GB2321656A - Tent - Google Patents

Abstract

An integrated frame and canopy tent employs rigid or semi-rigid frame elements (23-25), in a collapsible spider array about an apex hub, and individually entrained within pockets in a (contiguous) fabric canopy, to combine advantages of a frame and dome tent.

Description

Tent with Integrated Frame and Canopy This invention relates to tents and fabric-walled structures generally and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with the integration of a support frame with a fabric cover or wrap.

The term 'tent' is used herein to embrace any form of supported fabric cover, to serve as a shelter, whether a partial canopy or completely enveloped enclosure.

The term 'fabric' itself admits of a variety of materials, but generally implies some lack of inherent rigidity - that is the fabric is not self-supporting when draped or laid out flat and relies upon an ancillary support, whether tensioned guy ropes and/or upright poles or a lattice framework.

As such, tents may serve for diverse camping, leisure, entertainment or business purposes.

Generally, a roof canopy is featured as a minimum, with integral or separate side walls, which may vary in 'completeness' of peripheral infill and internal sub-division.

Originally, 'cover' fabric support poles were separate from the cover fabric itself.

The fabric was draped and then tensioned over the poles by guy ropes tied to ground stakes or pegs.

Supplementary guy ropes stabilised the support poles.

This traditional approach still characterises so-called 'ridge' tents, in which a ridge pole spans spaced upright poles at opposite ends of a gabled fabric roof.

So-called 'A-frame' variants of ridge tents are also known, in which the apex or ridge of a canopy fabric is suspended from an overlying triangular support framework, which obviates internal space-intrusive ridge poles.

As a derivative form, so-called 'frame' tents have evolved, in which a self-supporting, interconnected 'space' frame(work) of individual (albeit sometimes loosely-entrained) inter-linked elements positively fastened together at corner joints, is overlaid with a loose-fitting fabric cover or wrap, embodying discrete walls and roof panels, joined at seams to overlie the frame elements.

Conventional frame tents generally do not rely upon a tensioned fabric roof gable, tapering (steeply) downwardly at the side walls for drainage, in the manner of ridge or dome tents - but rather a shallow pitched roof and almost upright side walls.

Thus in a conventional frame tent there is a marked, abrupt transition between (nearupright) side walls and (near-horizontal) roof membranes.

This configuration preserves head-clearance adjacent the walls - and overall creates a more usable enclosure volume for a given floor surface area.

Nevertheless, the exposed internal frame within the confines of the tent canopy, can prove a physical obstruction in a conventional frame tent.

Moreover, the larger elevational 'wind profile', and abrupt upright wall transition, can make a frame tent vulnerable to displacement, distortion or collapse in windy conditions on exposed sites.

Similarly, torrential rainfall is not so readily displaced and discharged by the shallow roof pitch.

Generally, compared with ridge tents, for a given ground 'footprint', frame tents are characterised by larger, more elaborate structures and complex infill panels, including translucent fenestration, tied closure doors, and canopies.

Typically, the frame is initially erected to an intermediate height, and a fabric cover draped loosely over, before raising the frame with extender poles progressively from each corner, whereupon the fabric is tied down over the fully erected frame structure and tensioned using guy ropes restrained by ground pegs.

This is a somewhat laborious and cumbersome process, which does not lend the tent to frequent erection and dismantling such as required for touring.

Thus frame tents tend to be regarded as a semi-permanent fixture.

For smaller tents, with a lesser exposed 'wind' profile, in order to create more usable head room for a given floor area than is available with a conventional ridge tent, socalled 'dome' tents have been developed.

In such dome tents there is no pronounced transition between side walls and roof panels, but rather a continuous progressive transition, in a smooth, curved arc of fabric tensioned by a slightly bowed frame.

As to the dome tent frame, flexible frame elements, defining the structure corner edges, are interconnected by bespoke connectors and support an internal canopy fabric.

The canopy support loads compress and flex the frame against canopy to frame tie loops.

The canopy is thus tensioned and stretched into a tauter and more 'disciplined' characteristic profile than, say, either a ridge or frame tent.

In some dome tent variants, the frame elements are permanently interconnected by collapsible pivot joints, for ease of frame erection.

Similarly, in some dome tent variants, the frame elements are permanently entrained within fabric loops at edge panel seams, between panels running continuously. from wall to roof, to form a pyramidal or dome structure.

The dome tent frame elements are generally small diameter, hollow (eg mutuallyentrained with internal end shock cords) or solid rods, which are inherently less stiff to allow flexing for tensioning the cover fabric - than the large hollow tube sections employed for (rigid) frame tents.

Such dome tents are thus readily erected and dismantled, with the frame elements remaining in situ.

They are also generally compact and portable - to the extent that they may be fitted into a hiker's back-pack.

