U.S. patent application number 11/438598 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-22 for one-touch type foldable tent frame.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sedo Camping Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Choi Joo-Tai.
Application Number | 20070062569 11/438598 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37882869 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070062569 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Joo-Tai; Choi |
March 22, 2007 |
One-touch type foldable tent frame
Abstract
A one-touch type foldable tent frame including supporting dies,
a tent cloth connected to the supporting dies, and a folding unit
provided in the center of upper ends of the supporting dies for
folding the supporting dies, the folding unit includes a fixing
element connected to the supporting dies, and a supporting element
mounted in the fixing element for pulling and spreading the
supporting dies and fixing the supporting dies. The supporting
element has a body part formed with a holding shoulder detachably
mounted to a through hole of the fixing element, and a base element
having base struts connected to the supporting dies at a lower end
of the body part, wherein the body part and the base element are
integrated.
Inventors: |
Joo-Tai; Choi; (Seongnam
City, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AKERMAN SENTERFITT
P.O. BOX 3188
WEST PALM BEACH
FL
33402-3188
US
|
Assignee: |
Sedo Camping Co., Ltd.
Suite 401 Soho Building, 277-14, Nonhyun-Dong
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
37882869 |
Appl. No.: |
11/438598 |
Filed: |
May 22, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/120.3 ;
135/128; 135/159 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 15/48 20130101;
E04H 15/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/120.3 ;
135/128; 135/159 |
International
Class: |
E04H 15/34 20060101
E04H015/34; E04H 15/40 20060101 E04H015/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 10, 2005 |
KR |
20-2005-0023148 |
Claims
1. A one-touch type foldable tent frame including supporting dies
to be folded in an umbrella shape, a cloth connected to the
supporting dies, and a folding unit provided in the center of an
upper end of the supporting dies for folding the supporting dies,
wherein the folding unit comprises a fixing element to be connected
to the supporting dies, and a supporting element mounted in the
fixing element for pulling and spreading the supporting dies and
fixing the spread supporting dies.
2. The one-touch type foldable tent frame as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the fixing element is connected to the supporting dies via
hinges and has a through hole penetrating the center thereof.
3. The one-touch type foldable tent frame as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the supporting element includes a body part, and a base
element provided with struts at a lower end of the body part to be
connected to the supporting dies.
4. The one-touch type foldable tent frame as claimed in claim 1,
wherein a body part of the supporting element includes a holding
shoulder for fixing the supporting element to the fixing element,
wherein the holding shoulder is provided with a space part inside
for the elasticity of the holding shoulder.
5. The one-touch type foldable tent frame as claimed in claim 1,
wherein a body part of the supporting element is connected to a
strap at an upper end to be exposed to the outside via a through
hole of the fixing element, wherein the strap is to pull the
supporting element for spreading the supporting dies.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a one-touch type foldable
tent frame.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In general, most foldable tents have unit frames of
predetermined length, wherein each is formed of a plurality of
joints to be folded by connection elements for the convenience of
carrying or storage. The frames are extended straightly or folded
by the unit length in the case of tent assembling or storage.
[0005] As disclosed in Korean Utility Model Publication No.
74-1393, a prior art tent which is portable and foldable, includes
a plurality of upper struts inserted in an upper strut case and
base struts inserted in a lower strut case, wherein the upper
struts are connected to movable struts by connection pieces at an
upper ends and the base struts are connected to the connecting
pieces fixed in the middle of the upper struts. In the prior art, a
strap connected to one of the upper struts, fixed to the center of
the upper strut case, penetrates one of the lower struts,
positioned in the center of the lower strut case.
[0006] The prior art tent as above has, however, disadvantages that
the lower strut case, the central struts, and especially the strap
are mounted in a tent cloth, so that the strap is to be pulled out
by a user in order to spread the tent out while the tent is not
spread out yet. Furthermore, after the tent is spread out, the
strap is hanging down in the tent and the user may feel
inconvenience by the contact with the hanging strap.
[0007] In order to resolve the above disadvantages, Korean Utility
Model Application No. 91-24705 discloses fixing dies support
supporting dies and a tent cloth via the coupling with a cover,
wherein the fixing dies are coupled with movable dies to be set up
in a short time by the operation of a holding part through the
vertical motion of peak parts of the movable dies and handles.
[0008] The above prior art has, however, a disadvantage that the
fixing dies, the movable dies and the holding part are separately
structured from each other so that the assembling and operating
performance is not high.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Therefore, the present invention is derived to resolve the
above and any other disadvantages of the prior art.
