US595875A

US595875A - Tent or booth

Info

Publication number: US595875A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 1914-12-21

Description

I (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W. ERNEST. TENT OR BOOTH.

No; 595,875 Patented Dec. 21, 1897.

m VE/V Ton @mal gfwazz A TTORNEVS UNITED STATES PATENT Grinch.

JUAN W. ERNEST, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TENT OR BOOTH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,875, dated December 21, 1897.

Application filed September 19, 1893- Serial No. 485,767. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that -I, JUAN W. ERNEST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Ideal Tent or Booth, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tents or booths,

and has for its object to provide a tent or booth frame formed of detachable and folding parts that will stand and support its covering against any ordinary wind without ropes or stakes or any part of it being driven into the ground and without unsightly and obstructing braces or center standards, fur ther objects being to provide a tent one person may easily set up and to lessen the time and labor necessary for setting up; and with these and other objects in View the invention consists in the construction combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation or exterior view of tent with the top cover extended at the eaves and also having a part cut away .to show the frame. Fig. 2 is a top View of the central member or frame expanded as one rigid piece, to which is detachably secured the other parts of the tent or booth. Fig. 3 is a side View showing one of the central members folded. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are views of metal angle-braces and sockets for detachably securing parts of the frame. Figs. 7 to 18, inclusive, represent variations and details of construction and are fully explained in connection with the parts to which they belong.

In the drawings forming part of this specification the separate parts of my improvement are designated by the same letters of reference in each of the views, and in said drawings I have shown in Fig. 1 an ordinary tent or booth with a part of the covering removed to show 'the frame, and at Z a series of rafters which are pivotally connected near their upper ends by the metal ring R, which is provided with a connecting-nut A, Figs. 2 and 8, which holds the ends of the ring together. The ends of the rafters are peaked at- Z to fit and intercept each other when the rafters are extended, and to the other end of each rafter is fastened a metal angle-brace and socket P, Fig. 4:, the open end of the socket being directed downwardly to receive the upper end of the legs L, Fig. 7, which are preferably four-sided poles, near the upper end of which is attached the rope or strap D and at the lower end the spike E. Near the lower end of the socket is a lug which is adapted to strengthen that portion of the socket and is provided with a circular, opeuing which is screw-threaded and is adapted to receive a thumb-screw S, the end of which is adapted to impinge against the legs L to detachably secure them in the sockets.

Instead of using the ring shown in Fig. 8 the well-known construction shown in Figs. 17 and 18 may be used, in which the ring R is provided with radial arms having sockets formed therein and the rafters are pivotally connected therewith, as clearly shown, and with either construction the rafters will be held perfectly rigid when extended.

The angle-brace and socket shown in Fig. 6 is the same as that shown in Figs. 4 and 5 with one side of the socket removed, and is preferred for small tents where the whole frame is not too heavy to handle together, and to prevent the chance of losing some of the legs a bolt with thumb-nut is passed through the leg and the hole J in the brace, the hole being round for this purpose, and when the bolt is tightened the leg is held firm in the socket, but by unscrewing the bolt until the leg will pass the edge of the socket it can be swung on the bolt up to the under side of the rafter and held there by tightening the nut, and the rafters folded together would inclose the legs on the inside, or the leg can be detachably attached with this socket by using the hole J and passing the head of the bolt through the large opening, then upward until the bolt is in the narnow opening, and tightening the nut.

