EP2155989A1 - Tent construction - Google Patents

Abstract

A tent construction with increased useful area is provided by arches arranged slanting outwards from a center in such a way that they tension a fabric outwards wherein said fabric is stably tensioned between an upwardly directed tension towards a peak and a downwardly directed tension towards optionally guys or by tension in side walls arranged said arches.

Description

Tent constructions

Field of the invention

The present invention regards structures in general and particularly tent constructions.

Background of the invention

From the known art it is referred to a number of traditional tent structures as known from earlier cultures such as the lavo from the Sami people and the tipi of the Native Americans. A number of poles are erected in such a way that they define a circumference of a base and are joined together in the top in such as it form an outer skeleton, at which point a fabric is draped around said skeleton. Modern lightweight versions frequently use a single central pole replacing said skeleton. There are several disadvantages. The walls of the tent will have to be subjected to a strong tension in order to secure that the walls do not sag inwards or are pressed inwards due to wind pressure. This tension makes great demands regarding the properties of the tent inside and the attachment for the pins. The slanted walls define a number of use zones in a tent with the sufficient headroom for standing close to the center with the area is small and where typically also the fireplace is located. Headroom defined by sitting and sleeping have a greater use area, nevertheless the height highly dependent by sagging or pressure against the fabric and the sleeping area can be very much limited by tent wall being pushed in due to snow. The geometric shape of the tent makes it difficult to increase the scale of the tent since the tension across the fabric becomes very long.

One should also refer to the older type of 16-man crew tents used by defense. A number of vertically placed poles define the circumference of the tent and a central tube -maintains the tent erected while guying maintains the tension of the fabric. Even though this type increases the useful area of the tent, the solution is on the other hand very time-consuming in erecting the tent using a large number of critical parts comprising guying and requires a level base for successful result.

References should also be made to arch tents of the type cupola tent and tunnel- tent. Both use arches holding the tent up while tension at the lower edges and/or guying secures tension in the fabric and attachment to the base. Additional-, arches improve stability and strength while at the same time increases complexity/ Even though the useful area is large in relation to the total area due to the nearly vertical walls at ground level, there are frequently large vertical and horizontal areas and the tent is not well suited for scaling upwards before wind pressure or sagging or pressure due to snow becomes a problem. Further reference should be made to arch tents of the type cupola tent with outwardly stretched sides, where the cupola is formed using intersecting rods such as the example above, with the addition of outwardly tensioning sides with slightly inclined arches. This embodiment shares many of the same properties as for the embodiment above that are long rods, complexity and susceptibility to weather. More solid embodiments are also heavier.

Finally a reference should also be made to geodesic tents where the tent is formed by a number of polygons in such a way that the tent takes on a shape approximately a section of sphere. Such an embodiment has great stability and useful area. The disadvantages with this embodiment are large complexity and numerous part implying complexity both in fabrication as well as assembly.

Objective with the invention

Based on the described prior art the objective of the invention is to find a robust structure primarily for mobile or temporary structures such as tent suited for simple production, assembly and transport.

Summary of the invention

According to the invention this objective is met by a structure comprising a plurality of arches arranged substantially peripherally in such a way that they angle outwards from a center wherein at least one element is arranged to create an upward tension while up-tensioning of the arches by tensioning the lower edges of the sidewalls and optionally direct guying of the arches causes a downward counter- tension which together tensions the fabric stably. In a typical embodiment the arches are uses, arranged foot to foot or intersected in such a way that they define the circumference of a tent with a central pole to support the fabric in a upward direction, sidewalls and optionally guys to stretch the fabric and cause a downward directed tension.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a typical embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of a construction according to the known art, indicating loss of useful area due to sagging or wind pressure.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of a typical embodiment of the invention, indicating gain in useful area with respect to the known art.

Detailed description

The invention will below be disclosed with reference to the drawings where figure 1 discloses the present invention assembled into a typical embodiment. A tent 10 comprises three arches 11 arranged in such a way that the feet meet or intersect 14 and are slanted slightly outwards from the center. A peak 17 typically defined using a pole 16 creates an upward tension in a fabric 12 while tension in arches 11 through optionally one or more guys 19 attached with pins 18 and optionally tension in a lower edge of side wall 12 using pins 13 causes a downward directed counter-tension, which together ensures that the upper part of fabric is stably tensioned. Sidewalls 12 of the tent are tensioned outwards using pins 13. Entrance 15 is arranged under the peak of at least one of the arches 15.

5 Figure 2 discloses a limitation of the modern single pole variant of the traditional tent construction. The width of the shaded areas 21, 22 and 23 indicates loss of useful area in respectively standing, sitting and sleeping heights created by sagging or pressure due to wind pressure.

The gain in useful area of the present invention with respect to the known art io as disclosed in figure 2 is shown in figure 3 where the shaded areas 31a, 32a and 33a indicate the smallest increase in useful area for respectively standing, sitting and sleeping heights where the arches meet, while areas 31b, 32b and 33b indicates largest increase in useful area at the center of a tent arch. Wind pressure will only to a small degree cause loss of useful area. i₅ Detailed description of an illustrative embodiment

A typical embodiment is shown in figure 1 and described above.

In another embodiment the pole 16 is replaced with at least one rod stretching from at least one element amongst the ground and the arches, wherein the arches are held together by elements attaching the arches such as strengthened seams in the fabric.0 This increases the useful area and potential use in that there is no limiting centrally placed pole.

In another embodiment at least one of the openings are provided with mosquito screen.

In a further embodiment at least one of the sidewalls are detachable and/ors replaced with other tent structures to increase the area or attach the tent together with other tents or structures.

Industrial applicability

The invention is suited for mobile use and for tourists as well as for shelter for vehicle. 0

5

Claims

P a t e n t C l a i m s

5 1. Tent construction (10) comprising a fabric (12) and at least one arch (11) and means for creating an upward tension in a peak (17), characterized by comprising: means for holding a fabric (12) outwardly tensioned in a form of at least one outwardly slanted arch (11) arranged in such a way that tension in the at least one arch distributes a downward tension across the areas of the roof construction of the tent,o means for setting up a downward counter tension using a substantially downwardly directed tension in said at least one arch (11), and means for stabilizing said at least one arch (11) by transferring tension between said at least one arch in such a way that they are stabilized against each other.

2. Tent construction according to claim 1, characterized in that said means fors creating an upward tension is in the form of a central pole (16).

3. Tent construction according to claims 1-2, characterized in that said means for setting up an upward tension is in the form of at least one rod extending from at least one of said arches where said arches are kept together by elements attaching said arches together. o

4. Tent construction according to claims 1-2, characterized in that said means for setting up an upward tension is in the form of at least one rod extending from the ground near the fabric.

5. Tent construction according to claims 1-2, characterized in that said means for setting up an upward tension is in the form of at least one rod extending from the5 ground near the fabric and the arches where said arches are held together by elements attaching said arches together.

6. Tent construction according to claims 1-5, characterized in that an entrance (15) is arranged in the tent under at least one arch (11).

7. Tent construction according to claims 1-6, characterized in that said arches0 (11) are stabilized by being places foot to foot.

8. Tent construction according to claims 1-6, characterized in that said arches (11) are stabilized by intersecting each other at the lower part.