US2928403A - Tent frame - Google Patents

Description

March 15, 1960 E. H. HOSKINS TENT FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 6, 1956 Edgar Herbert Ho skins INVENTOR.

March 15, 1960 os ms 2,928,403

TENT FRAME Filed Nov. 6, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 74 68 2 Fig 6 4; '2 lkh-- 26 Fig. 4

Edgar Herbert Has/rinsmmvm.

BY -m TENT FRAME Edgar Herbert Hoskins, Davis, Calif., assignor of one-half to Thomas E. Hoskins, Grass Valley, Calif.

Application November 6, 1956, Serial No. 620,753

4 Claims. c1. 135-3 The present invention generally relates to a novel concept in the construction of a tent and more particularly to a novel tent frame which is easily collapsible and disassembled for easy transport and storage but yet which is extremely sturdy in construction and provides an easily assembled tent frame which is automatically adjusted to tents with certain variations in size and which may be manually adjusted for substantially all size tents of the type generally known as an umbrella-type or pyramidal type.

One of the major problems insetting up the tent such as those used by hunters, campers or other persons is the support of the various portions of the tent under various weather conditions and still maintain a dependability as well as case of assembly and disassembly. One of the problems encountered is the size variations of the tent itself both from a manufacturing standpoint and also from the standpoint of shrinkage and stretching or enlargements caused by change in the moisture content of the canvas itself. Also the tent frame must be sufiiciently strong to withstand certain wind loads and also to provide a rigidity sufficient for support of the tent under various conditions. Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a tent frame which will solve the above-mentioned problems connected with tent constructions and also provide a tent frame which is extremely lightweight in construction and provided with a multiplicity of readily detachable elements all of which may be easily assembled and disassembled at the point of erection of the tent thus enabling the tent to be easily assembled and disassembled by a single person and which when completely assembled will provide the interior of the tent with no obstructions, such as a center pole in the interior of the tent thus permitting efficient utilization of the interior area thereof.

Other objects of the present invention will reside in its simplicity of construction, extreme ease of assembly adaptation for various sized tents and automatic adjustment for shrinkage and enlargement caused by rain or dry weather and the qualities which permit the tent frame to be readily adapted to its particular purpose.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:'

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tent employing the tent frame of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a detailed sectional view of the cross bar construction; I

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view of a supporting Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view of the peak post;

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view of the leg taken substantially along section line 5-5 of Figure 6; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tent frame with the tent being shown in phantom.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numetal 10 generally designates the tent frame of the prestzates Paw Q cut invention which includes'a first cross bar generally designated by the numeral 12 and a second cross bar generally designated by the numeral 14 each of which includes a depending post of leg 16 at each end thereof with each of the posts or legs 16 being identical and each of the cross bars 12 and 14 being identical.

The cross bars 12 and 14 are disposed in intersecting relation with one being disposed immediately above the other. Each cross bar includes an elongated tubular member 18 adjustably receiving a smaller tubular member 20 having a plurality of transverse apertures 22 receiving a fastening pin 24 therethrough for eifectively adjusting the length of the cross bar. The other end of the tubular member 18 telescopically receives a third tubular member 26 disposed in abutting engagement with a compression coil spring 28 disposed within the tubular member 18. A plug 30 is also disposed in the tubular member 18 and is provided with a slot 32 receiving an eye 34 on the end of the spring 28 with a fastener 36 extending transversely of the slot 32 and through the eye 34 for securing the spring 28 to the plug 30 which in turn is secured to the sleeve 18 byinwardly extending indentations 38 which effectively hold the wood plug 34 within the sleeve 18 and prevents the spring 28 from sliding outwardly of the sleeve 18.

