US3073326A

US3073326A - Collapsible tent

Info

Publication number: US3073326A
Application number: US848575A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul A Lefebvre; Reine D Lefebvre
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-10-26
Filing date: 1959-10-26
Publication date: 1963-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 1980-01-15

Description

'borne by a vehicle.

States atent 3,073,326 Patented Jan. 15, 1963 tic This invention relates to a folding camp tent of the type adapted to be transported in a carrier atop a vehicle, and which can be erected alongside the vehicle.

This invention relates to a tent of the same general class as that shown in applicants United States Patent No. 2,793,646, which issued May 28, 1957. This invention relates to improvements thereon, which render the tent easier to erect and strike, less bulky in storage, and in general more comfortable and pleasant to use.

According to a feature of this invention, the tent has a structural framework adapted to be linked to a carrier The structural framework is expandable to an erected configuration from a stored configuration, and may remain attached to the car or be de tached therefrom in use when erected, as desired.

According to a preferred but optional feature of this invention, the structural members which define certain edges of the erected tent are made of telescopic members.

According to another preferred but optional feature of the invention, the tent is provided with a peak so it has a sloping roof, structural members being provided for elevating part of the covering sheet for the tent to create such a peak.

According to still further preferred but optional features of the invention, screen doors and Windows are provided which include zipper-jointed mesh inserts in the walls of the tent, together with an exterior canvas covering, which may be removed whenever an opaque weatherproof surface is not desired for covering the mesh.

According to still another preferred but optional feature of the invention, a water-proof floor sheet is provided which may be zippered to the bottom edges of the vertical sheets of the tent, as desired.

According to still another preferred but optional fea ture of the invention, an upright access sheet is provided in the tent adjacent the vehicle with at least one vertical zipper therein, which permits direct access from the tent to the vehicle, so that the vehicle may be entered from the erected tent without exposure to the elements.

The above and other features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the structural framework of the tent in its erected configuration;

FIG. 2 is a left-hand elevation taken at line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation, partly in cutaway cross-section, taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary elevations showing details of a window according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken at line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are elevation views of a door according to the invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-section taken at line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation showing the outer covering of the tent placed over the erected structural framework;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation taken at line 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a plan view taken at line 12-12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a cross-section taken at line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a cross-section taken at line 14-14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a side elevation of a portion of one of the surfaces of the tent;

FIG. 16 is a detailed drawing of one of the members of the structural framework;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary view, partly in cross-section, showing a detail common to all telescopic members of the invention;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary side elevation showing an alternate means'for attaching the carrier to the car; and

FIG. 19 shows an alternate means for attaching the structural framework to the carrier.

In FIG. 1, an automobile 20 is shown to whose top there. is attached a carrier 21 which forms part of the present invention. The carrier is adapted to stow the flexible cloth covering for the tent, as well as its structural framework, and also provides other space for dunnage and the like. It may be made as shown, wherein the carrier is almost as long as the top, this configuration being .for station wagons. It will be understood that the carrier need not be that long, because in order to store a framework eXtensible to the same dimensions in a shorter carrier, it is only necessary to put more joints in the various telescopic and folding members. However, when there is no particular need to put in more ment shown is a convenient one.

The carrier includes three upright Walls 22, 23, 24. The area between

walls

23 and 24 may be conveniently used for storage of miscellaneous items, as well as part of the framework, while the area between

walls

22 and 23 is utilized for storage of the flexible covering for the tent and part of the framework. The other portions of the joints, the arrangecarrier are for luggage and the like.

A reel shaft 25 is journaled in

walls

22 and 23. It passes through wall 23, and has pinned thereto a pinion gear 26 which rotates with the shaft. A boss 27 on the gear has a transverse hole drilled therethrough, and holds a handle 28. The handle is simply a rod bent to a angle to form a grip portion. Both the handle and the hole in the boss have a circular cross-section so that the grip portion 29 may be pressed toward wall 23 when not in use to turn the reel, to get the handle out of the way. A dog 29a is provided to hold the reel against unwinding from an adjusted position. The reel has a pair of books 30 for receiving the edge of the flexible covering in a manner to be described.

All of the walls have cutouts 31 to permit the structure of the tent to be folded thereinto.

Walls

22 and 2 4 have

hinge plates

32, 33, and 34, 35, respectively, on their outer surfaces (FIG. 2).

