US3167081A - Collapsible tent frames - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 26, 1965 J. R. HIGGINS COLLAPSIBLE TENT FRAMES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1, 1963 INVENTOR James R. H/gg/ns ATTORNEYS 1965 J. R. HIGGINS 3167,81

COLLAPSIBLE TENT FRAMES Filed May 1, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M 24 44 E INVENTOR L James R. H/gg/"ns H. ATTORNEYS United States Patent ()fltice 3,167,081 Patented Jan. 26, 1965 This invention relates to improvements in collapsible frames, and more particularly, to a collapsible frame structure designed for use with knock-down tents, cabanas, and the like.

In U.S. Patent No. 3,044,477, issued to me July 17, 1962, there is disclosed an improved collapsible tent frame comprising essentially, a central tubular support, a foldable base structure, and a foldable canopy-supporting unit. Means are provided for automatically actuating the canopy-supporting unit to move the same into canopy supporting position, comprising a coiled tension spring enclosed within the central tubular support, which support is formed with an outer tubular member and a cooperating tubular member telescopically mounted therein. One end of the. coiled spring is attached to a fitting secured to the inner wall of the outer tubular member, and the opposite end thereof is attached to a similar fitting secured to the inner wall of the inner tubular member, the foldable canopy-supporting unit being constructed and arranged with respect to the telescopic tubular members, whereby when the canopy-supporting unit is in the collapsed position, the spring is placed under tension and retained in such condition until the retaining means is released, at the option of the operator, to permit relative vertical movement between the tubular members, and thus cause the canopy-support unit to move into canopysupporting position.

The foldable base structure of my aforementioned patent is carried by the outer tubular member, the free ends of the arms of the base structure being severally connected to the free ends of co-planar arms of the canopysupporting unit by means of guy lines which function as retaining means for the tent cover and also as force transmitting means to actuate the foldable arms of the base and cause the same to move into or out of operative supporting position.

While the collapsible frame arnangement of my patent is satisfactory both from the standpoint of design and function, I have found that redesign of certain of the basic components provides improved, relatively smooth operation, with concomitant reduction in the number of parts or elements, ease in handling, and economics in manufacture. f

Anobject of the invention is to provide a collapsible frame which may be easily and quickly erected with minimum eifort,-ar1d since stakes and guy lines are not required the frame may be erected indoors or out doors as a childs play tent or used generally as a camping tent.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a collaps ible frame which] is automatically expanded or erected, and manually collapsed, wherein by reason of the elimination of stakes and guy wires, together with its portability due to light weight and minimum bulk, the frame is ideally suited for use as a beach cabana.

, Yet another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible frame of comparatively light weight which maybe easily and safely erected and collapsed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible frame adaptedjto be collapsed into a compact unit of minimum bulk, whereby to provide for ready transportation and easy storage.

A still further object of the invention is, to provide" a frame wherein the automatic erection mechanism is completely housed or encased, in order to prevent possibility of injury during manipulation of the frame when erecting or striking the tent.

Yet a still further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible tent frame characterized by smooth, controlled, automatic operation, consisting of relatively few parts of strong and sturdy construction, and not liable to get out of order even after long and continued use.

With these and other objects in view, which may be incident to my improvement, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements, comprising my invention, may be varied in construction, proportions and arrangement, Without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect, without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions, which for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the collapsible frame;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the frame, showing the tent cover outlined in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is a sectional detail view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an elevational View, showing the frame in collapsed position;

FIG. 6 is a sectional detail view taken on line 66 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-4, the improved collapsible frame comprises a central tubular support 1, a foldable base structure 2, and a foldable canopy-supporting unit 3. The central tubular support 1 is adapted to house the means for automatically moving the canopy-support unit into canopy-supporting position, which means comprises a device 4, similar to an automatic door closure mechanism, telescopic-ally mounted within the central support, a cylindrical shaped housing 5 carried by the closure device, said housing being in axial alignment therewith, and a pair of spring biased, manually operated buttons or plnngers 6 mounted within the housing 5,;and adapted to selectively seat: in an opening 7 formed in the central support. The housing 5, and the central support 1 may be formed from any suitable lightweight metal tubing, and preferably from aluminum or magnesium-base alloys.

