US2865385A

US2865385A - Tent

Info

Publication number: US2865385A
Application number: US598937A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dermont B Crafts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-07-19
Filing date: 1956-07-19
Publication date: 1958-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 1975-12-23

Description

Dec. 23, 1958 D. B. CRAFTS 2,865,385

TENT Filed July 19, 1956 \NVENTOR D. B. CRAFTS United States Patent TENT Dermont B. Crafts, Auburn, Maine Application July 19, 1956, Serial No. 598,937

4 Claims. (Cl. 135-1) This invention relates to enclosures of various kinds and materials, and useful for many purposes, including the provision of an isolated area in which objects and persons may be contained or housed for privacy, shelter or for other reasons.

The invention relates more particularly to an enclosure capable of being readily erected and occupied either on a temporary or an extended basis and which is composed primarily of sheet material, such as canvas, duck, or other substance, sustained by frame structure or the like.

Various types of enclosures heretofore produced have been subject to criticism for numerous reasons, including that they were too complicated, cumbersome, and expensive, required too much time and elfort to manufacture, erect, and dismantle, and also were not satisfactory for other reasons.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the criticisms above enumerated and to provide a simple and inexpensive tent which can be readily and inexpensively manufactured, easily and quickly erected either indoors or outdoors, and without the necessity for driving stakes or the performance of other laborious operations which are both diflicult and time consuming.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible tent which can be carried collapsed, although at such times the parts are substantially in completely assembled condition so that they may be readily expanded and set up in any desired location, with minimum effort and expense.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tent of relatively thin, flexible sheet material with multiple sides and an upper substantially horizontal tubular portion in which is received a ridge pole which in turn is supported by a spring central supporting coil, the upper end of which is attached to a connector for a series of poles the lower ends of which rest in pockets in the sheet material at the base corners of the tent.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is an elevation viewed from one corner of a tent illustrating one application of the invention;

Fig. 2, a vertical section;

Fig. 3, a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 4, a perspective of a tent collapsed and folded for storage or transportation;

Fig. 5, a perspective of the upper tips of the poles and the spring mechanisms for holding the same; and

Fig. 6, an elevation of a modified tent panel.

Briefly stated, the invention comprises a tent of pyramidal shape having a pair of walls or side sections each corresponding to an isosceles triangle with its top removed, which side sections are joined at one end by a section in the form of an isosceles triangle and at the other end by a pair of overlapping flaps generally similar to such triangle. At each of the corners the upper portions of the two side sections are provided with a sleeve 2,865,385 Patented Dec. 23, 1958 ice in which a ridge pole or reinforcing rod is adapted to be disposed for maintaining such sleeve in extended hori zontal position. The ridge pole and wall sections attached thereto are suspended by a loop attached to the lower end of a spring coil, the upper end of which spring coil is attached to a connector by which the upper ends of the tent poles are joined, said tent poles having their lower ends disposed in pockets in the lower corners of the two side sections of the flexible sheet material of which the tent is fabricated. The lower edges of the side sections are hemmed and with the pockets reinforce the sheet material at the sides of the tent. If desired, loops may be attached at the lower corners of the tent and intermediate such corners, and such loops may be anchored in any desired manner. The diametrically opposite or diagonal tent poles are connected by means of springs which tend to maintain the lower ends of such diagonal poles in spaced relation. In the present construction the side walls of the tent are inclined and converge at the top or peak in a substantially straight horizontal line and a sleeve is provided in which a stiffening member or ridge pole is adapted to be disposed supported from its central portion by a loop or strap. Instead of a single ridge pole, a pair of horizontal ridge poles may be employed one at right angles to and across the center of the other, thus providing a substantially larger top defining a substantially generally horizontal square ceiling or roof instead of relatively narrow head room along the ridge pole and in a substantially straight line where the upper sides of the tent converge. If desired, the tent may have a floor of any desired character.

With further reference to the drawing, the tent of the present invention is composed of

panels

10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 which form the two side walls or sections, the rear or end wall or sections, and the two front end walls or sections which include the two flaps, respectively. Each of the side panels 10 and 11 corresponds to an isosceles triangle with its top removed, while the rear or end panel 12 is in the form of an isosceles triangle, the

flaps

13 and 14 jointly also forming such a triangle.

The several panels are connected in any desired manner, as for example by sewing and, likewise, the bottom edges are provided with hems to reinforce the same. Each of the side panels 10 and 11 is provided at its lower corners with reinforcing

flaps

15, 16, 17 and 18 which not only reinforce the corners but provide pockets in which tent poles, composed of

sections

19, 20, 21, may have their lower ends received, four of such poles being employed.