Plates

32, 33, and plates 34, 35 have vertically aligned holes, and posts 36, 37 respectively pass therethrough to form a vertical attachment means. Bolts 38, 39 are placed transversely in posts 36 and 37, respectively, to limit the downward travel thereof, or alternatively, the posts may simply be headed. The posts act as hinge means for joining the structural framework 45. of the tent to the carrier. The carrier may be attached to the car in any manner, such as by suction cups or by straps to the rain gutter. In FIG. 18, there is shown a particularly suitable clamp 200 attached to the rain gutter 201 of car 20. The clamp includes an upright 202 which forms one leg of a bridge extending between the gutters on the opposite sides of the car. To this upright, there is attached a bracket 203. A hexagonal nut 204 bears against the top of the bracket and is threaded to the stem of a hook member 205. The hook member engages a flange 206 so that when the nut is turned, the hook member draws the flange upward so as to pull it against the underside of the gutter. This moves the upright against the upper side of the gutter and by this means the clamp is held firmly in place.

The structural framework includes a pair of attach members 46, 47 which are attached to the hinges at

walls

22 and 24, respectively. These members may conveniently be round tubes flattened at their ends, and with holes punched therein. The posts pass through one of said holes so as to permit the attach members to move up and down as well as to turn around the posts. This permits of a wide range of adjustment between the elevation of the tent and the carrier, and also the forward or rearward position of the tent and the carrier, and also the forward or rearward position of the tent relative to the vehicle, so that the tent may be erected even on ground which requires the vehicle to stand either higher or lower than the tent, or slightly ahead of it or behind it. This also is a compensation for varying loads in the car, resulting variable for spring-flexure, and for flat tires, and the like. Also, this permits the same carrier to be used on cars of widely varying heights.

At their other ends, the attach members are hingejointed to

roof edge members

48, 49, respectively. All of the roof edge members are identical. Therefore, only roof edge member 48 will be described in detail. Roof edge member 48 has a first section 50 and a second section 51. The outer diameter of section 51 is less than the inner diameter of section 50 so that they can telescope. A spring-loaded detent 52 is provided for holding the member in an extended condition. When the member is to be telescoped to a smaller length, the detent is pressed in to permit the relative movement. It will be recognized that more than two telescoping sections may be provided, if desired. The length of each section, and the number of them, is determined by the desired extended length of the erected member, and the size of carrier into which it is to fit. The first section has its end flattened and pinned in hinged relationship to the end of attach member 46, away from the carrier. The corresponding end of member 49 is hinged to the corresponding end of attach member 47. A post hole 53 is formed through the first section at a location spaced from the hinge mounting to the attach member so that the roof edge member can be fixed onto the top of a post. A second post hole 53a is provided in the flattened end of a second section for receiving the end of another post. Similar holes are provided on member 49.

FIG. 19 illustrates that the attach members 46 and 47 may be telescopically joined to

roof edge members

48 and 49. For example, there is shown a telescopic member 2220 having a left-hand end similar to that of member 46 for attachment to a carrier, and a right-hand end which is telescopically mounted to member 48. When the structural framework is to be removed from the car, the left-hand end of member 220 is simply released from the car in the usual manner, the member 48 may be lifted off the stud 61, and member 220 telescoped in. Then, the stud may be repassed through the hole in member 48 and hole 221 in member 220 which may be aligned with the hole in member 48.

Posts 54, 55 are telescopic members which are mounted beneath roof edge member 48, while posts 56, 57 are mounted beneath member 49. All the posts are identical, so only post 54 will be described in detail.

Post 54 has a first section 58, and a second section 59. The second section has an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the first section, so that it can telescope thereinto. To the lower end of the second section, there is swaged a point 60 adapted to pierce the ground, while at the upper end of the first section there is swaged a stud 61. Stud 61 is intended to pass through the post hole 53 and project above the roof edge member. A springloaded detent 62 may be provided in the second section which springs out to prevent unintended telescoping of the post. To telescope the post, the detent member need only be pressed inwardly, so that the lower edge of the first section can slide past it.

