U.S. patent application number 11/099485 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-09 for reinforced structure for a cross bar frame of a tent.
Invention is credited to Charles Ko, Ming-Liang Tsai.
Application Number | 20060249192 11/099485 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37393021 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060249192 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tsai; Ming-Liang ; et
al. |
November 9, 2006 |
Reinforced structure for a cross bar frame of a tent
Abstract
A reinforced structure for a cross bar frame of a tent includes
pivoting bars, reinforcement blocks and protection plates. The
cross bar frame has both pivoting bars pivoted to each other in a
cross fashion. Each pivoting bar is provided with a pivoting hole.
The reinforcement block inserted to each pivoting bar is provided
with a through hole. Each protection plate is provided with a
through hole and disposed where the pivoting bars are pivoted to
each other to increase the area subject to stress and structural
strength of the cross bar frame.
Inventors: |
Tsai; Ming-Liang; (Taipei,
TW) ; Ko; Charles; (Taipei, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
37393021 |
Appl. No.: |
11/099485 |
Filed: |
April 6, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/143 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 15/50 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/143 |
International
Class: |
E04H 15/48 20060101
E04H015/48 |
Claims
1. A reinforced structure for a cross bar frame of a tent
comprising pivoting bars, reinforcement blocks and protection
plates; each pivoting bar being provided with a pivoting hole close
to its end, each reinforcement block being provided with a through
hole, each protection plate being provided with a through hole,
said pivoting bars being crossed and pivoted to each other, said
reinforcement block being inserted into the end of each pivoting
bar, and said protection plates being disposed where said pivoting
bars are pivoted to each other.
2. The reinforced structure for a cross bar frame of a tent as
claimed in claim 1, wherein said protection plate is formed by
corresponding in shape to said pivoting bar, and a lip is provided
on an peripheral edge of said protection plate.
3. A reinforced structure for a cross bar frame of a tent
comprising pivoting bars, reinforcement blocks, and sleeves; each
pivoting bar being provided with a pivoting hole close to its top,
each reinforcement block being provided with a through hole, each
sleeve being provided with a fastening hole, each reinforcement
block being disposed in the end of each pivoting bar, each sleeve
being disposed into each pivoting bar, and said pivoting bars being
crossed and pivoted to each other.
4. A reinforced structure for a cross bar frame of a tent
comprising pivoting bars and reinforcement blocks; each pivoting
bar being provided with a pivoting hole close to its end, each
reinforcement block being provided with a through hole, each
reinforcement block being disposed in the end of each pivoting bar,
said pivoting bars being crossed and pivoted to each other, at
least one of said reinforcement blocks being provided with a
protecting plate having a through hole, said protecting plate being
disposed where said pivoting bars are pivoted to each other.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (a) Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a reinforced structure for
a cross bar frame of a tent, and more particularly, to one that
improves the structural strength of the cross bar frame by
increasing its area subject to the stress created from the tent
when stretched.
[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 8A, a frame of a tent
generally available in the market has respectively pivoted with
multiple pairs of cross bar frames (B) on each side of a tent (A)
so to stretch up a fabric (Al). Also referring to FIG. 9, in the
structure of the cross bar frame, two pivoting bars (B1) and (B2)
are pivoted to each other respectively at their middle points. A
reinforcement block (C) is each inserted to the ends of the two
pivoting bars (B1, B2). A bolt (D), washers (E), and a nut (F) are
used to pivot any two abutted pivoting bars (B1, B2) for the
pivoting bars (B1, B2) to fortify their structural strength through
the reinforcement blocks (C). The fabric (A1) is stretched up by
means of multiple units of the cross bar frames (B).
[0005] Whereas the cross bar frames (B) are pivoted to one another
to stretch up the fabric (A1) of the tent (A), they at the same
time are subject to quite a significant counter force from the
fabric (A1). As illustrated in FIG. 10, the most vulnerable part in
terms of strength on the cross bar frame (B) comes from the points
where the pivoting bars (B1, B2) are pivoted to another pair of
pivoting bars (B1, B2); however, the area (G) subject to stress at
the most vulnerable part is that the pivoting bars (B1, B2) contact
the washer (E) as shown in the shadowed area in FIG. 10 and is very
limited in size. Therefore, the structural strength of the prior
art is comparatively poor since the resultant stress collected when
the cross bar frame (B) is subject to stress can easily break up
the cross bar frame (B) at where they are pivoted to another pair
of the cross bar frame (B).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a
reinforced structure for a cross bar frame used in a tent to
correct the flaws found with the prior art while providing reliable
structure of the cross bar frame in stretching up the fabric of a
tent. To achieve the purpose, the present invention comprises
pivoting bars, reinforcement blocks and protection plates. Wherein,
the cross bar frame is formed by having the pivoting bars pivoted
to each other in a cross fashion. Each pivoting bar is provided
with a pivoting hole close to its end. The reinforcement block
inserted to each pivoting bar is provided with a through hole. Each
protection plate having a through hole is disposed where the
pivoting bars are pivoted to each other. The protection plate is
molded by compromising the shape of the pivoting bar and is
provided with a lip on its peripheral edge. Accordingly, the
present invention by extending the distance between the pivoting
hole to its top of the pivoting bar and providing reinforcement
blocks and protection plates to the inner and outer sides of the
end of the pivoting bar increases the area subject to the stress on
the pivoting bar and its structural strength.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0008] FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing that an assembly of the
first embodiment of the present invention is subject to stress.
