U.S. patent application number 11/038833 was filed with the patent office on 2006-01-26 for bell folding tent.
Invention is credited to Jin-Ho Bae.
Application Number | 20060016467 11/038833 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35043333 |
Filed Date | 2006-01-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060016467 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bae; Jin-Ho |
January 26, 2006 |
Bell folding tent
Abstract
The present invention provides a bell folding tent typically
comprised of awnings and framework consisted of poles, wherein the
framework includes a top static rib-hub built upon the top end of a
main stick setting on the center vertically, and hanged on with
radial ribs, which is combined of several segments and connectors
connecting said adjacent segments together, a low sliding rib-hub
put on the main stick in sliding fitting for hanging up one ends of
braces, the another ends of said braces pivoted on the first
segments of the ribs respectively; an elastic piece is set upon the
main stick between said low sliding rib-hub with the top end and
the bottom end of the main stick with the low end. Due to the saved
restoring energy of the stretched elastic piece, as opening the
tent, the low sliding rib-hub is pulled down continuously and kept
the inner ends of the braces having a downward pulling force so
that the outer ends of braces are kept a strutting force upward to
support all ribs to brace the tent without any falling down, and
not need to attach any holding device, and the service life is
increased greatly.
Inventors: |
Bae; Jin-Ho; (Xiamen,
CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQ.
90 JOHN STREET
THIRD FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
35043333 |
Appl. No.: |
11/038833 |
Filed: |
January 18, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/98 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 15/28 20130101;
E04H 15/48 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/098 |
International
Class: |
E04H 15/28 20060101
E04H015/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 23, 2004 |
CN |
200420071990.X |
Claims
1. A bell folding tent typically comprised of awnings and framework
consisted of poles, wherein the framework includes a top static
rib-hub built upon the top end of a main stick setting on the
center vertically, and hanged on with radial ribs, which is
combined of several segments and connectors connecting said
adjacent segments together, a low sliding rib-hub put on the main
stick in sliding fitting for hanging up one ends of braces, the
another ends of said braces pivoted on the first segments of the
ribs respectively; an elastic piece is set upon the main stick
between said low sliding rib-hub with the top end and the bottom
end of the main stick with the low end.
2. A bell folding tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main
stick is a tube with an open bottom end, a pair of axial opposite
through slots are built upon the side wall, whereby said low
sliding rib-hub is attached on the main stick with a joint screw
setting on the low sliding rib-hub over the diameter crossing the
two axial slots; said elastic piece is set on the hollow cave of
said main stick, and fastened on the joint screw with the top
end.
3. A bell folding tent as claimed in claim 2, wherein a bottom cap
is used for setting on the open bottom end of the main stick with
another joint screw; meanwhile the low end of the elastic piece is
fastened on the bottom cap at the bottom end of the main stick by
the joint screw too.
4. A bell folding tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein a connector
connecting the second and third segments of rib includes the first
coupling piece and the second coupling piece, within the first
coupling piece has an open slot with a pair of retaining holes on
the side walls built upon the outer end, said second coupling piece
can be plugged into the open slot of the first coupling piece, and
has a long slotted hole pivoted on the retaining holes of the first
coupling piece via a pivot pin; said first coupling piece extends a
pair of projected steps built upon the insides of side walls of the
open slot from the round of the retaining holes to the inner; said
second coupling piece has a couple of catching beds built upon the
both sides below said long slotted hole for touching against the
projected steps of the first coupling piece.
5. A bell folding tent as claimed in claim 2, wherein a connector
connecting the second and third segments of rib includes the first
coupling piece and the second coupling piece, within the first
coupling piece has an open slot with a pair of retaining holes on
the side walls built upon the outer end, said second coupling piece
can be plugged into the open slot of the first coupling piece, and
has a long slotted hole pivoted on the retaining holes of the first
coupling piece via a pivot pin; said first coupling piece extends a
pair of projected steps built upon the insides of side walls of the
open slot from the round of the retaining holes to the inner; said
second coupling piece has a couple of catching beds built upon the
both sides below said long slotted hole for touching against the
projected steps of the first coupling piece.
