WO2009031786A2

WO2009031786A2 - Pole structure and height-adjustable tent using the same

Info

Publication number: WO2009031786A2
Application number: PCT/KR2008/005078
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jun Sik Woo
Original assignee: Jun Sik Woo
Priority date: 2007-09-05
Filing date: 2008-08-29
Publication date: 2009-03-12
Also published as: KR20090024974A; KR100908191B1; WO2009031786A3

Abstract

Provided are a pole structure and a height-adjustable tent using the same. The pole structure includes: a fixing pole which is set up on a ground surface; a movable pole which is disposed on the fixing pole and slides up or down along the fixing pole; a movable cap which is fixed and coupled to a lower end of the movable pole and has a part through which the fixing pole passes; a connector which protrudes from a side of the movable cap and is coupled to an edge of tent cloth; and a stopper which restricts the movement of the movable pole. The pole structure enables a height-adjustable tent to always stand upright even on an inclined surface. In addition, since tent cloth moves in accordance with the movement of poles when the heights of the poles are adjusted, it always remains stretched tight. Therefore, no additional unit is required to prevent the tent cloth from creasing when the heights of the poles are adjusted.

Description

POLE STRUCTURE AND HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE TENT USING

THE SAME

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a pole structure and a height- adjustable tent using the same, and more particularly, to a pole structure, which enables a height-adjustable tent to stand upright even when set up on an inclined surface, and a height-adjustable tent using the pole structure. Background Art

[2] Conventional tents are used mainly for outdoor camping and classified into manual tents and automatic tents. To set up manual tents, poles are manually coupled to one another. On the other hand, automatic tents work in a manner similar to umbrellas. Thus, automatic tents can be easily set up and taken down.

[3] Since the lengths of both manual and automatic tents are fixed, the manual and automatic tents must always be set up on a level ground. That is, since the lengths of manual and automatic tents are fixed, if the manual and automatic tents are set up on, for example, a slope or beach which is at an angle, they often fail to stand straight up and easily fall down.

[4] A conventional art for solving this problem is disclosed in Korean Patent Application

No. 2005-33972 (entitled "Tent-Height Controller And Tent Employing the Same") which was filed by the present applicant on April 25, 2004 and patented afterwards. The conventional art is structured as shown in FIG. 1.

[5] FIG. 1 shows a conventional tent employing a tent-height controller. FIG. 2 shows a conventional tent-height controller.

[6] The conventional art relates to a tent-height controller, which can easily control the lengths of length- variable lower support poles of a manual or automatic tent (hereinafter, referred to as a 'tent') and thus enable the tent to always stand straight up even when the tent is set up on an inclined surface, and a tent employing the tent- height controller. The conventional art will now be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[7] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, each of lower support poles 50 of the conventional tent- height controller includes a fixing pole 54, a movable pole 52, and a stopper 56. The fixing pole 54 is set up on the ground surface. An end of the movable pole 52 is coupled to one of upper connecting poles 1, and the other end of the movable pole 52 is coupled to the fixing pole 54 and can be inserted into or removed from the fixing pole 54. The stopper 56 is fixed to an upper end of the fixing pole 54 and restricts the movement of the movable pole 52. Specifically, the stopper 56 includes a cylindrical guide 56a and an eccentric cylindrical rotor 56b. The cylindrical guide 56a guides the movable pole 52 into or out of the fixing pole 54. The eccentric cylindrical rotor 56b is rotatably coupled to a side of the cylindrical guide 56a.

[8] In addition, a cloth-length controller is attached to a lower part of a tent cloth 75 which is coupled to the lower support poles 50. The cloth-length controller includes one or more zippers 90 and 96 which expand the lower part of the tent cloth 75 as they run from a starting point to an end point.

[9] When the conventional tent structured as described above is set up on an inclined surface, the tent-height controller of the conventional tent reduces the lengths of some of the lower support poles 50 which are placed at a higher position on the inclined surface. Therefore, even when the conventional tent is set up on the inclined surface, it can always stand upright in a stable manner.

[10] However, while the conventional tent-height controller can reduce the lengths of the length- variable lower support poles 50 to make the conventional tent stand upright, it cannot reduce the length of the tent cloth 75. Thus, the tent cloth 75 creases when the lengths of the lower support poles 50 are reduced. For this reason, the above cloth- length controller is additionally required to prevent the tent cloth 75 from creasing.