The legs L, metal angle-braces P, rafters Z, pivotally connected together at one end, with a top covering T of any suitable material, and the side covering of rigid materi l fastened to the legs will make a folding ge t or booth within my invention entirely elfsupporting when expanded for use, a 'd this construction is particularly adapted/for movable houses and large election-booths, as the are like the first described except the shoul- 1 top may be of canvas, but the sides should be of more du rable. material for this purpose, and preferably made in panels of suitable size to extend from one leg to the next, and are provided with a stout metal hook or pin near each corner to intersect with suitable sockets or staples attached to the legs, or may be attached with bolts through the legs; but for ordinary camp life and for moving often or for long distances the side covering should be of light flexible material as well as the top, and to make the frame stand rigidly independent of the covering I use, in addition 1 to the metal angle-braces described, braces of rigid material attached near the outer ends of the rafters and extending from each rafter to the next, completing a circuit, thus holding the rafters when extended firmly fixed with relation one to the other and forming a strong central member or frame braced in all directions, with strength in itself to hold infieXibly the metal angle-brace with which the legs are rigidly affixed to it. These rafterbraces may be of varying construction, as. shown in Figs. 9, 11, and 12. In Fig. 9 I have shown a brace which is provided centrally with a hinged connection, one of theupper bars f being provided with a hole at each 1 end and a standing shoulder-rivet W. The other barf is longer and is provided with holes in one end and at a point equal to the. distance between the holes in the other one, i and at the extreme end a narrow opening is out in from one side. The two lower braces i der-rivet These four pieces are pivotally 1 connected by a shoulder-rivet B and are ati tached with a pin or bolt through the outer? ends of the rafters and the holes 0 0, so the joint at B will break toward the center of the 3 frame, and when straightened out the pro-j ject'ing end of brace with the opening will hook under the head of the shoulder-rivet and will appear as shown at F, Figs. 1 and 2, and asat F, Fig. 3, when folded. In very large tents or booths, when the increased number and size of the rafters make the weightof the frame great, these rafter-braces should be made of wood, and may consist of two bars or strips placed parallel to each other, as shown in Fig. 11. A standard or shoulderrivet B fastens them together near one end, the other end beingpivotally connected with the outer end of the rafter Z, and on this pivot "the brace can be swung back alongside the rafter, as indicated by the dotted lines F in Fig. -2, but when extending the frame for use the free end can be brought out until the two holes V are opposite a hole in the adjoining rafter and a close-fitting pin may be inserted to keep it there or the metal keybolt U, Fig. 13, and plate H maybe used to attach them to the rafter. The plate H (see Fig. 14) is of metal and is provided with a circular inclined plane it, lying around the keyhole on the upper side. The shoulder of key-bolt resting against one brace and the projection of the key moving along the gradually-rising surface of the inclined plane on the other brace will draw the braces F firmly against the rafters Z.

In very large tents to handle the top part of the frame easier the braces F may be fastened at both ends with the key-bolt and can be quickly taken off, and should then have another standard B near the other end; but I prefer in the removable brace to use a bar F Fig. 12, which is similar to one of the parallel braces shown in Fig. 11, and which is set up edgewise between the rafters, with thin pieces of metal f fastened to the braces and formed with angular proj ections f which lap upon the rafters, a single key or bolt passing through and securing them to each rafter.

The side covering C may extend from the ground to the rafters, but I prefer to leave an open space X just below the braces F, and metal or leather eyelets 0c are fastened near the lower edge and rings or loopsX near the upper edge of said covering, and it is attached to the frame by passing the eyelets over the pins or standards E at the lower end of the legs and the straps or ropes D through the rings or loops, and after drawing the cover taut fastening the straps or ropes with a buckle or knot, as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

The upper cover may be made of oilcloth, canvas, or other suitable material and extends down over the space X X and may be fastened to the side covering by suitable buttons or hooks, or it may be held on and made to stand up at its edges to ventilate and light the interior and for a better external appearance by using flat bars or strips of metal, one of which is shown in Fig. 10, in one end of which a hole n is form ed, by which it is secured to the cover near the outer edge thereof, and is provided at the other end with a narrow opening a, and between the ends is formed a hole 01 with a narrow opening extending in the direction of the hole in. Two screws n -and n are inserted almost to their heads in the side of the rafter Z in such relation to each other that when the hole at n is passed over the head of the screw a the narrow openings will pass simultaneously '1] nder the heads of both screws-and the piece will be held firmly, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The angle of the support may be changed by adding other screws with which to con-- nect, or a hole may be made in the ends of the rafters or in the metal angle-braces, to receive the end of the bars and hold them. The tensionof the cover if kept taut will hold the bars from comingout.

