US20070079857A1

US20070079857A1 - Tent assembly having a curtain

Info

Publication number: US20070079857A1
Application number: US11/248,556
Authority: US
Inventors: Chuen-Jong Tseng
Original assignee: Taiwan Shin Yeh Enterprise Co Ltd
Current assignee: Taiwan Shin Yeh Enterprise Co Ltd
Priority date: 2005-10-12
Filing date: 2005-10-12
Publication date: 2007-04-12

Abstract

A tent assembly includes a tent frame, a flexible top cover, and a curtain. The tent frame includes a plurality of spaced-apart upright posts, and a plurality of horizontal posts each bridging top portions of two adjacent ones of the upright posts. The top cover has a peripheral end removably attached to the horizontal posts. The curtain is connected detachably to and extends downwardly from the peripheral end of the top cover. A fastening unit is provided to connect detachably a top end of the curtain to the peripheral end of the top cover.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a tent assembly, more particularly to a tent assembly having a curtain.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a tent assembly includes a tent frame and a tent cover for covering a top portion of the tent frame. To enhance the protection effect of the conventional tent assembly against sunlight and rain, a curtain is added so as to surround an outer periphery of the tent frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a new structure for a tent assembly having a curtain.
According to this invention, a tent assembly comprises a tent frame, a flexible top cover, a curtain, and a fastening unit. The tent frame includes a plurality of spaced-apart upright posts, and a plurality of horizontal posts each bridging top portions of two adjacent ones of the upright posts. The top cover has a peripheral end removably attached to the horizontal posts. The curtain has a top end connected detachably to the peripheral end of the top cover. The curtain extends downwardly from the peripheral end of the top cover. The fastening unit is provided to connect detachably the top end of the curtain to the peripheral end of the top cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a tent assembly according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a partly exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating how a curtain and a top cover are interconnected;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating how the top cover is connected to a horizontal post; and
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a tent assembly according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the first preferred embodiment of a tent assembly according to the present invention is shown to comprise a tent frame 1, a flexible top cover 2, and a curtain 4.
The tent frame 1 includes four spaced-apart upright posts 11, four horizontal posts 12, and a top support frame 13. Each of the horizontal posts 12 bridges top portions of two adjacent ones of the upright posts 11, and includes at least one attachment rod 122 connected to an inner side of the corresponding horizontal post 12. The top support frame 13 is connected to the upright posts 11, and includes a central connector 133, a plurality of curved rods 132 extending outwardly from the central connector 133 toward the upright posts 11, and a hook member 131 extending downwardly from the central connector 133. In this embodiment, two curved rods 132 extend across and intersect each other at the central connector 133, and connect with top ends of the corresponding upright posts 11. The number of the curved rods 132 may be four in an alternative embodiment, with one end of each curved rod 132 connected to the central connector 133 and the other end connected to the corresponding upright post 11. Hence, the number of the curved rods 132 is not limited to the disclosed embodiment. Further, the tent frame 1 may only include at least three vertical and horizontal posts 11, 12, and its structure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment.
The flexible top cover 2 is hung detachably on the top support frame 13, and is connected to the horizontal posts 12. The top cover 2 provides protection against sunlight and rain, and includes a central portion 20 and a fabric cover 22. The central portion 20 is connected with a hanging ring 21 engaged detachably to the hook member 131 of the top support frame 13. The fabric cover 22 extends outwardly from the central portion 20 below the top support frame 13, and has a peripheral end 220 connected to the horizontal posts 12. The peripheral end 220 is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart apertures 221.
A plurality of retaining units 3 are provided to attach removably the peripheral end 220 of the fabric cover 22 to the inner sides of the horizontal posts 12. Each of the retaining units 3 includes an elastic rope 31 and a socket member 32. The elastic rope 31 is folded, and its two ends are knotted together so that the rope 31 has a knot portion 311 and a ring portion 312 opposite to the knot portion 311. The socket member 32 is sleeved between the knot and ring portions 311, 312. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, during assembly, the ring portion 312 of the rope 31 passes through a hole 321 in the socket member 32, the corresponding through hole 221 in the fabric cover 22, around the attachment rod 122, and loops over the socket member 32, so that the ring portion 312 is clamped between the socket member 32 and the peripheral end 220 of the fabric cover 22. The knot portion 311 of the rope 31 abuts against a wall defining the hole 321 in the socket member 32 at this time. Securing all the ropes 31 respectively to the socket members 32 and to the fabric cover 22 results in positioning of the peripheral end 220 of the fabric cover 22 on the horizontal posts 12.
The curtain 4 extends inwardly of the upright posts 11, and includes two interconnectable curtain members 41 each having a top end connected detachably to the peripheral end 220 of the fabric cover 22. Each curtain member 41 may be a screen or a canvas. The number of the curtain members 41 may be adjusted depending on the size of the top cover 2.
A fastening unit 5 is provided to connect detachably the top ends of the curtain members 41 to the peripheral end 220 of the fabric cover 22. In this embodiment, the fastening unit 5 includes two zippers 51. Each of the zippers 51 is sewn to the top end of the corresponding curtain member 41 and the peripheral end 220 of the fabric cover 22, so that when the zippers 51 are closed, each curtain member 41 extends downwardly from the peripheral end 220 of the fabric cover 22, and shields spaces between the upright posts 11. The number of the zippers 51 may be adjusted depending on the length of the top end and quantity of the curtain members 41.
A plurality of fixing units 6 are provided to fix bottom peripheries of the curtain members 41 on the corresponding upright posts 11. In this embodiment, the fixing units 6 are configured as cords connected to outer surfaces of the bottom peripheries of the curtain members 41, and are tied to the corresponding upright posts 11. In other embodiments, the fixing units 6 may be hooks, hook-and-loop fasteners, etc., and are not limited to the disclosed embodiment. Referring to FIG. 5, the second preferred embodiment of a tent assembly according to the present invention is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the fastening unit 5′ includes hook-and-loop fasteners, which have a plurality of spaced-apart hook fastener pieces 52′ attached to an outer surface of the top end of the corresponding curtain member 41 and a plurality of spaced-apart loop fastener pieces 52″ attached to an inner surface of the peripheral end 220 of the fabric cover 22 so that the curtain members 41 can be connected detachably to the peripheral end 220 of the fabric cover 22. Alternatively, the fastening unit 5′ may include an elongated hook fastener strap (not shown) that extends continuously along the outer surface of the top end of the corresponding curtain member 41, and an elongated loop fastener strap (not shown) that extends continuously along the inner surface of the peripheral end 220 of the fabric cover 22. The number of the hook and loop fastener pieces 52′ and 52″ is not limited in any manner, and may be varied as needed.
In other embodiments, the fastening unit 5′ may include a plurality of hanging hooks (not shown) provided on the top ends of the curtain members 41 and hooked to the peripheral end 220 of the fabric cover 22, or may include a combination of a zipper and hook-and-loop fasteners.
Each two adjacent edges of the curtain members 41 may be interconnected by a connecting unit (not shown). The connecting unit may be in the form of a zipper, hook-and-loop fasteners, a cord, or a hook.
From the aforementioned description, it is apparent that the tent assembly of the present invention has the curtain members 41 connected detachably to the peripheral end of the fabric cover 22 and located inwardly of the upright posts 11 so as to provide protection not only against sunlight and rain, but also from mosquitoes and dirt. Further, assembly and disassembly of the tent assembly of the present invention are relatively simple.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A tent assembly comprising:

