US20090188538A1

US20090188538A1 - Device for expanding ceiling portion of tent

Info

Publication number: US20090188538A1
Application number: US12/060,822
Authority: US
Inventors: Jong-Joo Kim
Original assignee: Liveplex Co Ltd
Current assignee: Liveplex Co Ltd
Priority date: 2008-01-24
Filing date: 2008-04-01
Publication date: 2009-07-30
Also published as: JP2009174296A; KR20090081559A; KR100925710B1; JP4630353B2

Abstract

The present invention discloses a device for expanding the ceiling portion of a tent. The expanding device comprises an extendable fabric portion 104 in which the ceiling portion 103 of the inner fabric 102 is cut out to a given size and separated, and which is attached to the cut-out portion; an insert ring 105 sewed-attached to the center of the extendable fabric portion 104; a fixing band 121 and an adjusting band 131 that are sewed-attached to the inner fabric 102 of both sides with the extendable fabric portion 104 put in between and that have eyelets 122 and 132 respectively; a support rod 111 whose both sides are bent at a given angle and has elastic force, whose central portion is inserted into the insert ring 105, and whose both ends are fixed to the eyelets 122 and 132 of the fixing band 121 and adjusting band 131 through an insert tube 112; a buckle 141 one end of which is fixed to a free end, i.e. the end that is not sewed-attached to the inner fabric, of the fixing band 121 and the other end of which is connected in a knot to prevent the free end of the adjusting band from coming loose.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tent made of outer fabric and inner fabric, and more specifically, to a device for expanding the ceiling portion of a tent wherein: the ceiling portion of inner fabric is cut out to a given size and separated; an extendable fabric portion is sewed-attached to the cut-out portion; a fixing band and adjusting band are sewed-attached to the inner fabric of both sides with the extendable fabric portion put in between; a support rod whose left and right sides are bent at a given angle and has elastic force, has both ends inserted respectively to the eyelets of the fixing band and the adjusting band through an insert tube; the free end of the fixing band is fixed to a buckle; and the free end of the adjusting band is connected in a knot to a buckle, so that the height of the support rod can be varied according to the length change of the adjusting band to thereby adjust the height of the tent ceiling portion. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for expanding the space of the tent ceiling portion, which comprises: an extendable fabric portion attached to the ceiling portion of a tent; a support rod for expanding the ceiling portion by applying force to the extendable fabric portion; a fixing band and an adjusting band to which both ends of the support rod are inserted; and a buckle for connecting both bands so as to adjust the length, and through which the adjusting band is pulled to make the support rod lift up the ceiling portion to prevent sagging, so that it is possible to prevent water from gathering in the ceiling portion in rainy weather, and since snow does not pile up on the ceiling portion even if it snows the ceiling portion won't crumble due to the weight of snow, and also since the area inside tent can be expanded, the crampedness felt inside the tent can be reduced to make in-tent living pleasant, and the ceiling portion of tent is transformed into a new and unique form, so that product competitiveness is enhanced through differentiation from products of other companies.
2. Description of the Related Art
Usually, a tent, which is essential in outdoor camping life, is made in a dual structure of outer fabric and inner fabric for the purposes of waterproofing, windbreaking, etc.
Because most of tent ceiling portions are in a flat form, they have a problem that rainwater gathers in the ceiling portion in rainy weather and snow piles up on the ceiling when it snows. Namely, when the ceiling portion of a tent is in contact with rainwater in rainy weather, the fabric of the tent absorbs moisture to cause it to sag, so water starts to gather in the sagged portion.
Also, because the ceiling portion of a tent is relatively flat, snow piles up on the ceiling portion when it snows in wintertime. Eventually, the ceiling portion is pressed by the weight of snow that has piled up, which may cause the tent to collapse.
Conventionally, in order to prevent water from gathering or snow from piling up on the ceiling portion of tent, a long pole is used to lift up the ceiling portion. Namely, by standing a long pole in the tent to protrude the ceiling portion, it prevents water from gathering or snow from piling up on the raised ceiling portion.
However, such a conventional tent has a problem in that since a long pole is stood up in the center of the tent, there are many constraints to in-tent living and the size of utilizable space is considerably reduced.
Also, because conventionally a long pole has to be carried along with the tent all the time, there is a problem in that weight and volume are increased when carrying the tent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is to solve such conventional problems with an object to provide a device for expanding the ceiling portion of a tent such that: it can prevent water from gathering in the ceiling portion because the ceiling portion of a tent does not sag in rainy weather; the ceiling portion does not collapse due to the weight of snow because snow does not pile up on the ceiling portion even when it snows; it is possible to have pleasant living conditions without crampedness felt in the tent because the area inside the tent can be expanded; and it is possible to differentiate from products of other companies by a tent that can be transformed into a new and unique form.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for expanding the ceiling portion of a tent that made of outer fabric and inner fabric, the device comprising: an extendable fabric portion in which the ceiling portion of the inner fabric is cut out to a given size and separated, and which is attached to the cut-out portion; an insert ring sewed-attached to the center of the extendable fabric portion; a fixing band and an adjusting band that are sewed-attached to the inner fabric of both sides with the extendable fabric portion put in between and that have eyelets respectively; a support rod whose both sides are bent at a given angle and has elastic force, whose central portion is inserted into the insert ring, and whose both ends are fixed to the eyelets of the fixing band and adjusting band through an insert tube; a buckle one end of which is fixed to a free end, i.e. the end that is not sewed-attached to the inner fabric, of the fixing band and the other end of which is connected in a knot to prevent the free end of the adjusting band from coming loose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, features, and advantages of preferred embodiments of the present invention will be more fully described in the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tent showing the state in which the ceiling portion is expanded by a device for expanding the ceiling portion of the tent of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device for expanding the ceiling portion of the tent according to the present invention as seen from inside the tent;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the state in which the device for expanding the ceiling portion of the tent according to the present invention is combined;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the state in which the device for expanding the ceiling portion of the tent according to the present invention is used; and

