GB2497599A

GB2497599A - Tent for motorcyclists

Info

Publication number: GB2497599A
Application number: GB1201368.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Seaman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-12-14
Filing date: 2012-01-26
Publication date: 2013-06-19
Also published as: GB201121522D0; GB201201368D0

Abstract

A tunnel-shaped tent with a semi-elliptical profile that can accommodate a motorcycle and a motorcyclist standing upright as well as providing space for sleeping, optionally within a separate inner tent or on a separate groundsheet. Requiring minimal flexible poles, pegs and guy ropes, the tent is quick and easy to erect while still being small and light enough when packed to be safely carried on a touring motorcycle. The tunnel shape ensures the tent can withstand occasional inclement weather.

Description

Description of a Tent for Motorcyclists

Background

The Tent for Motorcyclists is a tent that is designed to meet the needs of holidaymaking motorcyclists, primarily in temperate climates, better than existing tents.

A camping motorcyclist requires a tent that is small when packed and lightweight so as to be carried safely on a motorcycle. Since motorcyclists usually wear heavy, weatherproof protective clothing, which in bad weather he or she may not wish to remove until the tent is erected, the tent also needs to be quick and easy to put up.

However, existing small lightweight tents are very cramped when erected. Motorcyclists find it difficult to remove cumbersome, often wet, protective clothing in the sitting or kneeling position enforced by such tents.

Furthermore, the motorcyclist's luggage is typically packed in panniers and top boxes attached to the motorcycle rather than in separate bags and rucksacks. Unpacking therefore means that the motorcyclist's clothes and equipment is exposed to the potentially inclement weather as it transferred from the motorcycle to the tent.

Existing tents that are large enough to accommodate a motorcyclist standing upright or in which a motorcycle can be stood while unpacking are too large or heavy to be safely carried on a motorcycle, and are cumbersome to erect.

The Tent for Motorcyclists is: * light enough and small enough when packed to be carried on a touring motorcycle, * quick and easy to erect, even while wearing motorcycling clothes, and * large enough to accommodate o the motorcyclist standing upright, so outer clothing can be easily removed, and o the motorcycle, so the rider can unpackthe remaining luggage undercover.

In addition, it fulfils the usual requirements of a holidaymaker's tent such as being weatherproof, sufficiently robust to withstand occasional inclement weather, and inexpensive compared to alternative forms of holiday accommodation.

Figure 1-Concept Sketch -shows how the Tent for Motorcyclists is realised. An end view shows how the semi-elliptical cross section accommodates a motorcycle and its standing rider as well as an optional inner tent to provide separate sleeping accommodation. A three dimensional view of the erected tent shows its simple tunnel design with minimal supporting flexible rods and guys. (Three rods and four guys in this illustration.) Figure 2-Dimensions -shows the nominal dimensions for the basic shape of the tent: the diameter and circumference, long and short radius for the elliptical cross section; length and width of the tent.

Figure 3-Guy and Pole Detail -shows the position of the minimal guy rope fastening points and flexible tent poles.

Figure 4-Inner Tent Detail -shows the fixing of an optional separate inner tent by hooks engaging with ioops on the tent wall.

Figures-Pocket, Strap and Peg Detail -shows (i) how the tent poles are secured to the tent's wall by tubes and sockets, (ii) how straps are temporarily connected across the inside of the tent to facilitate erection, and (iii) how the tent is secured to the ground by tent pegs along the inner face of each side of the wall.

The Tent is a tunnel' design with a semi-elliptical profile, long enough to accommodate a touring motorcycle, and tall enough in the centre to accommodate an average man standing upright. See Figure 1-Concept Sketch.

The semi-elliptical profile gives sufficient height at the sides for the motorcycle to occupy about one third of the width, leaving the remaining area for living space. See Figure 2-Dimensions.

The tunnel shape is a well-established tent design that can withstand moderately bad weather.

Supported by few flexible rods, it is quick and easy to erect, requiring minimal additional support from guy ropes and pegs. See Figure 3 -Guy and Pole Detail and Figure 5-Pocket, Strap and Peg Detail, i and iii, Unlike most light tents, there is no sewn-in ground sheet. This allows a potentially wet motorcycle and motorcycle clothing to drain into the ground while also minimising weight. (An optional inner tent with sewn-in ground sheet can provide a separate living/sleeping area for the rider.) Whereas a sewn-in ground sheet is usually needed in a tent supported by flexible poles to give the required domed or tubular shape, straps temporarily positioned across the inside of the Tent for Motorcyclists are used to enable it to be erected with the sides the correct distance apart to give the required elliptical shape. See Figure 5 -Pocket, Strap and Peg Detail, ii.

Subject to local regulations regarding distance between erected tents and motor vehicles, the motorcycle can remain in the tent, giving the additional advantage of being out of sight and thus offering a degree of security.

It will be noted that the Tent for Motorcyclists can be realised with variations in some of the details as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, such as the number of pegs and tent poles. This description will note where such variations can be made and will only specify a recommended variation.

The tent outer wall is made of nylon such as typically used for the outer skin of lightweight tents.

Ripstop material with ultraviolet resistant treatment is recommended. The recommended dimensions of the side wall are 2.5 rn by 5.827 m, the longer dimension representing the 5.627 m circumference of the tent plus an additional 100mm weather lip on each side. Each end wall is a semi ellipse with recommended dimensions of 3 m across and 2 rn tall, with an additional 100mm wide weather lip across the horizontal edge. The ellipse can be formed by drawing two arcs of 3 m radius forming the lowest part of each side, extending from the horizontal until the radius intersects the centreline of the tent at a height of O.6m, and one of 1.4 m, centred on the centreline at a height of 06 m, forming the top of the tent, as illustrated in Figure 2-Dimensions. The end walls can be secured to the side and an opening realised in various ways, but for simplicity of manufacture, it is recommended that the end wall is stitched around its curved circumference to the sidewall and a central, vertical zip fastener is used.

