US1773847A - Tent - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 26, 1930. B. J. NICKLES TENT Filed Dec. 7', 1928 IATTORNEY Patented Aug. 26, 1930 iJNiTEDL srarss BERNARD J. NICKLESV, OF FRANKLIN COUNTY, KENTUCKY TENT', y

Application led December 7, 192`8 Serial No. 324,486.

This invention relates to improvements in tents, covers, shelters andthe like, and itr consists of the constructions,vr combinations .andl

arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of the inventionkis to provide a tent which comprises a collapsible framework having a suitable covering material attached thereto, Athe idea being to enable the opening and closing of the tent much'on the'order of an ordinary umbrella so that the tent can be set up instantly and taken down as quickly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tent of a construction which admirablylends itself to portability, to which end its use will appeal to campers, tourists, hospitals but especially to persons inthe home.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which z Figure 1 isa perspectiveview of the tent asset up, i Figure 2 is a centrallongitudinal'section of the tent, the frameworkfbeing shown in side elevation,

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the framework alone, n

Figure 4 is a'deta'il view showing the tent folded up,

Figure 5 is a detail cross section showing the ridge construction, the parts being shown as though thev tent were closed.

` Figure 6 is a detail viewof a ridge structure,

' Figure 7 "s a detail cross section taken on the line 7 7 of Figure 6, o d v p Figure 8 is a'detail cross sectionv taken on the line S-S of Figure 3. f

One of the outstanding purposes'of the tent is a shelter against flies, mosquitoes'and other flying pests as well as crawling kinsects and vermin of all sorts. It is idle to' attempt a "rt 'of the 'suggestion of all of the various placeswhere I the tent may be employed, but a particular when cainpingorv picnicking. y'It often o'cy.steel or llike the ribsy of "any umbrella;y important `consideration is lightness, yet a placetin mindy is thefhome. l For example, a.

cursy that food in various stages of preparation or consumption will'be stood about'for vmoreor*lessy'protracted'periods to the defvli'ght of flies, bugs,'etc; By havingy the tent available it isonly necessary toopenait up`v and stand it overtlie food in question when lthe lattervk will be protected' from contamination.

These are brief statements 4of only Vtwo of the important` uses ofthe tent. The term 60 tent kmay imply al shelter of considerable size'. VNo Alimitation on `the sizeof the `tent 'isiyi'ntended V It can'fbe madesmallenougli l `to serveyas a diminutive shelter, or it can be made large'enou l gli to shelter one or more per- I sons when `employed in camping. Thecovei` of the tentvcan'be made inl a variety of fffabrics'f Mosquito netting twill -be usedfvvlie'n the tent` is intended 'to befemployed as a mere shelter *againsty lflies, A etc.` Canvas orV some other impervious clothwill be used when the requirements ofthe,A tentare'more rgidas to durability.

' Reference isfmadeto the drawing.y The tent is generally denoted 1. The niainipart comprises a'toggle frame for framework -v which is composed of sides 2 and 3. Tliefsides l, are alike in construction, being composed of slender bars'l, pivoted in the middle as at 5, and at certain endsvas at 6.l The yframes 80 are 'capable'of being opened and closed with the characteristic' lazy-tongs motion. v

Althoughthe members 4- are shownas bars they may, in practice, be made ofy tubular certain amountfof strength is also necessary.k

Obviously thefsizefand Vweight fof .thev bars -zwill-.increase wviththe I undue weightwill be prevented by'a careful 90 size of the tent, but

selection of materials in manufacture. -When 0penl the ,toggleffraine or framework will v 'providey aQ-liglit andpyet sturdy support for @Cove/M451 1 o Y f VVhenclosedlas in Figure l the tent willl beconfine'd to avery small compass.` In practice. a suitablebag will be provided to 'coinv 'tain the tent.' 'The lbag is not included inthe illustration",but it isfreadily understood that Y thisf'will bef'of such-a characteras to receive Y10@ ,Annes and contain the closed tent. This provision facilitates the transportation of the tent, and also affords considerable protection.

A ridge cord 8 keeps the top of the cover from sagging down between the members of the framework mainly along the ridge. The terni ridge cord is to be given a rather general interpretation. The cord 8 does not only run along the ridge of the tent but parts of its also extend between certain corners as indicated at 15 in Figure 1, and also between the ridge and bottom of the tent as indicated at 16 in the same figure. Again, parts of the ridge cord will extend along the bottom of the tent at places where the pivots 6 occur, and along the medial portions of the sides at the places where the pivots 5 occur. The frame work of reinforcing cords is connected together in any desired manner, for example, by tying or splicing the various components to each other.

In other words, the ridge cord is herein known as a cord that extends over certain places in order to give the cover 7 an adequate support at these places and prevent the sag` ging of the cover as already mentioned in one instance. The corner components 15 of the ridge cord will sharply outline the corners of the tent and support the cover against sagging at these points. This cord is trained through rings 9 which occur at the upper medial portions of the frame, and rings 10 which occur at the upper extreme portions of the frame, in other words at the ends of the ridge. It is from the latter rings 10 that the cord drops as at 16. The ends of these particular cords are joined with pivots 11 of stretcher bars 12 which hold the bottom of the frame work in the spread or extended position.

For this purpose the stretcher bars are pivotally connected with the lower extremities of the sides 2 and 3 by means of rivets 17 (Fig. 8). Similar rivets connect the central ends ofthe stretcher bars at the pivotal points 11 already mentioned. Aga-in, similar rivets constitute the middle pivots 5 as well as the pivotal points at certain ends 6. Each of these rivets include an eye 18. These eyes are like snap rings. They have pivoted jaws 19 which can be swung open to receive the adjacent parts of the cord 8.

