US1204329A

US1204329A - Collapsible tent-frame.

Info

Publication number: US1204329A
Application number: US9459316A
Authority: US
Inventors: John E Wilkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1916-05-01
Filing date: 1916-05-01
Publication date: 1916-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 1933-11-07

Description

J. E. WELKiNS.

COLLAPSIBLE TENT FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1916.

1 @WLSQQL Patented Nov. 7, 1915.

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WITNESSES:

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J. E. WILKINS.

COLLAPSIBLE TENT FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1916.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916,

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JOHN E. WILKINS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

CQLLAPSIBLE TENT-FRAME.

n; my.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. i 191%.

Application filed may 1, W16. Serial No. 94,593.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN E. lV1LK1Ns,.a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Tent-Frames, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to collapsible tent frames and one object is to provide a new and useful device of this character of simple and light construction, which can be folded into compact form for storage or for ready transportation on an automobile or other vehicle.

A further object is to provide a tent frame which can be readily set up for use and when set up will be rigid .and substantial, and reliably support a canvas tent placed in position thereon, so that said tent cannot be easily blown down by the wind.

Other objects of the invention will hereinafter appear, and in order that said invention may be fully understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tent frame set up ready for use. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective of a corner fitting employed in carrying out the invention. Fig 3 is a broken detail perspective of one of the corner plates associated with adjacent parts. Fig. t is a section of a sleeve and a hinge joint. which latter is adapted to be locked in a rigid position by the former. Fig. 5 is a broken detail perspective of a ridge pole fitting and associate parts. Fig. 6 isa side elevation of the parts disclosed by Fig. 4, with the hinge unlocked. Fig. 7 is a broken elevation of one end of the ridge pole and associate parts. Fig. 8 is a cross section, enlarged, on line VHF-VH1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a cross section, enlarged, on line l[X-IX of Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the hinge. Fig. 11 is a modified form of the sleeve disclosed by Fig. 6. .Fig. 12 is a modified form of the parts disclosed by Fig. 4.

Incarrying out the invention, I employ four legs 1 whereby'the upper portion of the frame is supported a' suitable height above the ground. Said legs are pivotally-connected at their upper ends to corner fittings 2, each comprising two pairs of flanges 3 and 4, extending at right angles to each other, and a tubular member 5, all of which are,

preferably, formed from one piece of sheet metal as disclosed by Fig. 2. As disclosed by Fig. 3, the upper end of a leg fits between the flanges 3 to which it is connected by a transverse pivot 6, to allow the leg to be folded when the frame is not in use.

7 designates a pair of longitudinal side members fixed at their ends in the tubular members 5 of the corner fittings 2. Each member 7 is provided intermediate its ends with a hinge 8, consisting of a link 9 connected by pivots 10 to a pair of oppositelydisposed members 11, provided at one end with cylindrical terminals 12 which are driven friction tight into the adjacent ends of the two sections constituting each longitudinal side member 7. The hinges 8 are reliably locked in extended position when the tent frame is setup for use by sleeves 13, each of which is slidable upon a member 7 and provided at one endwith an L-shaped slot 14:, adapted to receive a pin 15 on the member 7 adjacent the hinge 8, and hold the sleeve in position over the hinge S, as disclosed by Fig. 4-.

16 designates a pair of transverse end members secured at their ends by pivots 17 between the flanges 4 of the corner fittings '2. Said end members 16 are provided intermediate their ends with hinges 8 adapted to be held in rigid position by sleeves 13 slidable on the end members 16.

18 designates a plurality of braces pivotally-connected at their lower ends to clips 19 and removably connected at their upper slotted ends 20 to pins 21 extending transversely through the lower portions of clips 22. As disclosed by Fig. 1 each leg is provided with a clip 19, while each

member

7 and 16 is provided with a pair of clips 22. Each clip 22 is rigidly held in place by an indentation 23-therein which fits into a corresponding opening 24 on each of the

members

7 and 16.

