US20050081903A1

US20050081903A1 - Foldable tent

Info

Publication number: US20050081903A1
Application number: US10/688,732
Authority: US
Inventors: Ching-Hsuan Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-10-15
Filing date: 2003-10-15
Publication date: 2005-04-21

Abstract

A foldable tent has at least four frame loops in even numbers sequentially and pivotally connected to form a tent frame by attaching multiple easing pieces respectively between adjacent frame loops. Additionally, at least one cover piece is attached to the frame loops to cover the tent frame. Each easing piece is composed of two sleeves to be mounted respectively around two adjacent parts of two adjacent frame loops and a web formed between the two sleeves. Whereby, webs of every easing piece provide surplus space for the frame loops to keep the frame loops from squeezing each other when the foldable tent is folded.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a foldable tent, and more particularly to a foldable tent that is pitched and struck easily and conveniently.
2. Description of Related Art
A foldable tent is a convenient temporary accommodation for wilderness camping and also can be serve as a play house filled with colorful balls when the size is diminished to accommodate children. Therefore, foldable tents have multiple uses, but all kinds of foldable tents need to be pitched and struck easily and conveniently.
With reference to FIG. 8, a conventional foldable tent (50) consists of four triangular frames (52) sequentially connected in a loop to form a pyramid when the foldable tent (50) is mounted on the ground and a cover (not shown) is mounted on the triangular frames (52).
Each triangular frame (52) has two side rods (not numbered) respectively and pivotally attached to two adjacent side rods (not numbered) of adjacent frames (52) with fours sides and a bottom. With further reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, each side rod is mounted in a sleeve (54) made of elastic and tough material such as canvas, and adjacent sleeve (54) are sewn together. Thereby, the assembled frames (52) in the pyramid can be pivotally folded. As shown in FIG. 8, two adjacent sides of the pyramid are pushed toward opposite adjacent sides to fold the pyramid into a V-shaped half. Than, the V-shaped half is further folded to a compressed triangular pack.
However, the compressed triangular pack is not neat since the sleeve (54) is stretched and adjacent side rods of the triangular frames (52) squeeze each other when the tent is folded. A resultant restitution force causes the pack to automatically spring open or not completely fold if the pack is not compressed hard.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional foldable tent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a foldable tent that is neatly and conveniently folded.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable tent in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional top plan view of the foldable tent along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional top plan view of a corner of the foldable tent of part A in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an operational cross sectional top plan view of the corner of the foldable tent in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the foldable tent in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the foldable tent in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of further another embodiment of a foldable tent in accordance with the present and having six sides;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional foldable tent in accordance with the prior art;
FIG. 9 is a cross sectional top plan view of the conventional foldable tent along line 9-9 in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross sectional top plan view of the foldable tent in the area marked B in FIG. 9; and
FIG. 11 is an operational cross sectional top plan view of the foldable tent in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A foldable tent in accordance with the present invention comprises at least four frame loops in even numbers, a corresponding number of easing pieces and at least one cover piece. The at least four frame loops are pivotally and sequentially connected to form a tent frame. The easing pieces are attached respectively between adjacent frame loops. The at least one cover piece covers the assembled tent frame.
With reference to FIG. 1, a first preferred embodiment of the foldable tent comprises four egg-shaped frame loops (10), four easing pieces (20) and a cover (not numbered) and has four corners (not numbered), a top (not numbered) and a bottom (not numbered). The easing pieces (20) respectively connect adjacent frame loops (10) and form corners. Each frame loop (10) has a narrow top (not numbered), a broad bottom (not numbered) and two side rods (not numbered) connected between the narrow top and the broad bottom. When the frame loops (10) assembled and connected to each other, each side rod of one frame loop (10) is connected to a side rod of an adjacent frame loop (10) by an easing piece (20). All the narrow tops of the frame loops (10) are inclined slightly inward, and all the broad bottoms of the frame loops (10) abut the ground. Thereby, a dome-shaped tent frame with four sides is achieved.
The cover comprises multiple cover pieces (30) and multiple peg loops (36). The cover pieces (30) are attached between the frame loops (10) and inside the frame loops (10) to cover the tent frame. The peg loops (36) are attached to the cover at bottom corners of the tent frame to hold the foldable tent on the ground by tent pegs (not shown). The cover pieces (30) can selectively be combined to form a one-piece cover to mount over the dome-shaped tent frame. Selectively, an entryway (32) is formed on one cover piece (30) at one side of the dome-shaped tent frame and a ventilation net (34) is attached to another cover piece (30) at another side of the dome-shaped tent frame.
With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, each easing piece (20) has two sleeves (22) and a web (24). The sleeves (22) are mounted respectively around adjacent side rods. The web (24) is connected between the two sleeves (22) to form a corner (not numbered) in the foldable tent. Therefore, adjacent side rods are movably attached to each other to make the dome-shaped tent frame collapsible.
When the foldable tent is folded, two adjacent sides of the domed-shaped tent frame are pushed to close against two opposite adjacent sides to make the tent into a V-shaped half. Then, the V-shaped half is further folded to become a compressed pack the same as the conventional foldable tent. However, the easing piece (20) allows the tent to be folded so adjacent side rods are not squeezed between other adjacent side rods when the tent is folded. Therefore, the foldable tent can be neatly folded and compressed and will not rebound or spring open.
With reference to FIG. 5, a second embodiment of a foldable tent in accordance with the present invention is similar to the first embodiment of the foldable tent except that the frame loops (10 a) are substantially trapezoidal. Each trapezoidal frame loop (10 a) has a top (not numbered), a bottom (not numbered) and two sides (not numbered). Additionally, a basket (40) may be attached to the top of the trapezoidal frame loop (10 a) so an entertaining game such as shooting a ball can be played.
With further reference to FIG. 6, a dartboard (45) may be attached to the cover (30) of the foldable tent so an entertaining game such as throwing darts can be played.
With reference to FIG. 7, the foldable tent in accordance with the present invention further is modified to have six frame loops (10) to construct a dome-shaped structure having six sides.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A foldable tent comprising:

at least four frame loops in even numbers pivotally and sequentially connected to form a tent frame with multiple sides, each frame loop having a top, a bottom and two side rods;

multiple easing pieces (20) attached respectively between the frame loops; and

at least one cover piece covering the tent frame;

wherein each easing piece (20) comprises: two sleeves (22) mounted respectively around two adjacent side rods of two adjacent frame loops and a web (24) connected between the two sleeves (22).

2. The foldable tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foldable tent has four egg-shaped frame loops (10) and four easing pieces (20) connected respectively between adjacent egg-shaped frame loops (10).

3. The foldable tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foldable tent has four trapezoidal frame loops (10 a) and four easing pieces (20) connected respectively between adjacent trapezoidal frame loops (10).

4. The foldable tent as claimed in claim 2, wherein the foldable tent further has:

at least two cover pieces (30) covering the tent frame;

an entryway (32) formed on one cover piece (30); and

a ventilation net (34) attached to another one of the cover pieces (30).

5. The foldable tent as claimed in claim 3, wherein the foldable tent further has:

at least two cover pieces (30) covering the tent frame;

an entryway (32) formed on one cover piece (30); and

a ventilation net (34) attached to another one of the cover pieces (30).

6. The foldable tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foldable tent further has a basket (40) attached to the top of one of the at least three frame loops.

7. The foldable tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foldable tent further has multiple peg loops (36) attached to the at least one cover piece (30).

8. The foldable tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foldable tent 11 further has a dartboard (45) attached to one of the cover pieces (30).

9. The foldable tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foldable tent has one cover piece (30) mounted over the tent frame.