US1581331A - Tent structure - Google Patents

Description

April 20 1926.

1.581331 5. R. SMiTH TENT STRUCTURE Filed May 10, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 S. R. SMiTH April 20 1926.

TENT STRUCTURE Filed May 10, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 29, 1926.

' UNITED STATES SAM B. SMITH, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TENT STRUCTURE.

Application filed May 10. 1924.

To iii/tom it may come/w:

Be it known that 1.91! ll. turn. a citizen of the United States. and a resident oi Los Angcles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California. have invented new and useful Improvements in Tent Structures. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to and has for it main object the provision of an improved form of tent structure of composite char actor. and adapted to ride a coilnpsihle frame. which, when its parts are titted to nether will provide a rigid support for a tent czipalille of being readily assembled and dis-assembled at will.

In the consideration of this invention rel crence is had to my pending application for patent 'l'or tents. iilcd Dec. l8. 132: Serial Number (107.43%. the present invention di closing numerous improved details and tea tin-cs oi construction.

Another object is to provide in a tent structure a collapsible frame for supporting; a tent. and a plurality of wind braces adapted to be adjusted to ditlerent positions and constituting guys for bracing the tent against the action ot' the elements. and arranged so that additional rigidity may be provided in the tent structure under extreme conditions.

Another object is to provide a frame coinposed of a sectional circular support composed of a plurzility of normally straight sections formed of spring material such as spring steel or the like, and capable of being bent into arcuate form and held for supporting the hip of the tent, together With means for supporting said member on the tent.

A nothcr object is to provide a tent structure includinp a tent having a single central supporting pole of sectional character, and a sectional member of circular form adapted to he supported on the tent in concentric relation to said pole, and means whereby when the lower edge of the tent is staked or otherwise attached to the ground and suitably guyed from the hip the rigid structure will he provided.

Still other objects will appear as the description progresses.

I have shown one preferred form of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of an assembled structure embodying, my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Serial No. 712,293.

Fig. 23 is an enlarged fragmentary section oi the tent. showimr means for adjustahlv supporting the tent frame. I

Fig. lis a fragmentary interior view of the same. i

Fig. 5 a. trnmnentary section at the apex of the tent. showing the manner of attaching the tent to the supporting polc.

Fig. 6 is a fragnicnary section at the lower edge or" the tent. showing the manner oi attaching the tent to the ground.

Fig. T is a side elevation oi an umhrrlla lent em odying my improvcmcnts. with the shirt of the tent omitted.

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan of the structure shown in Figs. 1. and T on line 88 of Fi z. 2.

Fi i) is a t'rugl'ncntary view of the tent. showing an improved type of guy or Wind lu'ace in position for bracing the tent under normal conditions.

Fig. lt is a slightly reduced view of the same. showingthe guy or wind brace arranged for supporting the tent under extreme conditions.

Fig. 1.1 is a fragmentunv section similar to and showing the substitute for the frame supporting device shown in Fig. 3. and par ticularly tltltlpttll'lll" to the form lit tent shown in Fig. '4'.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged iiew ot a pair ot sections forming the main circular tent sup porting member. showing their normal and operative positions.

It will be understood in the consideration of this invention that in the construction of tents for use on camping expeditions and other purposes. it is desirable to provide a form of tent which can he quickly assembled and dis-assembled by unskilled persons. and to this end I have disclosed in the drawings and will describe in detail in this specification. my present in'lprovements which embody but two primary supporting members for the tent. namely, a central pole and a circular frame concentrically arranged around said pole, over which the tent is adapted to be placed, and by means of which it is adapted to be held securely in position.

For convenience sake, the said supporting members are composed of short sections so that the entire structure. including the tent proper. may he rolled into a bundle of compact and convenient size, and altogether will provide a structure of minimum Weight.