25 designates a ridge fitting comprising two pairs of oppositely-inclined flanges 26 and a tubular horizontal portion 27 from which a pair of flanges 28 depend. As disclosed by Fig. 5, the ridge fitting 25 is formed from one. piece of sheet metal. In the construction of the tent frame two ridge fittings 25 are employed, the tubular portions 27 of which rigidly engage the respective ends of a ridge pole 29, provided intermediate its ends with a hinge 8 and a sleeve 13.

The oppositely-inclined flanges 26 of each ridge fitting 25 are connected by pivots 30 to a pair of gable members 31, inclining in opposite directions to members 32 to which they are connected by pivots 33. The members 32 in turn are rigidly connected to the corner fittings 2 by the pivot 6, upon which they are prevented from turning by flanges 34, each of which is turned outward at right angles from one of the flanges 3 to abut the adjacent margin of the member 32 asdisclosed by Fig. 3. The gable members 31 are provided intermediate their ends with hinges 8 and sleeves 13. In addition to the ridge fittings 25 being supported by the inclined gable members 31 they are further supported by short upright members 35, each being removably-connected at its upper slotted end 35 t0 the flanges 28 of a fitting 25 by a pin 36, and connected at its lower end to a clip.37 by a pivot 38. As disclosed by Fig. 1, the clip 37 is mounted upon a sleeve 13.

The ridge pole 29, like the longitudinal side members 7, is reinforced intermediate it's ends by braces 18 connected at their lower ends by pivots 21 to clips19, on the members 35, and removably connected at their upper slotted ends 20 to pins 21 on clips 22, rigidly connected to said ridge pole 29.

When the frame is set up as disclosed by Fig. 1, a canvas or other tent may be placed thereover and be reliably supported thereby. Guy ropes running from the corners of the tent to pegs driven in the ground may also be employed to brace the structure in windy weather.

After the tent has been removed from the frame the latter can be readily folded into compact form by disconnecting the slotted ends of the braces 18 from the pins 21, and the slotted upper ends of the members '35 from the pins 36, slipping the sleeves 13 from over the hinges 8, and folding the several parts at their respective hinges and pivotal points. I

The modified form of sleeve 13 disclosed by Fig. 11, is similar to the sleeve 13, except that its slot 14 is curved atits inner end instead of being angular.

The modified form disclosed by Fig. 12, has a straight slot 14 to receive a spring detent 15, arranged within the member upon which the sleeve is slidably mounted.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that I have produced a tent frame embodying the features of advantage above enumerated, and while I have shown and described the preferred form of frame I reserve the right to make such changes in the construction, proportion, and arrangement of parts as properly fall within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: 1

1. In a tent frame, a rectangular frame having corner fittings each of which latter has a pair of downwardly extending flanges, one ofthe flanges of each pair of flanges having a vertical abutment, legs having their upper ends extending between said .flanges, a ridge pole having gable, parts,

members secured to the gable parts and engaged with the vertical abutments so as to be held by the latter against turning, and pins passed through the flanges and members.

2. In a tent frame, a rectangular frame having cornerfittings each formed of a single blank having a socket and two pairs of flanges, one of the flanges of each fitting being bent at right angles at its free edge to form a vertical abutment, a ridge pole having gable parts, members secured to the gable parts and engaged wlth the abutments, legs having their upper ends extendlng between one of the pairs of flanges of I the respective fittings, and pins passed through the members of the gable parts and through the legs and the flanges of the fittings which receive the legs.

3. In a tent frame, a corner fitting formed I of a single sheet metal blank one end of which is folded inwardly and bent at right angles across the line of fold to provide two pairs of flanges and one side 0 which is rolled over to form a tubular member.

4. In a tent frame,a ridge fitting formed of a single sheet metal blank folded to form a pair of oppositely inclined flanges, a tubular horizontal portion extending outwardly from the point of juncture of said flanges, and a pair of flanges depending from the horizontal tubular portion.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. WILKINS. Witnesses:

F. G. Fisomm, L. J. FISCHER.