GB2423096A

GB2423096A - A connector of instant set-up foldable tent frames

Info

Publication number: GB2423096A
Application number: GB0503027A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dong Su Ju
Original assignee: Baejin Corp
Current assignee: Baejin Corp
Priority date: 2005-02-14
Filing date: 2005-02-14
Publication date: 2006-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 2025-02-14
Also published as: GB0503027D0; GB2423096B

Abstract

The invention relates to an articulate connector of instant set up foldable tent frames, comprising an upper joint 2 having brackets 2b to be connected with a lower joint 3. Engaging portions 2c are formed at the lower end portion of the brackets 2b for engagement with a locking lever 4. A sloped surface 2s is formed between the brackets 2b. A collar 2d is provided at a lower end portion of the sloped surface 2s. The lower joint 3 has a link portion 3a to be connected to the upper joint 2 by insertion between the brackets 2b. A sloped surface 3s is formed at the upper surface of the link portion 3a. The lower joint 3 is connected to the upper joint 2 by means of pin holes 2h and a pin 3x enabling said two joints to perform articular operations.

Description

-

A connector of instant set-up foldable tent frames The present invention relates to a connector of instant set-up foldable tent frames.

As illustrated by Fig. 1, a foldable tent frame generally comprises a few unit frame sections of certain lengths that are connected by an articular connecting means to be folded or unfolded for portability or to be assembled to form one integrated piece for pitching.

A number of connecting means of various structures have been made public for tent frame sections. Several prior arts in respect of a series of connecting means for tent frame sections have been registered as Utility Model by the applicant of the present invention as cited below.

In the "Connector for a Tent Frame", Korean Utility Model Reg. No. 0109306 (Registration Date 5 Sep. 1997), the upper and the lower joints of two tent frame sections are joined together via a hinge pin, and a bolt is installed in a lower joint against a spring in such a way that the bolt can be manipulated to move horizontally via a knob. When the upper joint is unfolded in a linear fashion, the bolt is pushed into a longitudinal hole on the upper joint, securely locking the two frame sections together, and the upper and lower joints can be separated and folded by pulling the knob backward.

In this construction, the bolt is constantly kept in its engaged position by a spring force, requiring a manual retreat of the bolt for unfolding of the two joints causing inconvenience to the user and frequent breakdowns of the joints. As the bolt is not visible from outside, careless folding attempts are apt to damage the butts of the joints.

In the "Folding Device of a Tent-Framework," U.S. Patent No. 4,750,509; "Foldable frame connecting means for general use", Korean Utility Model Reg. No. 0039905 (Registration Date 15 March 1989), two connecting tubes respectively fitted to each tent frame section are constructed to join together via a connecting pin, and an extension part is formed on one connecting tube while a tube socket is installed against a coil spring on the other connecting tube. The connecting tube is then unfolded outward in a linear fashion by pulling the tube socket back and engaged with an extended piece of the opposing tube to lock. The two connecting tubes can be folded by pulling the tube socket back.

In this construction, the complicated processes of pushing the tube socket against the spring and engaging the tube socket with the extension piece cause inconvenience and pose a danger of a finger being pinched by the spring force working against the tube socket.

In "Connector for Dome Type Tent frames", Korean Utility Model Reg. No. 0129575 (Registration Date 20 August 1998), one of the two joints connected with a pin is provided with an extension piece at its front end while the other is provided with a spring operated manipulation tube that moves back and forth, wherein two connecting tubes are unfolded by retreating the manipulation tube and locked together in a linear fashion by releasing the manipulation tube to let the spring force work.

While the construction has an advantage of neat appearance and solid structure, it requires an inconvenience of moving the manipulation tube in an axial direction every time the connecting tube is to be unfolded and poses a danger of a finger being pinched by the manipulation tube.

In the "Instant Connector in a Foldable Tent Frame", Korean Utility Model Reg. No. 0289476 (Registration Date 3 Sep. 2002), the upper joint connected by a pin has brackets provided with a rod in a shape of gently sloping wedge and the lower joint has a push lever provided with a slightly curled up flat hook and positioned against a spring.

When the two joints are unfolded, the gently sloping rod provided in the brackets engages with the inclined flat hook in the push lever to lock. When the push lever is pressed, the locking is released to allow folding of these joints.