FIG. 5 is a lateral cross sectional view showing the device for expanding the ceiling portion of the tent according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a device for expanding the ceiling portion of a tent according to the present invention will be described more clearly with reference to the drawings.
Commonly, a tent is made of outer fabric 101 and inner fabric 102. A device for expanding the ceiling portion of the tent according to the present invention comprises an extendable fabric portion 104 in which the ceiling portion 103 of the inner fabric 102 is cut out to a given size and separated, and which is attached to the cut-out portion; an insert ring 105 sewed-attached to the center of the extendable fabric portion 104; a fixing band 121 and an adjusting band 131 that are sewed-attached to the inner fabric 102 of both sides with the extendable fabric portion 104 put in between and that have eyelets 122 and 132 respectively; a support rod 111 whose both sides are bent at a given angle and has elastic force, whose central portion is inserted into the insert ring 105, and whose both ends are fixed to the eyelets 122 and 132 of the fixing band 121 and adjusting band 131 through an insert tube 112; a buckle 141 one end of which is fixed to a free end, i.e. the end that is not sewed-attached to the inner fabric, of the fixing band 121 and the other end of which is connected in a knot to prevent the free end of the adjusting band from coming loose.
First, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tent showing the state in which the ceiling portion 103 is expanded by a device for expanding the ceiling portion of the tent of the present invention. Because in the tent fitted with the device for expanding the ceiling portion of the tent of the present invention, the ceiling portion 103 in the center rises higher than the other ceiling portion, any rainwater or snow flows down over the both sides of the tent, such that rainwater does not gather or snow pile up on the ceiling portion. The tent maintains a given shape by a pole that is inserted into a plurality of rings attached on the outer fabric 101 of the tent.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device for expanding the ceiling portion of the tent according to the present invention as seen from inside the tent, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the state in which the device for expanding the ceiling portion of the tent according to the present invention is combined, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the state in which the device for expanding the ceiling portion of the tent according to the present invention is used.
As shown in these drawings, in order to lift up the ceiling portion 103 of the tent, the inner fabric 102 of the ceiling portion 103 is cut out in a given size and separated, and then an extendable fabric portion 104 is attached to the cut-out portion. Since the extendable fabric portion 104 should be expanded upward while it is being extended by elastic force of the support rod 111 which is to be described later, it is preferable to make it of extendable material. Also, the shape of the extendable fabric portion 104 is not specially limited and is preferable to have a shape suitable according to the size and shape of the tent. An embodiment of the present invention illustrates a rectangular extendable fabric portion 104.
To the extendable fabric portion 104 is sewed-attached an insert ring 105. Into the insert ring 105 is inserted the central portion of the support rod 111. It is preferable to attach the insert ring 105 in the center of the extendable fabric portion 104 so that the ceiling portion 103 of the tent is expanded by the support rod 111 during the expansion of the extendable fabric portion 104.
The fixing band 121 and the adjusting band 131 are sewed-attached on both sides with the extendable fabric portion put in between. In order to widen the expansion range of the ceiling portion 103, it is preferable to arrange the support 111 lengthwise of the extendable fabric portion 104. Accordingly, it is preferable to attach the fixing band 121 and the adjusting band 131 to the inner fabric 102 each at a point separated at a given interval from opposite ends of the extendable fabric portion 104. Also, it is preferable that the top ends of the fixing band 121 and adjusting band 131 are attached on the straight line the same as the insert ring 105 such that expansion of the extendable fabric portion 104 by the support rod 111 can be made smoothly.
The top end of the fixing band 121 is fixed to the inner fabric 102 of the tent at a given interval from one end (left end in the drawing) of the extendable fabric portion 104, while the bottom end, which is a free end, is not fixed to the inner fabric but is freely hung, and is inserted into one end of a buckle 141 which is to be described later. Roughly in the middle of the fixing band 121 is formed an eyelet 122 for insertion of one end of the support rod 111.
Likewise, the top end of the adjusting band 131 is fixed to the inner fabric 102 of the tent at a given interval from one end (right end in the drawing) of the extendable fabric portion 104, while the bottom end, which is a free end, is not fixed to the inner fabric but is hung freely, and is inserted into the other end of the buckle 141. Also in the adjusting band 121 is formed an eyelet 132 for insertion of the other end of the support rod 111.
Both ends of the support rod 111 are inserted respectively to the eyelets 122 and 132 of the fixing band 121 and adjusting band 131 through the insert tube 122. Both ends of the support rod 111 are maintained in a state inserted in the eyelets 122 and 132 through the insert tube 122.