The outer ends of the tubular member 20 and the tubular members 26 is provided with an end adapter 40 which is provided with a reduced portion 42 having a shoulder 44 thereon with a projecting longitudinal pin 46 for reception in a grommet 48 in the tent cover which is generally designated by the numeral 50. On the underside of each of the adapters 40 is a generally spherical projection 52 in detachable frictional engagement with an upper tubular member 54 forming a portion of one of the legs 16 thus detachably connecting the legs 16 to the cross bars 12 and 14 inwardly of the longitudinal pin 46 thus disposing the legs 16 inwardly of the corner of the tent cover 50 and generally in contact with the corners thereof. The spherical projection 52 and the inclined upper edge 56 of the upper tubular member 54 will permit variation in the angle of the legs 16 thus permitting the legs 16 to be intimately disposed against the inside corner of the tent cover. Inasmuch as the cross arms 12 and 14 are independent of each other, these arms may readily adapt themselves to various shapes of tent covers in which the grommets 48 are arranged at the upper corners thereof. The upper tubular member 54 of each leg 16 is slidably received in a larger tubular member 58 having a spring and plug therein which is identical to that described in connection with the cross bar 12. The lower end of the enlarged tubular member 58 receives a smaller tubular member 60 having a plurality of apertures 62 thereto for receiving the transverse fasteners 64 for providing an initial adjustment of the leg 16 so that the spring disposed between the plug or block 30 in the tubular member 58 may effectively urge the upper tubular member 54 upwardly whereby the rubber foot 66 will engage the bottom of the tent cover for urging the same away from the cross arms thus tensioning the side walls of the tent cover in such a manner that they will be maintained in a taut or un- Wrinkled condition.

Extending upwardly from the cross bars 12 and 14 is a peak pole 68 incorporating in its construction a tubular member 70 telescopically receiving a wooden rod 72 having a projecting pin 74 on the upper end thereof. The tubular member 70 is provided with a compression coil spring identical to coil spring 28 and designated by the same numeral with a plug 30 being disposed therein and connected to the spring 28 in the identical manner. An adapter 74 is disposed in the lower end of the tubular member 70'and has a generally semi-cylindrical Patented Mar. 15, 1960 '3 lower surface designated by the numeral 76 forming a saddle for engagement over the upper of the cross bars and specifically for engagement with the central tubular portion: 18 thereof. AscreW- fastenerJS is providedfor securingthe adapter '74 to the plugs 30 thus retaining, the

' pea'la pole 68in position and maintaining the roofportion'of the tent cover imposition. 1

The roof portionofthe tent cover 50 includes four generally triangular members 80 which are joined by a grommet 82 at the peakthereof for' receiving the projecting pin 74 and an overlying closure member 84 is provided for the grommet 82 thus providing a waterproofroof- 80. Four side walls 86 are provided each of which are generallytrapezoidaland substantially equal 1 inconstruction and provided with one of the walls 86 being provided with: an opening and closure therefor designated" generally by numeral 88. The side walls 86* are interconnected bya bottom wall 90 together with:

as projecting flange or seam portion92 having a plurality" of eye members 94-for receiving the tent pegs 96 whichr-holdsthe bottom-90 down.

flapping. The construction also eliminates any center pole. construction thus providing the interior free of obstructions and the device is constructed, of tubular metallic members of lightweight construction such as. aluminumwhich rendersthe device easy to assemble and In actual practice, the entire tent cover disassemble; maybe unrolled and thefranre assembled therewith and ready for occupancy within amatter'of several minutes,

When thin tubular members are employed, a'cap 39 may be employed in the inner end of member 26 to asa sure that the spring 28 will enter the end of member 26.

It is alsocontemplated that other spring arrangements may be employed by rearranging the elements. As an example, the spring could be" disposed exteriorly of the centralmember with the outer tubular members tele: scoping over the central member.

