U.S. patent application number 15/782717 was filed with the patent office on 2018-04-19 for eave structure and tent frame having same.
The applicant listed for this patent is Campvalley (Xiamen) Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Kwan Jun Choi.
Application Number | 20180106068 15/782717 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58572917 |
Filed Date | 2018-04-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180106068 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Choi; Kwan Jun |
April 19, 2018 |
EAVE STRUCTURE AND TENT FRAME HAVING SAME
Abstract
Disclosed are eave structures and tent frames with eave
structures. A tent frame includes supporting poles, side pole
units, an upper frame, and two or more eave structures. An eave
structure includes an eave pole, and a sleeve member coupled with a
supporting pole. The eave pole has a first end portion pivotally
connected with an oblique pole of the upper frame, and a second end
portion slidably coupled with the sleeve member. The eave
structures can be folded and unfolded together with the supporting
poles, side pole units and the upper frame. When unfolded, the eave
poles of the eave structures extend beyond the upper frame.
Inventors: |
Choi; Kwan Jun; (Xiamen,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Campvalley (Xiamen) Co., Ltd. |
Xiamen |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
58572917 |
Appl. No.: |
15/782717 |
Filed: |
October 12, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 15/18 20130101;
E04H 15/50 20130101; E04H 15/60 20130101; E04H 15/46 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E04H 15/50 20060101
E04H015/50; E04H 15/60 20060101 E04H015/60 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 13, 2016 |
CN |
201621118074.6 |
Claims
1. An eave structure of a tent frame, wherein the tent frame
comprises a supporting pole, a first upper pole, a first side pole
and an oblique pole, the eave structure comprising: a sleeve member
configured to be disposed at a first connector of the tent frame;
and an eave pole having a first end portion configured to be
pivotally connected with the oblique pole, and a second end portion
configured to be slidably coupled with the sleeve member, wherein
when the tent frame is unfolded, the second end portion of the eave
pole passes the sleeve member and extends outwardly beyond the
first upper pole, wherein: the first connector is fixedly coupled
with an upper end portion of the supporting pole; a second
connector of the tent frame is slidably coupled with the supporting
pole and movable along the supporting pole below the first
connector; a first end portion of the first upper pole is pivotally
connected with the first connector; a first end portion of the
first side pole is pivotally connected with the second connector; a
first end portion of the oblique pole is pivotally connected with
the first upper pole; and a second end portion of the oblique pole
is pivotally connected with the first side pole.
2. The eave structure of claim 1, wherein the second end portion of
the oblique pole is pivotally connected with a connection member
disposed at the first side pole adjacent the first end portion of
the first side pole.
3. The eave structure of claim 2, wherein the connection member is
fixedly coupled or integrally formed with the first side pole.
4. The eave structure of claim 1, wherein the sleeve member is
integrally formed with the first connector.
5. The eave structure of claim 1, wherein the eave pole comprises a
first segment and a second segment oblique with respect to the
first segment, wherein the first segment of the eave pole is
pivotally connected with the oblique pole and the second segment of
the eave pole is slidably coupled with the sleeve member.
6. The eave structure of claim 5, wherein the first and second
segments of the eave pole are made by bending a pole or coupling
two poles at an angle.
7. The eave structure of claim 5, wherein the second segment is
longer than the first segment of the eave pole.
8. The eave structure of claim 1, further comprising a link member,
wherein the link member has a first end portion to pivotally
connect with the first end portion of the eave pole and a second
end portion to pivotally connect with the oblique pole at a
position between the first and second end portions of the oblique
pole.
9. The eave structure of claim 8, wherein the link member is of a
"Z" or "S" shape.
10. The eave structure of claim 8, wherein the eave pole is
substantially straight.