[11] However, if the cloth-length controller is installed in addition to the length- variable lower support poles 50 in order to enable the conventional tent to stand straight up, the manufacturing costs of the conventional tent are increased, and a longer time is required to set up the conventional tent, thereby causing user inconvenience. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[12] The present invention provides a pole structure and a height- adjustable tent using the same, the pole structure enabling the height-adjustable tent to always stand upright even on an inclined surface and reducing the formation of creases in tent cloth of the height-adjustable tent without requiring a cloth-length controller. Technical Solution

[13] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pole structure of a height-adjustable tent including poles, which form a framework of the height-adjustable tent, and tent cloth, which is coupled to the poles and forms an exterior of the height- adjustable tent. The pole structure includes: a fixing pole which is set up on a ground surface; a movable pole which is disposed on the fixing pole and slides up or down along the fixing pole; a movable cap which is fixed and coupled to a lower end of the movable pole and has a part through which the fixing pole passes; a connector which protrudes from a side of the movable cap and is coupled to an edge of tent cloth; and a stopper which restricts the movement of the movable pole.

[14] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pole structure of a height-adjustable tent including poles, which form a framework of the height-adjustable tent, and tent cloth, which is coupled to the poles and forms an exterior of the height- adjustable tent. The pole structure includes: a fixing pole which is set up on a ground surface; a movable pole which is disposed on the fixing pole and moves up or down along the fixing pole and into or from which the fixing pole is inserted or removed in the same way as an antenna; a movable cap which is fixed and coupled to a lower end of the movable pole; a connector which protrudes from a side of the movable cap and is coupled to an edge of tent cloth; and a stopper which restricts the movement of the movable pole. Brief Description of the Drawings

[15] FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional tent employing a tent-height controller;

[16] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional tent-height controller;

[17] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a height-adjustable tent according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[18] FIGS. 4 and 5 are front and side views of a pole structure of the height-adjustable tent according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[19] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the installed height- adjustable tent according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[20] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pole structure of a height-adjustable tent according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[21] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a height- adjustable tent according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[22] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a pole structure of the height-adjustable tent according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[23] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the installed height-adjustable tent according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[24] <Explanation of Reference Numerals Designating the Major Elements of the

Drawings>

[25] 10: upper pole 20, 30, 60: lower pole

[26] 22, 32, 62: movable pole 23, 34, 64: fixing pole

[27] 25, 65: fixing cap 26, 36, 66: movable cap

[28] 27, 37, 67: connector 28, 38, 68: stopper

[29] 40: tent cloth 42: connecting ring

[30] 44: elastic band

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [31] The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth therein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[32] Hereinafter, a pole structure and a height-adjustable tent using the same according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[33] FIG. 3 shows a height-adjustable tent according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 4 and 5 show a pole structure of the height-adjustable tent according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 schematically shows the installed height-adjustable tent according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[34] A height-adjustable tent according to the present invention broadly includes poles, which form the framework of the tent, and tent cloth which is coupled to the poles and forms the exterior of the tent. The poles of the height-adjustable tent according to the present invention may include upper poles (indicated by reference numeral in FIG. 3) and lower poles (indicated by reference numeral 20 in FIG. 3). The upper poles spread out in all directions from a central part of the height-adjustable tent, and the lower poles are rotatably connected to lower ends of the upper poles, respectively. Alternatively, although not shown in FIG. 3, each of the upper poles and a corresponding one of the lower poles may be formed as a single body. For convenience of description, however, it will be assumed that each pole of the height-adjustable tent according to the present invention is divided into an upper pole and a lower pole.

[35] Referring to FIG. 3, poles of the height-adjustable tent according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention may broadly include upper poles 10 and lower poles 20. The upper poles 10 spread out in all directions from a central part of the height-adjustable tent, and the lower poles 20 are rotatably connected to lower ends of the upper poles 10, respectively.

