US2716993A

US2716993A - Folding tent frame

Info

Publication number: US2716993A
Application number: US291215A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas H Codrick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-06-02
Filing date: 1952-06-02
Publication date: 1955-09-06
Anticipated expiration: 1972-09-06

Description

Sept. 6, 1955 T. H. CODERICK 2,716,993

FOLDING TENT FRAME Filed June 2, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet l THOMQS l-l. CODDCK 9 INVENTOR.

O BY W m p 6, 1955 T. H. CODERICK 2,716,993

FOLDING TENT FRAME Filed June 2, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 THOMIJS H. CODQ|CK INVENTOR.

DTTORNEH S Sept. 6, 1955 T. H. CODERICK 2,716,993

FOLDING TENT FRAME Filed June 2, 1952 e Sheets-Sheet 4 THOMQS H. CODQICK INVENTOR.

Sept. 6, 1955 T. H. CODERICK 2,716,993

FOLDING TENT FRAME Filed June 2, 1952 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 58 moms H. CODQICK INVENTOR.

E6. 18. V W7/ Sept. 6, 1955 T. H. CODERICK 1 FOLDING TENT FRAME FJMd June 2, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 THOMQS H CODPICK INVENTOR.

QTTORNEHS United States Patent FOLDING TENT FRAME Thomas H. Codrick, Encino, Calif.

Application June 2, 1952, Serial No. 291,215 10 Claims. (Cl. 1354) This invention relates to a folding or collapsible tent frame.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a tent frame composed of a plurality of sets of members whereapt to become lost or misplaced. On arriving at the site where the tent is to be erected the various sets of members may be expanded and the sets mutually connected together in such a manner as to form a rigid tent frame over which a fabric canopy may be positioned.

The improved construction is made up of different 1 sets of members some of which may be optionally used to form an arch-type tent frame or an arch-type tent frame having half-dome ends. The portions of the tent frame which form the half-dome ends are capable of being mutually assembled together Without an intervening arch-type tent frame and when so assembled the halfdome end frames mutually cooperate to form a domeshaped tent frame over which a dome-shaped canopy may be positioned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tent frame in which the elements used to effect a detachable connection between the parts are of relatively simple and durable construction and which will enable the elements of the tent frame, when assembled, to be rigidly connected together. The detachable connections are so designed that parts thereof can be permanently attached to the members of the tent frame on which they are mounted so that they likewise are not apt to become lost or misplaced.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of one form of tent which may be erected by means of the construction embodying the present invention, the form illustrated in this figure being that of an arch-type tent;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of another or domeshaped tent that may be erected from the members embodying the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation illustrating still a third type of tent that may be erected from the elements of the frame embodying the present invention, the form illustrated consisting of an arch-type center and halfdome type ends;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of a tent frame that has been erected to form an arch-type tent and illustrating in dotted lines the manner in which sets of members may be collapsed;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the tent frame iillustrated in Fig. 4;

2,716,993 Pa nt Sep 6, 1955 Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the sets of metre bers that form the improved tent frame in fully collapsed position; i

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the sets of members in its expanded position;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the half-dome shaped end frames in fully set up position;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the lower set .of members used to form a half-dome shaped tent frame;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the members shown in Fig. 9 in fully collapsed position;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of two half-dome shaped tent frames mutually assembled together ,to form a dome-shaped tent;

Fig. 12 is a detail of a typical connection used between the lowermost and intermediate sets of members and between the intermediate .and uppermost sets of members that are used to form an arch-type tent frame. This detail is of the construction indicated within the circle labeled 12 on Fig. 4;

Fig. 13 is a sectional View taken substantially upon the line 1313 upon Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is' a detail .of the connection between the end.- most members of the intermediate and the topmost members and the end members of the arch-type tent frame. This detail is of that portion enclosed Within the circle 14 shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 15 is a detail of the connection between the divided portions of the end members of the arch-type tent frame and may be regarded as typical of. the connection enclosed within the circle 15 shown in Fig. 4; i

