WO1997026428A1

WO1997026428A1 - Tent stand

Info

Publication number: WO1997026428A1
Application number: PCT/SE1997/000065
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leif GRÖNVALL
Original assignee: Groenvall Leif
Priority date: 1996-01-19
Filing date: 1997-01-17
Publication date: 1997-07-24
Also published as: SE505966C2; SE9600201L; SE9600201D0; AU1459897A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tend stand (10) for collapsible tents comprising a number of wall poles (12), a number of roof trusses (16) detachably connected to said wall poles as well as a number of cross bars (20) detachably connected between said wall poles. The invention is characterized in that the roof trusses (16) are arranged with hinge means (26), able to flexibly and detachably connect the roof trusses to each other.

Description

TENT STAND

FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a tent stand for collapsible tents which comprises a number of wall poles, a number of roof trusses detachably connected to said wall poles as well as a number of cross bars detachably connected between the wall poles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART Tent stands for collapsible tents of conventional embodiment usually consist of a number of tubes, joints, screws and loose parts which are needed on erection so that the stand can be joined together. Further, the stand has often a relatively complicated construction which makes for time-consuming assembly and/or is of a specific size which cannot be altered or varied.

Especially for larger tents as for example party tents, sales tents at festivals and the like which are raised often for only shorter periods of time and which are rented, this presents problems as there is a tendency for the parts to disappear, and as it is difficult for the renter to set up and take down the stand. If one as a renting agent is to be able to offer a number of tent sizes, this implies that one must have a number of complete tents, (stand and canvas) in stock which is costly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has the object of relieving the above problems and of offering tent stands which are easy to set up and take down, which require fewer details and which give greater flexibility with regards to changes in size and shape ofthe tent.

According to one aspect ofthe present invention tbis is achieved with a tent stand for collapsible tents which comprises a number of wall poles, a number of roof trusses connected to said wall poles as well as a number of cross bars detachably connected between said wall poles, which are characterized in that the roof trusses are arranged with hinge means, able to jointly and detachably connect the roof trusses to each other This aspect and other aspects ofthe invention will be evident from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention and from the following patent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment ofthe invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a sectional view ofthe tent stand according to the invention: Figure 2 is a detailed view of an attachment body;

Figure 3 is a view from above ofthe tent stand according to Fig. 1 partly folded:

Figure 4 is a partial view from the side of an embodiment ofthe hinge means included in the present invention; Figure 5 is a view ofthe hinge means according to Fig. 3 rotated 90°;

Figure 6 shows an alternative ofthe hinge means included in the invention;

Figure 7 shows a detailed view from above ofthe hinge means when four roof trusses are connected to each other: and

Figure 8 shows a variant of assembled tent stand according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The tent stand according to the invention shown in the drawings is identified generally with the reference numeral 10. The tent stand 10 includes a number of principally vertical wall poles 12. The wall poles 12 can as well be supphed with some form of level adjustment means 14. for example a plate arranged on a threaded axle screwed into a threaded hole at the bottom ends ofthe wall poles.

One end ofthe roof trusses 16 is detachably connected to the upper ends ofthe wall poles with fastening means 18. Fig. 2. These can compriise a vertical tube piece 1 fixedly attached to the roof trusses, with a diameter larger than the diameter ofthe wall poles 12 so that the wall poles can be pushed into the tube piece. There is preferabh' some form of locking arranged between the wall poles and the tube piece, for example a through hole into which locking pins can be pushed. The fastening means 18 is also arranged with at least two connections 21 for cross bars 20 which stretch principally horizontally between the wall poles 12. These connections can also be in the form of tube pieces into which the cross bars 20 can be pushed and locked. The connections for the cross bars 21 are arranged preferably turnable in a horizontal plane on the fastening means 18. with for example sleeves 23 arranged around the tube piece 19. so that the cross bars 20 can be directed in the desired direction. For increased stability, diagonal bars 22 can be arranged, which extend between the bottom ends ofthe wall poles 12 and a distance in along the cross bars 20. The diagonal bars 22 are also detachably connected to the wall poles and cross bars by means of suitable fastening means. The roof trusses 16 in the shown embodiment are designed with two elongated profiles 24A. 24B, in the form of cylindrical tubes placed over and under each other in a veπical plane. Spacers 25 are arranged between the profiles. At one end. the profiles 24A and 24B are attached to the fastening means 18 and at the other end they are arranged with a hinge means 26. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 and 5, the hinge means 26 includes a spacer/fastener 28 which extends essentially vertically between the upper 24B and the lower 24A profile. Perpendicular to the extension ofthe profiles 24 is a number of fastening lugs 30 attached to both sides ofthe fastener 28. In the fastening lugs 30. a through holes 32 are arranged so that the centre lines C for the holes 32 in the fastening lugs of each side coincide with each other. As shown in Fig. 5. they are arranged in such a way on the fastener 28 such that each fastening lug 30 on one side ofthe fastener has a corresponding fastening lug on the other side which is placed, seen in a vertical direction. such that its upper surface 33 lies on essentially the same plane as the bottom surface 34 ofthe corresponding fastening lug on the first side.