[36] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the length-variable lower poles 20 includes fixing poles 24, a movable pole 22, a fixing cap 25, a movable cap 26, a connector 27, and a stopper 28. The fixing poles 24 are set up on the ground surface. The movable pole 22 is disposed on the fixing poles 24 and slides up or down along the fixing poles 24. The fixing cap 25 is fixed and coupled to upper ends of the fixing poles 24. The movable cap 26 is fixed and coupled to a lower end of the movable pole 22. The connector 27 protrudes from a side of the movable cap 26 and is coupled to an edge of tent cloth 40. The stopper 28 restricts the movement of the movable pole 22. [37] Specifically, the fixing poles 24 include a pair of poles. The fixing poles 24 are fixed and coupled to each other by the fixing cap 25 which is fixed and coupled to the upper ends of the fixing poles 24. The movable pole 22 passes through a part of the fixing cap 25 which is fixed and coupled to the upper ends of the fixing poles 24. For example, referring to FIG. 4, a through-hole may be formed in a central part of the fixing cap 25 so that the movable pole 22 can pass through the through-hole. In addition, both sides of the through-hole may be fixed and coupled to the upper ends of the fixing poles 24, respectively.

[38] An upper end of the movable pole 22 is rotatably connected to one of the upper poles

10, and a lower end of the movable pole 22 passes through the fixing cap 25. The movable cap 26 is fixed and coupled to the lower end of the movable pole 22, and the fixing poles 24 pass through parts of the movable cap 26, respectively. For example, referring to FIG. 4, a central part of the movable cap 26 may be fixed and coupled to the lower end of the movable pole 22, and through-holes may be formed on both sides of the central part of the movable cap 26 so that the fixing poles 24 can pass through the through-holes, respectively.

[39] The connector 27 protrudes from a side of the movable cap 26 and is coupled to an edge of the tent cloth 40. For example, referring to FIGS. 3 through 5, the connector 27, which is shaped like a hook, may be fixed to and protrude from a side of the movable cap 26. In addition, a connecting ring 42 may extend from an edge of the tent cloth 40 which corresponds to the movable cap 26. As the connecting ring 42 of the tent cloth 40 is coupled to the connector 27 of the movable cap 26, the edge of the tent cloth 40 may be coupled to the moveable cap 26.

[40] The stopper 28, which restricts the movement of the movable pole 22, is also formed on a side of the movable pole 26. In the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the stopper 28 is formed on a side of the movable cap 26. However, the stopper 28 may also be formed on a side of the fixing cap 25. Since the stopper 28 uses known technology which can be easily applied by those of ordinary skill in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. For example, the structure of a stopper disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 2005-33972 (entitled "Tent-Height Controller And Tent Employing the Same") which was filed by the present applicant on April 25, 2004 and patented afterwards may also be applied to the present invention.

[41] In the height- adjustable tent according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the movable pole 22 passes through the fixing cap 25 and moves downward, the length of each of the lower poles 20 may be reduced. Here, since the connecting ring 42, which extends from a central part of an edge of the tent cloth 40, is coupled to the connector 27 of the movable cap 26, even when the movable cap 26 moves downward in accordance with the movable pole 22, an upper part of the edge of the tent cloth 40, that is, a part of the edge of the tent cloth 40 above the connecting ring 42 which is coupled to the connector 27, remains stretched tight.

[42] However, a lower part of the edge of the tent cloth 40, that is, a part of the edge of the tent cloth 40 below the connecting ring 42 which is coupled to the connector 27, may crease as it is folded. In order to prevent this problem, in the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an elastic band 44 may be vertically inserted into the lower part of the edge of the tent cloth 40, that is, the part of the edge of the tent cloth 40 below the connecting ring 42 which is coupled to the connector 27. Therefore, when the movable pole 22 moves downward, the elastic band 44 can prevent the formation of bits of fluff or creases in the lower part of the edge of the tent cloth 40. In addition, when the movable pole 22 moves upward, the lower part of the tent cloth 40 becomes stretched tight as the elastic band 44 expands.

[43] The operation of the height-adjustable tent according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

[44] Referring to FIG. 6, when the height-adjustable tent is set up on an inclined surface, the lengths of some of the length- variable lower support poles 20, which are placed at a higher position on the inclined surface, are reduced so that the height-adjustable tent can stand straight up. That is, the length of each of the lower poles 20 is reduced by appropriately moving the movable pole 22 downward through the fixing cap 25. Then, the movable pole 22 is locked into position by using the stopper 28 in order to restrict the movement of the movable pole 22.