FTG. 17 illustrates an additional detail which is common to all of the telescopic members in this assembly. This detail will be shown but once, it being understood that the other telescopic members also carry it. The first section 58 has a groove 210 swaged or otherwise formed in it, which forms an interior circumferential bead 211. The second section 59 has an exterior bead 212. The outer diameter of bead 212 is greater than the interior diameter of bead 211 so that the second section cannot be pulled out of the first section. The beads are previously formed at a locking spaced from the ends of their respective tubes so that the ends of the tubes are not enclosed as they would be if simple frames were used. The detent 62 is shown in further detail comprising a button 213 with a flange 214 disposed inside the tube. Spring 21-5 bears against the underside of the button to springload it outwardly.

In FIG. 1, there are shown two additional

roof edge members

65, 66. These roof edge members, while they may be made telescopic if desired, are preferably formed from angle iron and are hingedly joined to each other. This gives a stronger structure for supporting the peak of the roof.

Roof edge member 65 is shown in full detail in FIG. 16. It has a first member 67 and a second member 68. These members are joined by hinge pin 69. Member 67 has a rounded end so that the two members can be pivoted around each other. Flange 71 of member 68 is adapted to rest atop flange 72 of member 67. This keeps the members aligned, even when the weight of the roof peak is on the center of the roof edge member. The structure thereby forms a very rigid and strong roof edge member.

Holes 73, 74 are formed in the flanges of

members

67 and 68, respectively, and permit the passage of studs 61 on the posts. All of the posts thus support two roof edge members.

Roof edge members

65 and 66 carry

studs

75, 76, respectively, to which

tubular risers

77, 78, respectively, are mounted by being fitted over the same. To the upper ends of

risers

77, 78 there are swaged

studs

79, 80, respectively. The arrangement is such that the risers, when fitted over the studs on the roof edge members, are supported in vertical relationship. They are removed from the studs on the edge members when the framework is stowed.

A peak edge member 81 comprises a telescopic structure with first and

second members

82, 83, respectively, the second member having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the first member so that they can be telescoped. A spring-loaded detent 84 is provided for holding the peak edge member in its extended configuration. The extreme ends of the peak edge member are flattened and pierced by holes so that studs 79 and may be passed therethrough, thus to support the peak edge member in a horizontal position.

This completes the description of the structural members, and it will be seen that the configuration is that of a rectangular enclosure having a peaked roof. At this time, guy ropes 85, 86 may be connected between the upper end of post 57 and the lower part of post 55, and the upper end of post 55 and the lower end of post 57 to brace that end against sway. The end closest to the automobile need not be braced against sway, particularly if the automobile is left connected to the tent.

The flexible covering for the framework structure will now be described with initial reference to FIG. 10. There are a pair of sealing

sheets

90, 91 which are sewed into the flexible covering along corner edges 92, 93. These sealing sheets respectively join

side sheets

94, 95 at these corner edges. An end sheet 96 is sewed to the side sheets at corner edges 97, 98 of

side sheets

94 and 95, respectively. An access sheet 99 is sewed to comer edges 92 and 93 and joins both side sheets and both access sheets. The two side sheets, the access sheet, and the end sheet form a vertical perimeter for the tent, and a continuous enclosure around the four posts. The sealing sheets may be drawn up against the vehicle and tied to convenient portions thereof so as to form a sort of corridor between the tent and the car for purposes yet to be described. Straps 95a may be sewed to the inside of the tent at appropriate locations, so that they can be used to secure the folded flexible cover to the carrier when stored.

A connector sheet 100 is sewed to the upper portion of the access sheet along roof edge 101. The connector sheet has a central cutout 102 to accommodate wall 23 of the carrier. The left-hand portion of sheet 100, as viewed in FIG. 12, has a number of grommets 103 to engage with the hooks on the reel so that the entire flexible covering can be wound onto the reel starting with that end. Ties 10311 are provided for joining the connector sheet to the right-hand side of the carrier in FIG. 12. In addition, the connector sheet serves as a roof over the corridor between the tent and the car, the corridor thereby being enclosed by the sealing sheets and the connector sheets.

A roof edge 104 extends across the top of the end sheet. Roof edges 101 and 104 generally coincide with the location of the

roof edge members

65, 66. To the access sheet and the end sheet at roof edges 101 and 104, there are sewed

peak sheets

105, 106, respectively. The peak sheets are isosceles triangles with their respective bases sewed to the sheets beneath. It will be understood that, if desired, these peak sheets may be cut integral with the access and end sheets, but they are disclosed as though they were two separate pieces, because this is the way they ordinarily are made in the course of manufacturing the tent.