Moreover, a ground sheet may be integrated with the fabric walls and used to form a taut, but flexible, shell - limiting frame spread or splay at the (ground-engaging) frame ends.

However, because of the inherent flexibility and fragility of the frame elements, there have proved to be practical limitations upon overall size of dome tents - frustrating attempts to match frame tent scales and diversity of forms and flexibility of function.

Similarly, dome tents with flexible frames do not lend themselves quite so readily to forming extendible structures, such as awnings secured to caravan sides, as do rigid frame tents.

The present invention is concerned to obviate certain disadvantages of such conventional dome and frame tent constructions.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a tent or fabric structure, comprises a (modular) support frame, of a plurality of discrete, rigid, or semi-rigid, frame elements, inter-connectable (at their respective ends), (by bespoke end-fittings or connectors), the frame elements being entrained within fabric loops or sheaths, at corner or edge jointing seams, of a fabric enclosure or wrap, between discrete wall and roof panels.

This approach combines certain respective advantages of conventional frame and dome tents.

Thus the more upright wall and generally near-horizontal roof panel stance of a conventional frame tent is achievable, and thus more effective utilisation of floor space, affording head-clearance at the periphery, whilst preserving an entrained frame for ease of erection and dismantling.

The canopy fabric is tensioned to the external frame by local tie loops.

Preferably, a plurality of frame spokes radiate from a central hub and articulate individually into relativeiy angled roof and (telescopically) extendable wall support members.

in some configurations, the overall frame can incorporate: a (constrained or captive) pivotal inter-connection of roof frame elements to a common central hub, which forms the apex of the erected tent; a (constrained) pivotal inter-connection of roof and peripheral side wall frame elements; and telescopic lengthwise adjustable side and/or roof frame elements.

Thus a plurality of (downwardly) depending spoke elements are desirably hinged outwardly from the hub - which remains uppermost throughout the assembly or erection and dis-assembly or dismantling stages.

With a largely symmetrical, progressive splay of frame elements, the structure remains stable during erection and dismantling, with minimal tendency to topple over.

This contrasts with, say, quick-erect variants of the conventional dome tent frame approach, in which a centre hub is brought progressively, and somewhat more awkwardly, upwardly from within a collapsed framework.

The rigid or semi-rigid frame allows internal (room) dividers and (bed/room) compartments to be created and supported, by hanging freely from the frame, without distorting the frame profile.

This would be impractical with a conventional dome tent, where the frame is already bowed under enclosure fabric tension, giving the overall structure its intended taut, reentrant profile, with fabric flowing in concave curves between convexly (outwardly) bowed frame members.

In the present invention, the side walls can be minimal, or with, say, peripheral pelmet framed apertures, and zipped opening flaps to form porches or canopies and to allow interconnection with adjoining structures.

There now follows a description of a particular embodiment of the invention, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic and schematic drawings, in which: Figures 1 through 6 show progressive stages in erection of a tent with entrained (semi) rigid frame members; thus ...

Figure 1 shows a view of a tent and integral frame assembly, collapsed ready for erection, and laid upon a ground sheet; Figure 2 shows a formative stage of roof canopy erection of the integrated frame and tent assembly of Figure 1, with articulated roof members folded outwardly in a temporary 'kneeling' pose; Figure 3 shows an intermediate roof canopy erection stage for the integrated frame and tent of Figure 1, bringing the roof canopy into an extended pyramidal form, with roof members deployed and locked into alignment, but not fully splayed, and the individual side legs telescopically collapsed and tucked inwardly alongside the corresponding roof members; Figure 4 shows preliminary deployment of a side leg, to support the tent roof canopy of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows an intermediate stage of erection of the tent of Figures 1 through 4, with the roof canopy completed, but with the attendant side walls part-collapsed, by ongoing telescopic collapse of peripheral side legs; Figure 6 shows the tent of Figures 1 through 5 with (minimal infill) side legs and intervening side wall panels fully extended; Figure 7 shows selective side wall infill of the erected tent of Figure 6; Frame dismantling is the reverse of the sequential procedure outlined in relation to Figures 1 through 6.

Figure 8 shows an individual spoke assembly for the tent of Figures 1 through 7, with a roof section extended and an (upper) supporting side wall section only partillustrated; Figure 9 shows an enlarged view of a pivot connector with a self-limiting (travel) throat and slidable locking sleeve, for the roof support sections of the (spoke) leg assembly of Figure 8; Figures 10A and 10B show perspective views of complementary inter-fitting parts of a connector hinge for a roof-to-wall joint of the frame (spoke) leg assembly of Figures 8 and 9; Figure 10C is an assembled view of Figures 10A and 10B with hinge pin interconnection inserted; Figure 11A is a perspective view of a hub connector yolk, for the spoke assembly of Figure 8; Figure 11 B is a perspective view of a multi-spline hub, for the frame of Figure 8, to receive hub connectors such as shown in Figure 13A; Figure 11C is an assembly of hub connector and hub of Figures 1 1A and 11 B; Figure 12 is a detail of the (cover) fabric to frame entrainment, to shape and tension the fabric shell; and Figures 13(a) through 13(t) show progressive stages of erection of the tent shown in Figures 1 through 12.

