ZA200906509B - Tents - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to tents and similar transportable shelters.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Tents are available in many different designs which have been steadily improving as technology allowed for more flexible and lightweight poles to be used during the erection of the tent.

The potential drawback of any tent however remains the weight of the tent poles and pegs, as well as the storage and transportation thereof. Further drawbacks may include complicated erection processes and the loss of poles.

These drawbacks are especially relevant when the tent needs to be carried in a backpack during a hike. The folded tent needs to take up as little space as possible while being as light as possible.

In an attempt to make tents without tent poles, certain manufacturers have designed tents with inflatable tubes to act as supports for the tent. This brings about further drawbacks such as the fact that the material from which the tent is manufactured needs to be extremely durable to prevent punctures.

It is an object of this invention to provide an alternative to the above methods which negates or at least greatly reduces the potential drawbacks thereof while potentially providing increased flexibility.

THE INVENTION

According to the invention, a portable shelter comprises one or more sheet members and a cord, the cord being securable to one or more anchoring elements such that at least a portion thereof is orientated in a substantially horizontal condition, the sheet member(s) being suspended from the cord to define first and second sections of the sheet members, the free ends of the sheet member(s) engaging the ground to define a substantially triangular chamber between the first and second sections of the sheet members.

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In the simplest form of the invention, a single sheet member is provided.

In the preferred form of the invention, the anchoring elements may comprise trees or vehicles for example, the cord being suspended therebetween. The cord should be as taut as possible to ensure greater stability for the shelter. In one form of the invention, the cord or rope is adapted to include a device to assist in tensioning it.

In an alternative form, the cord may be suspended from overhead branche(s) of one or more trees.

In a further alternative form a pair of poles may be provided in the event that no suitable trees or the like are available.

In the preferred form of the invention the shelter is triangular in the erected form and includes a passage at the midpoint thereof to receive the cord, cable or similar member therethrough. In one form, the cord may be stitched into the passage with a predetermined length of cord protruding to either side of the passage ends.

In the preferred form of the invention, the free ends of the sheet member(s) are releasably securable to the ground. In the simplest form, rocks, sand, logs or other : heavy objects may be located on the ends of the sheet member(s) to anchor them, but in the preferred form of the invention, anchor tabs including an aperture for receiving a peg or the like therethrough, may be provided.

It is submitted however that a more practical form of the invention would be to allow the cord to be freely slidably in the passage n the event that the location chosen for erection of the tent requires the shelter of the invention to be situated off-centre relative to the anchoring elements.

In this form, it may be required to provide at each end of the passage, a tensioning element securable to the cord in order to fix the location of the sheet member on the cord and prevent “bunching” due to the cord sagging or in windy conditions for example.

The tent may include a reinforced floor secured between the sheet members, and may include windows, mosquito nets and the like.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

And embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a tent according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a similar view of a different embodiment;

Figures 3 to 6 are similar views of alternative forms of the invention.

In the drawings a tent 10 includes side walls 12 which are supported by a taut rope or cord 14. The rope is secured between two structures 16, in this case trees 18.

A passage 19 runs trough the tent near the apex 21 of the walls to accommodate the rope.

The tent is further secured to the ground by tent pegs 20 located about the circumference 22 thereof.

A reinforced floor 24 is located between the walls and the tent further includes windows 26 with mosquito nets 28, and an opening 30 which serves as a door 32.

The fact that the tent does not include any poles to support the structure means that it will be much lighter and possibly easier to erect. The tent can simply be folded up along with the support rope when not in use.

Figure 2 depicts a tent where the rope is secured to a single branch 38 in two different locations 40 and 42.

In Figure 3 the rope used a horizontal support is passed over a branch 34 and secured to a tent peg 36 which is anchored to the ground.

In Figures 4 and 5 the tent includes a device 50 to adjust the tension in the cord. The tension may be relaxed to such a point that the tent can be moved along the cord to a more favourable position (Figure 5).

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In Figure 6 the tent includes an inflatable floor 52 to act as a mattress or similar } cushioning.

Claims (15)

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1. A portable shelter comprising one or more sheet members and a cord, the cord being securable to one or more anchoring elements such that at least a portion thereof is orientated in a substantially horizontal condition, the sheet member(s) being suspended from the cord to define first and second sections of the sheet members, the free ends of the sheet member(s) engaging the ground to define a substantially triangular chamber between the first and second sections of the sheet members.

2. A portable shelter according to claim 1 in which a single sheet member is provided.

3. A portable shelter according to claim 1 in which the anchoring elements comprise trees or vehicles or a combination thereof.

4. A portable shelter according to any of the above claims in which the cord is adapted to include a device to assist in tensioning.

5. A portable shelter according to claims 1 and 2 in which the cord is suspended from overhead branches of one or more trees.

6. : A portable shelter according to claim 1 and 2 in which one or more poles are provided in the event that other anchoring elements are not available.

7. : A portable shelter according to any of the above claims in which the shelter is triangular in the erected form and includes a passage at the midpoint thereof to receive the cord, cable or similar member therethrough.

J v4 009/065 0.9 ] A portable shelter according to claim 7 in which the cord is stitched into the passage with predetermined length of cord protruding to either side of the passage ends.

9. A portable shelter according to any of the above claims in which the free ends of the sheet members are releasably securable to the ground.

10. A portable shelter according to claim 9 in which the sheet ends include anchor tabs including an aperture for receiving a peg or the like therethrough.

11. A portable shelter according to claim 7 in which a tensioning element is provided at each end of the passage, the tensioning element being securable to the cord in order to fix the location of the sheet member on the cord and prevent “bunching” due to the cord sagging or in windy conditions. :

12. A portable shelter according to any of the above claims which includes a reinforced floor secured between the sheet members. :

13. A portable shelter according to any of the above claims which includes windows.

14. A portable shelter according to any of the above claims which includes mosquito netting.

15. A portable shelter substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings. So .

} Dated this 18 day/6f Septemb 2009 SON FQRSTER INC.

APPLICANTS’ PATENT ATTORNEYS So