise a canopy attached to ribs that extend radially from, and are pivoted to, a hub that is slidable along a central shaft. The tent is opened in the same way as an umbrella and then brought to rest on the ground with the end of the lower end of the central shaft and part of the rim of the canopy in contact with the ground. Two support poles are screwed to attachments that are fitted to two ribs which are raised off the ground when the tent is erected. These poles serve to steady the tent and act as a means of attaching additional side flaps and a door which together close off the front of the tent.

Another known collapsible frame tent has a canopy that opens in a manner similar to a fan. The canopy is attached to radial ribs that are pivotable relative to a central hub about axes that lie parallel to the axis of the hub. To enable the tent to be collapsed, the canopy is detachable from two of the ribs, which allows the remaining ribs to be pivoted so as to lie next to one another. After the tent has been unfolded, attaching the canopy to the remaining two ribs serves to tension the canopy and prevent it from collapsing. Once again, the canopy rests with part of its rim on the ground and two support poles are screwed to attachments on the ends of two ribs that are raised off the ground. The poles serve the same purpose as earlier described with reference to the umbrella tent.

A problem with both these types of collapsible frame tent is that the canopy has a tendency, especially under wet conditions, to droop above the doorway. Rain therefore collects in the canopy, thus risking leakage within the tent if the seams in the canopy are not fully watertight. Water also drips in the doorway of the tent making it difficult to enter and leave the tent without getting wet.

With a view to mitigating the foregoing disadvantages, the present invention provides an accessory for a collapsible frame tent of the type having a canopy stretched over ribs that extend radially from a hub, in which tent, when erected, the ends of some of the ribs rest directly on the ground and two of the ribs are raised off the ground and are connected to support poles that rest on the ground to form an entrance into the tent, the accessory comprising an upwardly convex canopy tensioning bar having connectors at its ends for removably connecting the bar between the two raised ribs that are attached to the ground support poles.

Preferably, the connectors are formed by forked ends of the tensioning bar. The ends of the support poles are commonly screwed into the attachments that are fitted to the ribs of the tent overlying the entrance to the tent. By providing forked ends on the bar, it is possible to trap the ends of the bar between the support poles and the attachments, in the same way as electrical spade terminals.

Also by analogy with electrical connectors, it is possible to use a ring rather than a fork as a connector but this would require the tensioning bar to be positioned before the support pole is screwed to the attachment.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a frame tent that comprises an upwardly convex canopy tensioning bar as set forth above mounted between the two

ribs connected to the support poles at the entrance to the tent.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a rear view of a collapsible frame tent, Figure 2 is a plan view from above of a canopy tensioning bar of the invention, Figure 3 is a side view of the canopy tensioning bar shown in Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a detail showing the manner of mounting the canopy tensioning bar between a support pole and an attachment used to secure the support pole to the end of one of ribs of the tent frame.

Figure 1 shows a rear view of a collapsible tent frame.

The tent 10 has a canopy 12 stretched over a collapsible frame that comprises ribs 14 extending radially from a central hub 16. The ribs 14 are received in external pocket that are sown into the canopy. The canopy 10 can be collapsed by first separating the canopy from the ribs designated 16a and 16b and then pivoting all the ribs relative to the hub 16 so that they lie next to each other, the mechanism being similar in principle to a ladies'fan.

It will be noted that the shape formed by the ribs 14 and the canopy when extended is generally similar to an umbrella canopy and the frame could alternatively resemble that of a conventional umbrella, with ribs pivotably secured to a hub that can slide axially along a central shaft.

Regardless of the mechanism used for the tent frame, the rim of the canopy rests on the ground at the rear of the tent and the ends of the ribs 16a and 16b on the diametrically opposite side of the cavity are raised above the ground an lie above the entrance to the tent.

Once the frame as been opened and the canopy supported on the ground, telescopically collapsible support poles 18, sometimes also termed bank sticks, that extend down to the ground, are secured to the ends of the ribs 16a and 16b. The support poles 18 apart securing the front end of the canopy to the ground also serve as means of attaching and supporting a door and side panels (not shown) that close off the front side of the tent.

The normal method of connecting a support pole 18 to a rib of the frame of the tent is shown in Figure 3. An attachment 20 has a bore 22 that receives the tent rib. An intersecting bore 24 shown in dotted lines receives a screw for locking the attachment 20 to the rib. A screw threaded stud 26 extends downwards from the body of the attachment 20 and this is received in an internally screw threaded socket 28 formed at the upper end of the support pole 18. The attachment may if required include an articulated joint (not shown) to allow the support pole to be set at different angles to the frame rib.

A disadvantage of the tent shown in Figure 1 as well as umbrella-like frame tents, is that the section of the canopy between the ribs located above the entrance to the tent, for example the ribs 16a and 16b, tends to sag and to collect water. The water may seep through joints in the canopy or may drip at the entrance to the tent.

To overcome this problem, the present invention provides a tensioning bar 30 as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The bar 30 has a central upwardly convex curved section 32 and two flattened ends 34. The flattened ends are forked so that they may be clamped between the socket 28 and the body of the attachment 20 in the manner shown in Figure 4 with the prongs of the forked ends of the tensioning bar straddling the threaded studs 26.

The tensioning bar 30 may thus be fitted even after the tent has been erected by first loosening the support poles 18 from their attachments 20, inserting the forked ends 34 of the tensioning bar 30 between the socket 28 and the attachment 20, then retightening the support poles 18. The operation is similar to screwing down an electrical spade terminal. These operations can of course be reversed to remove the tensioning bar 30 when the tent is to be collapsed.

Instead of the ends of the tensioning bar 30 being bifurcated, they could be formed with a hole for receiving the threaded stud 26 but in this case the support pole 18 would need to be removed entirely and not just slackened.

The effect of the tensioning bar is to bow the front section of the canopy upwards and thereby prevent it from sagging. Water therefore just runs off the surface of the canopy without collecting in pools and causing undesirable drips within the tent or at its entrance.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An accessory for a collapsible frame tent of the type having a canopy stretched over ribs that extend radially from a hub, in which tent, when erected, the ends of some of the ribs rest directly on the ground and two of the ribs are raised off the ground and are connected to support poles that rest on the ground to form an entrance into the tent, the accessory comprising an upwardly convex canopy tensioning bar having connectors at its ends for removably connecting the bar between the two raised ribs that are attached to the ground support poles.
2. An accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connectors are formed by forked ends of the tensioning bar.
3. An accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connectors are formed by flattened ends of the tensioning bar and have apertures for receiving threaded studs that connect the ribs to the support poles.
4. An accessory constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 2,3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
5. A collapsible frame tent having a canopy stretched over ribs that extend radially from a hub, wherein, when the tent is erected, the ends of some of the ribs rest directly on the ground and two of the ribs are raised off the ground and are connected to support poles that rest on the ground, the tent further comprising an upwardly convex canopy tensioning bar removably connected between the two raised ribs that are attached to the ground support poles.
6. A collapsible frame tent substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.