The

side sheets

94 and 95 have roof edges 107, 108 which approximately coincide with the elevation of

roof edge members

48 and 49, respectively. To these roof edges, there are sewed

roof sheets

109, 110, respectively. The roof sheets may, if desired, be a single continuous piece of material, but for convenience in disclosure will be discussed here as though they were two pieces. The roof sheets meet at the peak edge 111 which is formed by peak member 81. The sides of the roof sheets are sewed to the peak sheets, as well as to the roof edges of the side sheets.

In order to keep the flexible covering of the tent in a proper position, grommets (not numbered) are provided at the location on the flexible covering where the top of each post is desired to be kept, and also at the top of the

risers

77, 78. When the flexible covering is put on, these grommets are passed over the posts and risers, and the location of the flexible covering with respect to the erected structural framework is thereby established. A floor sheet 112 is provided which is attached to the lower edges of the side sheets, access sheet, and end sheet. These latter sheets and the floor sheets are all provided with zipper halves which join to the floor sheet for the purpose. The roof and floor are preferably made of water-proof nylon, while the sides may be made of Water-repellent canvas.

It will now be shown how the device is erected; first the structural framework is telescoped out from the carrier by pulling out the roof edge members to their full length, extending the posts and placing them under the same, and putting the

roof edge members

65 and 66 in place. The

flexible covering is next unwound from the reel, and placed in position over the frame. Then the risers and the peak edge member are put in place to form the peak. Thereafter, the reel may be tightened against the pall so as to keep the connector sheets taut and rigid.

When the structural framework is struck, the telescopic sections are pushed together, and, with the attach members hinged to the carrier, are folded thereinto. The legs,

roof edge members

65, 66, and the peak edge member, are stowed loose. Also, the attach members and

roof edge members

48, 49, could be stored unattached, if preferred. An advantage of this device over that shown in applicants Patent No. 2,793,646 is the lightness, small bulk, and ease of storage of the framework, even unattached. The framework in the said patent, while it can be stowed loose, is bulkier and heavier, so that ordinarily it is to be preferred that the framework be stored attached to the carrier.

Zippers

140, 141, 142, 143 are provided at all the corner edges so as to join the access sheet to the side sheets and the end sheet to the side sheets. The access sheet, seal ing sheet, and connector sheet are all permanently sewed in. In setting up the tent, the covering is put on the erected structural frame, and the zippers closed. In striking the tent, the zippers are undone, the flexible covering is foldedto the width of the reel, and then the covering is wound onto the reel for storage.

In practice, it may be desirable to attach outside guy wires to the corners of the structure, particularly in high winds, or when the tent is detached from the vehicle. This may be accomplished simply by looping the guy wires over the studs which project beyond the flexible covering.

Certain access and ventilation elements will now be described which are particularly useful with a tent of this variety. Side sheet 94 incorporates a door 115. This door is disclosed in detail in FIGS. 7-9.

In FIG. 7, the door is shown closed. It will be noted that a zipper 116 is sewed between two opaque canvas door flaps 117, 118, which door flaps are sewed to sheet 94 at their tops and sides, but are left loose at the bottom. Therefore, unzipping the zipper from the bottom will permit the opaque door flaps to be pulled back and held by

ties

119, 120.

In back of the door flaps and sewed in an opening in the side sheet, there are two inserts 121, 122 which are formed of upper mesh portions, and lower canvas portions 121a, 122a, sewed to the respective mesh portions. A zipper 123 is provided where the inserts and strips abut. At the lower edges of the inserts there are zipper halves which meet at the center of the door. The zipper 12211 which fastens the floor to the sides of the tent terminates at adjacent edges of the inserts (at point 122c), so that the lower edges of the inserts can be fully zippered in, or can be separated from the floor to allow the mesh portions to be pulled back at the bottom. The sides and top of the inserts are sewed into the tent covering. In going through this mesh door, a person must step through an opening formed by pushing the zippered sides apart. Even if the zipper is left undone, the center portion of the mesh will tend to return to nearly a closed configuration, thereby aiding in excluding insects. In this respect, the mesh inserts are different from the door flap, and this results from the fact that the inserts are sewed in at the bottom as well as at the sides and top of the opening.

