US3540458A

US3540458A - Tent

Info

Publication number: US3540458A
Application number: US796019A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elmer C Osterhoudt; Merritt O Featheringill
Original assignee: ELMER C OSTERHOUDT; MERRITT O FEATHERINGILL
Current assignee: ELMER C OSTERHOUDT; MERRITT O FEATHERINGILL
Priority date: 1969-02-03
Filing date: 1969-02-03
Publication date: 1970-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 1987-11-17

Description

I 7 United States Patent n 1 3,540,458

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1957 Olivcr........................... 3,356,098 l2/l967 Krutzikowsky...............

Primary Examiner-J. Karl Bell Attorney-Owen and Owen' [72] Inventors Elmer C.0sterhoudt 2603 N. Winstel Blvd., Tucson; Merritt 0. Featheringlll, P.0. Box 94, Oracle, Arizona 85623 7 m 6.m 96 7FN o. d N m L n Pww fla AFP 11].] 25 224 [ll ABSTRACT: A foldable, portable, one-man tent comfortably [54] TENT accommodates an adult and yet can be quickly and easily 4 Claims 7 Drawing folded and carried on one's back. The tent has a lightweight, easily-folded frame, which also enables the tent to'be erected quickly, even under adverse conditions. The tent has a covering which preferably extends around the entire frame, including the bottom, and has an upper, zippered flap for easy access to the interior.

mm m 5// I 514 1 1." 5 M A3 1 m m m we a S L "r m cm 1 2 U mm 1 ll. 2 0 5 55 .ll.

Patented Nov. 17, 1910 7 3,540,458

INVENTORS ELMER c. OSTERHOUDT, MERRITT o. FEATHERINGILL BYQQMQK ATT'YS.

Patented Nov. 17, 1970 Sheet of 2 J INVENTORS ELMER C. OSTERHOUDT, MERRITT O. FEATHERINGILL BY 2 Z\ TENT v This invention relates to atent and more particularly toa foldable, portable, one-man tent.

While one-man tents have been heretofore known and used,

the present invention relates to a portable, foldable, one-man their upright position and yet be easily folded without requir- 1 ing unbuckling, disconnecting, etc. of thecomponents. The base frame of the tent is also designed to enable folding of the structure into a minimum of space and in a minimum of time. The new tent also can incorporate an additional upright frame member near one end thereof to provide additional head room for one sleeping in the tent.

The tent embodying the invention also featuresv a zippered flap which is positioned and arranged to enable easy access into the tent. A vent is also provid'edwith a flap which can be held in open or closed positions. Another feature of the tent is that a floor can be provided which is attached to and part of the upper tent covering and totally encloses the frame.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide I a portable, foldable, one-man tent having the objects and features outlined above. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apthe invention with an access flap thereof shown in the open position, in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a view in'perspective similar to FIG. I of the tent but with the tent covering material removed;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in transverse cross section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal cross section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

34 and 36 but-with the

end legs

52 and 54 being substantially shorter than the'corresponding

legs

38 and 40. The cross leg 55, however, is of substantially the samele'ngth as'the'cross legs 42. The

end legs

52 and 54 are pivotally connected to in-. termediate portions of the

end legs

22 and 24 of the base frame member 18 at intermediate portions between thecross bar 26 and the

brackets

44 and 46. The attachment can be by means of

brackets

56 and 58 along with bolts 60 and wing nuts 62 (FIG. 5)'which can be tightenedwhen' the frame member 50 is in a desired position to rigidly hold this frame memberin that position. The distance'between the

brackets

56 and 44 tion 66 extending between the cross leg 26 of the base frame and the

brackets

58 and 46 preferably exceeds the length of the

end legs

52 and 54 so that the frame member 50 can be folded downwardly toward the frame'member 34 when the tent is folded.

A web or strap 64 is provided for the frame 12 to facilitate erecting and supporting the tent. The strap 64 has a first pot 36. Thestrap portion 66 can be permanently affixed to thesecross legs by suitable rivets or other fasteners 68. The strap64 1 parent from the following detailed description of a preferred FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detailed viewof a connection of the frame of the tent;

FIG. 6 is a view in elevation of the tent frame of FIG. 2 when folded; and

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective of the tent, when folded, and assembled with a back harness to increase portability.

Referring particularly to FIG. I, a tent embodying the invention is indicated at 10 and basically includes a frame 12 includes a second portion 70 extending between the cross leg 42 of the upright frame member 36 and the cross leg 42 of the upright frame member 34. The strap 64 has a third portion 72 extending between the cross leg 42 of the upright frame member 34 and the cross leg 26 of the base frame member 18 'and'again is suitably affixed to central portions of these legs.

The cross leg 55 of the third upright frame member 50, when used, is not affixed to the strap portion 72 but bears against this portion to place the overall strap 64 in tension when the tent is erected. The cross leg 55 of the upright frame member 50 remains inengagement with the strap portion 72 because the wing nuts 62 are tightened to hold the frame member 50 in this position. Eitherend of the strap 64 can have a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings to enable the strapto be adjustably attached to the associated cross leg. This enables the tension on the strapto be adjusted, especially if the frame member 50 is not used.