Fig. 16 is a view taken substantially upon the line 16-16 upon Fig. '15;

Fig. 17 is a detail of the .connection between opposed topmost sets of members used to form an arch-type tent frame and may be regarded as a detail of what is enclosed within the circle 17 upon Fig. 4; I

Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line 18-1-8 upon Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a detail of the construction used Within the circle 19 upon Fig. 4;

Fig. 20 is a detail of the construction employed be.- tween the lower ends of the members of thelowermost sets and may be regarded as a detail of what is enclosed within the circle 20 upon Fig. 4;

Fig. 21 is a view taken upon the line 21 21 .upon Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is a detail of the construction employed within the circle 22 upon Fig. 11;

Fig. 23 is a detail of the construction employed within the circle 23 upon Fig. 11; and v Fig. 24 is a detail of the construction employed within the circle 24 upon Fig. 11.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts through out, and particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, the portion of the tent frame that may be utilized to form an archtype tent consists of two opposed sets of lower arcuate members, generally indicated at 10 and 11. These sets are substantial duplicates of each other and for this reason the detail description will be largely directed to the Se 10. This set is shown as consisting of

arcuate members

12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17. They are hingedly connected together at their tops and bottoms such as by hinges 118 see Figs. 5 and 12, and hinges 19, see Fig; 20. The hinges l8 and 19 are preferably, but not necessarily, so arranged that their axes are parallel .to each other so that the members may assume either an expanded position as shown in Fig. 5 or a collapsed position in side-by side relationship. On the outer sides of some or all of these members of the lower setthere may be hooks 20 adapted to be hooked beneath pivoted rings .or bails 21 that are pivotally mounted, such as by fittings 22 upon mud sills 23 if these are employed, see Fig. 21. In other instances mud sills may not be employed and the lower ends of the lower sets of members and 11 are permitted to rest directly on the ground or other supporting surface.

Above the lower sets 10 and 11 there are intermediate sets of arcuate members, generally indicated at 24 and 25. These sets likewise consist of hingedly connected arcuate members, the set 24 consisting of the

members

26, 27', 28, 29, 30, and 31. These members are intended to form continuations of the members of the lower set 10 and are hingedly connected together so that they may optionally assume a collapsed or contracted position or an expanded position. The lower ends of the members of the intermediate sets are hingedly connected to each other such as by hinges 32, see Fig. 12, and the upper ends of the members of the intermediate sets are connected together such as by hinges 33. A third or topmost set of members is arranged on each side of the center line of the frame, such sets being indicated generally at 34 and 35. The set 34 is illustrated as being composed of

arcuate members

36, 37, 38, 39, 4t), and 41. These members are hingedly connected together at their upper ends by hinges 42 and are hingedly connected together at their lower ends, such as by hinges 43. These hinges enable the members of the uppermost sets to assume a collapsed position in side by side relationship or an expanded position wherein the members of the set are in spaced relation to each other except adjacent their hinge connections. The lower ends of the members of the intermediate sets 24 and are detachably connected to the upper ends of the members of the lower sets 10 and 11, respectively, by a connection such as is illustrated in Fig. 12, wherein the upper ends of alternate members of the lower sets are equipped with vertically extending dovetailed slots 44 that extend partially downward through these members and which are designed to receive headed pins 46. The headed pins 46 are disposed on the lower ends of alternate members of the intermediate sets, there being two such headed pins arranged one above the other on each of the alternate members of the intermediate sets which are receivable one above the other through the open-topped dovetailed slots 44. Leaf spring detents 47 are located in the slots 44 engageable with the upper headed pins 46 to retain the pins in the slots but to permit their removal therefrom when the springs are forcibly depressed. These springs, of course, cannot resist upward movement of the pins 46 within the slots 44 when a substantial upward force is applied to the pins 46 relatively to the slots. Such upward movement, however, is effectively prevented by equipping intermediate members of the lower sets 10 and 11 with pins 48 which extend into arcuate slots 49 that are formed in the lower ends of intermediate members of the

