GB2481502A - Guy rope attachment element - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for gale protection of tents and the like, comprising an anchorage element attached to the external side of the tent canvas 4 on a tent or a fly sheet and equipped with a guy rope loop 10, characterized in that the anchorage element is configured to enclose a tent pole 6, and that the element is defined by a rear edge 12, an upper edge 14, a lower edge 15 and a front edge 16, and that the rear edge 12 of the an­chorage element is sewn into the tent canvas 4 with a double seam 13 in a position opposite a tent pole 6. Preferably, the upper edge 14 is twice the lower edge 15 and the front edge 16 is a third the rear edge 12. The anchorage element may comprises two symmetrical fabric parts 3 (and 2 Fig. 3), either or both of which has a band 9 with a hook and loop fastener 17 (and/or 19 Fig 3). A method of erecting the tent is also disclosed.

Description

A DEVICE FOR GALE PROTECTION OF TENTS AND THE LIKE

The invention relates to a device for gale protection of tents and the like, comprising an anchorage element which is attached to the external side of the canvas of a tent or a fly sheet and equipped with a guy rope loop.

Moreover, the invention relates to a method of establishing the gale protec-tion.

The German Utility Model G 8532830.8 Ui discloses a dome tent consist-ing of an inner tent and an outer tent. Figs. 1 to 4 show that the outer tent 1 is equipped with a fabric flap 6 which is stitched centrally on the face along a seam. The fabric flap may be tightened to the substrate by means of a line 7, whereby the sides of the tent are pulled out so as to make better room in the tent. The purpose of the fabric flap is not disclosed in the document, nor is the shown embodiment suitable for gale protection, be-cause the fabric flap is disposed centrally on a lateral face, where the wind will cause the sides to flutter so strongly that it must be expected that the flaps are pulled off. The purpose of the fabric flap is exclusively to separate the side on the outer tent from the side on the inner tent, so that transfer of condensate, if any, to an inner tent does not take place.

The European Patent Application 0589400 Al shows a dome-like tent, which is equipped with casings extending over most of the sides of the tent, only interrupted by cutouts in the casing, so that a connecting element 20 for a guy rope may be coupled to a tent pole, thereby making it possible to transfer a powerful tension to a guy rope without destroying the tent can-vas. The connecting element, which is kept in position via a thin fabric string 1 5 to the casing for the pole, is a permanent part, which is used irre-spective of the weather, and thus does not serve as a gale protection which may be established at the prospect of gale or windy weather. In addition, the thin fabric string is weak and will probably break in strong wind, and then the ring around the pole will slide down toward the casing and thereby apply an unintentional load to the casing. The weakness of the solution will increase with the size of tents or tent canvasses, since the load on the structure because of wind will increase rapidly with the size of the tent or the tent canvas. Apparently, the solution is expensive to manufacture and moreover involves some erection difficulties with respect to passing the tent pole through the casings while catching the connecting element.

The obiect of the invention It is the object of the invention to provide a gale protection device which forms part of the tent or the fly sheet either as a fixed and activated compo- nent or as a fixed, but not activated component which may be applied with- out damage to the tent canvas, when needed, and which increases the re-sistance of the tent against wind.

Further, it is an object to provide a method of establishing the gale protec-tion.

Summary of the invention

The object stated above is achieved by a device for gale protection of tents and the like, which, as stated in the characterizing part of claim 1, com-prises an anchorage element configured to enclose a tent pole, wherein the element is defined by a rear edge, an upper lateral edge, a lower lateral edge and a front edge, and wherein the rear edge of the anchorage ele-ment is sewn into the tent canvas with a strong double seam in a position opposite a tent pole.

When the device for gale protection is constructed as stated, and when the anchorage element is arranged opposite a tent pole, it is ensured that great forces may be transferred to the tent pole and further on to a guy rope, whereby the resistance of the tent to wind is increased considerably. When the anchorage element is configured so as to have a relatively long rear edge, it is additionally ensured that the already reduced load on the tent canvas is distributed over a larger area.

When, as stated in claim 2, the anchorage element is configured so that the upper lateral edge is significantly longer than the lower lateral edge, and when the lateral edges extend from the rear edge in a converging course forwardly toward the front edge, it is ensured that a natural load line is established between the guy rope and the rear edge via the tent pole, so that a point load is changed into a line load.