6. A bell folding tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first
and second segments are connected by a dual-pivot connector.
7. A bell folding tent as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first
and second segments are connected by a dual-pivot connector.
8. A bell folding tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rib is
combined of four segments, the last two segments are in contraction
joint as telescoping jib, and a locating device set upon the both
parts for preventing them from slipping relatively.
9. A bell folding tent as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rib is
combined of four segments, the last two segments are in contraction
joint as telescoping jib, and a locating device set upon the both
parts for preventing them from slipping relatively.
10. A bell folding tent as claimed in claim 6, wherein said
locating device is comprised of a spring and catcher set upon the
inside of the inner segment, and a hole corresponding to the
catchers built upon the outer segment.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a tent, and more
particularly to a bell folding tent in umbrella-style.
[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0004] In accordance with the conventional tent being common outfit
used for mountaineering, fishing and camping, and so on, they can
be divided into A-shaped, bell, house, cave styles. According to
the pitching or striking way of a tent, they may be divided into
conventional pole framework folding tent and umbrella framework
folding tent.
[0005] For the bell folding tent, the pitching or striking way is
similar to the way of opening or shutting an umbrella. The common
structure, as shown in FIG. 1, includes poles and awnings A,
wherein a top rib-hub 10 is set upon the top end of the main stick,
and hanged on with radial ribs 40, which is combined of several
segments (most commonly being three segments) connected with rib
couplers 60 for facilitating to fold up, and said awnings A are
fixed on the radial ribs 40 respectively, and the bottom ends of
said radial ribs 40 is fastened with the rims of the awnings from
the outside by rivets, so that the bell tent can be opened as same
as the way of opening an umbrella.
[0006] Referring to FIG. 2, below the said top rib-hub 10, a low
rib-hub 20 is fit on the main stick in easy slide fit, as similar
as the top rib-hub 10, said low sliding rib-hub 20 is hanged on
with radial braces 30 for strutting the first segment of ribs 40. A
spring 50 is put on the main stick between the top static rib-hub
10 and the low sliding rib-hub 20, as in shutting state, said
spring 50 is in compressed state; and as opening, under the
restoring force of the spring 50 the low sliding rib-hub 20 is
pushed to slide down meanwhile the braces 30 brace the first
segments of the radial ribs 40 up automatically.
[0007] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, said rib coupler 60 is
pivoted by the first coupling piece 61' and the second coupling
piece 62', and they are respectively retained on the tip ends of
the adjacent segments 41 of radial ribs 40, for carrying out the
folding function. Said first coupling piece 61' is drilled an open
slot at the external end, and a hanging hole 611' is built upon the
sides of the open slot crossly, and a pair of guide slots 612' on
the internal sides of the open slot respectively, and a locating
pin 614' is built on the blind end of the open slot outward; said
second coupling piece 62' having a slide slot 621' is inserted into
the open slot of the first coupling piece 61' with external end,
and pivoted by hanging the slide slot 621' on a pin to said hanging
hole 611', so that they are connected together in hanging joint,
for locating coordinating to the locating pin 614' a retaining hole
622' is built upon the tip end of the second coupling piece 62',
and coordinating to the guide slots 612' a pair of sliding pins
623' are respectively built upon the both sides of the second
coupling piece 62' for sliding in by sliding the sliding pins 623'
into the guide slots 612' from the open to the blind end, the
retaining hole 622' of the second coupling piece 62' is fit on the
locating pin 614' of the first coupling piece 61', the tow coupling
pieces 61' 62' of said rib coupler 60 are locked, therefore
plugging or withdrawing and turning the two adjacent segments 41
can carry out stretching or folding the ribs 40.
