United States Patent (19)
`Tsai
`
`IIIHHHHHHIIII
`USOO5275188A
`11
`Patent Number:
`5,275,188
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Jan. 4, 1994
`
`54 MODIFIED FOLDING TENT
`Ming L. Tsai, 4th Fl., 8-3 Fuchin St.,
`76 Inventor:
`Taipei, Taiwan
`(21) Appl. No.: 910,752
`22 Filed:
`Jul. 8, 1992
`(30)
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Aug. 9, 1991 CN China .............................. 91 105446.4
`51) Int, Cl. ............................................. E04H 15/18
`52 U.S. Cl. ...................................... 135/97; 135/110;
`135/109; 52/109
`(58) Field of Search ............... 135/10, 119, 115, 114,
`135/99, 103, 106, 109, 107, 108, 112,97; 52/109
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1,853,367 4/1932 Mace ................................... 135/10
`3,161,990 12/1964 Morris, Jr. ......
`... 135/99 X
`4,607,656 8/1986 Carter .........
`... 135/110
`4,641,676 2/1987 Lynch .....
`135/110
`4,779,635 10/1988 Lynch ................................... 35/97
`4,884,589 12/1989 Simpson.
`... 135/19 X
`4,885,891 12/1989 Lynch .....
`... 135/10 X
`4,947,884 8/1990 Lynch ................................... 135/97
`
`(56)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`0053860 2/1967 German Democratic Rep. ... 135/99
`0093983 4/1991 Japan ..................................... 135/99
`0074788 5/1954 Netherlands .......................... 135/99
`Primary Examiner-Carl D. Friedman
`Assistant Examiner-Lan M. Mai
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Morton J. Rosenberg; David
`I. Klein
`ABSTRACT
`57
`A modified folding tent is provided. The tent comprises
`a plurality of main supporters and supporting structures,
`and a topmost supporter, to form a frame which is cov
`ered by an awning. Each main supporter has an inner
`supporter and a slide. Each supporting structure is pro
`vided with a pair of U-shaped covers to provide a
`sturdy connection. The awning and main supporters are
`coupled together by studs passing through holes in the
`awning and wing nuts tightened on the studs. The top
`most supporter has a resilient inner supporter, to make
`the awning look smooth and good-looking. The modi
`fied structure ensures high strength of the tent and
`proper stability thereof, when it is opened.
`
`1 Claim, 3 Drawing Sheets
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 4, 1994
`Jan. 4, 1994
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`Sheet 1 of 3
`Sheet 1 of 3
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`5,275,188
`5,275,188
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`FIG.1 .
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`TJ
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 4, 1994
`Jan. 4, 1994
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`5,275,188
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`Sheet 2 of 3
`sheet 2 of 3
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`5,275,188
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 4, 1994
`Jan. 4, 1994
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`Sheet 3 of 3
`Sheet 3 of 3
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`5,275,188
`5,275,188
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`F.G. 6
`F1G.6
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`FIG.7
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`1
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`MODIFIED FOLDING TENT
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to a folding tent. Partic
`ularly, this invention relates to a modified folding tent
`with a more stable structure, and a more smooth and
`good-looking appearance when the tent is in an un
`10
`folded position.
`2. Prior Art
`Folding tents are used in outdoor activities, such as
`camping, picnicking, outdoor cooking, for fairs or other
`outdoor relaxation activities. A folding tent is greatly
`popular with users because of its wonderful practicality.
`Folding tents are easily opened and propped up to
`cover a wide area with the awning. They can be folded
`quickly to a small size, to be stored and carried conve
`niently.
`20
`With traditional folding tents, their elementary parts
`have proved to have shortcomings in their structure.
`For example, the bond between the awning and the
`support assembly is not very strong, and the tent will be
`deformed by a burst of strong wind. Additionally, when
`the supporting structure of a regular folding tent is
`25
`frequently opened and closed, the joining screws and
`the supporting structure is easily damaged, due to the
`repeated interlocking and telescopic movements.
`Furthermore, the topmost supporter located at the
`highest position of the support assembly, of a traditional
`tent, is a fixed structure, which will result in wrinkling
`of the awning when the supporter is propped up. More
`over, the awning will be fatigued and deformed, and
`cannot maintain a smooth and aesthetic appearance,
`because of water absorption on rainy days.