intermediate sets

24 and 25. In a similar manner, the lower ends of alternate members of the intermediate sets are equipped with pins 50 which extend into arcuate slots 51 in alternate members of the lower sets. In assembling an intermediate set of members with a lower set of members the headed pins 46 are dropped or lowered into the slots 44 while the members of the lower set and the intermediate set that are associated therewith are in a collapsed condition. When the pins 46 havereached their seated positions in the slots 44, the members of the lower set and the intermediate set are then opened or spread so that the

pins

48 and 56 will enter their respective arcuate slots. These pins will consequently lock the adjacent ends of the members of the lower and intermediate sets against relative vertical displacement until such time as his desired to take down or collapse the entire tent frame. At that time, the members of the lower set and the intermediate set may be partially collapsed or swung towards each other to shift the

pins

48 and 50 out of. their

slots

49 and 51 and the headedpins 46 maybe lifted out of the slots 44 and complete detachment effected.

The connections between the upper ends of the members of the intermediate sets and the lower ends of the members of the topmost sets are the same, as above described, and as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, so that the topmost sets of members are likewise detachably connected to the upper ends of the intermediate set of members adjacent their hinged connections to each other.

The upper ends of the topmost sets of members are mutually connected to each other as is illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18. This connection consists merely of providing the upper ends of the topmost sets of members with

knuckles

52 and 53. These knuckles may be caused to interfit with each other and to register with each other and are designed to receive a headed pin 54 that may be permanently attached with one of the upper sets of members, such as by a chain 55, to prevent the pin from becoming misplaced or lost.

By the construction above described, it will be appreciated that it is possible to assemble the main elements of the tent frame 10 with 24, 11 with 25, 24 with 34, and 25 with 35 while these elements are in collapsed position. This is accomplished by dropping pins 46 into slots 44 while the elements are collapsed. After they have been mutually assembled with each other, as above outlined, these members may be expanded and the upper ends of the topmost sets may be mutually connected to each other by the application of the headed pins 54.

in association with the sets of members previously described there are end members, generally indicated at 56, 57, 53, and 5? The end members are divided into sections, one point of division being indicated at 6% which is opposite the upper ends of the members of the lower sets. At this connection the sections of the end members are rebated and are overlapped as indicated by the

portions

61 and 62, see Fig. 15. The portion 61 has a centering stud 63 mounted thereon which is receivable in an aperture 64 in the portion 62. This centering stud is flanked on both sides with

rotary pins

65 and 66 carrying eccen trically arranged

discs

67 and 63. These discs may be equipped with handles 69 by which they may be rotated. In the portion 62 there are openings 70 and '71 which are so arranged as to permit the

discs

67 and 63, respectively, together with their handles 6? to be passed therethrough when the discs have been rotated into positions in alignment therewith. After the discs have been passed through the

openings

70 and 71 they may be turned into the position shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 16. They will tend to remain in such position by gravity and thus lock the overlapped ends of

portions

61 and 62 together. This type of lock not only locks the sections of the end members against separating in tension but also serves to rigidly lock these sections against bending moments. Above the joints at 64} the end members are also divided as at 72, a detail of which is illustrated in Fig. 14. The

sections

74 and 73 have the endmost members of the intermediate sets and topmost sets of arcuate members hingedly connected thereto, respectively, as by

hinges

75 and 76 so that these portions or" the end members are permanently associated with the intermediate sets and topmost sets, respectively. The sections '73 and 74 are locked together by equipping the ends of the sections with interfitting knuckles through which a headed pin 77 is receivable. This pin is preferably attached to a member such as by a chain 73 so that it cannot become lost or misplaced. The upper ends of the section 73 may be mutually connected together'by equipping them also with interfitting knuckles and a headed pin similar to the headed pin 77. The lowermost portions of the end members indicated at 7? are hingedly connected such as by hinges 80 to the endmost members of the lower set so that these portions of the end members are permanently associated with the lower set.