Referring to the drawings, a collapsed and folded tent assembly 11, with an integrated fabric canopy cover 12 and entrained frame 14 is laid initially upon a flat rectangular (eg square) ground sheet 46, at a desired location.

This compact assembly 11 is effectively enshrouded in a wrap of surplus fabric from the tent canopy cover 12, with a fragmented or segmented elemental support frame 14 entrained 'internally' in fabric pockets or sleeves 96, 98 in jointing seams 97, 99 respectively, in the side walls and roof sections of the canopy cover 12.

Overall, the assembly 11 represents a conveniently shaped and sized 'package' for transport and storage - and may be fitted into a bespoke fabric 'holdall'.

The frame 14 itself comprises a spider-like radial array of collapsible spoke assemblies 21 (shown individually in Figure 8), with contiguous roof and wall sections, pivotally connected at one (upper) end to a central upper hub 31, which forms an apex 50 of the erected tent structure 70.

The remote opposite (lower) ends of spokes 21 from the hub 31 are fitted with foot plates 29 for ground or other support surface engagement.

In this example, four such collapsible spokes 21 radiate from the hub 31, to form, upon erection, a pyramid roof structure 53, with upstanding peripheral side walls 43, spanning a rectangular (square, in this example) base area within the ground sheet 46, as shown progressively from Figures 1 through 6.

In the formative stages of erection, as depicted in Figure 2, the central hub 31 remains upwards, as inner and outer roof frame support sections 23, 24 respectively, of each collapsible spoke 21 are progressively unfolded.

Initially, the spokes 21 are unfolded to form a 'kneeling' partially erected roof dome, with roof to wall pivot connector joints 33 resting on the ground sheet 46 and telescopically collapsed upper and lower wall sections 25 and 26 respectively folded underneath.

No special disposition of the cover fabric 12 is required, as the fabric 12 and frame elements 14 are entrained by fabric loops 96 98 at seams 97, 99 respectively between successive side wall and roof panels 43, 53.

Figure 3 shows a pyramidal roof canopy 53 partially extended, by fully extending the inner and outer roof frame sections 23, 24, into linear alignment, with slidable locking collars 91 brought into position, but roof sections 23, 24 not full splayed outwardly from the hub 31.

Similarly, the upper and lower wall frame sections 25 and 26 still collapsed together, by telescopic inter-fitting and folded inwardly, to lie internally against the associated (outer) roof section 24.

The roof frame sections 23, 24 are knuckle-jointed through connectors 63 and could also be mutually telescopic (although not illustrated in this example).

A slidable locking collar 91 (with optional travel limit stops, not shown) is positioned to one side of the joint 63, in this case around the upper roof section 23, ready to be slid into a locking position over the joint 63, which is thereby inhibited from collapsing downwardly.

Figure 4 shows an initial step in deploying the upper and lower wall (frame) sections 25 and 26 of a spoke 21, by folding outward from underneath the roof canopy 53, whilst still (telescopically) collapsed together, so that the roof 53 remains manageable and accessible.

At or after this juncture, eaves tie loops 103 at each roof corner are extended over locking pins 101 inserted into the roof-to-wall connectors 33, as shown in Figure 12.

Figure 5 shows peripheral side wall panels 43 deployed around the roof 53, but not fully extended, so that the roof 53 sits evenly at an intermediate (say half) height from the ground sheet 46.

Figure 6 shows the side walls 43 fully extended - by extending the legs 23, 24 - to form a fully erected structure 70.

In the Figure 6 illustration, the side wall panels 43 are not completely in-filled, but are rather represented by marginal pelmets, leaving substantially through-openings 58 for selective in-fill.

Figure 7 shows a fully-erected structure 70, otherwise corresponding to Figure 6 - but with three adjoining side walls 43 fitted with translucent in-fill fenestration panels 57.

Figure 8 shows the interconnection of roof and side wall frame elements 23, 24, 25, 26 making up an individual spoke 21, from the central apex hub 31, through two-part roof elements 23,24, to two-part wall elements 25,26, the lower wall section not being fully illustrated.

Thus, a hub pivot connector 64 is fitted to the inner (and uppermost) end of an inner roof frame element 23, to whose opposite end, at mid-roof span, is fitted an intermediate pivot connector portion 63A.

A corresponding outer roof frame element 24 has, at its (upper) inner end, a complementary pivot connector portion 63B to the fitting 63A, and at its (lower) outer end a pivot connector portion 33A, as part of a roof to wall joint 33.