[0008] According to above description, we can find some
shortcomings existing in the conventional bell folding tent as
followings: [0009] 1. after said spring 50 is released in free
state to open the tent, all the braces 30 are kept in level state
so that the radial ribs 40 can not be braced in the final place for
staying out completely, so the user has to pull down the low
rib-hub 20 along the main stick so that the braces 30 are inclined
to outward up for bracing the radial ribs 40 in place completely,
hence two steps have to be gone for opening the tent, it is not
very convenience to operating; [0010] 2. if tending to open the
tent completely in one step, after opening the tent, the spring 50
has to be kept a certain compressed rest for pushing the low
sliding rib-hub 20 down continuously to make the braces 30 strut
the first segments 41 of ribs 40 in place completely; but even if
getting the certain compressed rest, and a holding device has to be
built on a proper position for holding the low sliding rib-hub 20
in, the rest compressing force of the spring 50 and the strutting
force coming from the braces 30 require the holding device strong
enough to stand up, but in practicing, after a long time, the
holding device is often worn out so that the strutting braces 30
can not stand on, so the tent is fell down; [0011] 3. due to
exposing to the air, the spring 50 is easy to be etched by rain to
rusty, further to stick the rustiness into the cloth of awnings to
affect the exterior of the tent, also affect the service life;
[0012] 4. said low sliding rib-hub 20 is put on the main stick in
free sliding and turning, although it is unable to be turned as
bracing up the tent under the restrict coming from the braces 30,
but as shutting the awnings are folded surrounding the main stick,
said low sliding rib-hub 20 may be turned an angle relatively to
the top static rib-hub 10 pivoting round the main stick, and
because the outer end of the braces 30 is connected with the radial
ribs 40, so the braces 30 is distorted as the low sliding rib-hub
20 is turned, and is easy to occur the roots of the braces 20
pivoted on the low sliding rib-hub broken off, further to affect
the use in normal; [0013] 5. the two adjacent segments 41 of the
rib 40 is connected and located by sliding and holding the sliding
pins 623' and the locating pin 614' into corresponded guide slots
612' and retaining hole 622', so the connector 60 should stand the
strutting force as bracing up the tent, especially to the tent much
bigger than an umbrella, the strutting force is also much bigger so
that during a long term the sliding pins 623' and the locating pin
614' are worn out and broken off to damage, further to affect the
service life of the tent; on the other hand, the similar strutting
points may be exerted an extra force as shown in FIG. 4, the both
coupling pieces 61' 62' are easy to be fell off, so that the tent
is fell down too; [0014] 6. the unfolding volume of said
conventional bell folding tent is commonly not big, due to the sake
of the rib set 40; if enlarging the unfolding volume of the tent,
one way is to extend the segments of the rib, and another way is to
increase the number of the segments of the rib; so the former way
increases the axial volume in shutting state, the later way may
increase the radial volume in shutting state; therefore the
lengthen and number of the segments should be in a balance,
recommend in here as the segment in a proper lengthen, the number
of them should be three, so that the shutting volume of the tent is
not too big.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] It is therefore a main object of the present invention to
provide a bell folding tent that is pitched or stroked as an
umbrella, especially to open the tent just only one action in one
time without building up a holding device.
[0016] It is a next other object of the present invention to
provide a bell folding tent, in which all the adjacent segments of
the ribs can be connected tightly and smoothly with longer service
life.
[0017] It is a next other object of the present invention to
provide a bell folding tent, which's extend area is further
enlarged without increasing the volume of the folded tent.
[0018] For achieving the above-mentioned objects, the present
invention provides a resolution, which is typically comprised of
awnings and framework consisted of poles, wherein the framework
includes a top static rib-hub built upon the top end of a main
stick setting on the center vertically, and hanged on with radial
ribs, which is combined of several segments and connectors
connecting said adjacent segments together, a low sliding rib-hub
put on the main stick in sliding fitting for hanging up one ends of
braces, the another ends of said braces pivoted on the first
segments of the ribs respectively; a spring is set upon the main
stick between said low sliding rib-hub with the top end and the
bottom end of the main stick with the low end.
[0019] Said main stick is a tube with an open bottom end, a pair of
axial opposite through slots are built upon the side wall, whereby
said low sliding rib-hub is attached on the main stick with a joint
screw setting on the low sliding rib-hub over the diameter crossing
the two axial slots; said spring is set on the hollow cave of said
main stick, and fastened on the joint screw with the top end.