The structure of this connecting means renders best convenience in terms of unfolding and folding processes of the joints as compared to those of said prior arts. But, the portion of the inclined flat hook being exposed to heavier impacts is susceptible to wear and tear, affecting the effectiveness of its locking function.

SUMMARY OF THE [NVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an articular tent frame connector for an instant set-up foldable tent whose structure is simple and firm and is convenient to use.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an articular tent frame connector which, when the tent frames are unfolded and stretched into a linear form by the connector, maintains the tent frames firmly in position, preventing the tent frames from being folded or deformed against the pressure of a load of the tent or the wind thus enhancing the safety of the connector.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an articular tent frame connector which is easy to use so that if the user presses the locking lever, the connector folds the tent frames in a simple manner, and if the user unfolds the folded connector into a linear form, the connector is locked automatically, maintaining the tent frames firmly in a linear form.

The present invention is related specifically with the Korean Utility Model Reg. No. 0289476 "instant set-up connector of a foldable tent frame" (Registration Date: 3 September 2002) which is mentioned above as a prior art relating to a construction of the connecting means of foldable tent frames, and the present invention represents an invention of a new connecting means for tent frame sections, in which the advantages of the connecting means of the prior art are retained while shortcomings are replaced with new systems introducing a new, creative tent frame connector, making it easy and safe to use.

According to the invention there is provided an articular connector of instant set-up foldable tent frames, comprising an upper joint having brackets to be connected with a lower joint, engaging portions formed at the lower end portion of said brackets for engagement with a locking lever, a sloped surface formed between said brackets, a collar, a lower joint having a connecting portion to be connected to said upper joint by insertion between said brackets, a sloped surface formed at the upper surface of said connecting portion, the connecting portion of the lower joint being connected to the upper joint by insertion between said brackets of the upper joint by means of pin holes and a pin enabling said two joints to perform articular operations.

Thus, using the invention, in an articular connecting means of tent frame sections of an instant set-up foldable tent, there is an upper joint to which an upper tent frame section is connected. The upperjoint has a pair of brackets formed on both sides facing each other at a certain distance and having a pin hole on each side designed to connect a lower joint connected with another tent frame section. At the lower end of each bracket is formed an engaging portion for engagement with the acute angled upper end portion of a locking lever., The interior of the upper joint between said brackets is formed with a sloped surface. The lower joint of the connector to which the lower tent frame section is connected has a link portion that connects the lower joint to the upper joint by inserting it between the brackets of the upper joint by means of an axial pin. The upper surface of the link portion is of a sloped form for close contact with the sloped surface of the upper joint. The link portion of the lower joint is inserted between the brackets of the upper joint connecting the two joints by means of the pin hole and the axial pin enabling an articular operation of the upper and lower joints. In the indent portion formed in the lower portion of the lower joint, a locking lever is installed through a pin with a spring so as to be kept supported and pressed against the lower joint in such a way that the locking lever is engaged with the engaging portion of the upper joint when the two joints are unfolded and stretched. The locking lever maintains its close contact with the lower joint by the elasticity of a spring preventing the upper joint from being folded, as the upper portion of the locking lever is engaged with the engaging portion of the upper joint firmly.

The connector of the present invention is an articular connector having two joints that are connected with each joining portion of the tent frame sections.

The features of the instant set-up foldable tent of the present invention is such that the tent can be pitched through a simple procedure. The tent can be pitched by an instant set-up process because of the structure of the articular connector of the present invention and because of the features of the operation that is made possible by such a structure.

If the upper joint and the lower joint of the connecting means are unfolded into a linear form to pitch a tent, the interior sloped surface of the upper joint and the sloped upper surface of the lower joint come into close and firm contact and hold the two joints firmly, preventing further rotating movement of the upper joint. Meanwhile, the engaging portion formed in the brackets of the upper joint engages with the acuteangled upper end portion of the locking lever, holding the upper joint and the lower joint firmly in a linear fashion.

As the locking lever is kept pressed against the lower joint by the force of the elasticity of the spring and because the engaging portions at the brackets of the upper joint engage firmly with the acute-angled upper end portion of the locking lever at the position when the upper joint and the lower joint are unfolded and stretched in a linear fashion, the upper joint cannot be unfolded as it is unable to make a rotating movement, the engaging portions of the brackets being blocked by the acute-angled upper end portion of the locking lever. Therefore, unless the locking lever is released manually, the connector maintains the upper and the lower joints firmly in a linear fashion.

