U.S. patent application number 09/970307 was filed with the patent office on 2003-04-03 for combined pillar structure for foldable tent.
Invention is credited to Lin, Tu.
Application Number | 20030062077 09/970307 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26057334 |
Filed Date | 2003-04-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030062077 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin, Tu |
April 3, 2003 |
Combined pillar structure for foldable tent
Abstract
A combined pillar structure for the foldable tent comprises a
combined pillar and a spring clip. The combined pillar is
integrally formed from the plastic material. A controlling rope
enters the combined pillar tip by a knot inlet and comes out of the
rope outlet, on the combined pillar tip. An outlet for the spring
clip, a retainer for the upper nest, a retaining hole for the
spring clip and a retaining hole for the lower nest. A groove is
outfitted in the central hollow of the combined pillar to receive
the spring clip. The spring clip has a spring stop as the first
part, a spring bend as the second and a spring stem as the third
part. The spring stop extends out of the spring outlet and the
spring bend stretches out of the retaining hole. The spring stem
lies in the groove.
Inventors: |
Lin, Tu; (Taichung Hsien,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THOMAS M. FREIBURGER
25th FLOOR
650 CALIFORNIA STREET
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94108
US
|
Family ID: |
26057334 |
Appl. No.: |
09/970307 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/98 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 15/28 20130101;
E04H 15/48 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/98 |
International
Class: |
E04H 015/28 |
Claims
What is claimed is
1. A combined pillar structure for the foldable tent comprises: a
combined pillar, having an outlet permitting the controlling rope
coming out form the central tip of the combined pillar, a knot
inlet for the controlling rope to enter the combined pillar, an
outlet for spring clip, a retainer for the upper nest, a retaining
hole for the spring clip, a lock hole on the lower nest to lock up
the combined pillar therein and a central groove in the hollow of
the combined pillar; a spring clip having an upper stop, which
stretching out of the outlet of the spring clip, and spring bend
extending out of the retaining hole for the spring clip, and a
spring stem extending backward from the spring bend, the spring
clip rests firmly in the groove of the combined pillar.
2. The combined pillar structure of claim 1, wherein the
controlling rope enters the combined pillar through the outlet and
has a knot at the rope end to be held at the knot inlet.
3. The combined pillar structure of claim 1, wherein the bottom of
the combined pillar provides a lower nest and the combined pillar
is lock on the lower nest by inserting screw or bolt through the
lock hole.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a combined pillar employed on the
foldable tent, in particular, an insulated, safe, simplified, low
cost and durable combined pillar.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] The prior art of the foldable tent as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2
is a Umbrella shaped two layer tent for which the applicant has
secured a U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,026 (hereinafter referred to as the
patented tent.). The patented tent mainly constitutes an upper nest
11, supporting a plurality of the upper primary frame 12 and
umbrella vice frame 13 on its periphery. There is a lower nest 14
with a plurality of branching frame 15, having both ends linked
with the upper primary frames 12 and umbrella vice frames 13,
respectively. A combined pillar 16 with a combined button 17 passes
through the central hollow of the lower nest 14 and a controlling
rope 18 extends out of the combined pillar 16. In setting up the
tent, it only requires to pull the controlling rope 16 outward, the
combined button 17 stops at the top of the upper nest 11, and both
the upper nest 11 and the lower nest 14 will expand to complete the
tent erection, easy for traveling and camping.
[0005] After many years in production of such a foldable tent, the
applicant has discovered the existence of major shortcomings as
described below:
[0006] 1) The combined pillar, made of metal material, is high
conductive. The tent is usually for outdoor activity and camping is
all the time situated along the riversides. It has come to the
attention of the applicant that whenever a thunder occurs, the
combined pillar tip extending out of the tent more than often is
the culprit to attract the thunder stroke, causing personal injury
and death. The hazard happens frequently on the golf courses.
[0007] 2) The metal combined pillar 16 is easily subjected to
corrosion, which shorten the service life of the tent.
[0008] 3) The production process of the metal combined pillar 16 is
tedious and complicated, first is to choose adequate metal tube,
cut into an adequate section, smooth the rough edge, form the
appearance, drill the hole around, and finally proceed the surface
treatment such as corrosive protection and electroplating.
Eventually it enters the assembly line to hook up the controlling
rope. The complication apparently implies high cost both in
production and in repair.
[0009] The applicant has worked hard on improving such notable
shortcomings and come up a novel improved combined pillar structure
for the foldable tent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The object of the invention is to provide an improved
combined pillar for the foldable tent integrally formed with
plastic material, entirely insulted from electrical conductivity
and effectively immune to the thunder so to keep safety for the
outdoor activities.
[0011] Another object of the invention is provide a simplified
method to produce the combined pillar for the foldable tent with
less production cost, trouble free, weather-proofing,
impact-proofing and long durability.
[0012] Another object of the invention is to provide a combined
pillar for the foldable tent in colorful print, the user is in the
position to choose the colored combined pillar suiting his
personality, style and fashion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The drawings disclose an illustrative embodiment of the
present invention, which serves to exemplify the various advantages
and objects hereof, and are as follows:
[0014] FIG. 1 shows the frame structure of the prior art of the
foldable tent.
[0015] FIG. 2 is enlargement of FIG. 1A.
[0016] FIG. 3 shows cross sections of parts of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 4 shows the stereo diagram of the invention.
[0018] FIG. 5 is the schematic diagram of the invention before the
erection.
[0019] FIG. 6 is the schematic diagram of the invention in complete
erection.
[0020] FIG. 7 shows a protective cap added to the top of the
combined pillar of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] As shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, the new combined pillar 2 is
a plastic integrally form hollow pillar with a controlling rope
outlet 21 coming out of the top of the pillar 2. The combined
pillar 2 provides a knot inlet 22 and a rope outlet 21 for the
controlling rope entering the pillar 2 and coming out at the pillar
tip. The end of the controlling rope has a knot being held at the
knot inlet 22. Under the knot inlet 22, there is an outlet for
spring slip 23, and further below, there is a retainer 24 for the
upper nest and a retaining hole 25 for the spring clip under the
retainer 24. There is a groove 27 in the central hollow of the
combined pillar 2 for receiving the spring clip 3. the spring stop
31 extends out of the outlet 23 of the spring clip and the spring
bend 32 extends out of the retaining hole 25. The tail of the
spring clip form a spring stem firmly resting in the groove 27 of
the combined pillar 2.
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 5 through 7, in assembly, the combined
pillar 2 joins the lower nest by inserting a bolt or screw through
the lock hole 26. The controlling rope 18 will go through the upper
nest 11. The user holds the upper nest 11 with one hand and pulls
out the controlling rope 18 upward and outward with another hand to
force the combined pillar 2 stretching out of the upper nest 11.
While the upper nest reaches the retainer 24, the upper stop 31 of
the spring clip 3 chokes around the outer perimeter of the retainer
24. A protective cap 19 is provided to cover the combined pillar 2
upon the completion of tent erection. In dismantling tent, just
press down the upper stop 31, allowing the combined pillar to slide
over the upper nest 11 and the whole tend is folded up.
[0023] The foldable tent provided in the invention is characterized
on good insulation, safely immune to the thunder stroke, simplified
design, integral form, low production cost, high impact, weather
proof, superior durability, printed with various color to match
with the tent color and to display personality and style the user
cherishes.
[0024] Many changes and modifications in the above described
embodiment of the invention, of course, be carried out without
departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the
progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed
and intended only by the scope of the appended claims.
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