11. A tent frame comprising: a plurality of supporting poles, each
provided with a first connector and a second connector, wherein the
first connector is fixedly coupled with an upper end portion of the
supporting pole, and the second connector is slidably coupled with
the supporting pole and movable along the supporting pole below the
first connector; a plurality of side pole units, each coupled with
two adjacent supporting poles through one or more of the first and
second connectors at the two adjacent supporting poles, and
disposed at a side of the tent frame between the two corresponding
adjacent supporting poles when the tent frame is in an unfolded
state; an upper frame coupled with the plurality of supporting
poles, the plurality of side pole units or both, and comprising a
hub, a plurality of upper pole units and a plurality of oblique
poles; and two or more eave structures, each corresponding to a
supporting pole in a subset of the plurality of supporting poles
and comprising a sleeve member and an eave pole; wherein
corresponding to each respective supporting pole in the plurality
of supporting poles: an upper pole unit in the plurality of upper
pole units has a first end portion pivotally connected with the hub
and a second end portion pivotally connected with the first
connector; a side pole unit in the plurality of side pole units
comprises first and second side poles crossly and pivotally
connected with each other, wherein a first end portion of the first
side pole is pivotally connected with the second connector, and a
first end portion of the second side pole is pivotally connected
with the first connector; and an oblique pole in the plurality of
oblique poles has a first end portion pivotally connected with the
upper pole unit, and a second end portion pivotally connected with
the first side pole; wherein corresponding to each respective
supporting pole in the subset of the plurality of supporting poles:
the sleeve member is coupled or integrally formed with the first
connector; and the eave pole has a first end portion pivotally
connected with the oblique pole at a position between the first and
second end portions of the oblique pole, and a second end portion
slidably coupled with the sleeve member, wherein when the tent
frame is unfolded, the second end portion of the eave pole passes
the sleeve member and extends outwardly beyond the upper frame.
12. The tent frame of claim 11, wherein the number of supporting
poles and the number of eave structures are the same, wherein each
respective supporting pole in the plurality of supporting poles has
a corresponding eave structure.
13. The tent frame of claim 11, wherein: the upper pole unit
comprises a first upper pole and a second upper pole, each having
first and second end portions; the first end portion of the first
upper pole is pivotally connected with the hub; the second end
portion of the first pole is pivotally connected with the first end
portion of the second upper pole; the second end portion of the
second upper pole is pivotally connected with the first connector;
and the first end portion of the oblique pole is pivotally
connected with the second upper pole between the first and second
end portions thereof.
14. The tent frame of claim 11, wherein: the first side pole has a
second end portion pivotally connected with the first connector
disposed at a supporting pole adjacent the respective supporting
pole; and the second side pole has a second end portion pivotally
connected with the second connector disposed at the supporting pole
adjacent the respective supporting pole.
15. The tent frame of claim 11, wherein the second end portion of
the oblique pole is pivotally connected with a connection member
disposed at the first side pole adjacent the first end portion of
the first side pole.
16. The tent frame of claim 11, wherein an eave pole in the two or
more eave poles comprises a first segment and a second segment
oblique with respect to the first segment, wherein the first
segment of the eave pole is pivotally connected with the oblique
pole and the second segment of the eave pole is slidably coupled
with the sleeve member.
17. The tent frame of claim 16, wherein the second segment is
longer than the first segment of the eave pole.
18. The tent frame of claim 11, wherein the eave structure further
comprises a link member, wherein the link member has a first end
portion pivotally connected with the first end portion of the eave
pole and a second end portion pivotally connected with the oblique
pole at a position between the first and second end portions of the
oblique pole.
19. The tent frame of claim 18, wherein the link member is of a "Z"
or "S" shape.
20. The tent frame of claim 11, wherein the number of supporting
poles is five, and the supporting poles collectively form a
substantially pentagon shape when the tent frame is unfolded.
21. A tent, comprising: a tent frame of claim 11; and a tent cloth
coupled with and supported by the tent frame when the tent is
unfolded.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to Chinese Utility
Model Application CN 201621118074.6 filed Oct. 13, 2016. The
disclosure of the application is incorporated herein for all
purposes by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to tent frames. More
particularly, the present invention relates to eave structures and
foldable tent frames having such eave structures.
BACKGROUND
[0003] There are a variety of tents. Usually, small-to-medium-sized
tents are used for camping and large pavilion-type foldable tents
are used for outdoor sunshades.
[0004] An existing pavilion-type tent includes supporting poles, an
upper frame supported by the supporting poles and a tent cloth
coving the upper frame. The shading area a tent can provide is
directly proportional to the area formed by the tent cloth. One way
to increase the shading area is to enlarge the upper frame, for
instance, by increasing the lengths of the poles constituting the
upper frame. A drawback of having longer poles is that the folded
tent may not be compact. In addition, to support a larger upper
frame, additional supporting poles and/or other auxiliary elements
are needed to ensure the stability of the tent. As a result, the
weight of the tent is increased.