Toset up the tent, spread out the rafters Z and adjust the braces F, as has been described, and, as shown in Fig. 2, spread the top cover over the rafters and lift up one side and adjust successively the legs in position. The side covering can be fastened in place, as has been explained, and the top covering can either be fastened to the sides, or, with the bars, to the rafters, as has been explained.

To prevent the tent from capsizing in the event of very high wind, pins may be driven at the foot of two or more legs on the windward side or on opposite sides of the tent and made fast to the legs with short pieces of rope or straps.

In the drawings eight rafters Z and legs L are shown; but the number should vary with the size and shape of the tent or booth.

My invention is not limited to the exact form, construction, and arrangement of the various parts, and I therefore reserve the right to make all such alterations therein and modifications thereof as fairly come within the scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a tent or booth, a central member or frame comprising a series of rafters pivotally connected together at one of their ends, so that the ends impinge against and brace each other, and a series of braces or bars-forming a circuit at the other end of the rafters, the end of said braces or bars being lapped upon the rafters, and attached thereto with pins or bolts, the braces being of a length to hold the rafters elevated at the center, thus forming a strong self-supporting frame.

2. In a tent or booth, a central member or frame comprising a series of rafters pivotally connected at one of their ends and adapted to fold upon themselves, a series of braces or bars in pairs pivotally attached at one of their ends to the outer ends of rafters the other ends being detachably attached to the next rafter when the frame is expanded, forming a complete circuit of the ends of the rafters and swinging up parallel with the rafters when folded, said braces or bars being secured together near one end thereof by a shoulder-rivet or similar device.

3. In a tent or booth, a central member or frame comprising a series of rafters pivotally connected at one of their ends so that they may bear against and brace each other and adapted to fold upon themselves, and av series of braces or bars which are provided with pieces of metal projectingat their ends, to lap upon the rafters, said braces being attached thereto with pins or bolts through their lapping ends to the rafters, and when expanded forming a circuit of braces and constituting a self-supporting frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a tent or booth, a central member or frame comprising a series of rafters pivotally connected at one of their ends and adapted to be held rigid at the apex thereof by bracing against each other when extended, a series of metal angle-braces and sockets attached at the other end thereof, and a series of braces forming a circuit at the outer end of the rafters when expanded, the ends of .said braces or bars being lapped upon the rafters and attached thereto with pins or bolts, the braces being of a suitable length to hold the rafters elevated at the center, and said angular braces also being suitably braced thus forminga frame that is self-supporting, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a tent or booth, a central member or frame comprising a series of rafters pivotally connected at one of their ends and adapted to fold upon themselves, and when expanded to rise to an apex in their center, a series of suitable braces the ends of which lap upon the rafters and are attached thereto with pins or bolts, said braces connecting the rafters and forming a circuit near the outer ends thereof and attached to the outer end of each rafter is a metal angle-brace, provided with sockets and a series of legs removably attached to said sockets, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

6. A tent or booth comprising the combination of a suitable skeleton frame of rigid material with a side covering of flexible material extending almost to the eaves and a flexible top covering extending over the eaves to connect with the said side covering to inclose the tent, and provided with strips of rigid material each of which is provided at one end thereof with a small hole or opening by which it is secured to the outer edge of said top, the oppositeend being provided with a slot in the end thereof and a keyhole adjacent thereto, said slot and keyhole being adapted to engage the shanks of screws or bolts which are partially inserted in said rafters adjacent to the outer ends thereof whereby the outer edge of the top covering may be held out to provide means for ventilating and lighting the interior and for a better exterior appearance. I