It will be thus appreciated that the end members, in effect, operate somewhat as tension and compression members betwegl the lower ends of the members of the lower sets and the upper ends of the members of the intermediate sets. Also, as the sections 73 on opposite sides of the arch are mutually connected they may function as tension and compression members between the lower ends of the opposed topmost sets. These members therefore cooperate with the members of the various sets to form a rigid arch-type frame over which a canvas or fabric canopy 81 may be drawn.

When it is desired to move the tent from place to place the canopy may be removed, the various sets of members disconnected from each other and collapsed into side by side relationship somewhat as is indicated in dotted lines on Fig. 4. The various set of members in this condition can be stored or conveniently transported from place to place, reassembled, and the canopy restored to its posi tion thereover.

The above described construction provides a tent frame having open ends which may be merely closed by tent flaps arranged on the ends of the canopy 81. However, if it is desired to equip the tent frame with half-dome shaped ends additional frame elements may be utilized such as are depicted in Figs. 8, 9, and 10. In these figures there are illustrated a set of

lower elements

82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, and 90 arranged in three groups around a half circle, see Fig. 11. These elements are arcuately shaped and may or may not be provided at their lower ends with hooks 91 similar to the hooks and used for the same purpose. The lower ends of certain of these elements are hingedly connected together such as by hinges 92 similar to the hinges 19 enabling the elements to be collapsed together into the position shown in Fig. 10 or expanded into the position shown in Fig. 9. The elements that are hingedly connected together at their lower ends are 84 and 85 and 87 and 88. The intervening

elements

83, 86, and 89 have detached or unconnected lower ends. Adjacent the upper ends of these elements there are hinges, a detail of which is illustrated in Fig. 23, wherein

members

85, 86, and 87 are hingedly connected together such as by

hinges

93 and 94. In this manner, all of the members 82 to 90, inclusive, are permanently associated with each other, and by reason of the

hinges

92, 93, and 94, they may assume either a collapsed or expanded position.

An upper set of members is also provided to complete the upper portion of the half-dome frame consisting of

radial members

95, 96, and 97. Between the members 95' and 96 there is a collapsible brace 98 and between the

members

96 and 97 there is a similar collapsible brace 99. These braces are centrally divided and are hingedly connected together such as by hinges, see Fig. 22. These hinges are located on the outer sides of the braces and on the inner sides thereof there are arranged alignable knuckles through which a removable pin 101 is receivable to lock the braces in their expanded or extended position. The removable pin 101 is preferably permanently attached to its brace, such as by chain 102. On removal of the pin 181 the sections of the brace may fold relatively to each other as indicated by the dotted lines on Fig. 22, and the braces consequently can be collapsed inwardly while the

radial members

95, 96, and 97 are collapsing towards each other. The upper ends of the

radial members

95, 96, and 97 are hingedly connected to each other such as by

hinges

103 and 104. At the lower ends of the

radial members

95, 96, and 97 there are headed pins 105 similar in arrangement and construction to the headed pins 46. These are receivable in dovetailed slots 106 similar in formation to the slots .44. The headed pins are releasably retained in these slots as by leaf spring detents 107 similar to the detent 47.

From the lower ends of the

radial members

95 and 97 there extend half-

brace sections

108 and 109. These are hingedly connected to the lower ends of these radial members and have at their outer ends knuckles on the inner sides and outer sides thereof through which removable pins similar to the pins 101 are receivable. Completachably connected to each other.

' the topmost sets to each other.

mental-y knuckles indicated at 110 and 111 are provided on the outer sides of the

end members

56, 57, 58, and 59 to which these knuckles may be detachably connected somewhat as illustrated in Fig. 8. In the alternative the knuckles on the ends of the

brace sections

108 and 109 may be detachably connected to complementary knuckles on the brace sections of an opposed half-dome tent frame as is illustrated at 112 and 113 on Fig. 11 to form a dome-shaped tent frame. The lower ends of the

members

82 and 90 are similarly equipped with

knuckles

114 and 115 which, by means of a removable hinge pin, can be either detachably connected to corresponding knuckles at the lower ends of the

end members

56, 57, 58, and 59 or to knuckles on the opposed lower ends of members of an opposed half-dome tent frame, as shown in Fig. 11.