[0005] Another way to provide a larger shading area is to design a
tent or tent frame with eave supporting frames. For instance, FIGS.
1 and 2 illustrates an existing tent including eave supporting
frame 4' provided at each supporting pole 1'. Eave supporting frame
4' includes eave main pole 41' and eave auxiliary pole 42'. One end
of eave main pole 41' is pivotally connected with fixed seat 11' at
the top end of the supporting pole 1' and the other end is
connected with an outer side of the tent cloth. One end of eave
auxiliary pole 42' is pivotally connected with sliding block 43'
slidably coupled with supporting pole 1'. The other end of eave
auxiliary pole 42' is pivotally connected with eave main pole
41'.
[0006] However, to realize the synchronous folding of the eave
supporting frame and the upper frame, the upper frame 2' is
pivotally connected with sliding seats 12' of the supporting poles
1'. Sliding seat 12' is usually made of a plastic. \To enable the
pivotal connection of the upper frame, sliding seat 12' needs to
have a U-shaped mouth to accommodate the upper frame (e.g., a pole
of the upper frame), and additional processing is generally
required to make such a U-shaped mouth. As a result, manufacturing
cost is increased. In addition, the configuration of sliding seat
12' is too specific, and thus it is difficult to adapt sliding seat
12' for use in other tents.
[0007] Moreover, the configuration of eave supporting frame 4' with
two poles (main and auxiliary poles) and additional sliding block
increases the total number of poles and other elements needed for
making a tent frame. It also makes the structure of the tent frame
relatively complex. It further increases the size of the tent frame
when folded.
[0008] Given the current state of the art, there remains a need for
tent frames and eave structures that address the abovementioned
issues.
[0009] The information disclosed in this Background section is
provided for an understanding of the general background of the
invention and is not an acknowledgement or suggestion that this
information forms part of the prior art already known to a person
skilled in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention
provide eave structures and tent frames that are convenient to use,
can help to provide larger shading areas when unfolded, and are
compact when folded.
[0011] In many embodiments, the present invention provides an eave
structure of a tent frame. The tent frame comprises a supporting
pole, a first upper pole, a first side pole and an oblique pole. A
first connector is fixedly coupled with an upper end portion of the
supporting pole. A second connector of the tent frame is slidably
coupled with the supporting pole and movable along the supporting
pole below the first connector. A first end portion of the first
upper pole is pivotally connected with the first connector. A first
end portion of the first side pole is pivotally connected with the
second connector. A first end portion of the oblique pole is
pivotally connected with the first upper pole. A second end portion
of the oblique pole is pivotally connected with the first side
pole. The eave structure includes a sleeve member and an eave pole.
The sleeve member is configured to be disposed at the first
connector of the tent frame. The eave pole has a first end portion
configured to be pivotally connected with the oblique pole, and a
second end portion configured to be slidably coupled with the
sleeve member. When the tent frame is unfolded, the second end
portion of the eave pole passes the sleeve member and extends
outwardly beyond the first upper pole.
[0012] In an embodiment, the sleeve member is integrally formed
with the first connector.
[0013] In some embodiments, the second end portion of the oblique
pole is pivotally connected with a connection member disposed at
the first side pole adjacent the first end portion of the first
side pole. In an embodiment, the connection member is fixedly
coupled or integrally formed with the first side pole.
[0014] In some embodiments, the eave pole comprises a first segment
and a second segment oblique with respect to the first segment. The
first segment of the eave pole is pivotally connected with the
oblique pole and the second segment of the eave pole is slidably
coupled with the sleeve member. In an embodiment, the first and
second segments of the eave pole are made by bending a pole or
coupling two poles at an angle. In some embodiments, the second
segment is longer than the first segment of the eave pole.
[0015] In some embodiments, the eave structure further includes a
link member. The link member has a first end portion to pivotally
connect with the first end portion of the eave pole and a second
end portion to pivotally connect with the oblique pole at a
position between the first and second end portions of the oblique
pole. In an embodiment, the link member is of a "Z" or "S" shape.
In some embodiments, the eave pole is substantially straight.
[0016] In many embodiments, the present invention provides a tent
frame including one or more of the eave structures disclosed
herein.