A window 12 for the end sheet is shown in FIGS. 4-6. ,T his window has a pair of mesh inserts 125, 126 sewed into an opening in the end sheet. These mesh inserts are joined by a zipper 127, so that a person can reach through to open and close an outer flap 128. In this case, as with the mesh inserts of the door, the tension of the surrounding sheet will tend to draw the mesh inserts together to close the opening between them, even when the zipper is left undone. Window flap 128 is sewed to the end sheet at the top thereof and hangs down 7 therefrom. A pair of side flaps 129, 130 are adapted to adjoin the edges of the window flap. Zippers 129a, 130a are provided for zippering the side flaps to the window flap. Thus the window can be zippered closed with full privacy, or can be opened either by reaching through the opening in the mesh inserts and operating the zippers, which can be pulled from either inside or outside, or by going outside and operating them. The window flap may be held up by ties 131, if desired.

Access sheet 99 is shown in detail in FIG. 14. A pair of

zippers

132, 133 are spaced lfI'Ol'Il each other and are vertically disposed. They are placed about where the front and rear doors of the vehicle will ordinarily stand. When the tent is set up alongside an automobile, it is frequently desired to have access to the car without going out into the weather. Then the automobile can be used as a storage room, and the tent need not be cluttered up with articles which are not in frequent use. Access to the automobile is obtained simply by unzippering one of

zippers

132 or 133, and stepping through the opening produced thereby. The sealing sheets and connector sheet provide a corridor to give privacy during this operation as well as to protect a person from the elements while going from the tent to the vehicle.

Side sheet 95 (FIG. 15) may conveniently have an opening 134 over a portion of its area into which is sewn a mesh insert 135 and flap 136. This flap is the same as window flap 128. Side flaps may be provided if desired.

A similar opening 137, mesh insert 138, and flap 139 may also be provided by the door in side sheet 94.

A rodent barrier 225 (see FIGS. 10 and 13) may be stitched to the floor edge at the same attached location as the access sheet. It may be either inside the tent or outside the tent. Preferably, it will be sewed to the outside of the tent so that it may be joined by ties (not shown) to the automobile. This together with the sealing sheets and connector sheet substantially close the corridor between the tent and the vehicle, and also excludes rodents from the tent. It is also possible simply to sew the barrier inside the access sheet to a height of about 14 inches, to exclude rodents in that manner, if preferred.

The structure shown is one in which ample privacy, as well as ventilation and insect exclusion, may be enjoyed. It is also one in which the user may have ample access to the vehicle without stepping outside the privacy of the tent, which materially alleviates the storage problem.

In the event that the automobile is to be driven away, then it is only necessary to pull hinge posts 36 and 37 so as to release the attach members. It is preferable just before this action to attach guy ropes to the corner posts. Then the car is entirely free of the tent, and may be driven away as desired. When reattaching the tent to the vehicle, the vehicle need be parked only approximately in its former location, inasmuch as the ability of the attach members to swing, and the tent to fiex and sway a trifle will be enough to make up for minor differences in placement. Also, the vertical adjustment between the at-t-ach members and the post caused by the significant length of the hinge post enables the tent to be put up on ground which may have a substantially different elevation than the automobile.

This construction provides all of the features of a firstclass camping tent, in which the parts have a small stored bulk, and which is easy to erect and strike.