[0020] A bottom cap is used for setting on the open bottom end of
the main stick with another joint screw; meanwhile the low end of
the spring is fastened on the bottom cap at the bottom end of the
main stick by the joint screw too.
[0021] A connector connecting the second and third segments of rib
includes the first coupling piece and the second coupling piece,
within the first coupling piece has an open slot with a pair of
retaining holes on the side walls built upon the outer end, said
second coupling piece can be plugged into the open slot of the
first coupling piece, and has a long slotted hole pivoted on the
retaining holes of the first coupling piece via a pivot pin; said
first coupling piece extends a pair of projected steps built upon
the insides of side walls of the open slot from the round of the
retaining holes to the inner; said second coupling piece has a
couple of catching beds built upon the both sides below said long
slotted hole for touching against the projected steps of the first
coupling piece.
[0022] Said first and second segments are connected by a dual-pivot
connector.
[0023] Said rib is combined of four segments, the last two segments
are in contraction joint as telescoping jib, and a locating device
set upon the both parts for preventing them from slipping
relatively.
[0024] Said locating device is comprised of a spring and catcher
set upon the inside of the inner segment, and a hole corresponding
to the catchers built upon the outer segment.
[0025] As utilizing above-mentioned project, there are following
advantages existing: [0026] 1. because the restore energy of the
spring is saved under stretching state, as opening the tent, also
by taking the advantages of restoring force, the bell tent is not
only opened automatically, but also the elastic piece continuously
pulls the low sliding rib-hub downward without any extra force
coming from human assistance, to keep the inner ends of the braces
be pulled downward to strut the first segments of ribs upward with
the outer ends stably without falling down happened, and said
holding device is not needed any more, and the service life is
increased, pitching the tent is only in one step; [0027] 2. because
the elastic piece is set up in the hollow cave of the inside of the
main stick in sealing state without exposing to air, it not only
protects the elastic piece and increases the service life, but also
efficiently preventing the elastic piece from staining and printing
on the cloth of the awnings; [0028] 3. by a joint screw crossing
the axial slots, said low sliding rub-hub is mounted on the main
stick in sliding fit without turning, it is not only to give the
play to guiding function, but also to prevent the low sliding
rib-hub from turning, further to avoid braces breaking off occurred
by yawing; [0029] 4. as opening the tent, the second coupling piece
is fastened on the first coupling piece by the catching beds
touching against the projected steps fully, so that the both
coupling pieces can not be turned any more relatively, the much
bigger contacting area than the conventional similar strutting
point can make the connection of the segment connector more
stability and toughly, overcoming the shortcoming of the strutting
pin wearing out, the service life is increased greatly. [0030] 5.
the rib of the present invention is comprised of four segments, and
the last two segments are in contraction joint as telescoping jib,
and a locating device set upon the both parts for preventing them
from slipping relatively, so as pitching the tent, the volume of
the tent is greatly increased, but as shutting, due to the
contraction joint of last two segments, the folded volume of the
tent may not be increased.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 is a scheme of the prior art.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the pitching or striking
structure of the upper portion of the prior art.
[0033] FIG. 3 is an exploded sectional view showing the coupling
pieces of the connector of segments of the prior art.
[0034] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the connected state of
the connector of the prior art.
[0035] FIG. 5 is a scheme of the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing the pitching or striking
structure of the upper portion of the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the folding state of the
pitching or striking structure of the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the opening state of the
pitching or striking structure of the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 9 is an exploded view showing the connector of the
present invention.