When two half-dome tent frames are assembled together with the arch-type tent frame, as illustrated in Fig. 3, a relatively large canopy 116 may then be thrown thereover. In the alternative, if two half-dome tent frames are assembled together without an intervening arch-type tent frame, as illustrated in Fig. 2, a dome-shaped canopy or cover 117 may be thrown thereover.

At the tops of the

radial members

95, 96, and 97 there are

knuckles

118 and 119 in which detachable hinge pins 120 are receivable. Complementary knuckles are provided on the upper ends of the radial members of the opposed half-dome tent frame as indicated at 121 and 122, enabling the tops of the half-dome tent frames to be de- The

end members

56, 57, 5.8, and 59 are also equipped adjacent their tops with knuckles corresponding to the

knuckles

121 and 122 to enable the half-dome tent frame to be detachably connected thereto at this point.

From the above-described construction it will be appreciated that the improved tent frame is so designed and so constructed that parts thereof are permanently associated together so that they cannot become lost or misplaced. 'These subassemblies may be collapsed together into a flat condition for storage and transportation purposes and may be readily set up at the location where the tent is to be erected. The construction is quite versatile in that either an arch-type tent frame may be erected or an arch-type frame having half-dome ends may be erected or a dome-shaped tent frame can be erected as desired.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible tent frame comprising opposed sets of lower, intermediate, and topmost members, means hingedly connecting the members of each set together so that the members of each set may assume positions in side by side relationship or expanded positions in spaced relation except adjacent their hinged connections to each other, means detachably connecting the lower hinge connections of the members of the intermediate sets to the upper hinge connections between the members of their respective lower sets, means detachably connecting the lower hinge connections between the members of the topmost sets to the upper hinge connections of their respective intermediate sets, and means detachably connecting the upper hinge connections between the members of 2. A collapsible tent frame comprising opposed sets of lower, intermediate, and topmost members, means hingedly connecting the members of each set together so that the members of each set may assume positions in side by side relationship or expanded positions in spaced relation except adjacent their hinged connections to each other, means detachably connecting the lower hinge connections of the members of the intermediate sets to the upper hinge connections between the members of their respective lower sets, means detachably connecting the lower hinge connections between the members of the topmost sets to the upper hinge connections of their respective intermediate sets, means detachably connecting the upper hinge connections between the members of the topmost sets to each other, and end members connecting the lower ends of the endmost members of the lower sets to the connected ends between the endmost members of the intermediate and topmost sets.

3. A collapsible tent frame comprising opposed sets of lower, intermediate, and topmost members, means hingedly connecting the members of each set together so that the members of each set may assume positions in side by side relationship or expanded positions in spaced relation except adjacent their hinged connections to each other, means detachably connecting the lower hinge connections of the members of the intermediate sets to the upper hinge connections between the members of their respective lower sets, means detachably connecting the lower hinge connections between the members of the topmost sets to the upper hinge connections of their respective intermediate sets, means detachably connecting the upper hinge connections between the members of the topmost sets to each other, and end members connecting the lower ends of the endmost members of the lower sets to the connected ends between the endmost members of the intermediate and topmost sets, said end members being divided opposite the connections between the lowermost and intermediate sets and being detachably secured together.

4.A collapsible tent frame comprising opposed sets of lower, intermediate, and topmost members, means hingedly connecting the members of each set together so that the members of each set may assume positions in side by side relationship or expanded positions in spaced relation except adjacent their hinged connections to each other, means detachably connecting the lower hinge connections of the members of the intermediate sets to the upper hinge connections between the members of their re spective lower sets, means detachably connecting the lower hinge connections between the members of the topmost sets to the upper hinge connections of their respective in termediate sets, means detachably connecting the upper hinge connections between the members of the topmost sets to each other, end members connecting the lower ends of the endmost members of the lower sets to the connected ends between the endmost members of the intermediate and topmost sets, and connecting the endmost connections between the intermediate and topmost sets to each other.