`35
`In view of the above-mentioned numerous shortcom
`ings of regular folding tents, the present invention pro
`vides an improved folding tent. The present invention is
`designed to include a locating device disposed within
`each main supporter, a resilient topmost supporter and
`U-shaped covers for the supporting structures, to pro
`mote the stability and strengthen the structure of the
`folding tent.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`45
`The tent according to the present invention com
`prises a telescopic folding support assembly and an
`awning spread thereon. The assembly comprises at least
`four main supporters, twelve supporting structures,
`which together appear to look like a window with a
`cross in it. The assembly further includes a topmost
`supporter located in the center of the supporting struc
`ture. Each main supporter is provided with a telescopic
`inner supporter, and the topmost supporter is provided
`with a resilient inner supporter. Each supporting struc
`ture consists of two interlocking bars, and U-shaped
`covers, with hinge screws being provided at the inter
`locking points. Each of the main supporters are pro
`vided with a protruding stud, and the awning is also
`provided with holes corresponding to the studs for the
`latter to pass through, the awning being secured thereto
`by wing nuts. Each main supporter is provided with a
`slide for joining the connecting supporting structures,
`and each slide has a positioning hole. Further, at the top
`of the main supporter, there is provided an elastic pin
`for engagement within the positioning hole when the
`slide moves to the top of said main supporter and the
`supporting structures are fully opened. The topmost
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`5,275,188
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`supporter comprises a resilient supporting device,
`formed by a spring and an inner supporter. The topmost
`Supporter is located in the center of the structure and is
`connected to the supporting structures in four direc
`tions by means of a slide. The spring of the resilient
`Supporting device is fixed within the hollow of the
`topmost supporter by a screw which passes through the
`bottom thereof. The inner supporter is coupled to the
`top of the spring.
`The main object of the present invention is to provide
`a folding tent, having a support assembly comprising a
`plurality of main supporters, each being provided with
`an inner supporter, as a locating device, to facilitate
`quick opening and fixing of the position of the tent, as
`well as facilitating the taking apart of the support assem
`bly.
`A secondary object of the present invention is to
`provide an improved folding tent, which includes U
`shaped covers at the interlocking point of each support
`ing structure, so as to secure the strength against dam
`age and prolong the life of use.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
`an improved folding tent, which uses wing nuts to se
`cure the awning to the support assembly, so that the
`tent can be taken apart or assembled more conveniently
`and quickly.
`A fourth object of the present invention is to provide
`an improved folding tent, where the topmost supporter
`is provided with a resilient inner supporter, propping up
`the awning to keep it smooth and aesthetic in appear
`aCe.
`The present invention will now be described in detail,
`referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 illustrates the open position of the tent accord
`ing to the present invention;
`FIG. 2 illustrates the closed position of the tent ac
`cording to the present invention;
`FIG. 3 is an illustration of the structure of the support
`assembly and the awning of the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is a top view of a supporting structure which
`looks like a window with a cross inside;
`FIG. 5 is an illustration of a main supporter and con
`nected supporting structures of the present invention;
`FIG. 6 is an illustration of the topmost supporter and
`connected supporting structures of the present inven
`tion; and,
`FIG. 7 is an illustration of a topmost supporter and an
`elastic inner supporter of the present invention.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`As illustrated in FIG. 1, the tent comprises a tele
`Scopic folding support assembly 11, and an awning 12
`which covers the support assembly 11. The side view of
`the support assembly 11 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The
`assembly includes at least four main supporters 13,
`twelve supporting structures 14, which together form a
`top view which looks like a window with a cross in it
`(as in FIG. 4), and a topmost supporter 15 located in the
`center. Each main supporter 13 has a telescopic inner
`Supporter 16, and the central topmost supporter 15 has
`an resilient inner supporter 17. Each supporting struc
`ture 14 is composed of two interlocking bars, and is
`equipped with a hinging screw to form a pivot point. In
`this manner, each main supporter 13 can extend and
`
`SO
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`4.
`3
`means for supporting said awning member over an
`contract, and each supporting structure 14 can open and
`area having a polygonal contour in a first position,
`contract around the interlocking pivot point, so that the
`said supporting means including:
`tent can be quickly opened and closed.