[45] Since the connecting ring 42, which extends from the central part of the edge of the tent cloth 40, is coupled to the connector 27 of the movable cap 26, it moves downward when the movable pole 22 moves downward. Thus, the upper part of the edge of the tent cloth 40 remains stretched tight even when the movable pole 22 moves downward. In addition, the lower part of the edge of the tent cloth 40 has less creases due to the elastic band 44 which is vertically inserted thereinto. Mode for the Invention

[46] FIG. 7 shows a pole structure of a height-adjustable tent according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7, the height- adjustable tent according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention is structured almost identical to the height-adjustable tent according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. However, the structure of length- variable lower poles 60 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention is partially different from that of the length-variable lower poles 20 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [47] Referring to FIG. 7, each of the length-variable lower poles 60 according to the second exemplary embodiment includes a fixing pole 64, a movable pole 62, a fixing cap 65, a movable cap 66, a connector 67, and a stopper 68. The fixing pole 64 is set up on the ground surface. The movable pole 62 is disposed on the fixing pole 64 and slides up or down along the fixing pole 64. The fixing cap 65 is fixed and coupled to an upper end of the fixing pole 64. The movable cap 66 is fixed and coupled to a lower end of the movable pole 62. The connector 67 protrudes from a side of the movable cap 66 and is coupled to an edge of tent cloth 40. The stopper 68 restricts the movement of the movable pole 62.

[48] That is, the lower poles 60 according to the second exemplary embodiment are structured almost identical to the lower poles 20 according to the first exemplary embodiment, except that the fixing pole 64 is a single pole.

[49] The movable pole 62 passes through a part of the fixing cap 65 which is fixed and coupled to an upper end of the fixing pole 64. For example, referring to FIG. 7, a through-hole may be formed in a part of the fixing cap 65 so that the movable pole 62 can pass through the through-hole. In addition, the upper end of the fixing pole 64 may be fixed and coupled to the other part of the fixing cap 65.

[50] The fixing pole 64 passes through a part of the movable cap 66 which is fixed and coupled to the lower end of the movable pole 66. For example, referring to FIG. 7, a through-hole may be formed in a part of the movable cap 66 so that the fixing pole 64 can pass through the through-hole. In addition, the lower end of the movable pole 66 may be fixed and coupled to the other part of the movable cap 66.

[51] The connector 67 protrudes from a side of the movable cap 66 and is coupled to an edge of the tent cloth 40. The stopper 68, which restricts the movement of the movable pole 62, is formed on a side of the movable cap 66 or the fixing cap 65. As shown in FIG. 7, the connector 67 and the stopper 68 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention are structured identical to those according to the first exemplary embodiment, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the height-adjustable tent according to the second exemplary embodiment works in the same manner as the height-adjustable tent according to the first exemplary embodiment. Thus, the operation of the height-adjustable tent according to the second exemplary embodiment will not be described.

[52] FIG. 8 shows a height-adjustable tent according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 shows a pole structure of the height-adjustable tent according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 schematically shows the installed height-adjustable tent according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[53] Except for the structure of length- variable lower poles 30, the height-adjustable tent according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention is structured almost identical to the height-adjustable tent according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[54] Referring to FIG. 8, the height- adjustable tent according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention broadly includes upper poles 10 and the length- variable lower poles 30. The upper poles 10 spread out in all directions from a central part of the height-adjustable tent, and the lower poles 30 are rotatably connected to lower ends of the upper poles 10, respectively.

[55] Referring to FIG. 9, each of the length-variable lower poles 30 includes a fixing pole

34, a movable pole 32, a movable cap 36, a connector 37, and a stopper 38. The fixing pole 34 is set up on the ground surface. The movable pole 32 is formed on the fixing pole 34 and moves up or down along the fixing pole 34. The movable cap 36 is fixed and coupled to a lower end of the movable pole 32. The connector 37 protrudes from a side of the movable cap 36 and is coupled to an edge of tent cloth 40. The stopper 38 restricts the movement of the movable pole 32.