The canopy-supporting unit Scomprises aspider memher 8 secured to the upper portion of the central support 1, a collar 9 secured to end portion lil of the housing 11 of the closure device 4, a plunality of ribs 12 pivotally connected to the collar 9 and a plurality of struts l3, piv otally connected at opposite ends to the spider 8 and to the ribs 12, respectively. The body portion of the spider is formed with pairs of laterally projecting ears 14, apertu-red as at 15, to receive pivot pins 16, by means of which the lower ends of the struts 13 are severally pivotally connected to the spider. The upper ends of the struts are severally pivotally connected to the ribs 12, intermediate the ends thereof by means of pins or rivets 17 slidably seated in registering slots 18 formed in the side members of the ribs. Each of the ribs is of U-shaped cross-section having a fiat canopy supporting surface 19 (FIG. 2) and depending side flanges 20 to which the end of a strut is slidably mounted through the mediumof the pin and slot arnangement, as above described. The ribs are severally pivotally connected at their ends by means of pins 21 received in apertures 22 of the collar 9, which collar.

may be fixedly secured to the upper end portion iii of the housing 11 of the canopy-support actuating device, by swaging, welding, or by means of set screws. The foldable base structure 2 receives and supports the tubular central support 1 in stable, vertical erected position, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this structure comprises a fitting 23, 'slidably mounted on the central support and retained in fixed position thereon by means of a set screw 24. The fitting may be in the form of a rectangular shaped casting 25 (FIG. 3) having a central opening 26 to receive the tubular support 1, and integral apertured lugs or cars 27 for the reception of pintles 28 used to connect the inner ends of :arms 29 for pivotal movement with respect to the casting. Each of the faces of the fitting 23 is formed with a recessed portion 35 forming a seat for a vertical member 31 welded or otherwise secured to the inner end portion of an arm 29 whereby when the flat bearing surface of mem" ber 31 is in contact with the bottom of the compi e-mental recess in the fitting, stable horizontal equilibrium is assured. The arms 29 may be of any desired length and cross-section, and the endportions thereof are rounded as at 32 so as to prevent snagging with the surface-on which the frame is supported during sliding movement of the arms when the frame is being placed in the operative canopy-supporting position.

As will be seen in FIG. 4, the device 4 used to move the canopy-supporting unit 3 to canopy supporting position comprises cylindrical shaped housing 11, having a piston 33 and associated piston rod 34 mounted for reciprocation therein against the tension of a coil spring 35 surrounding the piston rod, and interposed between the piston head 33 and the closed lower end of the housing 111.

i The upper end of saidhousing is closed by means of a cap member 36, adapted for threaded engagement with the end portion of the housing as at 37. The housing 5, within which the spring biased buttons or plungers 6 'are supported, is carried by the canopy-supporting unit actuating device and may be secured to the bottom or" said actuating device by welding, swaging or the like, or by means of a fitting 38 attached to the bottom of the actuating device by means of screws or stud bolts 39, as shown. It will be noted that the fitting 38 is adapted for threaded engage ment with the interior wall of the housing 5, whereby the actuator housing and plunger housing move as a unit. The end portion of the piston rod 34 exteriorly of housing 11 is provided with an opening to receive a bolt 49, by means of which the end of the piston is anchored to central tubular support 1. In order to permit vertical sliding movement of the housing 5, with respect to the central support, the housing is formed with longitudinal slots 41 (FIG. 7) which provide necessary clearance for the bolt 4% as the housing moves relatively to the central support;

As described hereinabove, the collar assembly 9, including the apertured ears 9, is securedto the upper end portion 1d of the housing 11 of the actuating device 4, accordingly, when the frame is in the collapsed position (FIG. the housing 11 has moved upwardly of the central support, and since the piston rod is anchored against movement by the bolt 40, the spring 35 is compressed, and retained in such condition until the housing 5 is released from its locked position with respect to hte central tubular support by actuating the spring biased plunger 6 which restrained the housing 5 against downward movement. Upon release of the housing the spring 35 expands thus retracting the actuator housing and elevating the ribs 12 to their canopy supporting position. The speed or rapidity of movement of the housing of the actuator device 4 with respect to the central tubular member 1 may be readily adjusted by means of a conventional bleed screw 42" which is threadable through the cap member 36 of the actuator. By means of the actuator arrangement the force of the spring transmitted to the housing 11 is cushioned by the air entrapped between the piston head 33 and the bottom of the cap 36, thus preventing any excessive jarring with resultant strain on the ribs andstruts.

The cover may be formed of any suitable material, such as canvas, synthetic plastics, for example, polyethylene, polyvinyl-chloride, or the like, conformed to the outline of the frame, and provided With a central grommet adapted to seat on the cap 36 of the actuator and permit access to the screw 42 for purposes of adjustment. The cover may be of the umbrella type, or it may comprise a top and side panels, and a lloor panel constituting a unitary tent, and one or more of the side panels may be formed with flaps to cover the access opening of the tent. The tent cover, not shown, except in phantom, is provided with a floor or bottom panel having a central opening,

to permit passage to the tubular support 2' therethrough, said floor resting on the arms 29 of the base unit and covering the same when the tent is in the operative erect and collapsed positions. The tent cover is secured to the frame by means of snap fasteners, turn buckles or the like. When snap fasteners are used the cap member thereof is carried by the cover and the stud is attached to the frame, for example, studs 4-3 are secured to the ends of the rib members 12. Desirably, the bottom of the cover is provided with eyelets adapted to fit over studs 54 attached to the ends of the arms of the base unit, said studs having turnable heads 45, whereby to securely retain the cover against displacement with respect to the base when the frame is manipulated from erect to collapsed position or vice versa. A suitable fastener, not shown, is also used to retain the floor connected to one of the arms 29 of the base, thus preventing the floor from sliding down across the members 29 when the tent is in the fully collapsed position.

