US481014A

US481014A - The nqrhls peters co

Info

Publication number: US481014A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1892-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 1909-08-16

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. N. DUNCAN.

TENT.

No. 481,014. Patented Aug. 16, 1892.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets8heet 2,

G. N. DUNCAN. TENT. No. 481,014. Patented Aug. 16, 1892.

F5- 3 JV 0 Q J J I J J 4 H) MI .f""" 0 I I W m my I \EKJDESEEE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE N. DUNCAN, OF GREENW'ICH, MASSACHUSETTS.

TENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,014, dated August 16, 1892.

Application filed January 16, 1892. Serial No. 418,246. (No model.)

To whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE N.-DUNOAN, of Greenwich, in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tents, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in tents for lawns and other purposes, the object being to secure strength to resist storms and to insure abundant height internally or along the marginal walls, and to produce a more ornamental tent than those heretofore known.

A peculiar feature of my tent is a tripodframe composed of three converging bars or timbers united at the top and together supporting the entire frame. There is no center pole, but these three frame-bars rest at theirlower ends on or in the ground at equidistant points in the vertical plane of the tent-walls and are secured to each other by means of a cap or socket plate common to them all, and they are preferably jointed about midway of their length and there furnished with a hook and staple or like fastening to give rigidity or stiffness. Bythis construction the framebars run not direct from end to end, but extend nearly vertically and then nearly horizontally, or approximately so, so as to give a good height near the side walls for persons standing Within the tent. I do not, however, limit my claims to the jointed tripod-frame bars, since they may be integral and continuous. With this tripod-frame I provide a series of ribs for support of the top of the tent fabric, such ribs radiating from the socket-plate at the apex and supported at the outer ends by uprights or vertical posts or by oblique braces, such posts and braces being hooked at the top to said ribs and at the bottom hinged to the lower ends of the tripod-frame bars, which are pinned or firmly held to the earth. This construction is well adapted to tents of hexagon form, in which two of the radiating ribs meet and are outwardly supported by the two oblique braces hinged to the foot of each of the tripod-frame bars. Said braces are not inclined toward the vertical axis of the tent, but are in vertical planes relative thereto, although diverging from each other as they rise, thus giving vertical side walls to the tent, with the tent-top in triangular segments. VVhena nine-sided tent is desired, as in the drawings appended hereto, three additional ribs are introduced, extending outwardly over the tripod-frame bars and supported by vertical posts erected between each pair of oblique braces. By varying the lengths of the ribs the external shape of the tent may be greatly changed without the addition of any parts. The ends of the ribs will usually be connected horizontally by stout cords or webbing bands.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the tent-frame seen from within, looking upwardly. Fig. 2 is a side View of the frame, showing the position of the several parts. Fig. 3 is anelevation of the tent complete with its fabric top and vertical sides. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section through the socketplate, and Fig. 5 a detail bottom View of part of said plate. Figs. 6 and 7 represent connections for the bottom and top ends of the posts and braces. Fig. 8 illustrates a support for the fabric side walls by hooks and webbing bands.

A B 0 represent the three main frame-bars, which, united at the top and spreadtriangularly at the foot, constitute the tripod-frame, which forms an efficient support for the tent. These three frame-bars may be continuous or unbroken timbers, as represented in Fig. 1; but in order to make the tent more roomy, or, in other words, to free its interior from the obstruction of timbers extending direct from the apex, I prefer to form a joint midway and furnish the parts with a hook and staple or other stiffening device, so that the frame-bars may be deflected upwardly in their interme diate portion and held fast, with space between them for persons to walk erect. This joint is illustrated in Fig. 2, the hinges D being on the outer face of the parts of the bar, the ends of the bar beveled to fit smoothly, and the hook E uniting them securely.

F F are ribs or stretchers radiating from the apex of the tent, where they are severally secured to a central socket-plate G, preferably by insertion of their ends between vertical flanges formed on said plate, as in the detail, Figs. 4 and 5, and by pins or rivets through them. This plate serves also as the means of connection of the three members of the tripod-frame, as shown the same figures.

H H are oblique braces extending from the foot of each of the frame-bars A, B, or O to the outer ends of the radiating ribs F, which ends they support in a position each side of one of said frame-bars. Between these diverging braces H vertical posts or braces J may be erected, supporting additional ribs F. The several braces are united at foot to the frame-bar A, B, or O by a plate I and hinges t or otherwise and at top to the several ribs F by pins f.

The outer extremities of the ribs F will be connected by light horizontal strips K of Wood or by webbing bands or continuous cords, so as to support the tent fabiic against sagging and to maintain its symmetry, The side curtains or walls L of the tent may be connected to these strips by simple hooks M, as in Fig. 8. The canopy-top N rests upon the radiating ribs F and may have a depending marginal fiounce O as an edge finish when the side walls are detached.

The oblique braces add greatly to the strength or stiffness of the tent-frame and they give a broad and high entrance from any side of the tent, as broad at top as the space between the outer ends of the radiating ribs and much broader below and as high as may be desired, determined by the length of the several braces. The efiect of the tent properly erected on a lawn is Very picturesque.

I claim as my invention 1. In a tent, the tripod-frame composed of the three bars A B C, joined together at the apex, spread triangularly and secured to the earth at the foot, in combination with the canopy-top, the ribs or stretchers radiating from the apex of the frame-bars, and the braces extending from the foot of the spread frame-bars to the outer ends of the stretchers or ribs, substantially as set forth.

2. In a tent, the tripod-frame bars A B C, united at top by the socket-plate G, in combination with the ribs or stretchers F, connected to and radiating from said plate, and with the supporting and stiffening braces H secured to said ribs and to the foot of the frame-bars, substantially as set forth.

3. In a tent, the radiating ribs and marginal braces described, incombination with the tripod-frame bars A B 0, connected at top to said ribs and at bottom to said braces and eachmade in two connected parts, deflected upwardly and secured firmly at the joint, whereby increased height is insured beneath the central portion of said bars, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 1st day of January, A. D. 1892.

GEORGE N. DUNCAN. Witnesses:

HENRY 13. I'IODGKIN, WILLIAM II. WALKER.