New, referring particularly to the drawill) in t's, the tent T is composed of a conical upper section or top 1 formed of plurality of triang ularly cHl strips: of material stitched together at the r uniting: edges, llllt; a lower suirt or wall, portion i" also composed ot a. plurality of strips of c ial. preferably, ihoue'h not iwov-sai'ilr, oi unit'orin width throughout their length and similarly rtitched together at their mating edges.

" may also hare a sealloped The tent 1 apron R5 at (I. either forming: an extension front the top t. or suitably attached thereto and t'orined ot' a separate strip ot material this being immaterial to in intention.

One or more doors are provided in the wall porti nis 2: of the tent. which torru closures for substantially elongated openings 0. and aid doors may be arranged to be held in closed position by suitable devices.

One or iuore windows \V, W. etc, are also provided in the wall portions 1" of the tent. which are preferably covered by strips of gauze material as at y, so as to prevent the entrance of insects to the interior of the tent. The windows may be closed by suitable flaps, f extensihly carried on the outer sloping sides of the wall portions 2. so as to pan tiall i or wholly close the windows may be desired.

is hereiubet'iire stated the t'ranie tor supporting the tent is composed of two coniposife members. namely, a central pole P and a circular ring It. Pole 1" is composed of a pluinlit m sect ons 1. 1, etc. with their abutting ends telescoped onto sleeves 2, etc. which are suhstantiallx elongated and serve to cover the joint v between the sections and to hold the pole rigidly in position.

The sleeves 2 may be permanently attached to one 01 the adjacent: sections so that they will not be displaced from operative position. The l o" o'n ot' the pole l may have a sleeve it atte h l thereto t'or forming a suitable rest on the sin-lure of the ground.

ihe upper end of the pole carrie a suitable sleeve 7 with a reduced extension (5, which is adai ite'tl to be inserted through. an opening T in the top 2 of the tent. and a rope or cord is ieri erably held within a circular seain 9 at the apex of the tent for reinforcing the portions f ot the tent around the open mg a.

The circular ring it is composed of a plurality of sections 10, 1Q etc. with their abutting end portions telescoped. into short metallic sleeves ll. 11. etc.. as shown in Figs. S and ti], and referring" particularly to Fig. l3, it wi l be ohseri'ed that the rods 1t), 10, ot the ring R are normally straight and are adapted to be made of spring steel or similar inateriah which may be bent inwardly on the normal curve of the tent, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 19. when the ring R is as embled. and which will have sufiicient resilieney to restore the rods 10 to their nor and straight lines. as indicated in full lines in Fig. 12, when the ring is disassembled.

\Vhen the members 10, 10, etc., and 11, ll. (l are assembled together for LOHlPlCllilg the ring: R a rigid structure oi circular term is provided. and the adjacent ends of the members 10, 10, will be held in abutting positions by means of the resilie in the men hers 10, 10, etc.

The ring It is positioned in and supported on the interior of the tent at the hip of the joint between the. top portion f and the wall portion I". Said ring: inn. be supporli d. especially in the form of tent shown in F g l and by means of a plurality of devi is shown in Fig. 3 this structure includes a plurality of flaps 13 made ot the material of which the portions t and 2" are nnule, and stitched to the. tent wall at their edges ll, while their outer portions if) have strips 16 of material stitched thereto and providing loops to which may be attached hooks h :ulapted to he adjustably connected to chains composed of a plurality of linlis. and the uppermost link of each of said chains is attached to a strip of material 17 attached to the wall of the tent, which may be reinforced by another strip of material 18.

Thus, one utter the other, when the tent has been raised to its approximate height by means ot a pole l. and the ring R has been assembled, the hooks H are adjustahly counected to the chains (3 for supporting the ring within the flaps 13 and between said trips and the tent wall. Thus, as the ring is linally secured in position at its plurality of supporting points, the ring will hold the lower edge of the top I concentrically with respect to the pole l.