When the frame is used with a. cabana type cover, for example a beach cabana, the present invention contemplates use of a suitable rod adapted to be driven into the sand to support the central tubular member in desired position, said member fitting down over the rod, which of course will be of sufiicient length and diameter to provide required support. It will be understood that the above described arrangement supplements the base structure 2, which may be subsequently adjusted to substantially fiat condition in the sand. 7

It will be appreciated that in use of the improved frame, that when the spring biased button 6 is actuated to permit, the ribs 12 to move from the collapsed position of FIG. 5 to erected position of FIG. 1, by reason of attachment of the cover to the ribs and to the arms 29, the

arms are pulled outwardly, and the base. structure. 2 is.

caused to fall into supporting position. The cover is maintained on the frame, except when it is removed for cleaning or repair.

While the arms 29 of the foldable base structure are shown as channel members having separate up-turned inserts at their pivotal and free ends, it will be understood that the arms may be formed from solid, relatively flat material adapted to be bent upwardly at their hinge ends,

and at the opposite ends thereof to which the studs, 44 are attached.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodi-- 1. A collapsible tent frame comprising a central tubular support, a canopy-support unit carried by the central support, said unit comprising a collapsible, truss-like structure having a plurality of ribs pivotally connected to a collar member, said collar member being secured to the upper end portion of a housing of an actuating device adapted to automatically move the canopy-support unit into canopy-supporting position, a canopy support actuat-' ing device within the housing comprising a spring-biased" piston, including a piston rod and associated piston head, the end portion of the piston rod extending outwardly through an opening in the base of the housing and being restrained against movement with respect to the central tubular support whereby, when the canopy-support unit is moved to collapsed position the actuator housing is subjected to a retractive force, means carried by the hous ing, adapted for engagement With the central tubular support to prevent retraction of the housing, said housing being telescopically supported Within the central tubular support, a spider member fixedly secured to the top portion of the central support, a plurality of struts pivotally connected to the spider member, the opposite ends of the struts being severally pivotally and slidably connected to the ribs, the canopy-support actuating device being constructed and arranged to normally urge its housing into retracted position With respect to the central tubular support, and thereby pivot the ribs about the collar into canopy-supporting position.

2. A collapsible tent frame in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means carried by the housing adapted for engagement with the central tubular support comprises a hollow, cylindrical shaped member secured to the bottom of the actuator housing, said member having a pair of spaced, co-linear, spring-biased plungers housed therein, the free ends of the plungers being adapted to selectively seat in a registering opening formed in the central tubular support.

3. A collapsible tent frame comprising a central tubular support, a canopy-support unit carried by the central support, said unit comprising a collapsible, truss-like structure having a plurality of ribs pivotally connected to a.

of said ribs comprising a channel member having a flat,

canopy-supporting surface and depending side flanges formed with registering slots, the ends of the struts op posite their pivotal connections to the spider member being provided with pins, the end portions of which are pivotally and slidably supported in the rib slots, the canopy-support actuating device being constructed and arranged to normally urge its housing into retracted position with respect to the central tubular support, and thereby pivot the ribs about the collar into canopy-supporting position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,207,649 12/16 South -22 2,711,183 6/55 Lofstrand 135-50 2,794,556 6/57 Lego 2l1-l78 2,820,626 1/58 Hedeen 267-1 3,044,477 7/62 Higgins 135-2 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner,

Claims (1)

1. A COLLAPSIBLE TENT FRAME COMPRISING A CENTRAL TUBULAR SUPPORT, A CANOPY-SUPPORT UNIT CARRIED BY THE CENTRAL SUPPORT, SAID UNIT COMPRISING A COLLAPSIBLE, TRUSS-LIKE STRUCTURE HAVING A PLURALITY OF RIBS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO A COLLAR MEMBERS SAID COLLAR MEMBER BEING SECURED TO THE UPPER END PORTION OF A HOUSING AN ACTUATING DEVICE ADAPTED TO AUTOMATICALLY MOVE THE CANOPY-SUPPORT UNIT INTO CANOPY-SUPPORTING POSITION, A CANOPY SUPPORT ACTUATING DEVICE WITHIN THE HOUSING COMPRISING A SPRING-BIASED PISTON INCLUDING A PISTON ROD AND ASSOCIATED PISTON HEAD THE END PORTION OF THE PISTON ROD EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE BASE OF THE HOUSING AND BEING RESTRAINED AGAINST MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE CENTRAL TUBULAR SUPPORT WHEREBY, WHEN THE CANOPY-SUPPORT UNIT IS MOVED TO COLLAPSED POSITION THE ACTUATOR HOUSING IS

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