GB2535221A

GB2535221A - A tent frame

Info

Publication number: GB2535221A
Application number: GB1502466.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Ellis Taylor Adam
Original assignee: Fox International Group Ltd
Current assignee: Fox International Group Ltd
Priority date: 2015-02-13
Filing date: 2015-02-13
Publication date: 2016-08-17
Also published as: EP3064676A3; EP3064676B1; PL3064676T3; HUE037893T2; EP3064676A2; GB201502466D0

Abstract

A tent frame (10) comprising a hub (12) from which extend a plurality of legs (14,15), the ends of some of which are secured to the hub by a first set of pivots (16), wherein the pivot axes are substantially parallel to one another. The ends of at least two of the other of said legs are secured to the hub by a second set of pivots (24). The two sets of pivot axes are positioned transversely to each other. The pivots of the first and second set are fixed in position relative to one another even when the legs are moved between erect and stowed positions. The pivots of the first set of pivots may comprise pins 18 extending through inner ends of their associated legs. The pivots of the second set of pivots may be located together on one side of the hub.

Description

A tent frame [0001] The present invention relates to a tent frame comprising a hub from which extend a plurality of legs, respective ends of some of which are secured to the hub by way of respective pivots, constituting a first set of pivots, having respective pivot axes which are generally parallel to one another.

[0002] One such previously proposed tent frame is described and illustrated in EP 1445400 Al. In the construction of tent frame described therein, the said first set of pivots are located on a first part of the hub, and a plurality of legs extend from a second part of the hub and are secured to that part of the hub by way of respective pivots, constituting a second set of pivots, having respective pivot axes which are also generally parallel to one another. The first and second parts of the hub are pivoted relative to one another, and sheet material is attached to the legs of the tent frame so that when the two parts of the hub are pivoted to bring the axes of the said second set of pivots parallel to those of the said first set, the sheet material is opened out to form a canopy supported by the legs of the frame, and the pivot axes of the first set of pivots are substantially parallel to those of the second.

[0003] A disadvantage of this construction is the strength required to pivot the two parts of the hub relative to one another in this fashion to erect the tent. For this purpose respective recesses are formed in the two parts of the hub, into which recesses are inserted the ends of respective levers to enable considerable force to be exerted on the two parts of the hub to bring them together in the foregoing fashion. A latch pivoted to a formation on one of the hub parts is then swung round to latch onto a corresponding formation on the other part of the hub to secure the hub parts together in such an erect condition of the frame, whereupon the levers are removed. Such a construction is therefore relatively expensive and complex, and requires a relatively awkward assembly procedure.

[0004] The present invention seeks to provide a 15 remedy.

[0005] Accordingly the present invention is directed to a tent frame having the construction set out in the opening paragraph of the present specification, characterised in that respective ends of at least two of the said plurality of legs are secured to the hub by way of respective pivots, constituting a second set of pivots, enabling the said at least two of the said plurality of legs to be pivoted about axes which are generally transverse of the pivot axes of the said first set of pivots, the pivots of the first and second set of pivots being fixed in position relative to one another even when the legs are pivoted about their respective pivots whilst the frame is unfolded into an erect condition and whilst it is folded for stowage.

[0006] This enables a relatively simple and inexpensive construction of tent frame to be made, in 5 such a fashion that its erection is relatively simple.

[0007] The said first set of pivots may be spaced apart around the hub.

[0008] This provides an even distribution of the support for sheet material when such material is attached to the tent frame.

[0009] The said second set of pivots may be located together on one side of the hub.

[0010] This again facilitates a relatively easy erection of the tent frame.

[0011] The said second set of pivots may have fixed pivot axes which are set at an angle relative to one another so that the associated legs are splayed when the tent frame is in an erect condition.

[0012] The said second set of pivots may have 20 respective pivot axes which are orthogonal to those of the first set. This results in a relatively low force being required initially to open out the frame.

[0013] The pivots of the said first set of pivots may comprise respective pins extending through respective 25 inner ends of the associated legs.

[0014] This provides a relatively inexpensive way of manufacturing those pivots.

[0015] The pivots of the said second set of pivots may comprise axle portions of the hub embraced by generally circular portions on the sides of respective end portions of the associated legs.

[0016] Alternatively the hub may be provided with respective cams for at least two legs attached to the hub by way of universal pivots constituting or being included in the said second set of pivots.

[0017] The cams may be such as to generate a movement of the said at least two legs when the frame is unfolded, which movement is such that the legs splay away from one another as the latter are rotated about their respective pivots through a first part of such movement at a greater rate than in a second part of that movement.

[0018] This increases the extent to which the taughtness of sheet material is spread evenly across the dome it is beginning to form when attached to the frame.

[0019] The tent frame may comprise a further leg arranged centrally in relation to the other legs of the 20 tent frame, which further leg is fixed relative to the hub.

[0020] Such a fixed central leg may be in the same position relative to the hub for both the erect condition of the tent frame and the collapsed condition of the tent 25 frame.

[0021] The said second set of pivots may be arranged between two pivots of the said first set of pivots.

[0022] Such a construction lends itself more readily to erection of the tent frame.

[0023] With such a construction, the other pivots of the said second set of pivots, viewed in a direction perpendicular to an imaginary line joining the midpoints of the said two pivots of the said first set of pivots, are within those midpoints.

[0024] This again affords an even distribution of support for sheet material when it is attached to the tent frame.

[0025] The present invention extends to a tent comprising a tent frame made in accordance with the present invention together with sheet material supported by the frame.

[0026] The said at least two legs may be retained in their splayed condition by one or more braces, for example by a rod or bar which may be removeably attached between and to each of those legs.

[0027] The construction of the tent frame is such that such sheet material can remain on the frame during stowage, during its use as a tent, and whilst the tent is being erected and whilst the tent is being collapsed. Thus the sheet material never has to be removed from the frame. The unfolding of the frame results in the sheet material being spread out into a canopy supported by the frame during use, and folding up of the frame results in the sheet material also being folded up for stowage.

This therefore provides for efficient and speedy changeover from the folded condition of the tent to the unfolded condition, and vice versa.

[0028] Examples of tent frames made in accordance with the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0029] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the underside of a hub and leg portions of a tent frame 10 embodying the present invention; [0030] Figure 2 shows a perspective view from above of the tent frame shown in Figure 1, together with part of sheet material supported by the frame; [0031] Figures 3a to 3e show respectively an 15 underneath view, a perspective view from above and to one side, a top view, an end view and a side view of the tent frame shown in Figures 1 and 2 in a condition just after unfolding of the frame has commenced; [0032] Figures 4a to 4e, 5a to 5e, 6a to 6e and 7a to 7e show views corresponding to Figures 3a to 3e for successive conditions of the frame as it is unfolded; [0033] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the movement of legs of the frame shown in Figures 1 to 7e between a folded condition of the frame and an unfolded condition 25 of the frame; and [0034] Figures 9 to 16 show views which correspond to those of Figures 1 to 8, of a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] The tent frame 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a hub 12 from which extend a plurality of legs 14 and 15. Only portions of each leg 14,15 which are closer to the hub 12 are shown in Figures 1 and 2. A first set of these legs 14 are connected to the hub 12 by way of respective pivots 16. Each pivot 16 comprises a pin 18 which has its opposite ends fixed to respective flanges 20 and 22 of the hub 12 so that each pin extends from one flange 20 to the other flange 22. An inner end of the associated leg 14 is provided with the through-hole (not shown) which extends through it and through which extends the associated pin 18. This enables the leg 14 to swing about its associated pivot 16. Furthermore, from this described construction it will be appreciated that the pivots 16 constitute a first set of pivots of the frame 10 the pivot axes of which are parallel to one another.

[0036] Viewing the hub 12 along a median bisector thereof, the set of pivots 16 comprises two outermost pivots of the set, the other two pivots of which appear to be within those outer pivots when viewed in that direction.

[0037] A second set of legs of the frame 10 25 constituted by the legs 15 are attached to the hub 12 by way of respective pivots 24 constituting a second set of pivots located between the outermost pivots of the set of pivots 16.

[0038] Each pivot 24 comprises a bar (not shown) of the hub 12 which is of circular cross-section and which extends between two portions of the hub 12 in a direction which is orthogonal to the pins 18. A connector 26 of each pivot 24 comprises a tubular portion 28 which receives one end of its associated leg 15 in such a fashion as to be fixed relative thereto, with a portion 30 of the leg 15 extending beyond the tubular portion 28 within the hub 12 when the frame is in the extended condition shown in Figures 1 and 2. Each connector 26 further comprises a ring portion 32 which surrounds its associated bar of the hub 12 so as to be rotatable thereabout.

[0039] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, this particular illustrated frame 10 has three legs 15 with three respective pivots 24. The bar of the central one of these pivots 24 is generally parallel to an imaginary line connecting the outermost pivots 16 of the first set of pivots. The bar of each of the other pivots 24 is on a slight slant relative to the central bar so that the legs 15 are splayed apart from one another in a direction away from the hub 12 when the frame 10 is in the extended condition shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0040] Figure 2 also shows a portion of sheet material 34 which is attached to the legs 14 and 15.

[0041] Figures 3 to 7 show the frame 10 in successive stages of being unfolded from a stowage condition shown in Figure 3 to an unfolded condition shown in Figure 7 in which the combination of the frame 10 and the sheet material 34 constitute a tent, with the legs 14 and 15 curving in a manner not shown so that they extend outwardly from the hub 12 and then downwardly towards the ground with the sheet material 34 adopting the shape of a dome to constitute a cover of the tent.

[0042] Thus it will be seen that as the frame 10 is unfolded, each leg 14 and 15 swings about its respective pivot relative to the hub 12. As the legs 14 are fanned out from a position in which they are generally parallel to one another in the folded stowaway condition to a position in which they are spread outwardly from the hub 12 in a star formation, the legs 15 rotate about their respective pivots 26 between a position in which they are generally parallel to the legs 14, about pivot axes which are at right angles to those of the set of legs 14, to a position in which those portions of all the legs 14 and 15 which are close to the hub 12 are in the same general imaginary plane as one another. Furthermore, all the legs fan out from the hub 12 and from one another, the spacing between the legs 15 which are now splayed relative to one being slightly less than the spacing between the legs 14.

These legs 15 support an entrance (not shown) to the tent.

[0043] As the legs 14 and 15 of the frame 10 are unfolded, so the sheet material 34 which is attached to these legs is also spread out into a dome formation. It therefore remains attached to the legs 14 and 15 throughout the unfolding procedure.

[0044] After use, the tent may be folded up in stages also illustrated in Figures 3 to 7, but in reverse order, with the sheet material 34 being folded up as a result of the legs 14 and 15 being folded together, so that the sheet material remains attached to the legs 14 and 15 in the folded up stowaway position ready for the next unfolding of the tent when it is next erected.

[0045] It will be appreciated that when the tent is in its unfolded, erected condition, what is now the upper side 36 of the hub 12 now has sheet material 34 (not shown in Figure 1) taught just below it and against it with the ends 30 of the legs 15 remaining recessed in the hub 12.

[0046] The legs 15 may be retained in their splayed condition by means of one or more braces, comprising one 20 or more cross-bars or rods (not shown) extending between and attached to one or more of the legs 15.

[0047] The paths 38 of respective points on the three legs 15 outwardly of the hub 12 as the legs are unfolded are shown diagrammatically in Figure 5, so that those points are generally adjacent to one another at a first end 40 of each path 38, when the frame 10 is in the folded condition, and travel through a near semicircular path so as to be spaced apart from one another, at the other ends 42 of the paths, in the unfolded condition with the legs 15 splayed apart from one another.

[0048] The embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 9 to 16 is substantially the same the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 8, except in the following respects.

[0049] Firstly, the flanges 20 and 22 are reduced at portions of the hub 12 between the pivots 16. Secondly, a fifth leg 14a is rigidly fixed to the hub 12, and extends along a median bisector of the hub 12. Thirdly, the two outer pivots of the set of pivots 24 are constituted by ball and socket joints, or universal joints, to give the associated leg a greater degree of freedom in its ability to be pivoted about the pivot 24. Fourthly, portions 60 of the hub 12 define respective guide cams for the outer pivots 24 such that the movement of points of the set of legs 15 which are located outwardly of the hub 12 follow the paths represented diagrammatically in Figure 16. It will be seen from this Figure that the legs 15 are splayed apart more rapidly during the first portion of the paths 38 near to the ends 40 thereof than they are during the remainder of those paths 38. This reduces the rate of splaying as the legs 15 are swung outwardly once the tent is in a relatively unfolded condition to increase the extent to which the taughtness of the sheet material 34 is spread evenly across the dome it is beginning to form.

[0050] Numerous variations and modifications may occur to the reader without taking the resulting construction outside the scope of the present invention. For example, there may be only two legs 15 instead of the three illustrated in the Figures. Furthermore, the legs 15 do not necessarily curve when the tent is in the unfolded, erect condition. There may be more or fewer legs 14 than those illustrated.

Claims

* ** -13- * * * *** * Claims: * 1. A tent frame comprising a hub from which extend a plurality of legs, respective ends of some of which are secured to the hub by way of respective pivots, ** 5 constituting a first set of pivots, having respective pivot axes which are generally parallel to one another, in which respective ends of at least two of the said plurality of legs are secured to the hub by way of respective pivots, constituting a second set of pivots, enabling the said at least two of the said plurality of legs to be pivoted about axes which are generally transverse of the pivot axes of the said first set of pivots, the pivots of the first and second set of pivots being fixed in position relative to one another even when the legs are pivoted about their respective pivots whilst the frame is unfolded into an erect condition and whilst it is folded for stowage.
2. A tent frame according to claim 1, in which the pivots of the said first set of pivots are spaced apart 20 around the hub.
3. A tent frame according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the pivots of the said second set of pivots are located together on one side of the hub.
4. A tent frame according to any preceding claim, in which the pivots of the said second set of pivots have fixed pivot axes which are set at an angle relative to one another so that the associated legs are splayed when * * * * ** * * **** * **** ** . * . * * ** the tent frame is in an erect condition.
5. A tent frame according to any preceding claim, in which the pivots of the said second set of pivots have respective pivot axes which are orthogonal to those of 5 the first set.
6. A tent frame according to any preceding claim, in which the pivots of the said first set of pivots comprise respective pins extending through respective inner ends of the associated legs.
7. A tent frame according to any preceding claim, in which the pivots of the said second set of pivots comprise axle portions of the hub embraced by generally circular portions on the sides of respective end portions of the associated legs.
8. A tent frame according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the hub is provided with respective cams for at least two legs attached to the hub by way of universal pivots constituting or being included in the said second set of pivots.
9. A tent frame according to claim 8, in which the cams are such as to generate a movement of the said at least two legs when the frame is unfolded, which movement is *** such that the legs splay away from one another as the * * * * latter are rotated about their respective pivots through * * * 25 a first part of such movement at a greater rate than in a ** * ..second part of that movement. * *
10. A tent frame according to any preceding claim, in ** * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * *** . * * ** * * * * * ** * * **** * **** * * *** which the tent frame comprises a further leg arranged centrally in relation to the other legs of the tent frame, which further leg is fixed relative to the hub.
11. A tent frame according to claim 10, in which the 5 fixed central leg is in the same position relative to the hub for both the erect condition of the tent frame and the collapsed condition of the tent frame.
12. A tent frame according to any preceding claim, in which the said second set of pivots are arranged between 10 two pivots of the said first set of pivots.
13. A tent frame according to claim 12, in which the other pivots of the said second set of pivots, viewed in a direction perpendicular to an imaginary line joining the midpoints of the said two pivots of the said first set of pivots, are within those midpoints.
14. A tent frame according to claim 4, or to any one of claims 5 to 13 when read as appended to claim 4, in which the said at least two legs are retained in their splayed condition by one or more braces, for example by a rod or bar which may be removeably attached between and to each of those legs.
15. A tent comprising a tent frame as claimed in any preceding claim together with sheet material supported by the frame.
16. A tent frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 or Figures 9 to 16 of the accompanying drawings.
17. A tent substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 or Figures 9 to 16 of the accompanying drawings. * 00 * * * 00O * ** * * * * * 00 * * **..* 0406 ** * * * t