[0017] In some embodiments, a tent frame includes a plurality of
supporting poles, a plurality of side pole units, an upper frame,
and two or more eave structures. Each supporting pole is provided
with a first connector and a second connector. The first connector
is fixedly coupled with an upper end portion of the supporting
pole, and the second connector is slidably coupled with the
supporting pole and movable along the supporting pole below the
first connector. Each side pole unit is coupled with two adjacent
supporting poles through one or more of the first and second
connectors at the two adjacent supporting poles, and disposed at a
side of the tent frame between the two corresponding adjacent
supporting poles when the tent frame is in an unfolded state. The
upper frame is coupled with the plurality of supporting poles, the
plurality of side pole units or both, and including a hub, a
plurality of upper pole units and a plurality of oblique poles.
Each eave structure corresponds to a supporting pole in a subset of
the plurality of supporting poles and includes a sleeve member and
an eave pole.
[0018] Corresponding to each respective supporting pole in the
plurality of supporting poles, an upper pole unit in the plurality
of upper pole units has a first end portion pivotally connected
with the hub and a second end portion pivotally connected with the
first connector. A side pole unit in the plurality of side pole
units includes first and second side poles crossly and pivotally
connected with each other. A first end portion of the first side
pole is pivotally connected with the second connector, and a first
end portion of the second side pole is pivotally connected with the
first connector. An oblique pole in the plurality of oblique poles
has a first end portion pivotally connected with the upper pole
unit, and a second end portion pivotally connected with the first
side pole.
[0019] Corresponding to each respective supporting pole in the
subset of the plurality of supporting poles, the sleeve member is
coupled or integrally formed with the first connector. The eave
pole has a first end portion pivotally connected with the oblique
pole at a position between the first and second end portions of the
oblique pole, and a second end portion slidably coupled with the
sleeve member. When the tent frame is unfolded, the second end
portion of the eave pole passes the sleeve member and extends
outwardly beyond the upper frame.
[0020] In some embodiments, the number of supporting poles and the
number of eave structures are the same. Each respective supporting
pole in the plurality of supporting poles has a corresponding eave
structure. In an embodiment, the number of the supporting poles is
five, and the supporting poles collectively form a substantially
pentagon shape when the tent frame is unfolded.
[0021] In some embodiments, the upper pole unit includes a first
upper pole and a second upper pole, each having first and second
end portions. The first end portion of the first upper pole is
pivotally connected with the hub. The second end portion of the
first pole is pivotally connected with the first end portion of the
second upper pole. The second end portion of the second upper pole
is pivotally connected with the first connector. The first end
portion of the oblique pole is pivotally connected with the second
upper pole between the first and second end portions thereof.
[0022] In some embodiments, the first side pole has a second end
portion pivotally connected with the first connector disposed at a
supporting pole adjacent the respective supporting pole. The second
side pole has a second end portion pivotally connected with the
second connector disposed at the supporting pole adjacent the
respective supporting pole.
[0023] In some embodiments, the second end portion of the oblique
pole is pivotally connected with a connection member disposed at
the first side pole adjacent the first end portion of the first
side pole.
[0024] In some embodiments, an eave pole in the two or more eave
poles includes a first segment and a second segment oblique with
respect to the first segment. The first segment of the eave pole is
pivotally connected with the oblique pole and the second segment of
the eave pole is slidably coupled with the sleeve member. In an
embodiment, the second segment is longer than the first segment of
the eave pole.
[0025] In some embodiments, the eave structure further includes a
link member. The link member has a first end portion to pivotally
connect with the first end portion of the eave pole and a second
end portion to pivotally connect with the oblique pole at a
position between the first and second end portions of the oblique
pole. In an embodiment, the link member is of a "Z" or "S" shape.
In some embodiments, the eave pole is substantially straight.
[0026] The eave structures and the tent frames of the present
invention have other features and advantages that will be apparent
from, or are set forth in more detail in, the accompanying
drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed
Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of
exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more
exemplary embodiments of the present invention and, together with
the Detailed Description, serve to explain the principles and
implementations of exemplary embodiments of the invention.
[0028] In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or
equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several
figures of the drawing.
[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a tent frame of
related art.
[0030] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view illustrating an eave structure of
FIG. 1.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a tent frame in an
unfolded state in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the
present invention.