[0040] FIG. 10 is a side view showing the connector in stretching
state of the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 11 is an exploded view showing the telescopic segments
at the last end of the rib of the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing the combined telescopic
segments of the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 13 is a scheme showing the pitching or striking action
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0044] Referring to FIG. 5, a bell folding tent provided by the
present invention is typically comprised of framework and awnings
A, wherein the framework includes a top static rib-hub 1 built upon
the top end of a main stick 7 setting on the center vertically, and
hanged on with radial ribs 4, which is combined of several segments
and connectors connecting said adjacent segments together for
facilitating to striking, and said awnings A are fixed on the
radial ribs 4 respectively, and the bottom ends of said radial ribs
4 is fastened with the rims of the awnings from the outside by
rivets, so that the bell tent can be opened as same as the way of
opening an umbrella.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 6, said top static rib-hub 1 is a disk
with a central connecting hole 13, and proper number of hanging
notches 12 built upon the rim in uniform distribution, on each
hanging notch 12 has a pair of catching points 11 built upon the
opening opposite sides respectively, and there are several
retaining holes 14 set upon the circumference; said top static
rib-hub 1 has a cap 16 covering on the top side, via said retaining
holes 14 the cap 16 is fastened on top side of the top static
rib-hub 1 with screws.
[0046] Via the connecting hole 13, the top static rib-hub 1 is
retained on the tip end of said main stick 7. Said main stick 7 has
an opened bottom end and a pair of axial opposite through slots 71
built upon the side wall, and a securing hole 72 drilled on the
center of the blind end for securing said top static rib-hub 1 with
the connecting hole 13.
[0047] Said main stick 7 is put on with a low sliding rib-hub 2 at
the outside, a joint screw 23, crossing the diameter of the low
sliding rib-hub 2 and passing through the two axial slots 71,
connects the opposite two points of the low sliding rib-hub 2 to
hold it on the main stick 7 in sliding fit; said low sliding
rib-hub 2 is a collar with proper number of hanging notches 22
built upon the rim in uniform distribution, on each hanging notch
22 has a pair of catching points 21 built upon the opening opposite
sides respectively.
[0048] Said main stick 7 is attached with an elastic piece 5, in
which the top end is fixed on said joint screw 23 and the bottom
end on the second joint screw 73. As striking the tent, said
elastic piece 5 will pull the low sliding rib-hub 2 from the top
end of the axial slots 71 of the main stick 7 to the bottom along
the slots 71 under the restoring force until the tent is completely
opened automatically. As pitching or striking the tent, said low
sliding rib-hub 2 slides down or up along the axial slots 71, which
works as guiding slots, meanwhile prevents the low sliding rib-hub
2 from turning, further to avoid the braces 3 yawing.
[0049] Additionally, said main stick 7 has a bottom cap 74, which
is secured on the open end of the main stick 7 by the second joint
screw 73; said cap 74 has a hook 75 built upon the bottom end for
tying on the rope Al connecting to the top-end of the awnings
A.
[0050] By catching the first segment 41A into the notches 12 with
said catching points 11 respectively latching into pivot recesses
set upon the tip end of the first segment 41A, the rib 4 is pivoted
on said top static rib-hub 1 separately; a pivot base 412 is built
upon the middle of the first segment 41A for pivoting with one end
of the brace 3, and the another end of the brace 3 built with pivot
recesses 31 at the tip sides respectively is pivoted on the notch
22 of the low sliding rib-hub 2 by inserting into the space between
the both catching points 21; said brace 3 can be made of elastic
Nylon or glass-fiber. Said first segments 41A construct ribs 4 by
connecting with other segments.
[0051] Said connection of adjacent segments is commonly divided
into two kinds, one is dual-pivot connector used for connecting the
first and second segments 41A 41B, as shown in FIG. 7, thereby
creates a striking angle so as to reduce the torsion force between
the segments of the rib 41 and to facilitate to strike other
segments; on the other hand, said connector 8 may provide the
folding space for the third segment 41C.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the another kind of
connector 6 used for connecting the second and the third segments
41B 41C include the first coupling piece 61 set upon the tip end of
the second segment 41B and the second coupling piece 62 on the
third segment 41C.
[0053] Said first coupling piece 61 has an open slot with a pair of
retaining holes 611 on the side walls built upon the outer end, and
a pair of projected steps 612 built upon the insides of side walls
of the open slot from the round of the retaining holes 611 to the
inner.