Fig. 6 shows a variant ofthe hinge means. Here, the hinge means 26 is produced from an extruded aluminium profile in which notches have been milled to form fastening lugs 36.

When the tent is to be put in order and raised, one first connects the roof trusses to each other. One does this by laying them beside each other in the same direction. One then fits in the fastening lugs 30 ofthe hinge means so that the holes in the left-hand fastening lues ofthe riεht-hand roof truss coincide with the holes in the rieht-hand fastenine lues ofthe left-hand roof truss. This position is then locked with a suitable locking means 38 which allows turning around the vertical rotational axes which coincide with the centre lines C ofthe holes, as shown with dotted line in Fig. 5. The locking can be carried out for example with bolts and locking nuts or with pegs which either go through all locking lugs as shown in Fig. 5. or which go through coinciding pairs of locking lugs. Due to that the locking lugs on respective sides ofthe fastener are placed in different vertical planes as described above, all roof trusses come to the same level.

Depending on the appearance ofthe tent, the desired number of roof trusses can be attached to each other, from three upwards depending on the hinge means. When the desired number of roof trusses is connected, they are rotated around the vertical hinge axes C. Fig. 3. to desired angle depending on the number of roof trusses. In Fig. 3. three roof trusses are shown, where on mounting, the two outer roof trusses are each rotated 120° and the outer fastening lugs ofthe outer roof trusses fit together and are locked in the manner described above. Fig. 7 shows a view where four roof trusses have been joined. The cross bars 20 are fit into the connections 21 in the fastening means 18 and locked.

The roof construction is then lifted up and the wall poles are fitted into and locked into the fastening means 18. If desired. the diagonal bar 22 is attached as a final step for increased stability, for example in outdoor use where side-loading such as wind can exist. The tent stand is now ready to be covered with suitable tent canvas. The tent canvas can of course also be laid on before the tent stand is lifted.

Due to the connections 21 on the fastening means 18 for the cross bars 20 being rotatable in a horizontal plane, the same fastener can be used independent ofthe number of roof trusses and consequently the embodiment ofthe tent stand. It is also conceivable that the cross bars 20 can be varied in length in that the cross bars are designed with two tubes where the outer diameter of one ofthe tubes 20_f is somewhat smaller than the inner diameter ofthe other tube 20_π and the tubes are pushed into each other and can be locked to each other with for example a locking screw 21. Fig. 3. In this way. the same cross bar can be used for different embodiments of tent stand. As shown in the drawings, the roof trusses have two longitudinal profiles 24A. 24B which adds increased stabiiitv and strength to the roof trusses and gives possibilities for the fastening of lighting fixtures, screening off in the tent etc This is an important aspect if the tent is to be used as a party tent, sales tent or for other public functions where different arrangements are to be set up inside the tent The roof trusses are as well preferably designed to have a certain slope when assembled for good water runoff

