US1730267A

US1730267A - Folding tent

Info

Publication number: US1730267A
Application number: US116042A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl C Chittim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1926-06-14
Filing date: 1926-06-14
Publication date: 1929-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 1946-10-01

Description

C. C. CHITTIM Oct. 1, 1929.

FOLDING TENT 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 14, 1926 gwueatoz Cari C. ChH-h'm attozmq C. C. CHITTIM Oct. 1, 1929.

FOLDING TENT Filed June 14, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Car! Oct. 1, 1929. c, H|TT|M 1,730,267 I FOLDING TENT Filed June 1 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 00 /4 A /6 Q Q Q '0 I uuv v 1 3 "I v 39 vb? [4f 3 wl'messes fP/w/ we. 2

Patented Oct. 1 1929 UNI STATES- FOLDING EEN T Application filed June 14, 1926. Seria1 .No. 116,0 1=2.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in folding tents, and has for its primary obj set the provision of such a structure so designed and arranged that it may be quickly and easily set up or taken down and folded and which, when so folded, will occupy a minimum amount of space.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a tent that may be set up and used without the necessity of employing guy-ropes and which is yet so light that when erected it may be turned around or moved about by one person with perfect ease, to meet any conditions of air, shade or scenery.

Another obj ect of the invention is the provision of such a tent which may be employed in conjunction with an automobile to partially enclose the same or which may be used independently thereof with equal satisfaction.

I Another object is to provide a tent of the character described which is equipped with beds or cots assembled in connection therewith. I i

Another object is to provide new and novel means for supporting the beds or cots.

Another object is to provide a bed or cot which may be folded to occupy a minimum amount of space.

Stil l another object is to provide such a v tent which, while simple in construction is nevertheless strong, sturdy and durable and an advance in the art.

Vith these and other objects in View, the invention resides in the novel construction, combina-ti-on and arrangement of parts to be more :fully hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particurlarly pointed out in the appended claims.

the drawings forming a part of this application and wherein like characters of reference have been employed to designate the corresponding parts throughout the several views: I

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tent, constructedin accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of-one-half of the tent.

Figure '3 is an endelevation of one of the connecting brace bars in folded condition.

Figure 4 is a view inelevation of the front cross rail ofthe top structure of the tent, folded.

Figure 5 is a side elevation showing the position of the various parts of the main frame when the same is folded. i

Figure 6 .is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 7 is a side elevation ofone of the beds in folded condition.

Figure 8 is a sectional view showing the manner of securing the canvas to the frame of the bed.

Figure '9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Figure 1. i I

Figure 10 is a sectional view on line 1010 of Fig'ure 9.

Figure llis a perspective view of a latch employed for preventing dislodgment of the bed after it is assembled.

Figure 12 is a detail perspective view of the construction of the bed frame. 1 p

Figure 13 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of securing the front cross rail to the top rails.

V Figure 14.19; a sectional view on line 14-14 of Figure .2. i

' Figure 1 5 is a bottom plan view of a por- I tion of the rear cross rail.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary view, illustrating a portion of the structure.

. Reference now being had more particularly to the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided -'a pair of side sections A, each-of which comprises the vertically spaced front and rear uprights or supports 10 and 11 respectively, connected together by the

horizontal cross'bars

12 and 13, said bars having their opposite ends pivotally secured to the 1 side faces of said uprights and hinged intermediate their ends as'at 14 to permit the folding thereof. The rear uprights of the sections are connected by means of the collapsi- 'ble or fold'able brace 15. Braces 16 having.

their opposite ends pivoted to the uprights 10 and 11 and the crossbar 13 and each comprising sections foldably connected as at 17 are also provided to more thoroughly brace the said uprights and retain them in proper spaced vertical position.

Secured to the opposite sides of the upper end of each rear upright 11 and projecting therebeyond are the upwardly and forwardly curved bracket arms 18, between which is pivotally connected one end of the respective top rail 19 which is slightly spaced from the top of the rear upright and extends forwardly and upwardly and is detachably connected adjacent its forward end to the respective front upright 10, the said top rail 19 being provided with a pin 20 receivable within a notch 21 in a plate 22 carried by the respective upright 10. The top rail 19 comprises sections which are hingedly connected as at 23 in order that the same may be readily folded to occupy a minimum amount of space-and the front upright 10 also comprises sections which are hingedly connected as at 24 for the same purpose.

Carried by the top rails and projecting, at its ends, therebeyond is a transverse front crossrail 25 clearly shown in Figure 4, said cross rail having the

end sections

26 and 27 connected therewith by the hinges 28 and 29, each of said hinged end sections being provided with a terminal pin 30 for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

In order to secure the front cross rail to the top rails, the said cross rail is provided with the clips 31 adapted to hook over the connecting portions of U-shaped members 32 secured to the forward ends of the said top rails 19.

Carried by and projecting. at its ends, be

.yond the rear uprights 11 is a transverse rear vadjacent each end as at 37 to provide clearance in order that the attaching portion 38 of that member of each of the hinges 35 which is secured to the main section of the rear cross rail 33may be inserted within vertical notches 39 formed in the plates 18 as shown in Figure 14 for the purpose of retaining said rear cross rail in proper position on the uprights.