Accordingly, once the tent is set up, the tent frames firmly sustain the pitched tent in shape against the pressure of the wind, the joints of the connector never bending.

If the user wants to dismantle the tent, the user can just press the pushing plate of the locking lever and at the same time fold the upper and lower joints of the connector.

If the push plate of the locking lever is pressed toward the lower joint, the top end portion of the locking lever is released from the upper joint, making it possible for the upper joint to rotate toward the folding direction with a pin as a supporting axis. At this time, the engaging portions formed in the brackets are not blocked by the top end portion of the locking lever, allowing the upper joint to rotate freely, thus enabling the upper joint to fold smoothly toward the lower joint.

If the connectors are folded, the tent frames are folded into smaller lengths, making it possible to fold the tent and put it neatly into a tent bag.

By the present invention, the structure of the articular connector of the instant set- up foldable tent frames is made simple and firm, and it is easy to pitch or take down the tent.

The connector of the tent frames of the present invention sustains the tent firmly when unfolded in a linear fashion and maintains that state firmly and safely against the pressure of the wind, preventing the tent frame connectors from being folded or distorted. It is also easy to operate the connector, requiring no special skill. Anyone even without special knowledge can fold the connectors by pressing the push plate of the locking lever. If the connector is unfolded in a linear fashion, the joints are automatically locked, making it possible for the user to use the connectors more safely and conveniently compared with other conventional connectors of foldable tent frames.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 illustrates the folding and unfolding of the tent frame sections of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a dismantled perspective view of the frame connector of the present invention.

Fig. 3 illustrates how the lower and upper joints operate when folding and unfolding.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the joints unfolded in a linear fashion.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS IN MAJOR ELEMENTS OF THE DRAWINGS

1: coimector 1 a, lb: frame inserting portion 2: upperjoint 2b: bracket 2c: engaging portion 2d: collar 2h: pin hole 2s: sloped surface (in the upper joint) 3: lower joint 3a: link portion 3b: indent portion 3s: sloped surface (of the lower joint) 3x: pin 4. locking lever 4a: upper end portion 4b: push lever 4s: spring 4x: pin

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, in an articular connector of the connecting means of the frame sections in an instant set-up foldable tent, the upper joint (2) of the connector( 1), which is connected to the upper tent frame section (f) by insertion into the inserting portion (la), has two brackets (2b) right and left facing each other at a certain distance provided with pin holes (2h) to connect the lower joint (3) of the connector (1). At the lower end of each bracket (2b) is an engaging portion (2c) with which the acute-angled upper end portion (4a) of the locking lever (4) engages, and the interior surface between said brackets of the upper joint (2) consists of a sloped surface (2s). There is a collar (2d) formed at a lower end portion of said sloped surface (2s) so as to protect the upper portion of the lower joint (3).

The lower joint (3) of the connector (1), which is connected with the lower tent frame section (f) by insertion into the inserting portion (Ib), has a link portion (3a) so as to be linked with the upper joint (2) by insertion into the brackets (2b) of the upper joint (2) through axial pin (3x). The upper surface of the link portion (3a) consists of a sloped surface (3s) designed for close contact with the sloped surface (2s) of the upper joint (2). The lower portion (3d) of the sloped surface (3s) is protected by the collar (2d) of the upper joint (2) when the upper and the lower joints are unfolded and folded in a linear fashion. When the link portion (3a) of the lower joint (3) is inserted into the brackets (2b) of the upper joint (2), the upper joint (2) and the lower joint (3) are connected through pin holes (2h) and the pin (3x) for articular operations.

At the indent portion (3b) formed at the lower end portion of the lower joint (3), there is a locking lever (4) for engagement with the engaging portion (2c) formed at the brackets (2b) of the upper joint (2). The locking lever (4) is provided in such a way that it is kept supported and pressed against the lower joint (3) by a spring (4s) through a pin (4x). The acute-angled upper end portion (4a) of the locking lever (4) engages with the engaging portion (2c) of the brackets (2b) of the upper joint (2) for locking. If the push lever (4b) of the locking lever (4) is pressed, the locked state is released for the joints to be folded or to be unfolded thereafter.