[0010] According to the present invention, in a one-touch type
foldable tent frame, a folding unit mounted in a central fixing
unit to fold a tent, integrates a supporting element formed with a
holding shoulder and a base element formed with base struts
connected to a lower end of the supporting element, so that
supporting rods may be mounted in a single assembling work,
increasing workability. Further, a strap is mounted to the
supporting element to be pulled outside the tent, so that the strap
is not hanging down in the tent for securing the convenience of
users.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The present invention will become more apparent by
describing embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view for showing the entire
structure of a one-touch type foldable tent frame according to the
present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic view for explaining principal parts of
the one-touch type foldable tent frame, wherein the one-touch type
tent frame is in the folded situation;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a schematic view for explaining principal parts of
the one-touch type foldable tent frame, wherein the one-touch type
tent frame is in the spread situation;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view for showing a supporting
element for a folding unit according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view for showing a bottom part of a
fixing element for the folding unit according to the present
invention; and
[0017] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view for explaining a
coupling situation between base struts and supporting dies
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to accompanied
drawings.
[0019] According to the present invention, in a one-touch type
foldable tent frame including supporting dies 1, a cloth 2
connected to the supporting dies 1, and a folding unit 3 provided
in the center of upper ends of the supporting dies 1 for folding
the supporting dies, the folding unit 3 includes a fixing element 4
connected to the supporting dies 1, and a supporting element 5
mounted in the fixing element 4 for pulling and spreading the
supporting dies 1 and fixing the supporting dies 1.
[0020] The fixing element 4 is connected to the supporting dies 1
by hinges 8 and formed with a through hole 41 penetrating the
center thereof.
[0021] The supporting element 5 has a body part 51 detachably
mounted to the through hole 41 of the fixing element 4, and a base
element 52 having base struts 7 at a lower end of the body
part.
[0022] The body part 51 is provided with a holding shoulder 51a for
fixing the supporting element 5 to the fixing element 4, wherein
the holding shoulder 51a is formed with a space part 51b inside for
the elasticity of the holding shoulder 51a.
[0023] A strap 6 is connected to an upper end of the supporting
element 5 and extended to the outside via the through hole 41 of
the fixing element 4 for spreading the supporting dies 1.
[0024] Now, the operation of the one-touch type foldable tent frame
will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanied
drawings.
[0025] In order to set up the tent, as the strap 6 is pulled
upward, the supporting element 5 fixed to the strap 6 is lifted and
the base element 52 integrated to the supporting element 5 lifts.
Simultaneously, the base struts 7 connected to the base element 52
are spread out and the supporting dies 1 are spread out
accordingly.
[0026] If the strap 6 is pulled fully, the body part 51 of the
supporting element 5 is exposed outside the tent cloth 2 via the
through hole 41 of the fixing element 4. At this time, the holding
shoulder 51a is captured by an upper end of the body part 51, so
that the supporting element 5 becomes fixed to the fixing element
4. Therefore, the supporting dies 1 are kept spread out not to be
folded.
[0027] Since the supporting element 5 integrates the body part 51
and the base element 52, the manufacturing steps thereof become
minimized. Furthermore, the body part 51 and the base element 52
are not separated from each other, thereby increasing the safety of
the tent.
[0028] In order to strike the tent, as the holding shoulder 51a is
pressed by the user, the holding shoulder 51a is retracted inward
by the space part 51b. Then, the body part 51 of the supporting
element 5 escapes from the through hole 41 of the fixing element 4,
so that the supporting element 5 becomes lowered. Accordingly, the
base struts 7 and the supporting dies 1 become folded and the tent
is folded.
[0029] As above, the strap 6 is pulled outside the tent for lifting
or lowering the supporting element 5 when setting up or striking
the tent. Therefore, the user may set up or strike the tent outside
the tent conveniently. Furthermore, the strap is exposed outside
the tent after the tent is set up, so that the user is not bothered
by the strap in the tent.
[0030] As described hereinabove, according to the present
invention, a supporting element integrates a body part having a
holding shoulder and a base element having base struts, so that the
supporting element may be stably fixed to a fixing element which is
connected to supporting dies. Therefore, the workability for
setting up or striking the tent and the stability of the tent may
be maximized. Furthermore, a strap for lifting or lowering the
supporting element is exposed outside. Therefore, the user may be
free from the bothering of the strap in the tent that is set
up.
[0031] Although the present invention has been fully described by
way of example with reference to the accompanied drawings, it is to
be understood that various changes and modifications will be
apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise
such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present
invention hereinafter defined, they should be construed as being
included therein.
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