When, as stated in claim 3, the anchorage element is configured so as to have two symmetrical and parallel fabric parts, and when both sides of the fabric parts are coated with a piece of textile having velcro type locks in an area which essentially extends between the upper and lower lateral edges from the front edge and inwardly toward the rear edge in a length which is maximally one third of the length of the lower lateral edge, it is ensured that the two fabric parts may be passed around the tent pole in order to lock the two fabric parts firmly around the tent pole, by pressing the two fabric parts closely together so that the velcro type locks on the textile engage each other.

When, as stated in claim 4, the one fabric part is equipped with a band having velcro type locks which is sewn into the upper lateral edge, and the band is configured with a length which is at least twice the distance be-tween the upper and lower lateral edges, and when, additionally, it is equipped with a loop for a guy rope which is sewn into the front edge, it is ensured that the locking capacity may be enhanced additionally by winding the band around the front ends of the fabric parts, and that a guy rope may be inserted between the anchorage element and a peg in the substrate.

When, as stated in claim 5, a loop is sewn into the upper lateral edge of the anchorage element in the immediate vicinity of the upper end of the rear edge, it is ensured that the loop may be connected to a hook on the tent pole, such that the tent canvas is coupled to the pole, also even if the gale protection has not been established.

When, as stated in claim 6, the anchorage element (1) is configured as a channel formed by a single fabric part (al), which is sewn into the tent can-vas, it is ensured that a permanent gale protection is established.

A method as disclosed in claim 7 or 8 ensures that an effective gale protec-tion may be established rapidly in a simple manner.

The drawinci Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described more fully below with reference to the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a tent side with two devices for gale protection established around a tent pole with guy ropes passed down to the substrate.

Fig. 2 shows a close-up of a device for gale protection, seen from the right.

Fig. 3 shows a close-up of a device for gale protection, seen from the left.

Fig. 4 shows a close-up of an open device for gale protection.

Fig. 5 shows a close-up of an alternative embodiment of the gale protection, seen from the right.

Detailed descriition of the invention A device for gale protection according to the invention is shown in figures 1-4.

Fig. 1 shows a tent side, where the anchorage element 1 is established around a tent pole 6. Two anchorage elements are shown, which are tight-ened down against the substrate via guy ropes 11. One in a high position and one in a low position. The number of anchorage elements on each tent pole depends on the height of the tent.

At its rear edge 12, the anchorage element 1 is sewn into the tent side 4 along a strong double seam 13. The double seam extends in the full height of the tent side along the tent pole 6. A simple loop 5 for hooks 18 in en-gagement with the tent pole is sewn-in at regular intervals.

Figs. 2 and 3 show close-ups of the anchorage element seen from both sides, and where the anchorage element is established. It will be seen that the rear edge 12 is sewn into the tent side 4 at the double seam 13, and it will moreover be seen that the rear edge is provided with an extra seam 20, which is to absorb the forces occurring between the tent pole and the tent canvas, so that the fabric parts are not pulled away from each other in the strong double seam 13. It will moreover be seen that the anchorage ele-ment has an upper lateral edge 14, a lower lateral edge 15 and a front edge 16, and that these edges define the element. It will be seen in the figures that the fabric parts 2 and 3 are coated on the outer side with a piece of velcro type textile 19 and 17, respectively. It will moreover be seen that a normal loop 5 for a hook 18 is sewn-in between the upper lateral edges 14 of the fabric parts in the immediate vicinity of the upper part of the rear edge 12.

Fig. 4 shows a close-up of an open anchorage element 1. The anchorage element consists of the two symmetrical fabric parts 2 and 3, which are sewn together along their rear edges 12 and along the seam 20. The inner side of the fabric parts is coated with a piece of velcro type textile 7 and 8.

On both sides of the fabric parts, the velcro type textile extends between the upper and lower lateral edges from the front edge and inwardly toward the rear edge in a length which maximally constitutes one third of the length of the lower lateral edge.

A velcro type band 9 is sewn onto the upper lateral edge of the fabric part 2 opposite the velcro type textile. The band is at least twice longer than the distance between the upper and lower lateral edges, so that the band may be wound around the front ends of the fabric parts and contribute to addi-tionally keeping the parts together.

The front edge of the fabric part 2 has sewn into it a loop 1 0 to which a guy rope 11 may be tied, thereby making it possible to tighten the anchorage element to the substrate by a peg.