This invention is not to be limited by the embodiment shown in the drawings and described in the description which is given by way t example and not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination: a carrier adapted to be mounted atop a vehicle, which carrier comprises at least two substantially upright walls, a reel rotatably mounted behinge on each of two of said walls, said hinge comprising a vertical post having-a substantial vertical length; a tent having a stored configuration and an erected configuration which tent in its erected configuration includes structural framework for forming portions of the perimeter of the roof and sides of a tent, said roof and sides intersecting to form edges of the tent structure in the erected configuration, said structural framework including a pair of attach members, said attach members being elongated and having an opening to receive said hinge posts, the dimension of said attach members surrounding said posts and in line with said posts being of lesser length than that of the respective post whereby said attach members may assume different positions along said hinge pins to compensate the differences in elevation between the carrier and the tent in its erected configuration, and a pair of telescoping roof edge members hingedly joined to said attach members, said attach members having extended and retracted conditions, the extended condition being for the erected configuration, and the contracted condition being for the stored configuration at least four telescopic post members adapted to support said roof edge members; two additional roof edge members, each having an erected and a stored configuration, the erected configuration of said additional roof edge members being the longer, and being adapted to be supported by the posts along with the other roof edge members, the four roof edge members forming a closed polygon, a pair of risers supported by two non-intersecting roof edge members, and a flexible covering for the structure comprising an access sheet, two side sheets attachable to the access sheet, and an end sheet attachable to each of the side sheets forming the perimeter of the tent, and means for attaching said sheets to each other, a pair of peak sheets, one of said pair of peak sheets being attached to the access sheet and the other of said pair of peak sheets being attached to the end sheet, said peak sheets being substantially triangular, and a pair of roof sheets, one of each pair of roof sheets being attached to one of each of said side sheets, each roof sheet being attached to each of said pair of peak sheets, and said roof sheets being attached to each other for forming a peaked roof, a door through one of the sheets for entering and leaving the tent comprising a pair of inserts meeting edge to edge and having a mesh portion, each insert being sewed into the top, and a different one of the sides of the opening, a zipper at said edges for joining the said edges so as to close the opening with the mesh, a zipper to engage the bottom of the inserts to the tent, and a pair of door flaps secured to the top and two sides of the opening and meeting edge to edge, and loose at the bottom, and a zipper adapted to join the adjoining edges of the door flaps, and an opening in one of the sheets of theflexible covering to form at least one window, said window comprising a pair of mesh inserts in edge to edge relationship with said window, said inserts each being sewed to three sides of the openings, a zipper on said inserts adapted to join said edges so as to close the opening with the mesh, a window fiap fastened to the wall at the top of said opening and loose at the sides and bottom, two side flaps sewed to the wall, and two zippers, one at each edge of the window fiap for joinder to the side flaps.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which a rodent barrier is provided which comprises a flexible sheet sewed to the bottom of the access sheet and adapted to join with the automobile.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which all telescopic members are provided with exterior protuberances on the inside member and interior protuberances on the outside member, to prevent the members from separating.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which means are 9 10 provided for mounting the carrier to the vehicle, com- References Cited in the file of this patent prisingf E1111! upright meimber adapted to msupport at lfast UNITED STATES PATENTS part 0 t e carrier an to rest against e upper sur ace of a vehicle rain gutter, a bracket mounted to said upgmglmgham f right member, a hook passed through said bracket and 5 2168913 Si 1939 threaded to a nut at the upper surface of said bracket, 2793646 Lefebvre 1957 and a flange member engaged by said hook adapted to 2825351 Thornton Mar 1958 bear against the upper surface of the rain gutter, where- 218261210 Hen "M ,i 1958 by tightening of the nut draws the hook end of the flange 2,870,774 Blosser Jam 27 1959 upward, thereby drawing the upright down-ward against 10 the rain gutter and clam-ping the upright to the said rain FOREIGN PATENTS mtter. 513,613 Canada June 14, 1955