[0054] Said second coupling piece 62 can be plugged into the open
slot of the first coupling piece 61, and has a long slotted hole
621 pivoted on the retaining holes 611 of the first coupling piece
61 via a pivot pin 63; said second coupling piece 62 has a couple
of catching beds 622 built upon the both sides below said long
slotted hole 621 for touching against the projected steps 612 of
the first coupling piece 61.
[0055] Said connector 6 can be pivoted on with the first and the
second coupling pieces 61 62 for folding or unfolding them.
[0056] Referring to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, in this embodiment said
rib 4 is consisted of four segments, for not increasing the folded
volume of the tent the present invention utilizes a method: in
which the last two segments--the third and the fourth segments 41C
41' are connected in contraction joint as a telescopic jib. The
detail as follows:
[0057] The third segment is a tube as same as others, but on the
bottom side a square tube adapter 91 is fastened by fastening screw
S, on the side wall the adapter 91 has a setting hole 911 for
containing a spring 912 and a dog 913 at inside; the last segment
41' is fit over the adapter 91 (applying square fitting is used for
preventing them from relatively turning, certainly if applying
other non-circle fitting it is possible), for preventing them from
sliding off a bushing 92 is attached on the top end of the last
segment 41' by catching the projected lugs 921 of the bushing 92
into the coordinating holes of the last segment 41', coordinating
to the dog 913 on the adapter 91 the last segment 41' has a
through-hole 419' drilled on the side wall.
[0058] After assembling said third segment 41C and the last segment
41', the adapter 91 of the third segment 41C is embedded into the
inside of the last segment 41' below the bushing 92 located on the
top end of the last segment 41' so as to prevent the third segment
41C sliding off from the inside of the last segment 41'; on the
other hand, said dog 912 extended out from the setting hole 911
under the pushing force from the spring 912 is also extended out
from the through-hole 419' for locating the both segments.
[0059] When striking the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7 and
FIG. 13, firstly close the last two segments 41C 41' of each rib 4
by pressing the dog 913 into the inside of the last segment 41' and
sliding the two segment 41C 41' relatively until the third segment
41C completely slides into the inside of the last segment 41'; then
press all the first segments 41A of the ribs 4 down to the main
stick 7, meanwhile the braces 3 are pressed too to turn an angle so
that the low sliding rib-hub 2 is pushed upward along the main
stick 7, because the joint screw 23 connects to the low sliding
rib-hub 2 and the top end of the elastic piece 5, so the elastic
piece 5 is stretched to save some restoring energy; next draw the
second and the third segments 41B 41C out relatively a certain
distance respectively and turn back around the pivot pin 93, then
turn the second and the third segment closed with the last segments
41' 41B 41C around the connector 6 to fold up all the ribs 4,
finally wrap the awnings A around the folded ribs 4 and tie up or
place into a box, so the bell tent is stricken.
[0060] When tenting to pitch the bell tent, as shown in FIG. 8,
pick up the folded tent from the tent box, and lay on the ground,
the tensile elastic piece 5 will restore the original state, so the
low sliding rib-hub 2 is pulled down along the main stick 7 to
bring one ends of the braces 3 moving down and the another ends
spreading upward to brace the ribs 4; then draw out the last
segments 41' of ribs 4 individually until the dog 913 of the third
segment 41C catches into the through-hole 419' under the pressing
force from the spring 912 in locating position; then turn all the
segments 41A 41B 41C respectively around the connectors 6 8, and
push all the segments 41 in locating positions; finally, fix the
bottom ends of the last segments 41' to the rim of the awnings A
with securing screw, so the full bell tent is pitched.
[0061] Referring to FIG. 8, it is showing the first segments 41A
are braced by the braces 3, but in practicing, the first segments
41A and the braces 3 are crowned under the force of the elastic
piece 5 to improve the struts to all the first segments 41A so that
the tent is braced completely without any falling down, and not
need to attach any holding device, and the service life is
increased greatly.
* * * * *