U.S. patent application number 11/657997 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-06 for tent pole/truss locking mechanism.
Invention is credited to Phillip Habib, Ron Roy.
Application Number | 20070204897 11/657997 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38319520 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070204897 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Habib; Phillip ; et
al. |
September 6, 2007 |
Tent pole/truss locking mechanism
Abstract
A collapsible tent has a plurality of legs and trusses for
supporting a canopy. A slider is slidably associated with one of
the legs and pivotally connects with an associated truss. The
slider slides along the leg during erection and collapse of the
tent. A locking mechanism is provided between the slider and upper
end of the one of the legs. The locking mechanism has a lip on
either the slider or upper leg and a spring-loaded latch lever. The
cooperation of the lip and latch lever provides positive engagement
releasable by activation of the lever against a spring base.
Inventors: |
Habib; Phillip; (Hudson,
CA) ; Roy; Ron; (Cornwall, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Thomas E. Sisson;Jackson Walker, LLP
Suite 2400
112 E. Pecan
San Antonio
TX
78205
US
|
Family ID: |
38319520 |
Appl. No.: |
11/657997 |
Filed: |
January 25, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60762992 |
Jan 27, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
135/145 ;
135/140 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 15/50 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/145 ;
135/140 |
International
Class: |
E04H 15/50 20060101
E04H015/50 |
Claims
1. A collapsible tent having a plurality of legs and trusses for
supporting a canopy comprising: a slider slidably associated with a
leg and pivotally connected with an associated truss, said slider
adapted to slide along the leg during erection and collapse of the
tent. a locking mechanism between said slider and an upper end of
the associated leg, said locking mechanism comprising a lip on one
of the slider and upper leg end, and a spring loaded latch lever
with a latch configured complementary to said lip positioned on the
other of the slider and upper leg end, wherein the lip and latch
lever provide a positive locking mechanism which can be released by
activating the lever against the spring base.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/762,992, filed Jan. 27, 2006, which is
incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The invention relates to a locking mechanism for locking a
tent truss member with a leg or pole member of the tent.
[0003] Many types of collapsible tents exist. Most have foldable
support legs and trusses with latches or locking mechanisms to hold
these members in an erect position.
[0004] Often such latching or locking mechanism comprises a spring
loaded pin and hole mechanism.
[0005] The present invention pertains to an improved and more
positive locking mechanism between the leg or pole of the tent and
the slider to which a truss member is pivotally connected.
[0006] More particularly the latching or locking mechanism takes
the form of a slider having a lip or shoulder preferably at its
upper end on one side and a spring biased latch lever secured to
the upper end of the leg or pole, the latch lever being adapted to
lockingly engage the lip or shoulder of the slider.
DRAWINGS
[0007] FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a collapsible tent to which the present
invention pertains in various positions.
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates the tent fully collapsed.
[0009] FIG. 2 shows the tent partially erected.
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates the tent fully erected.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper end of a tent leg
with a slider according to the invention, the slider and leg being
in an unlocked relationship.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a side view of the arrangement shown in FIG.
4.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a front view of the slider and tent leg latching
assembly in locked relationship.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a side view of the locked relationship shown in
FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] The tent of the present invention is of the collapsible
variety which has at least four legs and appropriate truss members
to support the cover or canopy when erected. The type of tent to
which the invention relates is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 in
various positions; collapsed (FIG. 1); partially erected (FIG. 2);
and fully erected (FIG. 3).
[0016] A slider mechanism 10 is telescopingly associated with each
leg or pole 12. The slider mechanism 10 is also being attached to a
truss member 14 which supports the cover 16 or canopy when the tent
is fully erected. When erected, there is a latching or locking
mechanism between the leg or pole 12 and the slider to which the
truss is connected.
[0017] In FIGS. 4-7, there is shown for clarity purposes only the
upper portion of a leg 20.
[0018] A slider 24 encompasses the leg and is adapted to slide up
and down the leg 20. A truss member is not shown in FIGS. 4-7; but,
as would be understood from FIGS. 1-3, would be pivotally connected
to the slider 24 on a side away from the upper cam faced lip or
shoulder 28 formed on one sided the slider 20. At the top of the
leg is a latch lever 30 which is spring based and pivotally
connected at 32 to bracket 34. Bracket 34 is shown encircling and
attached to the leg by rivets 38, but any other means of securing
bracket 34 to leg 20 is contemplated including welding a metal
bracket to a metal leg. I
[0019] In operation, as the slider is advanced up the leg in
erecting the tent, the cam face 40 of the lip or shoulder 28 forces
the spring based lever outwardly whereby the jaw 42 of the lever
catches the lip or shoulder 28 to secure the slider 24 in a locked
position relative to the leg 20.
[0020] Depressing or pushing on the lever release 44 will release
the jaw 42 from the lip or shoulder 28 and allow the slider to move
down the leg in order to collapse the tent. Each leg has a like
slider and latching assembly.
[0021] It will be apparent from the foregoing that the spring based
latch lever and lip or shoulder 28 may be reversed as to the
elements to which they are attached. The leg would have a bracket
with a lip or shoulder while the slider would have the latch lever
assembly. One preferred embodiment is that as described herein and
illustrated in the drawings.
[0022] While the systems and methods of this invention have been
described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to
those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the
systems, methods, and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of
the method described herein without departing from the concept,
spirit and scope of the invention. More specifically, it will be
apparent that certain materials that are both functionally and
mechanically related might be substituted for the materials
described herein while the same or similar results would be
achieved. All such similar substitutes and modifications to those
skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and
concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
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