[0032] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view taken along the circle in FIG.
3.
[0033] FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the tent frame of
FIG. 3 in a semi-folded state in accordance with exemplary
embodiments of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the tent frame of
FIG. 3 in a folded state in accordance with exemplary embodiments
of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a tent frame with an
alternative eave structure in an unfolded state in accordance with
exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view taken along the circle in FIG.
7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0037] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments
of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings and described below. While the
invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary
embodiments, it will be understood that the present description is
not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary
embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to
cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various
alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments,
which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined by the appended claims.
[0038] In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features
of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It
will be appreciated that, in the development of any such actual
implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions are made
in order to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as
compliance with application- and business-related constraints, and
that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to
another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will be
appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and
time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of
engineering for those of ordinary skill in the art having the
benefit of this disclosure.
[0039] Many modifications and variations of the embodiments set
forth in this disclosure can be made without departing from their
spirit and scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
The specific embodiments described herein are offered by way of
example only, and the disclosure is to be limited only by the terms
of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to
which such claims are entitled.
[0040] Embodiments of the present invention are described in the
context of eave structures and tent frames having such eave
structures. Generally, a tent frame of the present invention
includes a plurality of supporting poles, and a plurality of side
pole units each disposed between and connected with adjacent
supporting poles. A tent frame of the present invention also
includes an upper frame connected with the plurality of supporting
poles, the plurality of side pole units, or both. A tent frame of
the present invention can be of various sizes and shapes, and can
include various number of supporting poles such as three, four,
five or more supporting poles.
[0041] A tent frame of the present invention further includes a
plurality of eave structures, the number of which can be varied
depending on applications, preferences or the like. For instance,
it can include two eave structures, three eave structures, or as
many as the number of the supporting poles.
[0042] An eave structure usually includes an eave pole, and a
mechanism connecting the eave pole with the upper frame and one of
the supporting poles (the supporting pole or an element disposed at
the supporting pole). When the tent frame is unfolded, the eave
pole extends beyond the upper frame and/or the supporting pole.
Such an eave structure, along with other elements of the tent
frame, can be used to support a tent cloth such as a canopy. As the
eave pole extends beyond the upper frame and/or the supporting
pole, it helps to increase the shading area, and/or shed rain or
snow away from the sides of the tent.
[0043] Referring now to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, there is depicted an
exemplary tent frame in an unfolded state in accordance with some
exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As shown, the tent
frame includes a plurality of supporting poles 1, with a plurality
of first connectors 11 and a plurality of second connectors 12
disposed on the supporting poles to connect the supporting poles
with other elements of the tent frame. In some embodiments, each
first connector is fixedly coupled with a supporting pole at an
upper end portion (e.g., the top) of the supporting pole. Each
second connector is slidably coupled with a supporting pole and is
movable along the supporting pole below the first connector. In the
illustrated embodiment, the number of supporting poles is five, and
the supporting poles collectively form a substantially pentagon
shape when the tent frame is unfolded.
[0044] The tent frame also includes a plurality of side pole units
connected with the plurality of supporting poles. When the tent
frame is unfolded, each side pole unit is disposed on a side of the
tent frame between two adjacent supporting poles. A side pole unit
can have any suitable configuration, including but not limited to a
pivotally connected side pole pair. Also, among the plurality of
side pole units, one side pole unit can have the same or different
configuration as of another side pole unit. For instance, one side
pole unit can have one pair of crossly and pivotally connected side
poles and the other side pole unit can have two or more side pairs.
By way of example, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 illustrate each side pole unit
2 including a pair of crossly and pivotally connected side poles
21. Each side pole 21 has an end portion pivotally connected with
first connector 11 disposed at one of the two adjacent supporting
poles and the other end portion pivotally connected with second
connector 12 disposed at the other of the two adjacent supporting
poles.
