US2796877A - Tents - Google Patents

Description

June 25, 1957 N. s. BERSETH 2,796,877

TCENTS.

Filed Oct. 7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.5

Norman 5. Bersefh l7 INVENTOR.

June 25, 1957 s. BERSETH 2,796,877

TENTS Filed Oct. 7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Norman 5. Bersefh IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent My invention relates to improvements in portable tents for camping, play, or dressing shelters at beaches and the like.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a tent which is easily and quickly erected and taken down for porting purposes.

Another object is to provide means for erecting a tent with a covering of different shapes in cross section.

Still another object is to provide means for stretching tent coverings into different cross sectional shapes and securely holding the same in shape.

Still another object is to provide for attaining the above objects in tents which are simple in construction, readily foldable for porting purposes and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of my improved tent erected;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in perspective of a modification of my invention;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view in perspective of a second modification of the invention; and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic composite view of other modifications of the invention.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, according to the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, a tent covering 3 is provided of semifiexible but foldable material pre-shaped to assume a generally conical form in cross-section and having a flat central top portion 5 and a lower edge 7.

A supporting frame, designated generally by the numeral 9, is provided for the covering 3. The frame 9 is of tripod form with poles, or legs, 11 converging upwardly to a crown portion 13 in the form of a horizontal disk with bottom sockets 15 thereon in which the upper ends of the poles 11 are detachably fitted. The poles 11 comprise telescopically adjustable sections 17, 19, 21 and set screws 23 for holding said sections in adjusted position and whereby said frame 9 is vertically adjustable as to height.

The covering 3 is detachably suspended by its flat top portion 5 in the frame 9 from the crown portion 13 by means of a pair of superposed disks 25, 27 secured together and to said top portion 5 at opposite sides of said portion by rivets 29, a pair of axial nut equipped hooks 31, 33 in said disks 25, 27 and the crown portion 13 and a tension coil spring 35 connecting said hooks.

Upper and lower circumferentially spaced series of suitable tie straps 37, 39 on the side of the covering 3 2,796,877 iiB-atented June 1:25,?1 95'7 provide for detachably iattaching said covering to the poles 11.

Circumferentiallyrspaced anchoringstraps 41are1suitablytattaohei assat+ 43;1to .theloweredge -7 of the covering.i3 :fo'r :attachment by pegs-45 to". the 5 ground.

-A-zfly forming slit-' ,47 is;.-formed=;=in what constitutes the front :side of .themcovering. 3 with a -Islideu=fastener---49 at op'posite rsidesvthereoffifor -.closing-.-the 1' same. -.-The slide :51 :of the zslide-i-fastener =49z iswattachable by a pad lo ck a52;-when ;thei:slit-47 is;closed;ito:a:tab%53 on arei nforcing tcross strapQSSmecuredeby istitches 57 to E'the covering l 3 at thez-rlower endt-of thewslit" 49.

eAniaupwafdly rextendingsaxialesocket :59 on -the crown portion 13 provides means for mounting a flagstaff 61 on said crown portion.

Preferably the poles 11 are provided with sharp pointed lower ends 63 positioned in the ground to anchor the frame 9 in upright position.

In erecting the described tent, the frame 9 is first set up and anchored in the ground as described. The covering 3 is then introduced in the frame 9 and attached by the hooks 31, 33 and spring 35 to the crown portion 13. The anchoring straps 41 are then attached to the pegs 45 which are driven into the ground in a circle and whereby the lower edge of the covering is held in substantially circular arrangement. The tie straps 37, 39 are then attached to the poles 11 which it will be understood are arranged opposite said tie straps. The frame 9 is then adjusted vertically by telescopically adjusting the poles 11 until the frame is high enough to stretch the spring 35 and thereby stretch the covering upwardly until it is taut.

In taking the tent down the tie straps 37, 39 are released from the poles 11, the anchor straps 41 released from the pegs 45 and the spring 35 released from the hook 31 in the disks 25, 27. The poles 11 may then be pulled out of the ground and out of the sockets 15 and telescopically adjusted to shorten the same. The covering 3 may then be folded or rolled up and arranged with the poles 11, the crown portion 13, spring 35 and pegs 45 into a compact bundle for porting or storage.

In the modification according to Figure 4 the covering 65 is also of semi-flexible material pre-formed and creased into hexagonal, cross-section with a pyramid top 67. The frame 69 comprises poles 71 of telescopic sections 73, 74, 75 like the frame 9 with the following exceptions. The covering 65 converges upwardly to the top 67. The poles 71 are arranged parallel and opposite the creases 77 of the covering 65 to said top and converge over said top 67 at a greater angle to the crown portion 79. The upper and lower series of tie straps 81, 82 are secured to said covering at the creases 77 for attachment to said poles 71 and the anchor straps 83 are secured to the lower edge 85 of the covering at said creases 77 for attachment to the pegs. Otherwise arrangement is the same as in the preferred embodiment except the poles 71 have an extra section 76.

As shown diagrammatically in the modifications illustrated in Figure 6, in plan, coverings 87, 89, 91, 93, creased to assume octagonal, pentagonal, rectangular, triangular, and trapezoidal shape may be provided in pole frames 97, 99, 101, 103, in which the poles are arranged in formation corresponding to such shapes opposite the creases for attachment of the coverings thereto and to the ground for instance as by the means shown in Figure 4.

In the modification shown in Figure 5, a socket plate 107 is provided for the lower ends of the poles 11', or 71, for example, and which may be used to support the poles instead of driving the poles into the ground.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, itis not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows: v A tent comprising an upwardlytapering semi-flexible covering having a flat central top portion and a lower edge, a frame comprising a crown portion and a plurality of upward converging poles having upper ends fixed in said crown portion and lower ends adapted to be driven into the ground, means suspending said covering by its top portion from said crown portion within said frame,

means anchoring the edge of the covering to the ground,

and ties spaced vertically in rows on said covering detachably connecting said covering to said poles, said covering being preformed and creased into'polygonal crosssection and having a pyramidal top terminating in said flat top portion, said poles being arranged at said creases and converging upwardly at one angle to said top and converging at another greater angle over said top to said flat crown portion in spaced relation to said top.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 979,037 Searle Dec. 20, 1910 1,964,818 Hood July 3, 1934 2,543,684 Blanchard Feb. 27, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 132,098 Australia Dec. 4, 1947

Images