The top or ridge rings 9 and l0 include a hinge construction. Each ring has jaws 20 which receive hinge members 21. These members are pivotally attached to the various bars fl, the purpose of the entire hinge construction being to not only permit the longitudinal opening and closing of the framework but the lateral opening and closing as well. This opening and closing will not interfere with the cover 7. The latter is intended to be permanently attached to the framework although the various rings are made in such a manner that the cover can be detached if desired.

This provision for detachment makes it possible to apply covers of various weights and colors. Mosquito netting can be substituted for canvas and vice versa. The character of the rivets '17 has been described already. The rings 9 and l0 will be made in the saine way. Each ring will have a pivoted jaw 22 as in Figure 5. Upon swinging .the various jai open the ridge cord can be inserted. T his presupposes a particular construction in the attachment of the ridge cord to the cover.

In Figure 7 and cover 7 is shown folded around vthe ridge cord 8 and sewed together or otherwise secured at 23. This makes a permanent attachment of the cord to the cover. But the sewing will stop short of certain places as in Figure (i. This leaves a portion of the ridge cord exposed as at` 24, and a loose place 25 in the cover affording room for the insertion and attachment ofthe particular ring. This principle will be carried out wherever a ring occurs in the tent.

Vhen the tent is merely employed as a shelter from insects and the like the cover 7 will consist of a netting, which as in Figure 1, extends 6 to l2 inches on all sides as at 26 in order that any qualities in the bedding (if the tent is employed as a shelter in connection with a bed) may be compensated for. The extensions 2G can be folded under to exclude crawling insects.

The operation is readily understood. In setting up the tent the stretcher bars 12 will be extended full length from the folded or collapsed position in Figure 4, and in doing so, the sides 2 and 3 of the frame work will assume the pitch shown in Figures l and 3. The bars l2 limit the extension of the base of the framework. The middle pivots 11 of the stretcher bars may be made like a rule oint.

The frame is then pulled longitudinally in order to open or separate the bars 4; of the sides 2 and 3. In these actions the longitudinal components of the ridge cord 8 will be drawn taut. There will be a slight slackening of thecorner components l5, but this will not be of any noticeable extent. The corner components 15 must be of suiiicient length to pern'iit the closure of the frame, and when the frame is open the distance between the corner rings 10 and 19 will be diminished slightly, but this diminution will be so little that the slackening etiect en the components 15 will not permit the cover to sag to any noticeable extent.

Usually the camper, when the tent is employed fer crimping purposes will use a ground cover of some sort as indicated at 27. This may comprise a blanket. It is optional how far the blanket shall extend or whether or not the camper shall fold the extensions 26 under. It has been made plain that the ridge cord comprises a number of parts which occur in various places on the framework. Its purpose is to support the cover, and it is attached to the framework so that 'the cover will open and close with the framework very much on the order of the ordinary umbrella.-

When the tent is actually used as a tent, the triangular ends will not be of uninterrupted fabric. One or both of these ends vwill have an opening of a suitable size so that the camp.- er may have passage in and out. These ends will also` be provided with suitable d\rop iaps, and these in turn must have means for securing them so ythat the camper will havea measure of security Within the tent.

The tent is not readily collapsed by a push from either side or either end, regardless of whether it is made in a small or large size. The articulated sides have Vconsiderable strength, thepivoted bars acting as support-Q ing braces in respect to eachother. Upon desiring to collapse the tent it is the work of but a moment to push the framework in Vfrom eachv end so to close the bars 4 as in Figure Ll, then break the stretcher bars 12 at the pivots 11 so that they will fold up and the frame sides can be broughty together. kThe cover 7 remains in place on the framework, and will close therewith. The wholestrucyture can then be inserted in the bag mentioned before. Y

While the construction and of the improved tent is that of a generally preferred form,-obviously modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims. v

I claim 1. A tent of the character rdescribed cornprising a cover, a frame consisting of a pair of sides each comprising articulated bars, and means bywhich the bars yare pivotally connected along the ridge line tok enable standf ing the frame in an inverted V-form.

2. A tent of the character described comprising a cover, a toggle frame composedy of a n f pair of sides having means connecting them with the cover `to define ak ridge when the` s frame is open, and means Vconnected withthe mation when arrangement v ingof a pair of sides having bars which are pivoted together forlongitudinal extension ork retraction, pivots by which the sides are pivoted together to define sides p p connected longitudinally for lateral opening Y,

and closing, stretcher bars pivoted together and to certain bars of the sides to limitl the extension of the bottom, a cover included in the tent having cords at predetermined places, and means incorporated in the various pivots for receivingthe cords not only securing the cover to the framework but supporting the ridge and corners of the tent from sagging.

7 A tent' comprising a cover, a pair of lazy tong frames, and means by Which the frames are pivoted together along one side thereof to define a ridge to support the cover intent forthe .frames areV open.

BERNARD J. NICKLES sides to hold the base of theframe extended.

3. A tent of the character described com-y prising a cover, a toggle frame for carrying the cover comprising sidesrconsisting of bars l pivoted together at the top 'and bottom, means pivoting the sides to each other to forman apex when the sides are separated, and pivoted stretcher bars which are pivoted to certain ones of the frame-side bars.k

4. A tent comprising a cover, a toggle frame for carrying the cover comprising sides consistingv of bars pivoted together at the top and bottom,pivot means connectingthe sides to each other to Vform an apex when the sides are separated, pivoted stretcher bars which are pivoted to certain ones of the frame-side izo

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