[0045] The tent frame further includes an upper frame such as upper
frame 3 coupled with the plurality of supporting poles and the
plurality of side pole units. Upper frame 3 is disposed above and
supported by the plurality of support poles when the tent frame is
unfolded. In some embodiments, upper frame 3 includes hub 31, a
plurality of upper pole units 32 and a plurality of oblique poles
33. Each upper pole unit has a first end portion pivotally
connected the hub, and a second end portion pivotally connected
with the first connector at a corresponding supporting pole. In
some embodiments, each upper pole unit includes two or more upper
poles pivotally connected with each other. Among the two or more
upper poles, the upper pole adjacent the corresponding supporting
pole (referred herein as the first upper pole) has an end portion
pivotally connected with the first connector at a corresponding
supporting pole, and the upper pole adjacent the hub (referred
herein as the second upper pole) has an end portion pivotally
connected with the hub. The first and second upper poles are
pivotally connected, directly or indirectly, with each other. By
way of example, FIG. 3 illustrates each upper pole unit includes
two upper poles--first upper pole 321 and second upper pole 322, in
which first upper pole 321 has an end portion pivotally connected
with the first connector and second upper pole 322 has an end
portion pivotally connected with the hub.
[0046] Each oblique pole 33 is connected with an upper pole unit
and a side pole unit. For instance, each oblique pole has a first
end portion pivotally connected with an upper pole unit and a
second end portion pivotally connected with a side pole unit. In
embodiments where the corresponding upper pole unit includes two or
more upper poles, the first end portion of the oblique pole is
pivotally connected with the first upper pole of the corresponding
upper pole unit. In embodiments where the corresponding side pole
unit includes one or more pairs of crossly and pivotally connected
side poles, the second end portion of the oblique pole is pivotally
connected with the side pole that has an end portion connected with
second connector 12 at the corresponding supporting pole.
[0047] In some embodiments, a connection member such as connection
member 22 is configured for pivotally connecting the second end
portion of the oblique pole. Connection member 22 is disposed at
the side pole adjacent the end portion that is pivotally connected
with second connector 12. In an embodiment, connection member 22 is
fixedly coupled or integrally formed with the side pole.
[0048] The tent frame further includes two or more eave poles 4,
and mechanisms to couple the eave poles with the upper frame and
the supporting poles (the supporting poles or elements disposed at
the supporting poles). Collectively, an eave pole and a mechanism
to couple the eave pole with the upper frame and a supporting pole
are referred herein as an eave structure.
[0049] In various embodiments, eave pole 4 has a first end portion
pivotally coupled with the upper frame such as oblique pole 33 of
the upper frame. In an embodiment, the first end portion of the
eave pole is pivotally coupled with the oblique pole at a position
between the first and second end portions of the oblique pole. The
coupling of the eave pole with the oblique pole can be direct or
indirect. FIG. 4 illustrates the eave pole directly pivoted onto
the oblique pole.
[0050] An eave structure also includes a sleeve member such as
sleeve member 5 to couple eave pole 4 with a supporting pole.
Sleeve member 5 is disposed at first connector 11, and in some
cases, disposed at a top of the first connector and fixedly
coupled/formed with the first connector. In some embodiments,
sleeve member 5 is formed with a through hole into which eave pole
4 is inserted. When the tent frame is unfolded, sleeve member 5
allows the second end portion of eave pole 4 to extend outwardly
beyond upper pole unit 32 and/or beyond supporting pole 1.
[0051] In many embodiments, eave pole 4 includes two or more poles
or segments. For instance, FIG. 4 illustrates eave pole 4 composed
of two segments, e.g., first segment 41 and second segment 42, in
which the first segment of the eave pole is pivotally connected
with the oblique pole and the second segment of the eave pole is
slidably coupled with the sleeve member. In some embodiments, eave
pole 4 is not straight, e.g., first segment 41 oblique with respect
to second segment 42 or vice versa. Such an eave pole can be made,
for example, by bending a pole or connecting two poles at an angle.
In an embodiment, second segment 42 is longer than first segment 41
of the eave pole.
[0052] In some embodiments, the first and second segments of the
eave pole are configured such that when the tent frame is unfolded,
the second segment of the eave pole is sloped substantially the
same as the upper pole unit or sloped substantially the same as the
first upper pole of the upper pole unit. In such a case, the eave
pole serves as an extension of the upper pole unit. This can be
achieved, for instance, by selecting the position at which the
first segment of the eave pole is connected with the oblique pole,
the length of the first segment of the eave pole and the angle
between the first and second segments of the eave pole.
