US20060037636A1

US20060037636A1 - Deflection resistant tent

Info

Publication number: US20060037636A1
Application number: US10/920,415
Authority: US
Inventors: Tu Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-18
Filing date: 2004-08-18
Publication date: 2006-02-23

Abstract

A deflection resistant tent is set forth. The framework of this tent comprises an upper nest, an lower nest, a plurality of upper rib strips, lower rib strips, auxiliary rib strips, adjustable collars, articulation members, and spring stays. The articulation member is composed of an upper sleeve, a retainer, a torque member, and a lower sleeve. With this structure, the elastic force of the spring stay controls the retainer to make clockwise rotation until it is stopped by a blocking face so as to settle the lower sleeve at a desire position that can prevent the unexpected collapsing of the tent by a sudden external force or a violent wind blow.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a deflection resistant tent, in particular to a tent which can prevent an unexpected collapsing due to a sudden external violent force by means of the alleviative function of spring stays provided between the upper and lower rib strips.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional foldable tent used to contain an inner and an outer canopies. The inner one is for shading the living space, while the outer one is for keeping the sunlight and rainfall away from the inner space. As the canopy is two layerd, it really has an excellent effect of heat isolation and ventilation as well so that it is well suitable for using in picnic.
However, according to the inventor's experience in using above described tent for years. It has the following inherent shortcomings:
1. In a conventional tent, a joint is intercalated between each upper rib strip and lower rib strip for folding the two rib strips inwardly with each other. It is due to the fact that the articulation motion of the joint is not provided with a retaining effect. A sudden strong wind blow or other external force might cause an unexpected collapsing of the tent and might hurt the users inside.
2. When folding the tent, the operation requires the user to crouch down.
For these shortcomings noticeable on the prior art, an improvement is seriously required. The invention has endeavored for years by continuous research and experimentation trying to find out the remedy to rectify the inherent shortcomings of the conventional tent described above, and at last has succeeded in realizing the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a deflection resistant tent which is structured to be able to prevent an unexpected collapsing due to a sudden external violent force or a wind blow by means of the alleviative function of spring stays provided between a plurality of upper and lower rib strips.
To achieve the aforesaid object. The deflection resistant tent of the present invention comprises an upper nest, a lower nest provided under the upper nest, a plurality of upper rib strips each of them is jointed to the edge of the upper nest with tis upper end, while the other end thereof is stretched downwards. Each upper rib strip is provided with an adjustable collar fitted to it at a proper position, and the adjustable collar has a holder provided at its proper position. There are a plurality of auxiliary rib strips each of them is hinged to the edge of the lower nest with its one end, while the other end thereof is respectively connected to the corresponding adjustable collar. Equal numbers of articulation members to that of the upper/lower rib strips are provided. The articulation member is composed of an upper sleeve and a lower sleeve. The lower end of the upper rib strip is inserted into the upper sleeve while the lower rib strip is respectively inserted into the lower sleeve of the corresponding articulation member. The lower portion of the upper sleeve is formed into a mouth having a via hole at its inner side. A retainer is shackled in the mouth and exposed out of the via hole. A torque member is provided for the retainer to limit clockwise articulation force. The lower sleeve is hinged in the mouth with a hinge joint. The upper edge of the hinge joint is formed into a blocking face on the rotating way of the retainer to limit the movement of the lower sleeve. A spring stay is interconnected between each holder of the adjustable collar and each retainer of the articulation member.
With this structure, the retainer is controlled to rotate and stop until reaching the blocking face of the hinge joint.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings disclose the illustrative embodiments of the present invention which serve to exemplify the various advantages and objects hereof, and are as follows.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the deflection resistant tent of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the framework of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a three dimensional view showing the articulation member of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the articulation member of the present invention;
FIG. 5 through FIG. 8 are the illustrative views demonstrating the operation of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment; and
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