The operations of the connector of the instant set-up foldable tent frames in the present invention are carried out as follows.

In the state of the tent being folded, as illustrated by a broken line in Fig. 3, the upper joint (2) of the tent frame connector (1) is folded toward the lower joint (3) with a pin (3x) as its supporting axis.

As illustrated by a full line in Fig. 3, if the upper joint (2) of the connector (1) is pivoted into a linear form with the lower joint (3) in order to unfold and pitch the tent, the sloped surface (2s) of the upper joint (2) and the sloped surface (3s) of the lower joint (3) come into close contact, fixing the two joints firmly into a linear form, preventing further rotary movement of the joints.

In the unfolding process of the joints, the upper joint (2) with engaging portions (2c) formed at the lower end of the brackets (2b) rotates in a circular orbit with the pin (3x) as its axis, pushing the acute-angled upper end portion (4a) of the locking lever (4) toward the exterior of the lower joint (3). Then, when the upper joint (2) and the lower joint (3) are in a precise linear form, said acute-angled upper end portion (4a) of the locking lever (4) engages with the engaging portions (2c) formed at the brackets (2b), making the upper joint (2) and the lower joint (3) firmly locked in a linear form. In addition, because the lower end portion of the sloped surface (2s) of the lower joint (3) is surrounded by the collar (2d) of the upper joint (2), the linear engagement of the upper and lower joints is further reinforced.

Because the locking lever (4) is always pressed against the lower joint (3) by the resilience of the spring (4s), because the engaging portions (2c) formed at the brackets (2b) of the upper joint (2) rotate in a circular orbit as the upper joint (2) rotates with the pin (3x) as its axis and engage with the acute- angled upper end portion (4a) of the locking lever (4) firmly, it is impossible, after said engagement, to fold the upper joint (2) as the engaging portions (2c) of the brackets (2b) are blocked by the acute-angled upper end portion (4a) of the locking lever (4), making it impossible to make a rotary movement of the upper joint (2).

Therefore, the connector sustains the tent structures firmly, without bending against the load of the tent or against the pressure of the wind when the tent is pitched.

If the user wants to dismantle the tent, the user may push the push lever (4b) of the locking lever (4) of the connector (1) toward the lower joint (3) and fold the upper joint (2) and the lower joint (3) of the connector (1). If the push lever (4b) of the locking lever (4) is pushed toward the lower joint (3), the acute- angled upper end portion (4a) of the locking lever (4) is released from engagement with the engaging portions (2c) of the brackets, allowing the upper joint (2) to make a rotary movement with the pin (3x) as its axis, enabling the upper joint (2) to fold toward the lower joint (3) smoothly.

If the connector (1) is folded, the tent frames are folded into smaller lengths, making it possible to fold the tent neatly and put it in a bag.

Claims

An articulate connector of instant set-up foldable tent frames, comprising an upper joint having: (a) brackets to be connected with a lower joint; (b) engaging portions formed at the lower end portion of said brackets for engagement with a locking lever; (c) a sloped surface formed between said brackets; (d) a collar; a lower joint having: (a) a connecting portion to e connected to said upper joint by insertion between said brackets; (b) a sloped surface formed at the upper surface of said connection portion; the connecting portion of the lower joint being connected to the upper joint by insertion between said brackets of the upper joint by means of pin holes and a pin enabling said two joints to perform articular operations.
2. An articular connector of instant set-up foldable tent frames according to Claim 1, wherein a locking lever is provided at an indent portion at a lower end portion of the lower joint for engagement with said engaging portions of the brackets of the upper joint, said locking lever being kept supported and pressed against the lower joint by means of a spring and a pin.
3. An articular connector of instant set-up foldable tent frames according to Claim 1, wherein if the upper joint and the lower joint of the connector are unfolded and stretched into a linear form, the sloped surface of the upper joint and the sloped surface of the lower joint come in close contact and the acute-angled upper end portion of the locking lever engages with the engaging portion of the upper joint to lock said two joints firmly.
4. An articular connector of instant set-up foldable tent frames, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
5. A tent frame, including an articular connector according to any preceding claim.
6. A tent, including a connector according to any of Claims 1 to 4 or a frame according to claim 5.