US20030024562A1

US20030024562A1 - Tent frame structure

Info

Publication number: US20030024562A1
Application number: US09/917,836
Authority: US
Inventors: Lausan Liu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-07-31
Filing date: 2001-07-31
Publication date: 2003-02-06

Abstract

A tent frame structure comprises an axis member and a plurality of brackets pivotally engaging with the axis member. Each bracket includes a first rod set, a second rod set pivotally engaging with the first rod set and a post means pivotally engaging with the second rod set. The post means is movable outwards to extend the first rod set, the second rod set and the post means for extending and stretching the frame.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tent frame structure and particularly a tent frame that is capable of extending and folding rapidly.

A lot of people like to have outdoor activities during weekends such as field trips, mountain hiking, camping, and the like. When doing field trips or camping, people have to prepare some camping outfits. Tent is an indispensable article in camping. It provides people a temporary resting and living space.

For setting up a tent, the tent should be extended first, then nail pegs on the ground around the camping site, and erect two upright poles to support the roof of the tent. Then fasten ropes between the top end of the upright poles and the pegs nailed on the ground or trees to complete the tent. When there is a need to set up a cooking tent, some tents have a canopy flap which may be stretched out from the tent. Then two brace poles may be set up to support the stretched canopy flap at two ends. Or the two ends of the stretched canopy flap may be fastened to trees to complete the cooking tent.

While the tent and cooking tent provides space for people to rest and cook, they are not easy to set up. It takes a lot of time and efforts. They are also prone to collapse in strong wind or hit inadvertently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to resolve the foregoing disadvantages. The invention provides a frame to support a tent that is capable of rapidly extending for use and folding for storing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame with adjustable height to suit users' requirements.

A further object of the invention is to provide a frame that may be folded to a small size to facilitate carrying or storing.

To attain the foregoing objects, the frame of the invention consists of an axis member and a plurality of brackets pivotally engaging with the axis member. Each bracket includes a first rod set, a second rod set pivotally engaging with the first rod set, and a post means pivotally engaging with the second rod set. The post means may be moved outwards to extend the first and the second rod set to extend and setup the frame.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a total frame of the invention after folding. [0010]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a frame of the invention, extended. [0011]
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the frame according to FIG. 2. [0012]
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the frame of the invention, under extension. [0013]
FIG. 5A is a schematic view of the latch mechanism according to FIG. 4, disengaging. [0014]
FIG. 5B is a schematic view of the latch mechanism according to FIG. 4, latching. [0015]
FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of the frame according to FIG. 4. [0016]
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the frame for adjusting height.[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and [0018] 3, the frame of the invention consists of an axis member 1 and a plurality of brackets 2 pivotally engaging with the axis member 1 in different directions. The brackets 2 may be extended outwards to form a frame for supporting a tent (not shown in the drawings). When not in use, the brackets 2 may be moved inwards to the axis member 1 for folding to facilitate carrying, transportation and storing.
The [0019] axis member 1 pivotally engages with a plurality of first joints 11, 11′ at multiple locations and directions. The first joints 11, 11′ may pivotally engage with a plurality of brackets 2 for the brackets 2 to extend outwards in multiple directions or folding.
Each [0020] bracket 2 includes a first rod set 3, a second rod set 4 pivotally engaging with the first rod set 3, and a post means 5 pivotally engaging with the second rod set 4. By means of the pivotal engaging relationship, the rod sets 3, 4 and post means 5 have interactions among them and may be extended and folded rapidly.
The [0021] first rod set 3 consists of a first radius rod 31 and a first ulna rod 32 which have respectively a first radius joint 311 and a first ulna joint 321 located at one end thereof pivotally engaged with the first joints 11, 11′. The first ulna rod 32 has another end attached to a second joint 33. The second joint 33 has a tenon 331 engageable with the second rod set 4.
The [0022] second rod set 4 consists of a second radius rod 41 and a second ulna rod 42. The second radius rod 41 has one end attached to a third joint 43 which is pivotally engaged with the second joint 33 and the first radius rod 31, and another end pivotally engaged with a fifth joint 51 located on the post means 5. The second ulna rod 42 has one end attached to a fourth joint 44 which is pivotally engaged with the second joint 33 and another end engaged with a sixth joint 52 located on the post means 5. The second ulna rod 42 further includes a latch mechanism 45 which has a latch tongue 451 pivotally engaged with the fourth joint 44. The latch tongue 451 has a latch lip 452 located at one end engageable with the tenon 331, and another end fastened to a restore element 453 and a link element 454. The restore element 453 has one end pressing against the inner wall of the second ulna rod 42. The link element 454 has one end fastened to a driven element 455 which in turn is pivotally engaged on an axis where the second ulna rod 42 and the sixth joint 52 engaged. The driven element 455 has one end formed an extended cam element 456 movable by a passive element 457 pivotally engaged with the sixth joint 52. When the passive element 457 is moved by an external force, the bottom end of the passive element 457 will push the cam element 456 such that the driven element 455 will turn and move the link element 454 which in turn moves the latch tongue 451 to disengage from the tenon 331.
The post means [0023] 5 is a telescopic structure consisting of at least one strut 53, 54, 55. The outer strut 53 is pivotally engaged with the fifth and sixth joint 51 and 52 of the second radius rod 41 and the second ulna rod 42. The struts 53, 54, 55 may be moved to adjust the height of the post means 5.
All the joints, radius rods and ulna rods are pivotally engaged by means of pivotal elements (screw bolts) [0024] 6 and pivotal shafts 7. Hence the joints, radius rods and ulna rods may be extended smoothly to form the frame for supporting the tent.
Referring to FIGS. 4, 5A, [0025] 5B and 6, when to extend the frame of the invention, move the post means 5 outwards, the first radius rod 31 and the first ulna rod 32 of the first rod set 3, and the second radius rod 41 and the second ulna rod 42 of the second rod set 4 will be extended and stretched. When the first rod set 3 and second rod set 4 are stretched to a selected degree, the sloped surface of the front end of the latch tongue 451 will slip over the tenon 331, and the restore element 453 will be urged and deformed in a curved shape, and the latch lip 452 at the front end of the latch tongue 451 will be raised upwards. When the first rod set 3 and second rod set 4 are stretched to a substantially horizontal condition, the elastic force of the restore element 453 will actuate the latch lip 452 moving downwards to latch and engage with the tenon 331 of the second joint 33. Hence the second joint 33 and the fourth joint 44 will engage with each other to form a fastened and anchored condition. The frame is fully extended and setup for use.
When not in use and to fold the frame, move the [0026] passive element 457 to drive and turn the driven element 455, the link element 454 will also be moved to turn the latch tongue 451. The restore element 453 will be deformed to become a curved shape again, and the latch lip 452 will be raised to disengage from the tenon 331. Then the post means 5 may be moved towards the axis member 1 in the center. As a result, the first rod set 3 and second rod set 4 and the post means 5 may be folded closely towards the axis member 1 in a compact size.
Referring to FIG. 7, when there is a need to raise the height of the frame after extension, the inner struts [0027] 54, 55 may be pulled out from the outer strut 53 for a selected distance desired to adjust the height of the frame.
When the frame is fully extended, the [0028] brackets 2 are stretched in various directions and pivotally engaged with the axis member 1 to become a firm and sturdy skeletal structure. Then a tent canvas may be spread over the brackets 2 to cover the frame to become a complete tent for housing people and goods.
Since the tent frame of the invention is constructed by pivotally engaging the [0029] axis member 1, first rod sets 3, second rod sets 4, and post means 5 through joints, users can extend or fold the frame structure rapidly with little work. The post means 5 may equip with an adjusting means 8 to control the extending length of the inner struts 54, 55 to adjust the frame to a desired height.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A tent frame, comprising:

an axis member having first joints mounted thereon pointing to multiple directions;

at least one first rod set pivotally engaging with the first joints; and

at least one post means pivotally engaging with the first rod set;

wherein the post means is movable outwards to extend the first rod set and the post means for extending and stretching the frame.

2. The tent frame of claim 1, wherein the first rod set includes a first radius rod and a first ulna rod.

3. The tent frame of claim 2, wherein the first radius rod and the first ulna rod have respectively one end attached to a first radius joint and a first ulna joint to pivotally engage with the first joints, and the first ulna rod has another end attached to a second joint.

4. The tent frame of claim 3, wherein the second joint includes a tenon for latching a second rod set.

5. The tent frame of claim 1, wherein the post means includes at least one strut with an outer strut attaching to a fifth joint and a sixth joint.

6. The tent frame of claim 1, wherein the strut is movable for adjusting the height of the frame.

7. The tent frame of claim 1, wherein at least one strut has an adjusting means located thereon for adjusting the height of the frame.

8. A tent frame, comprising:

at least one first rod set pivotally engaging with the first joints;

at least one second rod set pivotally engaging with the first rod set; and

at least one post means pivotally engaging with the second rod set;

wherein the post means is movable outwards to extend the first rod set, the second rod set and the post means for extending and stretching the frame.

9. The tent frame of claim 8, wherein the second rod set includes a second radius rod and a second ulna rod.

10. The tent frame of claim 8, wherein the second radius rod has one end attached to a third joint which is pivotally engaged with a second joint located on a first ulna rod and a first radius rod, and another end pivotally engaged with a fifth joint of the post means.

11. The tent frame of claim 8, wherein the second ulna rod has one end attached to a fourth joint pivotally engaging with the second joint, and another end pivotally engaging with a six joint located on the post means.

12. The tent frame of claim 8, wherein the second ulna rod includes a latch mechanism.

13. The tent frame of claim 12, wherein the latch mechanism includes a latch tongue which has a latch lip located at one end thereof and another end fastening to a restore element and a link element, the restore element having one end pressed against the inner wall of the second ulna rod, the link element having one end fastened to a driven element which is pivotally engaged on an axis where the second ulna rod and the sixth joint engaged, the driven element having one end formed an extended cam element.

14. The tent frame of claim 13, wherein the sixth joint is pivotally engaged with a passive element which is movable with the driven element.

15. The tent frame of claim 13, wherein the restore element and the link element are elastic.

16. The tent frame of claim 8, wherein the joints, the radius rod and the ulna rod are pivotally engaged through pivotal elements and pivotal shafts.