The anchorage element 1 is not used under good weather conditions. The fabric parts 2, 3 are put together, and the guy rope 11 is anchored to the substrate.

At the prospect of gale or high winds, the anchorage element is opened, and the one fabric part is pulled round the back of the tent pole and for-wards and is pressed together with the other fabric part around the tent pole 6, such that their internal velcro type locks 7, 8 engage each other.

Then, the velcro type band 9 is wound around the front ends of the fabric parts and engage the external velcro type locks 17, 19 of the fabric parts.

Another embodiment of the anchorage element 1 is formed by a channel for the tent pole, said channel being sewn into the tent canvas 4 at a double seam 13 and equipped with a loop 10 for a guy rope. The seam 20 relieves the double seam 13. In this embodiment, the tent pole is to be passed into the channel at the erection of the tent, and the gale protection is thus per-manent.

Claims (8)

1. PATENT CLAIMS1. A device for gale protection of tents and the like, comprising an anchor-age element (1) attached to the external side of the tent canvas (4) on a tent or a fly sheet and equipped with guy rope loop (10), characterized in that the anchorage element (1) is configured to enclose a tent pole (6), and that the element is defined by a rear edge (12), an upper lateral edge (14), a lower lateral edge (15) and a front edge (16), and that the rear edge of the anchorage element is sewn into the tent canvas (4) with a strong double seam (13) in a position opposite a tent pole (6).
2. 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper lateral edge (14) is essentially twice as long as the lower lateral edge (15), and that the lateral edges extend from the rear edge (1 2) in a converging course forwardly toward the front edge (16), such that the length of the front edge essentially constitutes one third of the length of the rear edge.
3. 3. A device according to claims 1 -2, characterized in that the anchorage element (1) comprises two symmetrical and parallel fabric parts (2, 3), and that each of the fabric parts is coated on both sides with textile having vel-cro type locks (7, 8, 1 7, 1 9) in an area which essentially extends between the upper and lower lateral edges from the front edge and inwardly toward the rear edge in a length which maximally corresponds to one third of the length of the lower lateral edge.
4. 4. A device according to claims 1 -3, characterized in that the one fabric part (2) is equipped with a band (9) having velcro type locks, which is sewn into the upper lateral edge, and that the band has a length which is at least twice the distance between the upper and lower lateral edges, and that the fabric part is additionally equipped with a loop (10) for a guy rope (11) which is sewn into the front edge.
5. 5. A device according to claims 1 -4, characterized in that a loop (5) for a hook (18) is sewn-in at the upper lateral edge (14) of the anchorage ele-ment in the immediate vicinity of the upper end of the rear edge.
6. 6. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the anchorage element (1) is formed by a single fabric part (la) which is configured as a channel.
7. 7. A method of establishing a gale protection of tents and the like, charac-terized in that the method comprises the use of a device for gale protection according to claim 1 or 6, and -that a tent pole is passed through the device when the tent is erected, and -that the guy rope is then secured to the substrate by means of a peg.
8. 8. A method of establishing a gale protection of tents and the like, charac-terized in that the method comprises the use of a device for gale protection according to claims 1, 3 -5, and: -that the device is folded out and opened, following which a fabric part is pulled round the back of a tent pole, -that the fabric parts are assembled around the tent pole by pressing the areas with velcro type locks together, -that the band with velcro type locks is wound around the ends of the fabric parts, -that the guy rope is secured to the substrate by means of a peg.*::r: INTELLECTUAL . ... PROPERTY OFFICE Application No: GB 1110092.2 Examiner: Mr Philip Lawrence Claims searched: 1-8 Date of search: 7 October 2011 Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17 Documents considered to be relevant: Category Relevant Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance to claims A -JP2007070808 A (COLEMAN), 22.03.2007 (see WPI Abstract Accession No. 2007- 247836 [25] and Figures).A -CN201865403U (ZHEJIANG), 15.06.2011 (see WPI Abstract Accession No. 2011-J17 130 [49] and Figures).Categories: X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive A Document indicating technological background and/or state step of the art.Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of before the filing date of this invention.same category.& Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Field of Search:Search of GB, EP, WO & US patent documents classified in the following areas of the UKCX: Worldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC EO4H The following online and other databases have been used in the preparation of this search report EPODOC, TXTE, WPI, Internet International Classification: Subclass Subgroup Valid From None Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk