GB2599475A

GB2599475A - Inverted unfolding structure

Info

Publication number: GB2599475A
Application number: GB2108435.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yang Baoqing
Original assignee: Zhejiang Hengfeng Top Leisure Co Ltd
Current assignee: Zhejiang Hengfeng Top Leisure Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-06-15
Filing date: 2021-06-14
Publication date: 2022-04-06
Also published as: DE202021103039U1; GB202108435D0; CN212661296U; FR3111368A3; FR3111368B3

Abstract

An inverted unfolding structure is provided, which includes an upper main plate (1), a lower main plate (2), ribs (3), and a shielding surface (4). The ribs (3) are provided on an outer circumference of the upper main plate (1), a middle part of the ribs (3) is connected with an outer circumference of the lower main plate (2), an outside middle part of the shielding surface (4) is connected with the bottom of the lower main plate (2), the shielding surface (4) is circumferentially connected with end portions of the ribs (3), and the lower main plate (2) is located between an inner side of the ribs (3) and an outer side of the shielding surface (4), such that a frame of inverted unfolding structure is formed, and the shielding surface (4) is installed on an inner side the frame. The inverted unfolding structure can be applied to tents.

Description

Inverted unfolding structure

FIELD

100011 The present application relates to the technical field of tent equipment manufacturing, and in particular to an inverted unfolding structure.

BACKGROUND

100021 With the development of the national economy, people's lives are getting better and better. While material needs are satisfied, more people begin to pursue spiritual satisfaction, for whom gatherings and outings are undoubtedly good choices.

100031 At present, most of the tent ribs on the market are designed to be located inside the tent. While the tent is put up, the tent user is under a lower main plate, and the lower main plate is pushed up beyond the dead point, that is, the tent user needs to get into the tent to unfold the tent. However, tents generally have the function of blocking light. During the unfolding process, the light inside the tent is not good, which makes it inconvenient for the tent user to unfold the tent. Besides, the frame of the tent ribs inside the tent occupies the internal space and causes inconvenience to the users.

100041 Therefore, a technical issue to be addressed urgently by the person skilled in the art is the inconvenient unfolding and folding operations of the tent user.

SUMMARY

100051 An object of the present application is to provide an inverted unfolding structure, which can be applied to tents. In a tent with the inverted unfolding structure, by arranging the rib structure outside the tent, a tent user can unfold or fold the tent from outside the tent body, which solves the problem of the inconvenient unfolding and folding of the tent by the tent user.

100061 In order to address the above technical issue, an inverted unfolding structure is provided according to a first aspect of the present application, which includes an upper main plate, a lower main plate, ribs, and a shielding surface. The ribs are provided on an outer circumference of the upper main plate, a middle part of the ribs is connected with an outer circumference of the lower main plate, an outside middle part of the shielding surface is connected with the bottom of the lower main plate, the shielding surface is circumferentially connected with end portions of the ribs, and the lower main plate is located between an inner side of the ribs and an outer side of the shielding surface 100071 Preferably, the inverted unfolding structure further includes joints provided on the outer circumference of the upper main plate for fixing the ribs.

100081 Preferably, a rotating connector is provided between the middle part of each rib and the outer circumference of the lower main plate.

[0009] Preferably, a stopper for locking at a dead point is provided on the top of the lower main plate.

[0010] Preferably, the inverted unfolding structure comprises a central rod which is detachably connected to the stopper by threading.

[0011] Preferably, a manual stopping member is provided at an end portion of the central rod.

[0012] Preferably, 3 to 12 ribs are provided.

100131 Preferably, the ribs are spaced apart by equal included angles along the outer circumference of the upper main plate.

[0014] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tent comprising the inverted folding structure in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

100151 In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an umbrella comprising the inverted folding structure in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

[0016] The inverted unfolding structure provided according to the present application includes the upper main plate, the lower main plate, the ribs, and the shielding surface. The ribs are provided on the outer circumference of the upper main plate, the middle part of the ribs is connected with the outer circumference of the lower main plate, the outside middle part of the shielding surface is connected with the bottom of the lower main plate, the shielding surface is circumferentially connected with the end portions of the ribs, and the lower main plate is located between the inner side of the ribs and the outer side of the shielding surface, such that a frame of inverted unfolding structure is formed, and the shielding surface is installed on an inner side the frame. As mentioned above, the inverted unfolding structure according to the first aspect of the present application can be applied to tents. In a tent with the inverted unfolding structure, by arranging the rib structure outside the tent, a tent user can unfold the ribs from outside the tent body through the relative movement of the upper main plate and the lower main plate, the ribs can support the shielding surface (that is, a tent surface), and the tent can thereby be unfolded, which solves the problem of the inconvenient unfolding and folding of the tent by the tent user. Besides, the internal space of the tent is enlarged, which is convenient for users to use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] For more clearly illustrating embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the conventional technology, drawings referred to for describing the embodiments or the conventional technology will be briefly described hereinafter. Apparently, the drawings in the following description are only examples of the present application, and for the person skilled in the art, other drawings may be obtained based on the drawings provided without any creative efforts.

100181 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a specific embodiment in an expanded state according to the present application; [0019] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure shown in FIG. 1 in a folded state; and [0020] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the ribs shown in FIG. 1. 100211 Reference numerals in FIGS. 1 to 3: 1 upper main plate, 2 lower main plate, 3 rib, 4 shielding surface, 5 joint, 6 rotating connector, 7 stopper, 8 central rod, 9 manual stopping member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

100221 The technical solutions according to the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely as follows in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. It is apparent that the described embodiments are only a pad of the embodiments according to the present application, rather than all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all of other embodiments, made by the person skilled in the art without any creative efforts, fall into the scope of protection of the present application.

[0023] Reference is made to FIGS. 1 to 3, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a specific embodiment according to the present application; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure shown in FIG. 1 in a folded state; and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the ribs shown in FIG. 1.

[0024] An inverted unfolding structure is provided according to a specific embodiment of the present application, which mainly includes an upper main plate 1, a lower main plate 2, ribs 3, and a shielding surface 4. The ribs 3 are provided on an outer circumference of the upper main plate 1, the middle part of the ribs 3 is connected with an outer circumference of the lower main plate 2, the lower main plate 2 is located on an inner side of the upper main plate 1, the middle part of the shielding surface 4 is connected with the bottom of the lower main plate 2, and the shielding surface 4 is circumferentially connected with end portions of the ribs 3.

[0025] The ribs 3 are installed on the outer circumference of the upper main plate 1, the middle part of the ribs 3 is connected with the outer circumference of the lower main plate 2, the lower main plate 2 is located on the inner side of the upper main plate 1, the middle part of the shielding surface 4 is connected with the bottom of the lower main plate 2, and the shielding surface 4 is circumferentially connected with end portions of the ribs 3. The ribs 3 are opened or closed through the relative movement of the upper main plate 1 and the lower main plate 2 to unfold or fold the shielding surface 4, and the shielding surface 4 is configured to shield the space under the ribs 3.

[0026] Specifically, the inverted unfolding structure can be applied to tents. In the actual application process, in a tent with the inverted unfolding structure, the tent user can fold or unfold the tent when the tent user is outside the tent, the tent user presses the upper main plate 1 with his hand, and pulls a central rod 8 toward the outside of the tent to pull up the lower main plate 2 until the lower main plate 2 touches the upper main plate 1 and goes beyond the dead point. During this process, the ribs 3 are opened along with the relative movement of the lower main plate 2 and the upper main plate 1. Since the middle part of the shielding surface 4 is connected with the bottom of the lower main plate 2 and the shielding surface 4 is circumferentially connected with end portions of the ribs 3, the shielding surface 4 is supported by the ribs 3 as the ribs 3 are opened, thereby unfolding the tent. Then, end portions of the ribs 3 are fixed to the ground, completing the unfolding of the tent. While the tent is folded, first, end portions of the ribs 3 are detached from the ground, so that the lower main plate 2 is moved away from the dead point, and the lower main plate 2 and the upper main plate 1 move in opposite directions, and the ribs 3 are slowly closed, and as the ribs 3 are closed, the shielding surface 4 is gradually folded until the shielding surface 4 is fully folded, completing the folding of the tent.

100271 In order to optimize the advantage of higher stability during use of the inverted unfolding structure in the above embodiment, the inverted unfolding structure further includes joints 5 provided on the outer circumference of the upper main plate 1 for fixing the ribs 3. In the process of unfolding the tent, the ribs 3 are required to be rotated relative to the upper main plate 1 to realize the opening of the ribs 3, and the joints 5 on the one hand play the role of connecting the ribs 3 with the upper main plate 1, and on the other hand allow the ribs 3 to rotate. Moreover, the joints 5 can make the ribs 3 more stable after opening, and improve the stability of the tent during use. In addition, the joints 5 facilitate the disassembly of the ribs 3, which is beneficial to maintenance.

100281 Furthermore, a rotating connector 6 is provided between the middle part of each rib 3 and the outer circumference of the lower main plate 2. Since the ribs 3 are required to support the shielding surface 4, the ribs 3 themselves necessitate to have a supporting structure. The rotating connector 6 is provided in the middle of each rib 3. The rotating connector 6 is connected to the lower main plate 2 through a connecting rod. The connecting rod is connected to the lower main plate 2 by a connecting member that has the same effect as the joint 5, and plays a role of supporting the rib 3 when the rib 3 is opened.

100291 It should be noted that, for the feasibility of this solution, a stopper 7 for locking at the dead point is provided on the top of the lower main plate 2. The stopper 7 is configured to lock at the dead point after the lower main plate 2 which is pulled up touches the upper main plate 1 and goes beyond the dead point, so that the lower main plate 2 will not fall by itself, thereby supporting the ribs 3. The stopper 7 is the prior art and will not be detailed here. Apparently, the length of the stopper 7 may be designed and selected according to the length of support of the joint 5.