For fuller understanding the features and advantages of the present invention, please refer to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the drawings.
Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 4. the framework of the deflection resistant tent comprises an upper nest 1, a lower nest 2, a plurality of upper rib strip 3, lower rib strips 4, auxiliary rib strips 5, adjustable collars 6, articulation members 7, and spring stays 8, covered with a canopy 9. The amount of components from 3 to 8 are the same.
The lower nest 2 is provided under the upper nest 1.
One end of each upper rib strip 3 is inserted and hinged to the edge of the upper nest 1, while the other end thereof is stretched downwards.
Each adjustable collar 6 with a holder 61 is fitted to the corresponding upper rib strip 3 at a proper position.
Each auxiliary rib strip 5 is hinged to the edge of the lower nest 2 with its one end, and the other end thereof is attached to the corresponding adjustable collar 6.
Each articulation member 7 is composed of an upper sleeve 71 and a lower sleeve 72. The upper sleeve 71 accepts insertion of the corresponding upper rib strip 3. A mouth 711 with a via hole 712 at its inner side is formed at the lower end of the upper sleeve 71. A retainer 74 is shackled in the mouth 711 and exposed out of the via hole 712. The retainer 74 has a drilled hole 741 at its one end and an eyelet 742 formed at its center. A torque member 75 is provided for controlling clockwise rotating force of the retainer 74. The lower sleeve 72 for insertion of the top end of the lower rib strip 4 has a hinge joint 73 at its upper portion to hinge to the mouth 711. The upper edge of the hinge joint 73 is formed into a blocking face 731 occupying just on the rotating way of the retainer 74 so as to limit movement of the lower sleeve 72. Two set pins 76 are respectively passing through the eyelet 742 of the retainer 74 and the hinge hole of the lower sleeve 72 such that the retainer 74 and the lower sleeve 72 are respectively hinged to the mouth 711 formed with the upper sleeve 71. A passing hole 751 corresponding to the eyelet 742 formed at the center of the torque member 75 accepts one of the set pins 76 to penetrate through so as to settle the torque member 75.
Each lower rib strip 4 is inserted into the lower sleeve 72 of the articulation member 7.
Each spring stay 8 is fastened between the holder 61 of the adjustable collar 6 and the via hole 712 formed at the inner side of the retainer 74 so as to sustain retainer 74.
For understanding how to pitch and fold the deflection resistant tent of the present invention, please refer to FIG. 5 through 8 in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 4. When the tent is pitched, the retainer 74 provided in the articulation member 7 rotates clockwise until reaches a position in balance with the pulling force of the spring stay 8 such that the retainer 74 is confined by the blocking face 731 of the hinge joint 73 thereby the lower sleeve 72 can be set at the position not to automatically fold by an unexpected external force such as a violent wind blow or tampering with by someone. In the case the user wants to strike the tent, by pulling downwards the spring stay 8, the retainer 74 will rotate in the counter clockwise direction due to losing the sustaining force of the spring stay 8 that in turn causes the lower sleeve 72 to be liverated thereby folding all of the lower rib strips 4 inserted in it.
A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 9 wherein the deflection resistant tent of the present invention is applicable as a pet tent (a). It can be clearly seen that a gate 91 is formed on a canopy 9.
A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 10 wherein the deflection resistant tent of the present invention is applicable in an wide field as one usable in a golf course. It can be clearly seen that a tent (B) pitched in the golf course has a ball feeding port 92 opened at one side of the canopy 9.
It emerges from the above description that the deflection resistant tent of the present invention has several noteworthy advantages, namely:
1. The components of the articulation member are combined to serve as a deflection resistant mechanism which prevent the tent from unexpected accidental collapsing due to an external force or a sudden violent wind blow so as to protect the user's security.
2. The provision of the spring stay is the kernel of the present invention with which the motion of the articulation member is controlled at the operator's disposal to pitch or fold the tent promptly and conveniently and safely.
3. The tent of the present invention is widely applicable in many fields such as a pet tent or a tent usable in a golf course.
Although the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it is apparent that numerous variations and modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof, as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A deflection resistant tent whose framework being comprising an upper nest, a lower nest, a plurality of upper rib strips, lower rib strips, auxiliary rib strips adjustable collars, articulation members, and springs stays, the plural amount of above mentioned component parts except the upper and lower nest being equal; wherein

each adjustable collar is fitted to said corresponding upper rib strip at a proper position thereof, said adjustable collar has a holder on it;

each articulation member is composed of an upper sleeve and a lower sleeve, said upper sleeve accepts insertion of said corresponding upper rib strip, a mouth with a via hole at its inner side is formed at the lower end of said upper sleeve, a retainer is shackled in said mouth and exposed out of said via hole, a torque member is provided for controlling clockwise rotating force of said retainer, said lower sleeve is for insertion of the top end of said lower rib strip and has a hinge joint at its upper portion to hinge into said mouth, the upper edge of said hinge joint is formed into a blocking face occupying just on rotating way of said retainer so as to limit movement of said lower sleeve, each spring stay is fastened between said holder of said adjustable collar and said retainer of said articulation member; with the elastic force of said spring stay to control clockwise rotation of said retainer until it is stopped by a blocking face formed on said hinge joint thereby said lower sleeve is settled at the position

2. The deflection resistant tent of claim 1, wherein said lower nest is provided under said upper nest, one end of each said upper rib strip is inserted and hinged to the edge of said upper nest, while the other end thereof is stretched downwards, each said auxiliary rib strip is hinged to the edge of said lower nest with its one end, and the other end thereof is attached to the corresponding adjustable collar, each said lower rib strip is inserted into said lower sleeve of said articulation member.

3. The deflection resistant tent of claim 1, wherein a drilled hole is formed at the inner side of said retainer for fastening said spring stay.

4. The deflection resistant tent of claim 1, wherein said retainer and the hinge joint of said lower sleeve is respectively hinged in said mouth with a set pin.

5. The deflection resistant tent of claim 4, wherein said retainer is provided with a hinge hole for a set pin to insert into.

6. The defection resistant tent of claim 4, wherein said torque member is provided with a passing hole at its center at the position corresponding to the hinge hole of said retainer for a set pin to insert into.

7. The deflection resistant tent of claim 1, wherein said holder is provided at the inner side of said adjustable collar.