The-foregoing'is considered asillustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it isnot desired to. limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described; and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents maybe resorted to, falling within the'scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed aslnew is as follows:

1. tent frame for a substantially pyramidal shaped tent cover having a bottorn, upwardly extending side walls, a top and: an entranceclosure, said frame comprising a. pair of longitudinally adjustable independent cross bars: arranged in'intersecting, relation, means on each end of each cross bar for detachable engagement with thediagonally opposed upper corners of the tent cover, a longitudinally *adju'stab'le depending. leg, detachably and pivotally connected to each end of each. cross bar adjacent the means for engagement with the tent cover,

said legsr adapted to engage the tent coveron the inner surface of each corner edge. an'd terminating in the lowercorner thereon. a: peak. pole detachably engaged with, the

upper crossbar: at the point of intersection of the: cross bars, means on the-upper end of' the peak polefor err-- g'ag'ement with the peak the top; or the tent cover, said-l cross bars and" legs being constructed of telescopic members resilientlyurged outwardly for maintaining the tent cover in taut condition 'andpermitting theiframe te 4 be employed in tent covers of different sizes, each end of'each cross bar including adepending generally spheri cal projection, each of said legs having a tubular upper end in detachable frictional engagement with the spherical projection whereby the depending legs may swivel universally in relation to the cross bars for intimate engagement'with the corners of thetent cover.

2. In a tent construction including a tent cover having.

a'bottom, upwardly converging side walls, a peaked top and an entrance closure'in one side wall; a collapsible frame for holding said tent covenin taut condition at all times comprising a pair of cross bars of longitudinally adjustable construction, a depending leg adjacent each end of each bar, means detachably and swivelly connecting. each leg tothe: endof: a bar, each leg;;.being longitudinally adjustable and including; a' protective footon:

the lower end thereof for engagement with the: lower:

corners of the tent cover, projection means on theroutcr-i end ofeach bar forengagementwith the tent covena peak pole extending upwardly from the point ofi inter section of the cross bars to the peak of the tent cover,

said peak pole, each cross bar and each leg: including; longitudinally telescopic sections withumeans locking the sections in longitudinally adjusted position,said'cross bars and legs havingspring; means between adjacent sections urging said sections in. extended relation for continuously tensioning. all portions of the tent cover.

during size changes caused by. change in moisture cone-- tent of the tent cover material.

3; A tent frame for pyramidal: tent covers having!! bottorrn. upwardly extending. side walls and apeaked top, onef'side wall of the tent cover having an entrance opening with. a closure therefor, said frame including. a pair of independent cross bars arranged in intersecting. relation: with the point of intersection being; disposed 7, below the center of the peaked top of the tent cover,,out-

wardly projecting means on: each end of each cross bar for detachable engagement withthe upper corners of the tent cover, a, depending projection at each end of each cross bar, an elongated legadapted toybe disposed in each corner edge of the tent cover, the lower end of the legs engaging the bottom corners of the tent cover, the upper.

end of each leg including a tubular socket frictionally and detachably receiving a depending projection on'the, cross bar, said depending projections having rounded surfaces permitting limited swinging movement of. the legs whereby the legs may be accurately positioned in the corner edges of the. tent cover, each of said crossbarsi and legs being sectional and: longitudinally adjustable in length,,spring. means urging one section of each cross bar and leg outwardly thereby allowing for shrinkage and. maintaining the tent cover taut during changes in size, and a peak pole extending vertically from the point of: intersection of the cross bars, said peak pole being lon= gitudinally adjustable and including a projection for engagingthe center of the peaked top, said peak pole. in-

cluding a downwardly facing U-shaped saddle freely rest-. ingon the upper cross bar for detachable engagement with the upper cross: bar thereby supporting, the peak;

pole from the cross bars and leaving. the area below the:

cross bars free of obstructions.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the lower. of each leg. is provided with a rounded resilient foot-Ifor engaging the lower corner of the tent cover and preventingi damage to the tent cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,335,332- Hackfield Mame, rm 14Q4522 Harris Jan. 24', 19 22, 1,623,154- Abel'dlbmbi Q. Apr; 5', l27 669,778 Procter May" 15, I928 1,853,367 Mace Apr. 12, 193-2" 2232,306 Baldwin Feb.- 18, 1941 2,705,966 Magary' ..u- Apr. 12, 1955"

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