a tent frame including a plurality of spaced-apart upright posts, and a plurality of horizontal posts each bridging top portions of two adjacent ones of said upright posts;

a flexible top cover having a peripheral end removably attached to said horizontal posts;

a curtain having a top end connected detachably to said peripheral end of said top cover, said curtain extending downwardly from said peripheral end of said top cover; and

a fastening unit to connect detachably said top end of said curtain to said peripheral end of said top cover.

2. The tent assembly of claim 1, wherein said tent frame further includes a top support frame connected to said upright posts and extending above said top cover, said top cover having a central portion attached to said top support frame to hang said top cover on said top support frame.

3. The tent assembly of claim 1, wherein said fastening unit includes a zipper attached to said peripheral end of said top cover and said top end of said curtain.

4. The tent assembly of claim 1, wherein said fastening unit includes hook-and-loop fasteners attached to said peripheral end of said top cover and said top end of said curtain.

5. The tent assembly of claim 1, further comprising a fixing unit provided on said curtain to connect said curtain to said upright posts.

6. The tent assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of retaining units to retain removably said peripheral end of said top cover to said horizontal posts.

7. The tent assembly of claim 6, wherein each of said retaining units includes an elastic rope having a knot portion and a ring portion, and a socket member, said peripheral end of said top cover having an aperture, said rope being extendable through said socket member and said aperture, and being attachable to one of said horizontal posts.

8. The tent assembly of claim 7, wherein said one of said horizontal posts includes an attachment rod, said peripheral end of said top cover being attached to said horizontal posts through said rope.

9. The tent assembly of claim 1, wherein said curtain extends inwardly of said upright posts.

10. The tent assembly of claim 9, wherein said curtain includes at least two curtain members extending downwardly from said peripheral end of said top cover.