Claims

1. IN COMBINATION: A CARRIER ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ATOP A VEHICLE, WHICH CARRIER COMPRISES AT LEAST TWO SUBSTANTIALLY UPRIGHT WALLS, A REEL ROTATABLY MOUNTED BETWEEN TWO OF SAID WALLS, MEANS FOR TURNING THE REEL, A HINGE ON EACH OF TWO OF SAID WALLS, SAID HINGE COMPRISING A VERTICAL POST HAVING A SUBSTANTIAL VERTICAL LENGTH; A TENT HAVING A STORED CONFIGURATION AND AN ERECTED CONFIGURATION WHICH TENT IN ITS ERECTED CONFIGURATION INCLUDES STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK FOR FORMING PORTIONS OF THE PERIMETER OF THE ROOF AND SIDES OF A TENT, SAID ROOF AND SIDES INTERSECTING TO FORM EDGES OF THE TENT STRUCTURE IN THE ERECTED CONFIGURATION, SAID STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK INCLUDING A PAIR OF ATTACH MEMBERS, SAID ATTACH MEMBERS BEING ELONGATED AND HAVING AN OPENING TO RECEIVE SAID HINGE POSTS, THE DIMENSION OF SAID ATTACH MEMBERS SURROUNDING SAID POSTS AND IN LINE WITH SAID POSTS BEING OF LESSER LENGTH THAN THAT OF THE RESPECTIVE POST WHEREBY SAID ATTACH MEMBERS MAY ASSUME DIFFERENT POSITIONS ALONG SAID HINGE PINS TO COMPENSATE THE DIFFERENCES IN ELEVATION BETWEEN THE CARRIER AND THE TENT IN ITS ERECTED CONFIGURATION, AND A PAIR OF TELESCOPING ROOF EDGE MEMBERS HINGEDLY JOINED TO SAID ATTACH MEMBERS, SAID ATTACH MEMBERS HAVING EXTENDED AND RETRACTED CONDITIONS, THE EXTENDED CONDITION BEING FOR THE ERECTED CONFIGURATION, AND THE CONTRACTED CONDITION BEING FOR THE STORED CONFIGURATION, AT LEAST FOUR TELESCOPIC POST MEMBERS ADAPTED TO SUPPORT SAID ROOF EDGE MEMBERS; TWO ADDITIONAL ROOF EDGE MEMBERS, EACH HAVING AN ERECTED AND A STORED CONFIGURATION, THE ERECTED CONFIGURATION OF SAID ADDITIONAL ROOF EDGE MEMBERS BEING THE LONGER, AND BEING ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED BY THE POSTS ALONG WITH THE OTHER ROOF EDGE MEMBERS, THE FOUR ROOF EDGE MEMBERS FORMING A CLOSED POLYGON, A PAIR OF RISERS SUPPORTED BY TWO NON-INTERSECTING ROOF EDGE MEMBERS, AND A FLEXIBLE COVERING FOR THE STRUCTURE COMPRISING AN ACCESS SHEET, TWO SIDE SHEETS ATTACHABLE TO THE ACCESS SHEET, AND AN END SHEET ATTACHABLE TO EACH OF THE SIDE SHEETS FORMING THE PERIMETER OF THE TENT, AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAID SHEETS TO EACH OTHER, A PAIR OF PEAK SHEETS, ONE OF SAID PAIR OF PEAK SHEETS BEING ATTACHED TO THE ACCESS SHEET AND THE OTHER OF SAID PAIR OF PEAK SHEETS BEING ATTACHED TO THE END SHEET, SAID PEAK SHEETS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY TRIANGULAR, AND A PAIR OF ROOF SHEETS, ONE OF EACH PAIR OF ROOF SHEETS BEING ATTACHED TO ONE OF EACH OF SAID SIDE SHEETS, EACH ROOF SHEET BEING ATTACHED TO EACH OF SAID PAIR OF PEAK SHEETS, AND SAID ROOF SHEETS BEING ATTACHED TO EACH OTHER FOR FORMING A PEAKED ROOF, A DOOR THROUGH ONE OF THE SHEETS FOR ENTERING AND LEAVING THE TENT COMPRISING A PAIR OF INSERTS MEETING EDGE TO EDGE AND HAVING A MESH PORTION, EACH INSERT BEING SEWED INTO THE TOP, AND A DIFFERENT ONE OF THE SIDES OF THE OPENING, A ZIPPER AT SAID EDGES FOR JOINING THE SAID EDGES SO AS TO CLOSE THE OPENING WITH THE MESH, A ZIPPER TO ENGAGE THE BOTTOM OF THE INSERTS TO THE TENT, AND A PAIR OF DOOR FLAPS SECURED TO THE TOP AND TWO SIDES OF THE OPENING AND MEETING EDGE TO EDGE, AND LOOSE AT THE BOTTOM, AND A ZIPPER ADAPTED TO JOIN THE ADJOINING EDGES OF THE DOOR FLAPS, AND AN OPENING IN ONE OF THE SHEETS OF THE FLEXIBLE COVERING TO FORM AT LEAST ONE WINDOW, SAID WINDOW COMPRISING A PAIR OF MESH INSERTS IN EDGE TO EDGE RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID WINDOW, SAID INSERTS EACH BEING SEWED TO THREE SIDES OF THE OPENINGS, A ZIPPER ON SAID INSERTS ADAPTED TO JOIN SAID EDGES SO AS TO CLOSE THE OPENING WITH THE MESH, A WINDOW FLAP FASTENED TO THE WALL AT THE TOP OF SAID OPENING AND LOOSE AT THE SIDES AND BOTTOM, TWO SIDE FLAPS SEWED TO THE WALL, AND TWO ZIPPERS, ONE AT EACH EDGE OF THE WINDOW FLAP FOR JOINDER TO THE SIDE FLAPS.