The tent is secured to the ground by a small number of tent pegs through loops on the inner face of each side of the tent. To balance strength against lightness and ease of erection, five pegs on each side are recommended, Simple standard wire tent pegs are recommended. It is recommended that the loops are made from an approximately 50mm by 10mm strip of double thickness of the tent wall material, stitched to the tent wall, located along each side to coincide with the position of the tent poles and at equal intervals between them, as illustrated in Figure 5-Pocket, Strap and Peg Detail, iii.

The tent is held in shape by flexible tent poles fed through tubes stitched to the side wall and secured at each end of the side wall. To balance strength against lightness and ease of erection, three 13mm diameter, folding sectional poles on each side are recommended. It is recommended that the tubes are realised by sewing a 50mm wide strip of the tent wall material to the tent wall. It is recommended that the poles are secured at the edge of the tent wall in sockets consisting of an approximately 300mm length of SO mm wide webbing strap, half the length of which is sewn between the tent wall and the pole tube, the other half being folded over the end of the pole and secured by Velcro as illustrated in FigureS-Pocket, Strap and Peg Detail, i.

To bend the tent and poles into the required semi-elliptical shape, there being no sewn-in ground sheet, light webbing straps are temporarily attached across the inside of the tent between each pole end. It is recommended that these straps are attached by means of spring fasteners attached to 0-rings sewn to each end of the straps, engaging with 0-rings sewn to the pole-retaining sockets, the length of the strap plus spring fasteners and 0-rings at each end being exactly the width of the tent; 3 m as recommended here, as illustrated in Figures-Pocket, Strap and Peg Detail, ii. Once the tent side wall is secured to the ground with tent pegs, thus holding the tent in the required shape, these straps may be removed.

The tent is held upright by a small number of guy ropes extending from the sides of the tent to tent pegs in the ground. It is recommended that a minimum of four guys are attached, one at each corner of the tent, fixed at a position approximately two thirds of the distance from base to apex around the circumference of the tent, as illustrated in Figure 3-Guy and Pole Detail. It is also recommended that additional location points be provided for extra guy ropes along each side of the side wall of the tent, positioned to coincide with the tent poles, also positioned at approximately two thirds of the distance from base to apex around the circumference of the tent, as also illustrated in Figure 3-Guy and Pole Detail.

An optional inner tent may be provided to give separate sleeping and living accommodation within the tent, as illustrated in Figure 4-Inner Tent Detail. This is made with light cotton side walls with a zipper entrance and a waterproof floor. It is attached to the inside of the tent by hooks engaging with loops sewn to the inside of the side wall. One tent peg through a loop at each end of the inner-most edge of the inner tent may be provided to secure it to the ground.

To erect the tent: The tent is partially unfolded to expose one edge. i.e. one side of the tent wall.

The inner face of this edge is fixed to the ground with tent pegs through cloth loops. (In the recommended design: five pegs.) Tent pole sockets on this edge are fastened, if not already in place. (In the recommended design: webbing straps are folded over and attached by Velcro to form a socket.) Temporary straps are attached to the inner edge, if not already in place. (In the recommended design: spring fasteners are attached to the 0 rings at the bottom of the tent pole socket.) The straps are laid out across the ground that will become the floor of the tent.

The tent wall is stretched out to its full extent, covering the straps. In blustery conditions, the free edge of the tent wall can be temporarily secured flat on the ground with a tent peg at each end.

Tent poles are slid inside each tent pole tube until they engage with the sockets on the edge fastened to the ground. (In the recommended design: three poles.) The sockets on the free edge are fastened, thus holding the tent poles in place.

Bend the tent into the required shape by holding a pole socket on the free edge and moving it in towards the other edge. When the end of the temporary strap is reached, attach itto the free edge.

(in recommended design: attach the spring fastener to the 0 ring at the bottom of the tent pole socket on the free edge.) Start at one end of the tent and repeat this step for each pole. The tent may be allowed to collapse towards one end wall during this stage. In blustery conditions, the free edge can now be partially secured to the ground with a peg through the loop in at least one end.

Raise the tent with the guy ropes: attach guys to the corners at the collapsed end of the tent, if not already attached; adjust them to approximately 2 m length; peg them approximately 2.1 rn diagonally out from the corner of the tent; attach guys to the corners at the opposite end of the tent, if not already attached; pull the tent upright using these guys and peg them in position; adjust the length of the guys and position of the pegs until each end wall is vertical and the side wail is taught.

Enter the tent and secure the free edge with the remaining pegs. Once these are in place, the temporary straps can be removed. They can be removed entirely or one end can be unfastened and the strap stored against the opposite inner wall of the tent.

If windy conditions are anticipated, attach additional guys to the side walls and peg them to the ground.

Claims

<claim-text>SClaims 1. A tent that is that is light enough and small enough when packed to be carried safely on a touring motorcycle.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A tent according to claim 1 that is quick and easy to erect while wearing protective motorcycling clothing.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A tent according to claim 2 that is large enough when erected to accommodate a motorcycle with enough space for a rider to unpack luggage carried on the motorcycle while remaining under cover, and the motorcyclist standing upright with enough space for motorcycle outer clothing to be easily removed.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A tent according to claim 3 that is sufficiently weatherproof to be suitable for camping in summer time in temperate climates and robust enough to withstand occasional inclement weather typical of those climates.</claim-text>