Sections

19, 20, 21 of the poles are connected by means of coupling sleeves 22, preferably carried on the lower ends of the

sections

19 and 20, and being tightly fitted on such sections so that water cannot run by gravity into such couplings, such couplings or sleeves fitting snugly over the upper end portions of the next lower section so that the tent poles therefore may be dismantled and packaged for storage or shipment.

The upper ends of the tent poles converge and each is provided with an opening 23 through which a connector 24 in the form of a rope or other flexible member is inserted and tied to maintain the upper ends of the tent poles in close relation but permitting relative movement between the same.

The tent poles are disposed exteriorly of the sheet material which forms

thepanels

10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, which constitute the tent. While it is desirable to retain the upper ends of the tent poles in converging relation, it is also desirable to maintain the lower ends of the same as widely separated as possible so that stakes are unnecessary, and in order to accomplih this a series of spring members are provided, each comprising a coil 25 and a pair of arms 26 and with lateral pole engaging yokes 27 at opposite ends of the spring. Due to the coil 25, the yokes 27 of the spring engage diametrically opposite poles and urge them apart.

The upper straight edges of the side panels and 11 are sewn together .or otherwise joined and are provided with reinforcing herns '10, the other side panels .being similarlyhemmed. The side panelsare joined by a sleeve portion 28 anda centrally encircling loop 29, a ridge pole 30being adapted to .beinserteddn thesleeve portion 28 for rigidity, the upper portionofthe tent being. supported by means of the encircling loop.29 which in turnis attached by means of a spring 31 with the connector 24 which joins the upper-ends of the poles.

Thus a tent ofpyramidal shape is provided without obstructions within the same, such tent being able to rest on a surface whether it be within a building or exteriorlytthereof. The tent may .be anchored. in positionin any. desired manner and .for this purposea series ofloops 32.are locatedalong the edges of the panelsinanyndesired position, as for example,.at the corners and midway therebetween. If it is desiredto anchor thetent in,place, this may be done by fastening the loops either temporarily or permanently to the-surface on which the tent is supported or by merely placing weights thereon.

Instead of a tent in which side panels are joinedin a substantially straight line along the top, .a .ridge pole 33 may be appliedtransversely of the first, with such ridge pole located beneath the first and suspended by means of the spring connector 31 and a second spring connector 34 thereby increasing the head room within the tent. In order to limit separation of the tent poles at each side of the opening in the front of thetent, one or both of

cords

35 and 36 may be employed. Also, where a second ridge pole 33 is employed, the sides '10 .and Y11 need additional fullness of material and, consequently, instead of these sides a side 37 may be employed having an intermediate fold 38 which may be brought into use by the release of fastening means, such as for example, an interlacing fastener, the cooperating halves ofwhich are attached to the panel 37 in such a manner that when the fastener is released the fold is brought into use. The tent panels may be provided with ties 39 which are adapted to be fastened to the poles for;supporting.such panels andmaintaining them in their outermost positions.

.From the foregoing it will be apparent that a tent is provided which is susceptible ofwide use, is relatively simple and inexpensive, can be quickly erected and dismantled, as well as folded in a small bundle for storage and transportation.

It-willbe obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without de- 4 parting from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A tent comprising a series of connected panels of sheet material tapered in width from bottom to top and forming an enclosure, a stand including substantially straight tent poles adapted to:be set up with their lower ends apart and their upper ends converging for supporting said panels, resilient arms connecting the upper ends of said'poles exteriorly of said panels, said panelshaving exteriorly adjacent the base of said panels pockets for receiving the lower ends of said tentpoles, spring means connecting the upper ends of said panels to the upper ends of said poles and biasing the lower end of said poles apart and said panels extended.

2. A tent comprising a series of .connectedpanels of sheet material tapered in widthfrom bottom to top and forming an enclosure, a stand including substantially straight tent poles adapted to be set up with their lower ends apart, upper ends of said poles converging andforming a. suspensioningrneans for supports forcpanels, aflexible means joining the upper ends of said poles. exteriorly of said panels, said panels having exteriorly adjacent the .base of said panels pockets for receiving the lower ends of-said tent poles, spring means connecting the upper ends of said poles and biasing the lower enduof said poles apart and said panels extended.

3. Panels according to claim 2 in which at leastone pair are trapezoidal in shape and a ridge provided between the top connection of the upper ends of said trapezoidal panels.

4. The invention according to claim 2 .in which the trapezoidal panels are provided with a pleat adjacent the top for increasing the width between said panels, and a spreading pole for arrangement transverse of saidridge pole and means to maintain said spread polein position and maintain said pleats in spread condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 602,587 Phelps Apr. 19, 1898.

779,500 Rice Jan. 10, 1905 1,599,213 Coupal Sept. 7, 1926 2,543,684 Blanchard Feb..27, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 345,623 Italy Jan. 12, 1957