Into one end of the buckle 141 is inserted the fixing band 121 and into the other end is inserted one end of the adjusting band 131. At this time, one end of the adjusting band 131 is combined to the buckle 141 in a knot for prevention of coming loose. Accordingly, if one end of the adjusting band 131 is held and pulled to the right, the length of the adjusting band 131 is decreased to make the interval between both ends of the support rod 111 reduce and the central portion protrude upward simultaneously. On the other hand, if the adjusting band 131 is let go, one end of the adjusting band 131 does not come loose from the buckle 141 by virtue of the knot of the adjusting band 131 but instead maintains the combined state, so the protruded state of the support rod 111 can be maintained as it is.
During use, if one end of the adjusting band 131 is pulled to the right in the drawing, the length of the adjusting band 131 is reduced while the interval between both ends of the support 111 decreases, and at the same time the central portion of the support 111 is protruded upward to press the extendable fabric portion 140 outward. The extendable fabric portion 104 is expanded outward and extended upward by the pressing of the support rod 111, and the outer fabric 101 in contact with the extendable fabric portion 140 is also lifted up as shown in FIG. 3. The state in which the central portion of the support rod 111 is protruded by pulling one end of the adjusting band 131 is shown in FIG. 4.
At this time, by adjusting the length of the adjusting band 131 according to the weather and terrain of the area where the tent is installed to adjust the extent of the pressing of the support 111, the protruded height of the extendable fabric portion 104 can be suitably adjusted. Namely, if the adjusting band 131 is pulled further to the right, the support rod 111 is further deformed elastically to make the central portion protrude upward so as to further press the extendable fabric portion 104 upward. As a result, the ceiling portion of the tent is lifted up further from the state shown in FIG. 3 to the state shown in FIG. 4. As such, it is possible to suitably adjust the protrusion height of the ceiling of the tent by elastic deformation of the support rod 111 by means of the adjusting band 131.
For example, in the case of using a tent in an area with a little snow or rain, the height of the ceiling portion 103 is lifted up just a little, and in an area with a lot of snow or rain, the height of the support rod 111 is lifted up to the maximum to prevent snow from piling up or rain from gathering on the ceiling portion 103.
Meanwhile, the insert ring 105 that is supporting the middle portion of the support rod 111 is sewed-attached to the extendable fabric portion 104 so as to maintain the normal position all the time. Therefore, since the support rod 111 can be elastically deformed at the normal position by the insert ring 105, it maintains the protrusion form of the extendable fabric portion uniform at all times.
Next, FIG. 5 is a lateral cross sectional view showing the device for expanding the ceiling portion of the tent according to the present invention. Both ends of the support rod 111 are supported by the eyelets 122 and 132 of the fixing band 121 and adjusting band 131 through the insert tube 112, and the central portion of the support 111, inserted into the insert ring 105, is supporting the protruded state of the extendable fabric portion 104 by the top outer circumference of the support rod 111. Therefore, the support rod 111 can firmly support the protruded state of the extendable fabric portion 104 while being maintained in a stable state by the eyelets 122 and 132 of the fixing band 121 and adjusting band 131 and the insert ring 105.
Thus, the support rod 111 of the present invention has the length considerably short compared with the conventional long pole and is also lightweight, so it has an advantage that it is easy to carry without trouble.
Although it is not shown in drawings, it is preferable that the support ring has a detachable means such as a Velcro fastener so as to detachably install the support rod.
In addition, since the space expanding device of the present invention is installed adjacent to the ceiling portion 103 inside the tent, it is possible to live a life like normal times without restrictions to in-tent life. Rather, since crampedness can be reduced by the expanded ceiling portion and air circulation is made smoothly by a widened space, it is possible to live a pleasant life in a tent.
Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to its presently preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalents can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for expanding the ceiling portion of a tent that made of outer fabric and inner fabric, the device comprising:

an extendable fabric portion in which the ceiling portion of said inner fabric is cut out to a given size and separated, and which is attached to the cut-out portion;

an insert ring sewed-attached to the center of said extendable fabric portion;

a fixing band and an adjusting band that are sewed-attached to the inner fabric of both sides with the extendable fabric portion put in between and that have eyelets respectively;

a support rod whose both sides are bent at a given angle and has elastic force, whose central portion is inserted into said insert ring, and whose both ends are fixed to the eyelets of said fixing band and adjusting band through an insert tube;

a buckle one end of which is fixed to a free end, i.e. the end that is not sewed-attached to the inner fabric, of said fixing band and the other end of which is connected in a knot to prevent the free end of said adjusting band from coming loose.