[0011] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the
present invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing that an assembly of the
second embodiment of the present invention is subject to
stress.
[0013] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a third embodiment of the
present invention.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing an assembly of the third
embodiment of the present invention is subject to stress.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a prior art.
[0016] FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of FIG. 8.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cross bar frame of the
prior art.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing that the cross bar frame
of the prior art is subject to stress.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1, 1A, and 2, a cross bar frame (1)
mounted to each side of a tent (4) comprises pivoting bars (11,
12), reinforcement blocks (2) and protection plates (3).
[0020] Each of the pivoting bars (11, 12) is provided with a
pivoting hole (111, 121) close to its top. Each reinforcement block
(2) is provided with a through hole (21) and inserted into the top
of the pivoting bar (11, 12) with the through hole (21) aligned to
the pivoting hole (111, 121).
[0021] The protection plate (3) is molded by compromising the shape
of the pivoting bar (11, 12) with a lip (31) extending from the
peripheral edge and a through hole (32) disposed at the center of
the protection plate (3).
[0022] The pivoting bars (11) and (12) are crossed each other and
pivoted to each other to form the cross bar frame (1). Two abutted
cross bar frames (1) of the tent (4) are pivotally connected to
each other by having a bolt (5) together with washers (6) to
penetrate through the pivoting holes (111, 121), the through holes
(21) of the reinforcement blocks (2), and the through holes (32) of
the protection plates (3) from the pivoting bars (11, 12)
respectively from two abutted cross bar frames (1) and locked with
a nut (7). The protection plates (3) respectively are secured on
the pivoting bars (11, 12) and lay flushed against each other by
means of their respective lips (31) to support the pivoting bars
(11, 12) and to move along with them.
[0023] As a fabric (41) of the tent (4) is stretched up, the cross
bar frame (1) is subject to a stress. Whereas the distance between
the pivoting hole (111, 121) of the pivoting bar (11, 12) and the
top of the pivoting bar (11, 12) is longer than that of the prior
art and the presence of the protection plates (3) disposed between
the two pivoting bars (11, 12) further increase the area subject to
the stress, an area (H) subject to the stress formed as a result of
overlapped by two abutted pivoting bars (11, 12) of the cross bar
frame (1) will be increased as that shown in the shadowed area in
FIG. 3, thus to improve the structural strength of the cross bar
frame by avoiding damage from over-concentration of stress.
[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 4, a sleeve (8) having a fastening
hole (81) is each inserted to the ends of the pivoting bars (11,
12). The sleeve (8) is a hollow sleeve corresponding in shape to
the pivoting bar (11, 12). As illustrated in FIG. 5, the pivoting
holes (111, 121) of the pivoting bars (11, 12) are overlapped with
the fastening holes (81) of the sleeves (8) and the through holes
(21) of the reinforcement blocks (2) and fastened with the bolt
(5), the washers (6) and the nut (7). An area (I) subject to the
stress as defined by the sleeves (8) of the two pivoting bars (11,
12) disperses the stress to further improve the structural strength
of the cross bar frame (1).
[0025] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 6 for another preferred
embodiment yet of the present invention, the ends of the pivoting
bars (11, 12) are respectively inserted with two reinforcement
blocks (2, 2A). The reinforcement block (2A) inserted to the end of
the pivoting bar (11) is provided with a protecting plate (22A)
extending from the peripheral edge of the reinforcement block (2A).
Both the reinforcement block (2A) and the protecting plate (22A)
are respectively provided with two through hole (21A, 221A)
corresponding to each other. While assembling, as illustrated in
FIG. 7, the two reinforcement blocks (2, 2A) are inserted to the
ends of the pivoting bars (11, 12) for the protecting plate (22A)
extending from the reinforcement block (2A) to extend into the
relative inner sides of the pivoting bars (11, 12), and the
pivoting bars (11, 12) are fastened to each other by means of the
bolt (5), the washers (6), and the nut (7). Whereas the protecting
plate (22A) of the reinforcement block (2A) inserted into the
pivoting bar (11) is disposed between the two pivoting bars (11,
12), an area a) subject to the stress and side strength are
increased at the same time.
[0026] However, it is to be noted that the preferred embodiments
disclosed in the specification and the accompanying drawings are
not limiting the present invention; and that any construction,
installation, or characteristics that is same or similar to that of
the present invention should fall within the scope of the purposes
and claims of the present invention.
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