Due to the hinge means, the tent is easy to take down and transport as well as raise again When the tent is taken down, only one ofthe locks 38 between the hinge means 26 ofthe roof trusses needs to be loosened Then the roof trusses are folded together so that thev lie beside each other and can be transported in this way If the roof trusses are to be used later for a tent with another appearance, for example a square tent in contrast to a triangular as shown in Fig 3. only one roof truss needs to be attached Consequently the same sort of roof trusses can be used for tents with different appearances and it is only the tent canvas which needs to be sewn in different ways With the roof trusses and hinge means according to the invention it is also possible to shape a so-called long tent, l e tent with a longitudinal πdge, Fie 8 A number of roof trusses 16 are then joined two by two and arranged in the same vertical plane as well as attached to a πdge pan 40 which is arranged at both ends with the same son of hinge means as the roof trusses Then the cross bars are attached between the fastening means 18 ofthe roof trusses The roof construction is lifted and the wall poles are placed, as well as any bracing diagonal bars With this construction, relatively large tents can be built with the tent stand accordmg to the invention

The fiexibuity and possibihties for vaπation are a great advantage in for example renting businesses where different customers have different requirements on appearance and size of tents Instead of having tent stands and canvases which only fit each other, as for conventional tents, one takes the suitable number of roof trusses, wall poles and cross bars for a ceπain desired tent As well, the construction ofthe tent stand according to the invention allows for sixnplifying of erection and collapsing of tents compared with conventional constructions, which is advantageous as unpractised people will be mountinε the tent stand The tent stand according to the invention gives a large fiexibuity in embodiment of tent as well as possibilities for altering depending on the desired appearance. As well, a tent stand is obtained which is easy to mount with fewer components.

It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the described and illustrated embodiment and that modifications can be made within the scope ofthe following patent claims.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A tent stand (10) for collapsible tents comprising a number of wall poles (12). a number of roof trusses (16) detachably connected to said wall poles as well as a number of cross bars (20) detachably connected between said wall poles, characterized in that the roof trusses ( 16) are aπanged with hinge means (26). able to flexibly and detachably connect the roof trusses to each other.

2. A tent stand according to claim l.characterizedin that said hinge means (26) are arranged with mainly vertical hinge axes ( C ) around which the roof trusses ( 16) can be rotated with respect to each other.

3. A tent stand according to claim 2. characterized in that said hinge means (26) is connected to the end ofthe roof truss ( 16) as well as extending to both sides ofthe roof truss seen along the length ofthe roof truss, that the hinge means (26) on each side ofthe roof truss is arranged with through holes (32) with essentially vertical centre axis ( C ), in that on connection ofthe roof trusses to each other, the through hole (32) on the right side of one ofthe roof trusses fits together with the through hole (32) on the left side of another roof truss and that a locking means (38) is fitted in the through holes.

4. A tent stand according to ciaim 3. characterized in that the hinge means (26) comprises a number of fastening lugs (30) with vertical through holes (32) and that the centre lines ( C ) ofthe through holes in the fastening lugs on each side coincide with each other.

5. A tent stand according to claim 4. characterized in that the fastening lugs (30) are arranged such that each fastening lug (30) on one side ofthe roof truss has a coπesponding fastening lug (30) on the other side which is placed, seen in the vertical direction, such that its upper surface (33) lies essentially in the same plane as the lower surface (34) of coπesponding fastening lugs on the first side.

6. A tent stand according to one ofthe previous claims, characterized in that the fastening means ( 18) are fixedly attached to the end on the roof trusses (16) opposite to the hinge means (26). which fastening means ( 18) are aπanged with means (1 .21) that can detachably connect said wall poles ( 12) as well as said cross bars (20)

7 A tent stand according to claim 6. characterized in that the means (19.21 ) for attaching said cross bars (20) are aπanged to enable rotation around a horizontal plane

8 A tent stand according to claim 7, characterized in that said cross bars (18) are aπanged with means (20u 20_n) to allow variation ofthe length ofthe cross bar.

9 A tent stand, according to claim 8. characterized in that said cross bars (20) comprise two tubes where the outer diameter ofthe one tube (20_t) is somewhat smaller than the inner diameter ofthe other tube (20n) as well as a locking means (21 ) where one tube can be pushed into the other and locked with the locking means.