5. A collapsible tent frame comprising two half-dome type tent frames, each of said tent frames being collapsible, means detachably connecting the half-dome tent frames to each other so as to form a dome-type tent frame, each of said half-dome type tent frames comprising a lower set of arcuate members hingedly connected together so as to be capable of assuming positions in side by side relationship or spaced positions, and an upper set of arcuate members hingedly connected together to assume collapsed positions in side by side relationship or spaced positions with respect to each other, and means for detachably connecting the lower ends of the members of the upper set to the upper ends of the members of the lower set.

6. A collapsible tent frame comprising two half-dome type tent frames, each of said tent frames being collapsible, means detachably connecting the half-dome tent frames to each other so as to form a dome-type tent frame, each of said half-dome type tent frames comprising a lower set of arcuate members hingedly connected together so as to be capable of assuming positions in side by side relationship or spaced positions, an upper set of arcuate members hingedly connected together to assume collapsed positions in side by side relationship or spaced positions with respect to each other, means for detachably connecting the lower ends of the members of the upper set to the upper ends of the members 8 of the lower set, and collapsible braces connecting the lower ends of the members of the upper set.

7. A collapsible tent frame comprising a lower series of elongated arcuate members hingedly connected to each other so that they may be collapsed together in side-byside relationship or expanded into spaced positions wherein they are contiguous only adjacent their hinged connections to each other, and an upper set of elongated arcuate members hingedly connected to each other for collapsing movement into side-by-side relationship or expandingmovement into positions spaced from each other except adjacent their hinged connections, said upper set of members having headed pins on the lower ends thereof, and certain of said lower members having slots in the upper ends thereof to slidingly receive the headed pins.

8. A collapsible tent frame comprising a lower series of elongated arcuate members hingedly connected to each other so that they may be collapsed together in side-byside relationship or expanded into spaced positions wherein they are contiguous only adjacent their hinged connections to each other, an upper set of elongated arcuate members hingedly connected to each other for collapsing movement into side-by-side relationship or expanding movement into positions spaced from each other except adjacent their hinged connections, said upper set of members having headed pins on the lower ends thereof, and certain of said lower members having slots in the upper ends thereof to slidingly receive the headed pins, and a spring detent in the slots of the lower members to biasingly retain the headed pins of said upper members therewithin.

9. A collapsible tent frame comprising two half-dome type tent frames, each of said tent frames being collapsible, interconnecting hinge structure for detachably connecting the half-dome tent frames to each other so as to form a dome type tent frame, each of said half-dome type tent frames comprising a lower set of elongated arcuate members hingedly connected together so as to be capable of assuming positions in side-by-side relationship or spaced positions, and an upper set of elongated arcuate members hingedly connected together to assume collapsed positions in side-by-side relationship or spaced positions with respect to each other, said upper set of members having headed pins in the lower ends thereof, and certain of said lower members having slots in the upper ends thereof to slidingly receive the headed pins.

10. A collapsible tent frame comprising two half-dome type tent frames, each of said tent frames being collapsible, interconnecting hinge structure for detachably connecting the half-dome tent frames to each other so as to form a dome type tent frame, each of said half-dome type tent frames comprising a lower set of elongated arcuate members hingedly connected together so as to be capable of assuming positions in side-by-side relationship or spaced positions, an upper set of elongated arcuate members hingedly connected together to assume collapsed positions in side-by-side relationship or spaced positions with respect to each other, said upper set of members having headed pins in the lower ends thereof, and certain of said lower members having slots in the upper ends thereof to slidingly receive the headed pins, and a spring detent in the slots of the lower members to biasingly retain the headed pins of said upper members therewithin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 39,721 Cross Sept. 1, 1863 1,437,219 Berthon Nov. 28, 1922 1,572,790 Grigsby Feb. 9, 1926 1,853,367 Mace Apr. 12, 1932 2,225,972 Brogren Dec. 24, 1940 2,627,865 Mitchell et al. Feb. 10, 1953