[0053] Alternatively, in some embodiments such as those illustrated
in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, an eave structure includes a link member such
as link member 6 to pivotally connect the first end portion of the
eave pole with the oblique pole. Link member 6 can be configured
with any suitable shapes such as a "Z" shape, a "S" shape or the
like, with its first end portion configured to pivotally connect
the first end portion of eave pole 4 and its second end portion to
pivotally connect oblique pole 33 at a position between the first
and second end portions of the oblique pole. With the use of link
member 6, eave pole 4 can be either straight or non-straight.
[0054] In some embodiments, sleeve member 4, link member 5 or both
are configured such that when the tent frame is unfolded, the eave
pole is sloped substantially the same as the upper pole unit or
sloped substantially the same as the first upper pole of the upper
pole unit. In such a case, the eave pole serves as an extension of
the upper pole unit. This can be achieved, for instance, by
selecting the position at which the link member is connected with
the oblique pole and configuring the link member with a proper
length.
[0055] In some embodiments, the first connector is a constituent of
the eave structure. In an embodiment, the first connector and the
pivoting member disclosed herein are constituents of the eave
structure.
[0056] It should be noted that a tent frame of the present
invention can include a various number of eave structures,
depending on the application, preference, or the like. For
instance, in an embodiment where only one side of the tent needs
shades, the tent frame can include two eave structures, with each
eave structure connected with one of two adjacent supporting poles.
In an embodiment where two sides of the tent need shades, the tent
frame can include three eave structures, with each eave structure
connected with one of three adjacent supporting poles. In a further
embodiment where all sides of the tent need shades, the tent frame
can include the same number of eave structures as the supporting
poles, with each eave structure connected with one of the
supporting poles.
[0057] The eave structure of the present invention can be folded
and unfolded along with the other elements of the tent frame. For
instance, referring to FIG. 3, to unfold the tent frame, pull
outwardly the plurality of supporting poles 1 (e.g., away from each
other). The outward pulling of the supporting poles causes each
second connector 12 moving along a supporting pole toward first
connector 11, which in turn unfolds the plurality of side pole
units 2. The outward pulling of the supporting poles and the
unfolding of the side pole units unfold upper frame 3, which in
turn causes the second end portion of eave pole 4 passing sleeve
member 5 and extending outwardly beyond upper frame 3 and/or
supporting pole 1. Lock the second connectors once the side pole
units and the upper frame are unfolded and the eave poles are
extended.
[0058] Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, to fold the tent frame,
unlock second connectors 12 to allow them slide along the
supporting poles. The sliding of the second connectors pulls the
plurality of supporting poles inwardly toward each other and folds
the plurality of side pole units. The inward pulling of the
supporting poles and the folding of the side pole units fold upper
frame 3, which in turn pulls the eave poles inwardly. Eventually,
the extended eave poles are retracted back and all of the
components of the tent frame members are folded together as
illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0059] As disclosed herein, when the tent frame is unfolded, the
second end portion of eave pole 4 extends outwardly beyond the
upper pole unit and the supporting pole. Thus, the eave structure
of the present invention can be used to extend a tent cloth such as
a canopy beyond the side(s) of the tent. As a result, it can help
to provide a larger shading area in sunny days. It also helps to
smooth the tent cloth/canopy, and thus helps to shed snow and rain
away from the sides of the tent, reducing the risk of water (e.g.,
rain) and snow accumulation in snowy and raining days. Moreover,
the tent frame of the present invention is convenient to use as the
eave structure of the present invention can be folded and unfolded
along with other elements of the tent frame. Further, the tent
frame of the present invention when folded is compact as the eave
poles are retracted and folded together with all of the other poles
of the tent frame, making it easy to carry and store.
[0060] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular implementations only and is not intended to be limiting
of the claims. As used in the description of the implementations
and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are
intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise. It will be understood that the terms
"upper" or "lower", "upwardly" or "downwardly", and etc. are used
to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to
the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. It will
be understood that, although the terms "first," "second," etc. may
be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should
not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to
distinguish one element from another. For example, a first
connector could be termed a second connector, and, similarly, a
second connector could be termed a first connector, without
changing the meaning of the description, so long as all occurrences
of the "first connector" are renamed consistently and all
occurrences of the "second connector" are renamed consistently.
[0061] The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments
of the present invention have been presented for purposes of
illustration and description. They are not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms
disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are
possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments
were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of
the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable
others skilled in the art to make and utilize various alternatives
and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the
invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their
equivalents.
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