Connecting the corresponding ends of the front and

rear cross rails

25 and 33 are the brace bars 40 each composed of two sections connected by a hinge 41, said sections being provided at their free ends with the plates 42 formed with notches 43 to receive the

terminal pins

30 and 36 carried by the hinged end sections of the front and rear cross rails.

Arranged to be supported by and between the front and rear uprights are the cots or beds B arranged one above the other as shown in Figure 1. Each of the bed frames comprise a pair of longitudinal side bars 44 pro- I tension on the beds.

a lock plate vided with end sections 45 connected therewith by hinges 44 said end sections being formed at their outer extremities with studs 46 adapted to be fitted within sockets 47 formed in the end bars 48 adjacent the ends thereof. Stretched over the frame is a suitable covering 49, the side portions thereof being permanently secured to the side bars 44 and end sections 45 thereof while the end portions thereof are stretched over and around the end bars 48 and secured thereunder by suitable means such as a belt and buckle connection 50 as shown in Figure 8. By the provision of the belt and buckle connection 50, it is possible to take up any slack in the beds caused by thestretching of the canvas, thus making it possible to always have a perfect This is one of the salient features of the present invention. Secured to each of the side bars 44 area pair of clips 51 adapted to engage over the connecting portions of U-shaped members 52 which are secured to each of the uprights, whereby the bed frame is supported in position.

For the purpose of preventing the bed from becoming dislodged after it has been assembled between the uprights 10 and 11, there is pivotally mounted upon each of said uprights, directly above and adjacent each member 52, By reference to Figure 11 it will be noted that each plate is formed with the flanges 5-1- and extending in the same direction at right angles to the body portion of the plate. The flange 54 is located opposite the inner face of the upright while the flange 55 is located opposite the outer face thereof.

In positioning the bed between the uprights,

the lock plate is swung so that the flange 54 is received within a recess 56 in the face of the respective upright and after each clip 51 has been engaged with the respective U-shaped member, each plate is swung on its pivot 57 so that the flange 54 will overlap and engage the respective clip 51, thereby securing the bed against accidental dislodgment. In order to remove the bed, it is necessary tomove the lock plates about their pivots in the opposite direction until the flanges 54 are again received within the recesses 56.

Pivotally mounted, as at 61, upon the inner side of each front upright are the braces 58 which are provided at their free ends with notches 59 to receive the pins 60 carried by the side bars of the bed. These braces serve to retain the front uprights in proper spaced vertical position and also serves to brace the entire frame work.

In setting up the tent, the sections A are first pulled apart until the foldable brace 15 has reached its full extension, after which the front and rear uprights are also pulled apart until the foldable cross bars 12 and 13 and the braces 16 have reached their full extension. The top rails 19 are then swung about their pivotal connections with the I The beds B are then set up and secured between' the uprights by hooking the clips 51 over the members 52 after which the lock plates 53 are swung to engage the tops of the clips 51 and the braces 58 engaged with the pins 60, carried by the beds. To set up the bed the end portions of the side bars 44 are first unfolded after which the end bars 48 are inserted between the folds of the covering 49 and the pins 4:6 inserted within the recesses 47. The entire frame is then covered with suitable canvas or the like and if so desired an automobile may be run under the portion of the tent which projects forwardly beyond the front uprights.

To take down the tent, the above steps are simply reversed and in Figures 5 and 6 have been shown the positions of the various parts of the main frame after it has been taken down and folded, it being noted that the parts are so folded that they lie very closely to each other and form a very compact arrangement. The plates 18 are curved upwardly and forwardly to permit the top rails to lie between the front and rear uprights when the sections have been folded.

From the above it will be readily appreciated that there has been provided a tent which will accomplish all of the objects and perform all of the functions claimed and it will be understood that while there has been shown one embodiment of the invention, it is susceptible of various changes and modifi cations and that any such changes or modifications may be resorted to without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention so long as they fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a tent structure of the character described, a frame comprising a pair of side sections including front and rear uprights, foldable connections between the sections, top rails connecting the corresponding front and rear uprights of the sections, front and rear cross rails supported by said sections, and connecting brace bars extending between and secured to said front and rear cross rails.

2. In a tent structure of the character de scribed, a pair of side sections each including a pair of uprights, connections between the uprights, foldable connections between the sections, a top rail pivotally connected to one upright of each section and detachably connected with the other upright of the sections,

front and rear cross rails detachably su ported by said uprights, and foldable brace bars extendingbetween and detachably connected to said front and rear cross rails.