`a. at least four main support members vertically
`Between each main supporter 13 and the awning 12,
`disposed at vertices of said polygonal area, each
`as shown in FIG. 3, there is provided a protruding stud
`of said main support members having an inner
`disposed at the top of each supporter 13. Studs are also
`support member telescopically engaged there
`provided at proper locations around the support assem
`with, said inner support member being extend
`bly 11, where there is contact with the awning 12. Fur
`able from a lower end of said main support mem
`ther, at four edges of the awning 12 there are provided
`ber to contact a base surface, each of said main
`locating holes corresponding to the studs. The studs fit
`support members having a stud extending from
`into the locating holes, and secured thereto by tighten
`an upper end thereof for engagement with a
`ing wing nuts 18 on the studs, so that the awning 12 can
`respective through opening formed in said aw
`be properly secured upon the support assembly 11. By
`ning;
`means of the studs and wing nuts, the tent can be assem
`b. support connection means pivotally coupled to
`bled and taken apart very quickly.
`said main support members for stabilization
`As seen in FIG. 5, each main supporter 13 is provided
`thereof in said first position, said support connec
`with a slide 19 for joining the connecting supporting
`tion means being displaceable for folding said
`structures 14. Each slide 19 has a hole 20 for positioning
`awning support means to a second position, said
`the slide. An elastic pin 21 is provided at the top of each
`support connection means including: (1) a plural
`supporter 13. When the slide 19 moves to the top of the
`ity of pairs of interconnected bar members, each
`main supporter 13, with the supporting structures 14
`of said pairs of said plurality of pairs of bar mem
`fully opened, the elastic pin 21 will engage with the
`bers being pivotally interconnected at a point
`positioning hole 20 of slide 19, thereby stably locating
`intermediate opposing ends thereof by a bolt,
`the slide 19. This ensures that the support assembly of
`each of said pairs of interconnected bar members
`the tent is stable in its opened position.
`25
`being pivotally coupled to a respective one of
`Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, each sup
`said main support members on one end thereof;
`porting structure 14 is composed of two interlocking
`(2) a plurality of U-shaped cover members, each
`bars and at the interlocking point, are provided with
`of said plurality cover members being disposed
`two U-shaped covers 22, one on each bar, through
`on a respective bar member at said pivotal inter
`which the hinge bolt 23 passes to build a sturdy inter
`connection with said bolt passing therethrough;
`locking support. Therefore, the supporting strength at
`and (3) a plurality of first slide members, each of
`each interlocking point of each supporting structure is
`said plurality of first slide members being slid
`increased, and multiple interlocking movements of the
`ably coupled to a respective one of said main
`support assembly will in no case diminish the support
`support members, each of said first slide mem
`ing strength of the assembly as a whole.
`bers being pivotally coupled to a respective bar
`As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the topmost supporter 15
`member from each of two angularly displaced
`is provided with a spring 24 and an inner supporter 17,
`pairs of interconnected bar members;
`which constitute a resilient inner supporting device.
`upper support means disposed centrally with
`The topmost supporter 15 is located in the center of the
`respect to said polygonal area for resiliently
`whole support assembly, as shown in FIG. 6. The Sup
`Supporting a central portion of said awning, said
`porter 15 is connected to four pairs of supporting struc
`upper support means including: (1) a vertically
`tures 14, in four directions by means of a slide 25. The
`disposed first upper support member, said first
`spring 24 is fixed within the hollow interior of the top
`upper support member having a tubular contour;
`most supporter 15, by means of a screw 26 which passes
`(2) a spring disposed within said first upper sup
`through the bottom of the topmost supporter 15. The
`45
`port member, said spring having a first end
`inner supporter 17 is coupled to the top of the spring 24,
`fixedly coupled to said upper tubular support
`so that the supporter 17 becomes resilient. When the
`member; and (3) a second upper support member
`awning is opened, it will be smooth, uniform and thus,
`telescopically engaged within said first upper
`aesthetic in appearance, as it is propped up by the elastic
`support member and resiliently biased by said
`inner supporter 17 of the topmost supporter 15.
`spring; and,
`Therefore, as discussed above, the awning is secured
`d. a second slide member slidingly coupled to said
`with the wing nuts and studs to the support assembly,
`first upper support member, said second slide
`and the tent can be assembled or taken apart quickly,
`member being pivotally coupled to a one end of
`and its stability is also increased. Provision of the U
`each of a multiplicity of said plurality of pairs of
`shaped covers and slides, increases the strength of the
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`interconnected bar members, each of said multi
`tent as well as its stability. The resilient inner supporter
`plicity of said plurality of pairs of interconnected
`disposed in the topmost supporter increases the tension
`bar members being pivotally coupled on an op
`of the awning, keeping it smooth and good-looking.
`posing end to a hinged connection between pairs
`The folding tent is, therefore, more practical to use.
`of said interconnected bar members extending
`I claim:
`between two of said main support members.
`1. A modified folding tent comprising:
`an awning member; and,
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