Similarly, a complementary connector portion 33B at the upper end of an upper wall frame element 25 completes the connector 33.

Arcuate arrows 81, 82 and 83 depict the (limited or constrained) range of joint articulation, respectively at the hub 31, intermediate roof span connector 63 and roofto-wall connector 33.

Figure 9 shows the intermediate or mid-span roof frame joint 63, comprising joint portions 63A and 63B of the inner and outer roof frame elements 23, 24 pinned at closely-spaced pivots 67 to a link 68, which abuts the jaws of the joints 63A, 63B, to constrain the extent of the fully-open joint condition and to keep the roof elements 23, 24 in line, ready for the locking sleeve 91.

Arcuate arrows 82A, 82B indicate the joint 63 articulation during unfolding from a collapsed condition, in which one (outer) roof frame element 24 overlies the other (inner) roof frame element 23, in a compact inter-nested configuration, as part of the assembly 11.

A similar intermediate (in-line) connector 66 (not shown in detail) to the connector 63 can be used to join the wall frame elements 25, 26.

However, a (split-circumference) locking sleeve 66, for example with a lever-actuated crimping grip action, is merely required for setting the relative extended positions of the telescopic legs 25, 26.

The roof-to-wall connector 33, is detailed in Figures 10A through 10A, lOB and 10C, and comprises complementary inter-fitting maie/female connector portions 33A, 33B linked by a hinge pin 73.

The extent of connector opening is constrained by abutment of the portions 33A, 33B to an obtuse angle representing the desired roof to wall pitch.

A slight wall splay is preserved for stability and helps keep the joint fully articulated.

A removable locking pin 101 may be fitted to lock the roof-to-wall joint 33 in its fullyopen condition, to prevent accidental inward buckling and collapse of a side leg 23, 24.

The head of this same pin 101 may be used as a support for a canopy tensioning loop 103 at the roof-corner seam 111, as more readily appreciated from Figure 18.

The canopy side wall 43 is also restrained by a tie ring 94, coupled to a fabric corner edge seam 115 and freely slidable along the lower side frame 26.

A tie loop 105 secures the lower canopy corner edge to a foot-plate 29, at the base of the lower side frame leg 26.

Supplementary ties, such as 107, may pull the canopy lower edge towards ground pegs 109.

The roof frame-to-hub interconnection joint 31, 64, detailed in Figures 11A, 11 B and 11C, is similarly limited in its range fully-open travel, to determine the splay or spread of the aligned roof frame members 23, 24 and thus constrain the footprint of the erected tent to within the groundsheet 46.

No joint locking measures are required here, not least because access would be awkward once the roof canopy is opened out as the roof frames 23, 24 are splayed.

Thus a connector 64 for each frame spoke 21 is entrained by a pivot pin 78 in a radial spline 77 of the hub 31 and abuts the hub body when the joint is fully articulated, to positively limit the range of travel and joint opening angle.

The cruciform array of splines 77 on the hub 31 also preserves the relative (equi) angled disposition of the frame spokes 21.

Components 11 collapsed/folded tent assembly 12 canopy fabric 14 frame 21 spoke assembly 23 inner (upper) roof (frame) section 24 outer (lower) roof (frame) section 25 upper wall frame section 26 lower wall frame section 29 foot-plate 31 hub 33 roof-to-wall connectors 33A connector (33) portion 33B connector (33) portion 43 side wall (panels) 46 ground sheet 50 apex 53 roof (panels) 57 (translucent) side wall infill panels 58 side wall through-openings 63 intermediate roof frame connectors 63A connector (63) portions 63B connector (64) portions 64 hub pivot connector 66 (locking) wall frame connector collar 67 pivots 68 links 70 fully erected tent structure 73 pivot pins 77 (cruciform) splines 81 joint (64) travel 82 joint (63) travel 83 joint (33) travel 91 locking sleeve (roof members 25, 26) 94 tie ring 95 locking sleeve (side legs 23, 24) 96 fabric pocket, sleeve or collar (side wall) 97 jointing seam (side wall) 98 fabric pocket, sleeve or collar (roof) 99 jointing seam (roof panel) 101 locking pin (joint 33) 103 tie loop (eaves) 105 tie loop 107 tie loop 109 peg 111 canopy roof (eaves) seam 115 canopy corner edge seam

Claims (3)

1. Claims 1.

   A tent (11) with an integrated frame and fabric canopy, comprising a plurality of discrete frame elements (14), individually entrained within loops or pockets (96, 98), of a fabric cover (12), the frame elements being rigid, or semi-rigid, and interconnected to facilitate erection and dismantling.
2. 2.

   An integrated frame and canopy tent, as claimed in Claim 1, incorporating a spider array of radial frame spokes, each collapsible and foldable, into a stacked inter-nesting array, while entrained with the canopy.
3. 3.

   An integrated frame and canopy tent, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.