3. In a tent structure of the character described, a pair of side sections, each including front and rear uprights, foldable connections between the uprights, foldable connections between the sections, a top rail pivotally connected to each of the rear uprights and detachably connected with the front upright of the corresponding section, a front cross rail extending between and detachably con: nected to the forward ends of the top rails, a rear cross rail extending between and detachably supported, by the rear uprights, and

connecting brace bars extending between and detachably secured to the adjacent ends of said front and rear cross rails. y

4:. In a tent structure of the character described, a pair of side sections, each in cluding front and rear uprights, foldable 0011-.

nections between the uprights, foldable connections between the sections,'top rails connected to the rear uprights and detachably connected with the front uprights, said top rails projecting beyond the said front upright, a foldable front cross rail detachably connected to the forward ends of the said top rails and projecting at both ends thererights, a-foldable front cross rail detachably supported by the rear uprights and projecting at both ends therebeyond, and foldable brace bars connecting and detachably secured to the adjacent ends of the front and rear cross rails.

5. In a tent structure of the class described, a frame comprising a pair of side sections each including front and rear uprights, braces extending between the uprights of each sec tion and each comprising foldably connected sections pivotally connected with the uprights of the respective sections, bracket arms secured to the opposite sides of each rear upright and extending above the upperend of the same, a top bar pivotally mounted at one end between the bracket arms upon each rear upright and extending fon Wardly therefrom, means upon each top bar and the respective front upright separablyconnecting the parts, a rear cross rail extending between the rear uprights of the two side sections,'coacting means upon the said rail and the saidbracket arms for separably supporting the rail upon said arms, and a front cross rail extending between and re movably supported upon the forward ends of said top: bars. y f

6. In a tent structure of the class described, a frame comprising a pair of side sections each including front and rear uprights, braces extending between the uprights of each section and each comprising foldably connected section's pivotally connect-ed with the uprights of the respective sections,

bracket arms secured to the opposite sides of each rear upright and extending above the upper end of the same, a top bar pivotally mounted at one end between the bracket arms upon each rear upright and extending forwardly therefrom, means upon each top bar and the respective front upright separably connecting the parts, a rear cross rail extending between the rear uprights of the two side sections, coacting means upon the said rail and the said bracket arms for separa bly supporting the rail upon said arms, a front cross rail extending between and removably supported upon the forward ends of said top bars, the front and rear cross rails each embodying end extension sections hingedly foldably connected therewith and extending beyond the rear and front uprights of the respective side sections, and bracing bars extending between the said end sections of the rear and front cross rails and separably connected at their ends therewith.

7. In a tent structure of the class described, a frame comprising a pair of side sections each including front and rear uprights,

braces extending between the uprights of each section and each comprising foldably connected sections pivotaly connected with the uprights of the respective sections, bracket arms secured to the opposite sides of each rear upright and extending above the upper end of the same, a top bar pivotally mounted at one end between the bracket arms upon each rear upright and extending forwardly therefrom, means upon each top bar and the respective front upright separably connecting the parts, a rear cross rail extend ing between the rear uprights of the two side sections, coacting means upon the said rail and the said bracket arms for separably supporting the rail upon said arms, a front cross rail extending between and removably supported upon the forward ends of said top bars, the front and rear cross rails each embodying end extension sections hingedly foldably connected therewith and extending beyond the rear and front uprights of the respective side sections, and bracing bars extending between the said end sections of the rear and front cross rails and separably connected at their ends therewith, each of said brace bars comprising foldably connected sections.

8. In a tent structure of the class described, a frame comprising a pair of side sections each including front and rear uprights, braces extending between the uprights of each section and each comprising foldably connected sections pivotally connected with the uprights of the respective sections, bracket arms secured to the opposite sides of each rear upright and extending above the upper end of the same, a top bar pivotally mounted at one end between the bracket arms upon each rear upright and extending forwardly therefrom, means upon each top bar and the respective front upright separably connecting the parts, a rear cross rail extending between the rear uprights of the two side sections, coacting means upon the said rail and the said bracket arms for separably supporting the rail upon said arms, a front cross rail extending be tween and removably supported upon the forward ends of said top bars, the front and rear cross rails being extended at their ends beyond the front and rear uprights of the respective side sections, a bracing bar extending between the projecting ends of the rails at each end of the structure, a headed stud upon each projecting end of each rail,- and bracket members upon the ends of each bracing bar provided with notches engageable with the respective studs and separably connecting the ends of the bracing bar with the extended ends of the rails.

9. In a tent structure of the class described, a frame comprising a pair of side sections each including front and rear uprights, braces extending between the uprights of each section and each comprising foldably connected sections pivotally connected with the uprights of the respective sections, bracket arms secured to the opposite sides of each, rear upright and extendingabove the upper end of the same, a top bar pivotally mounted at one end between the bracket arms upon each rear upright and extending forwardly therefrom, means upon each top bar and the respective front upright separably connecting the parts, a rear cross rail extending between the rear uprights of the two side sections, coacting means upon the said rail and the said bracket arms for separably supporting the rail upon said arms, a front'rail extending between the forward ends of the said top bars, retaining members upon the forward ends of said bars each having a portion spaced with respect to the said end of the respective bar, and members upon the said front cross rail for coaction with the'retaining members and each comprising an attaching portion secured to the said rail and a downwardly projecting portion removably seated in the space between the said portion of the respective retaining member and the forward end of'the respective top bar. i

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature.

CARL C. CHITTIM.