The strap 64 facilitates erection of the tent. When the

base frame members

18 and 20 are moved from their folded, pa ra l-' lel position of FIG. 6 to their extended, aligned position of FIGS. 1 and 2, the strap 64 causes the

upright frame members

34 and 36 to automatically assume the upright positions of and a covering 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the frame 12 includes a base frame 16 made up of two pivotally connected Ushaped l

base frame members

18 and 20 which can be substantially identical. Each of the base frame members includes

end legs

22 and 24 which are integrally connected-at outer ends by cross legs 26 forming an integral U-shaped configuration. Thefree ends of the

legs

22 and 24 opposite the cross legs 26 have

curved portions

28 and 30 which curve upwardlyfrom the ground. The corresponding curved portions are pivotally connected together and held by suitable pivot pins 32 which extend through flattenedends of the

curved portions

28 and 30.

An upright frame for the tent I0 is formed by two

upright frame members

34 and 36, each including base legs'38 and 40 and an integral upper cross legs 42. The lower ends of the

end legs

38 and 40 are pivotally connected to intermediate portions of the

legs

22 and 24 by

brackets

44 and 46 to which the legs 38 and 4t) are pivotally attached by suitable pins 48. The pins 48 can be permanently affixed to'the

brackets

44 and 46 if, for example, they are rivets, or they can be in the form of bolts and nuts, if desired, to enable disassembly of the frame. Disassembly of the frame is seldom, if ever, required unless the tent covering 14 is to be cleaned, replaced, or repaired.

An additional upright frame member 50 can-constitute part of the upright frame, if desired, for the purpose of providing additionalhead room for an occupant of the tent, when lying FIG. 2 with the tent covering material 14 also being in position for occupancy. With the upright frame member 50 used,the

frame members

34 and 36 will be in their approximate positions with the strap 64 not fully under tension until the camper enters the tent and pushes the frame member Sll against the strap portion'72 and tightens the wing nuts 62 onthe bolts 60.

This thereby maintains the upright frame member 50 in'the desired position relative to the brackets 56 and .58 and the

legs

22 and 24. i

' The covering 14 can be made'of any suitable tent material. In the preferred form, the covering 14 includes a tent cover 74 which extends over all of the upright frame members and also includes a floor 76 which extends under the area of the base frame constituting the base framernembers I8 and 20 with the floor 76 being suitably sewn to the tent cover 74 along the edges around the base frame.

The tent cover 74 has an access flap 78 formed by a U- shaped zipper 80 between the

upright framemembers

34 and 36. This flap is positioned so that a camper can easily step down into the tent when the flap is raised with the zipper 80 being positioned so as to not interfere with the frame of the member 34 and between the upright frame member34'and' a the third upright frame member 50. This provides air at the head end of the tent. A flap 84 is associated with each of the vents 82', being affixed to the tent cover 74 above the vents and having two fasteners 86 below the vent. A third one of the fasteners 86 is located above the vent 82 a distance substantially equal to the length of the flap 84 so that the flap can be held in the open position as shown in dotted lines of FIG, 1 by means of the third one of the fasteners 86. The covering 14 can be equipped with four tiedown rings 87 at the corners which can be staked down when the tent is erected to facilitate maintaining the cover 74 taut.

When the tent is folded, the third upright frame member 50 i is simply folded downwardly toward the upright frame member 34 by loosening the wing nuts 62 and so moving the upright frame member 50. The camper can then exit through the opening formed by the flap 76 and then simply fold the tent by moving the

frame members

18 and 20 upwardly toward one another and tucking in the tent cover 74 between the frame members during folding. The tent is folded until the

upright frame members

34 and 36 are substantially contiguous as shown in FIG. 6 with the

curved portions

28 and 30 smoothly accommodating the upright frame members, the tucked-in tent cover material 74, and the upright frame member 50, if used.

In the folded position, the tent can be readily carried in an automobile trunk, etc. In the event it is to be transported on the back ofa camper, a carrier 88 of FIG. 7 can be employed. This includes a carrier sheet 90 of suitable heavy material to which are affixed two

pack straps

92 and 94 which are connected by buckles 96 on the opposite side of the folded tent 10. The sheet 90 preferably extends from a point above the strap' 94 on the one side of the tent to a point above the lower strap 92 on the opposite side of the tent. A pair of shoulder straps 98 is fastened at ends to the

straps

92 and 94 and can be equipped with a suitable chest strap 100 which is tied in front of the camper after the tent is picked up with his arms inserted through the shoulder straps 98. If desired, the carrier sheet can be sewn to the floor and be part of the pack tent.

It will be seen from the above that the tent embodying the invention is extremely portable, being capable ofquick folding and unfolding. it also is of relatively light weight and low cost construction and durable. Further, with the floor 76 affixed to the tent cover 74, the tent is adaptable for many camp sites not otherwise suitable.

Many modifications of the above described embodiment of the invention 'will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood that such modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, the embodiment shown and described being primarily for purposes of illustration and not limitation.

We claim:

1. A foldable, portable, one-man tent comprising a frame having a substantially similar pair of first frame members pivoted together and openable to form a base frame for the tent, a pair of second generally U-shaped frame members pivotally connected to said first frame members near the central portions thereof to form upright supports for the tent, at flexible strap connected between said base frame and said U- shaped members and between said U-shaped members to hold said second pair of U-shaped members in position when the tent is erected, and covering material extending over said second frame members and to the end and side portions of the base frame, said covering material having a flap for access, said frame members and covering being foldable into a pack capable of being carried on a campers back.

2. A tent according to claim 1 characterized further by a third U-shaped frame member connected to one of said first frame members and forming an additional upright support for the tent to increase the head room thereof,

3. A tent according to claim 1 characterized further by said flap having a substantially U-shaped edge and located on the side of the tent covering material between said second frame members.

4. A tent according to claim 2 characterized further by a vent opening located in the side of the tent adjacent said third frame member and having a flap with a first position covering said vent opening and a second position to one side of said tent opening.