7. In a tent or booth, a central member or frame comprising a series of rafters pivotally connected at one of their ends and adapted to fold upon themselves, and when expanded to rise to an apex in their center, the outer ends of said rafters being provided with a series of suitable braces the ends of whichlap upon the I rafters and are attached thereto with pins or bolts, said braces connecting the rafters and forming a circuit, and a series of metal braces angling near the center of their length and rectangular in transverse section, one end of which is provided with threaded bolts for removably attaching a series of legs and to rigidly hold them to the rafters, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination in a tent or booth, of the central member or framecomprising a series of rafters pivotally connected at one of their ends, to fold upon themselves, and when extended to rise to an apex at the pivotal connection, the outer ends of said rafters being provided with metalbraces with sockets angular in cross-section, a series of braces or bars connecting the free ends of the rafters and forming a circuit and a series of legs adapted to engage with sockets and to support the frame.

9. In a tent or booth, the combination of a series of rafters pivotally connected at one of their ends to fold upon themselves and a series of metal braces with sockets which are angular in cross-section, said braces being bent centrally to form an obtuse angle and each being provided with a threaded bolt or thumb-screws to removably attach one end with a suitable leg, the other end being attached to the outer end of one of said rafters.

10. The combination in a tent or booth of a series of rafters upon the outer ends of which are secured metal angle-braces with sockets provided with screw-threaded bolts, the other ends of said rafters being pivotally connected with a central ring and adapted to fold upon themselves, a series of legs adapted to enter said sockets, and a number of panels or sections of rigid material extending from one leg to the next, and being detachably secured thereto, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. A tent or booth comprising the combination of a series of rafters pivotally connected at one of their ends, a series of legs adapted to support said rafters, a series of metal angle braces with angular sockets adapted to detachably unite said legs and rafters, and a series of bars or long braces adapted to grip the outer end of rafters between the ends of braces, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. A tent or booth comprising the combination of a series of rafters pivotally connected at one of their ends and a hole through their other ends, of a series of braces connecting said rafters, a series of metal keys consisting of a rod with a handle formed at one end thereof and a shoulder adjacent to said handle, the other end being provided with a lug or projection, and a washer having a circular inclined plane adjacent to an opening formed therein, to impinge the end of braces against the rafters by the operation of said key upon the circular inclined plane.

13. In a tent or booth, a flexible top covering and thin strips or bars of rigid material provided with attaching-holes whereby one end of said bar may be attached to the top covering of the tent or booth, and the other end being provided with a slot in the end thereof and a keyhole adjacent thereto, said slot and keyhole being adapted to engage the shanks of screws or bolts suitably mounted on the central member, whereby means is provided to hold the flexible top cover extended at its edge.

14E. Ina tent or booth, a series of suitable legs and a side covering of flexible material, extending nearly to the caves, and which is provided with eyelets at the lower edge thereof and with rings, loops or holes at the upper edge; said legs having a pin or projection at their lower ends adapted to engage the eyelets attached to the lower edge of the side covering, and having a strap, rope or thong attached near the upper ends of legs to engage the rings, loops or holes near the upper edge of side covering, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. In a tent or booth, an angular brace, the same being provided with a leg-socket and a rafter-socket, said sockets being rectangular in transverse section, the rafter-socket bein g adapted to be secured to a rafter by screws or bolts, and the leg-socket being adapted to be secured to a leg by a thumb-screw, substantially as and for the purpose described.

16. In a tent or booth, folded braces pivoted to suitable rafters near their outer ends and extending successively from one rafter to the next, and folding between the rafters when packed for shipping but When extended for use holding the rafters rigidly fixed and brac ing against each other, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

17. In atent or booth, a flexible top covering and thin strips or bars of rigid material provided with attaching-holes whereby one end of said bar may be attached to the top covering of the tent or booth and the other end provided with suitable means for detachably attaching it to the frame ofthe tent to hold the flexible top covering to the frame and extend it beyond the sides of the tent.

JUAN W. ERNEST.

Vitn esses HENRY IV. BRoDBncK, JOSEPH WANNor.