[0030] Furthermore, the inverted unfolding structure further includes a central rod 8 which is detachably connected to the stopper 7 by threading. A manual stopping member 9 is provided at an end portion of the central rod 8. The design of the central rod 8 allows the tent user to use rotation force instead of pulling force when opening the tent. When the central rod 8 is pulled up, the lower main plate 2 is driven to move toward the upper main plate 1 to open the ribs 3. After the tent is unfolded, the central rod 8 is unscrewed, the manual stopping member 9 is screwed to the stopper 7 to abut against the upper main plate 1 to prevent the tent body from being folded by itself when the tent body is stressed from outside, which ensures the normal use of the tent and ensures the beauty of the tent. In addition, the end portion of the central rod 8 may have a quick release structure, such as a snap-fit structure, to quickly detach the central rod 8 from the stopper 7.

100311 It should be noted that the number of ribs 3 is 3 to 12. The ribs 3 are spaced apart by equal included angles along the outer circumference of the upper main plate 1. The tent has different models, which is similar to other products. Different models of tents have different sizes. If the tent is a larger one, the area of the shielding surface becomes larger, and the weight thereof thereby increases, so more ribs 3 are required for support. In this application, the number of ribs 3 is 3 to 12, which basically meets the needs of the shielding surface 4. Apparently, other numbers of ribs may be provided, which is not specifically limited here. The structure where the ribs 3 are spaced apart by equal included angles along the outer circumference of the upper main plate 1 allows the ribs 3 to be more evenly stressed when the ribs 3 support the shielding surface 4, which ensures the overall stability of the tent and is convenient for users to use.

[0032] In summary, the inverted unfolding structure provided according to the present application includes the upper main plate 1, the lower main plate 2, the ribs 3, and the shielding surface 4. The ribs 3 are provided on the outer circumference of the upper main plate 1, the middle part of the ribs 3 is connected with the outer circumference of the lower main plate 2, the outside middle part of the shielding surface 4 is connected with the bottom of the lower main plate 2, the shielding surface 4 is circumferentially connected with the end portions of the ribs 3, and the lower main plate 2 is located between the inner side of the ribs 3 and the outer side of the shielding surface 4, such that a frame of inverted unfolding structure is formed, and the shielding surface 4 is installed on an inner side the frame. The inverted unfolding structure according to the present application can be applied to tents. In a tent with the inverted unfolding structure, by arranging the rib structure outside the tent, a tent user can unfold the ribs 3 from outside the tent body through the relative movement of the upper main plate 1 and the lower main plate 2, the ribs 3 can support the tent surface, and the tent can thereby be unfolded, which solves the problem of the inconvenient unfolding and folding of the tent by the tent user. Besides, the internal space of the tent is enlarged, which is convenient for users to use.

100331 The inverted unfolding structure according to the present application can also be applied to umbrellas, especially for large-scale sunshades. Similar to the above embodiment, through the inverted unfolding structure, an umbrella with the inverted unfolding structure can be easily folded and unfolded from the outside, and accordingly the internal space of the umbrella is enlarged. The overall structure is similar to the above-mentioned embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

100341 Based on the above description of the disclosed embodiments, the person skilled in the art is capable of carrying out or using the present application. It is obvious for the person skilled in the art to make various modifications to these embodiments. The general principle defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present application. Therefore, the present application is not limited to the embodiments described herein but confirms to a widest scope in accordance with principles and novel features disclosed in the present application.

Claims

Claims 1. An inverted unfolding structure, comprising an upper main plate (1), a lower main plate (2), ribs (3), and a shielding surface (4), wherein the ribs (3) are provided on an outer circumference of the upper main plate (1), a middle part of the ribs (3) is connected with an outer circumference of the lower main plate (2), an outside middle part of the shielding surface (4) is connected with the bottom of the lower main plate (2), the shielding surface (4) is circumferentially connected with end portions of the ribs (3), and the lower main plate (2) is located between an inner side of the ribs (3) and an outer side of the shielding surface (4).
The inverted unfolding structure according to claim 1, further comprising joints (5) provided on the outer circumference of the upper main plate (1) for fixing the ribs (3).
The inverted unfolding structure according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that a rotating connector (6) is provided between the middle part of each rib (3) and the outer circumference of the lower main plate (2).
The inverted unfolding structure according to any preceding claim, characterised in that a stopper (7) for locking at a dead point is provided on the top of the lower main plate (2).
The inverted unfolding structure according to claim 4, further comprising a central rod (8) which is detachably connected to the stopper (7) by threading.
The inverted unfolding structure according to claim 5, characterised in that a manual stopping member (9) is provided at an end portion of the central rod (8).
The inverted unfolding structure according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the number of ribs (3) is 3 to 12. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
8. The inverted unfolding structure according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the ribs (3) are spaced apart by equal included angles along the outer circumference of the upper main plate (1).
9. A tent comprising the inverted unfolding structure according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
10. An umbrella comprising the inverted unfolding structure according to any one of claims 1 to 8.