Now, the lower edge of the skirt or wall portion t is preferably provided with an open seam 19 in which a rope or cord 20 is held, and at a plurality of points around this lower edge, preferably at the seams between the several strips forming the wall, rings 21 having loops 22 and 23 formed thereon and disposed at right angles to each other are threaded onto the ropes or cords 20, and the outer loops 23 extend outwardly from the tent Wall and overlie the ground so as to receive stakes S which are adapted to be driven into the ground for firmly holdi ng the lower edge of the tent in position.

It is preferable that the. diameter of the tent at the bottom should be substantially greater than the diameter at the hip on the junction between the top and bottom as indicated in line 88 in Fig. 2.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10. the tent structure is adapted to be braced against. the action of the elements to a i-inter or lesser degree my means of the structure shown in the drawings which constitute ample guys of adjustable character for chis purpose. These guys G, G, etc., are formed of single pieces of rope or cords 24, and one end of each of said ropes has a snap hook .5 attaced thereto by means of a metal sleeve .26, through which the rope is extended upwardly and downwardly, as shown, for providing a loop 27 for the reception ot the hook the end 01' the rope being knotted at adjacent the sleeve 26 for preventing the detachment: of the hook therefrom.

The opposite end of each of said guys is provided with a metallic sleeve 29 through which the rope 24 is extended, and the end of the rope is knotted at 30 for holding the member 29 in position thereon. This member 29 is of usual character and has an elongated portion 31 ot' arcuate cross section, with an opening 32 therein through which the central portion of the rope is extended, so that a loop :32 is provided above the SUP face of the ground which is connected with a loop 33 of a link 22 similar to that shown in Fig. 6, While the right angularly disposed loop 23 of said link receives a stake S driven at an angle into the ground. Thus,

'i when the guy G is attached to a link 33 at the hip of the tent, as shown in Fig. 9, and to the ground by means of stake S, the member 25) may be pulled up *ardly so that the rope 24 will move through the eye 32 thereof for tightening the guy ti, and. this structure will serve to brace the tent under normal conditions.

In Fig. 10, however, I have shown a slightly different arrangei'nent of the guys G for bracing the tent under extreme con ditions, where greater rigidity is desirable. This method incorporates the same structure shown in hip. 5), with the exception that all of the guys (1 are provided with pins Ell; which have eyes 35 through which the central portion of the ropes 2-1- are extended, and said ropes are knotted at 36 at the point of attachment to the pins 34, so as to hold said pins in stated positions.

Under extreme conditions the rope 24 may be slacked to a sufficient extent so that a tube or pipe 36 may be positioned between the ground and the guy, as shown in Fig.

10, the pin 34 being extended into the upper end of the tube 36', and the lower end of said tube being braced against the ground at or near the base of the tent, and disposed at an acute angle from the ground, so that any undue strains due to winds or some other elements will be directed against the ground rather than against the tent Thus, the members 36' serve as struts in a truss which deflect the strains.

lVhen the tent is assembled for use, the stakes S attached to the guys G are spaced substantially from the base 01 the tent so as to permit the interposition of the members 36' when occasion requires, without changing the stakes S.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, my type of tent structure adapts itself readily to the use of only the top portion 15 without the wall portion 6, and this feature is desirable especially for seaside resorts and for providing sun shades for the beaches and other places where the full camping equipment is not necessary.

In the use of this type of device one of the sections of the central pole P may be omitted so as to bring the top 2, of the tent down closer to the ground, and the guys G may be employed in connection with this tent in either of the forms shown in Figs. 9 and 10, as may be necessary and depending upon conditions.

hat I claim is:

The tent structure including a tent, means for supporting the same on the ground in extended position, and a circular member carried on the wall of said tent for holding the same extended concentrically with respect to said supporting member, said supporting member and said circular member being composed of a plurality of telescoping sections, flexible members attached to the interior of said tent forming loops for holding said circular member in position, and means for adjustably attaching said flexible members for stretching the tent to a desired extent.

SAM B. SMITH.

Images