[56] An upper end of the movable pole 32 is rotatably connected to one of the upper poles

10, and the fixing pole 34 is inserted into or removed from the lower end of the movable pole 32 in the same way as an antenna. Therefore, an outer diameter of the fixing pole 34 is smaller than an inner diameter of the movable pole 32. The movable cap 36 is fixed and coupled to the lower end of the movable pole 32, and the connector 37, which protrudes from a side of the movable cap 36, is coupled to an edge of the tent cloth 40. For example, referring to FIG. 9, the connector 37, which is shaped like a hook, may be fixed to and protrude from a side of the movable cap 36. In addition, a connecting ring 42 may extend from an edge of the tent cloth 40 which corresponds to the movable cap 36. As the connecting ring 42 of the tent cloth 40 is coupled to the connector 37 of the movable cap 36, the edge of the tent cloth 40 may be coupled to the movable cap 36.

[57] The stopper 38, which restricts the movement of the movable pole 32, is formed on a side of the movable cap 36. The stopper 38 according to the third exemplary embodiment is structured identical to the stopper 28 according to the first exemplary embodiment. In the third exemplary embodiment, an elastic band 44 may also be vertically inserted into a lower part of the edge of the tent cloth 40. Therefore, even when the movable pole 32 moves downward, the elastic band 44 can prevent the formation of bits of fluff or creases in the lower part of the edge of the tent cloth 40. In addition, when the movable pole 32 moves upward, the lower part of the tent cloth 40 becomes stretched tight as the elastic band 44 expands.

[58] The operation of the height-adjustable tent according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described. [59] Referring to FIG. 10, when the height-adjustable tent is set up on an inclined surface, the lengths of some of the length- variable lower support poles 30, which are placed at a higher position on the inclined surface, are reduced so that the height-adjustable tent can stand straight up. That is, the length of each of the lower poles 30 is reduced by appropriately moving the movable pole 32 downward. Then, the movable pole 32 is locked into position by using the stopper 38 in order to restrict the movement of the movable pole 32.

[60] Since the connecting ring 42, which extends from a central part of the edge of the tent cloth 40, is coupled to the connector 37 of the movable cap 36, it moves downward when the movable pole 32 moves downward. Thus, an upper part of the edge of the tent cloth 40 remains stretched tight even when the movable pole 32 moves downward. In addition, a lower part of the edge of the tent cloth 40 has less creases due to the elastic band 44 which is vertically inserted thereinto.

[61] While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Industrial Applicability

[62] According to a pole structure and a height-adjustable tent using the same of the present invention, even when a height-adjustable tent is set up on an inclined surface, it can always stand upright in a stable manner.

[63] According to the present invention, tent cloth moves in accordance with the movement of poles when the heights of the poles are adjusted. Therefore, no additional unit is required to prevent the tent cloth from creasing when the heights of the poles are adjusted. Consequently, the height-adjustable tent according to the present invention can be manufactured at reduced costs and set up more easily, which, in turn, enhances user convenience.

Claims

[1] A pole structure of a height-adjustable tent comprising poles, which form a framework of the height-adjustable tent, and tent cloth, which is coupled to the poles and forms an exterior of the height-adjustable tent, the pole structure comprising: a fixing pole which is set up on a ground surface; a movable pole which is disposed on the fixing pole and slides up or down along the fixing pole; a movable cap which is fixed and coupled to a lower end of the movable pole and has a part through which the fixing pole passes; a connector which protrudes from a side of the movable cap and is coupled to an edge of tent cloth; and a stopper which restricts the movement of the movable pole.

[2] The pole structure of claim 1, further comprising a fixing cap which is fixed and coupled to an upper end of the fixing pole and has a part through which the movable pole passes.

[3] The pole structure of claim 1, wherein the fixing pole comprises a pair of poles.

[4] A pole structure of a height-adjustable tent comprising poles, which form a framework of the height-adjustable tent, and tent cloth, which is coupled to the poles and forms an exterior of the height-adjustable tent, the pole structure comprising: a fixing pole which is set up on a ground surface; a movable pole which is disposed on the fixing pole and moves up or down along the fixing pole and into or from which the fixing pole is inserted or removed in the same way as an antenna; a movable cap which is fixed and coupled to a lower end of the movable pole; a connector which protrudes from a side of the movable cap and is coupled to an edge of tent cloth; and a stopper which restricts the movement of the movable pole. [5] A height-adjustable tent comprising the pole structure of any one of claims 1 through 4. [6] The height- adjustable tent of claim 5, further comprising an elastic band which is vertically inserted into an edge of tent cloth adjacent to the fixing pole and elastically contacts a lower part of the edge of the tent cloth.