Pole System

Abstract

There is provided a unitary pole system for pitching a camouflage net or any similar cover, comprising at least two telescopically arranged tube members, which are arranged to be extended out of each other by means of straps. Each strap is fixed at the bottom end of an inner tube member and runs in the play between adjacent tube members. The strap may be locked in a slot in the upper edge of the outer tube member. The tube members are prevented from leaving each other by means of strings, which each extends between the bottom ends of adjacent tube members.

Description

The present invention concers a pole system for pitching a tent or a camouflage net or any similar cover.

Especially for military use it is desireable to have access to a pole system that can withstand rough treatment during transport and handling and is easy to extend to desired length. It is further desireable that such a pole system is unitary so that one does not have to assemble several parts in order to achieve a working pole.

One object of the invention is therefore to provide a unitary extendable pole system.

Another object is to provide a pole system that does not have to be kept in a separate transport case during transport.

Another object is to provide a pole system that is continuously extendable.

Another object is to provide a pole system having a built-in spreader means for enlarging the contact area between the pole and the net.

The pole system according to the invention comprises basically a telescopic tube system, wherein a number of tubes are adapted to slidably fit within each other. Preferably, the tube members are provided with bottom closures. Alternatively, the tubular members may have the shape of cups.

The largest tube member may be used as the bottom pole while the inner tube members are extended out of each other in order to extend the pole system to desired length. Each tube member is prevented from leaving its surrounding tube member, by means of, for example, a string which is fitted at the bottom of each tube member and is short enough to prevent them from leaving each other.

In this pole system the bottom pole may itself be the transport casing. A removable cap or lid for the casing may be fixed on a strap which in turn is fixed near the open upper end of the outermost tube or cup member.

In order to extend the pole system, there is provided a strap or wire at the lower part of each of the internal tube members. These straps or wires run in the space between each two adjacent tube members and are adapted to be used as lifting means for raising each tube member out of its surrounding tube member, thereby to extend the pole system.

In order to fix two adjacent tube members in a desired position in relation to each other, there is provided a fastening means for the strap or wire near or at the upper edge of the tube members. This means may, in the case with a strap, consist of a slot having a smoothed-out vee-shaped entrance, in the upper edge of the outer members. The strap may then be locked in this slot by simply pulling it downwards into the slot. A surprisingly good locking effect is obtained if the strap is two-folded when pulled down into the slot. Further, this strap-and-slot arrangement permits an interlocking of the tube members in any desired position.

Alternatively, the strap may be provided with slots or holes which fit over a stud or knob that is arranged on or at the upper end of the outer tube member. It is also possible to replace the straps by wires or the like, which are locked in the vee-shaped in-cuts of the tube members.

In order to prevent the straps or wires to be wound up around the tube members, and to minimize the play between the tube members, the cross-section of the tube members may be formed to house the strap or wire in a longitudinal groove in the tube wall.

The tubes may consist of a metal, wood, plastic or fibre material, but the actual choice of material has to be a compromise between the costs for the specific material in question and the desired effects obtained thereby.

Thus, for military uses it may be desireable to have a pole system that has low weight and possibly also shall float in water. The tube members should then be made out of a low density plastic or wood. Alternatively, the bottom tube may be covered by a foam plastic, whereby the pole system can float in water and can withstand a rougher handling without becoming inoperable.

The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawing, therein

FIG. 1 is a partly cut out view of a camouflage net pitched by means of pole systems according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through an extended pole system according to the invention,

FIG. 3 is a view of a part of the pole system, showing a means for interlocking two adjacent tube members of the pole system,

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through the pole system shown in FIG. 2 but in folded-up condition, ready for transport, and

FIGS. 5 and 6 show alternative embodiments of the cross-sections of the tube members of the pole system.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a camouflage net 1 pitched by means of pole systems according to the invention, generally depicted by 2. One such pole system is shown in FIG. 2 and 4 in extended and folded-up condition, respectively.

The pole system 2 comprises a series of tubes 3a, 3b, 3c, which are slidably fitted within each other, thus permitting a telescopic type extension and retraction. Each of the tubes are provided with a fixed closure 4 at their bottom end. Adjacent closures 4 are connected to each other by means of a string 5 having a length that is less than that of the outer tube, thereby preventing the tubes from separating from each other when the pole system is extended.

A lid 6 is provided at the upper end of the outermost tube 3a. This lid 6 is connected to a strap or string 7 which in turn is fixed on the tube 3a.

The innermost tube 3c is at its top provided with a spreader 8.

This spreader 8 may, however, be replaced by a brush or pad or some thin flexible spokes, that can be housed within the outer tube 3a when the pole system is folded-up.

In order to permit extension of the pole system 2, there is provided a strap 12 at the bottom end of each inner tube 3b, 3c. These straps 12 run in the gap between adjacent tubes and are locked in a rounded tapered slot 14 having a straight lower portion.

The locking is obtained by merely pulling the strap into the slot 14. Thanks to the V-shape of the slot the strap is automatically folded double during the locking operation, and thereby the locking effect is enhanced, as then also the elasticity of the strap can be used for obtaining the locking.

The inner tubes 3b, 3c may be provided with grooves 15, which at least partly house the straps 14, so that the play between the tube members can be reduced. The tubes may also be out of round, d.f. FIG. 6, so that the tube members cannot be turned in relation to each other, whereby the risk that the straps should be jammed in the gap between the tube members is minimized.

When, for example, a lorry is to be camouflaged by a net 1, the net is loosely laid over the lorry and staked. The poles are then taken inside the net and extended. The pole systems 2 are then readily extended from transport condition, by opening the cap 6, lifting the inner tube members 3b, c by means of the strap 12 on the tube member 3b, locking said strap 12 in the slot 14 of the outermost tube member 3a, lifting the innermost or top tube member 3c out of the intermediate tube member 3b, and locking its strap 12 in the slot 14 of the tube member 3b, and unfolding the spreader means 8, whereupon the pole is placed at the desired position and possibly adjusted by means of any strap-slot arrangement so that the net gets the desired configuration.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the strap 12 is folded to a vee-shape when pulled down into the slot 14. Furthermore, the strap 12 is turned "inside out" just outside the slot, as the strap is pulled downwardly. This twisting or buckling of the strap provides an enhanced locking effect, which further prevents the strap from sliding back, which in turn prevents the pole from collapsing when loads are applied, for example wind loads. This buckle of the strap is automatically straightened out when the strap is lifted up, for example when the length of the pole is to be adjusted.

While illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that there may be various embodiments and modifications within the general scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A pole system for pitching a tent, a camouflage net, or any similar cover, comprising

at least two tube members (3), which are telescopically and slidably arranged within each other,

hoisting means (12) which at one end are fixed at the bottom end of each inner tube member and extend upwards therefrom in the play between adjacent tube members, and which have a length such that their other ends grippably extend over the upper edge of the outer tubes, and

locking means (14) at the upper end of each outer tube member, permitting the hoisting means, and thus the tube members to which they are fixed, to be locked in a desired position relative to the surrounding tube members.

2. A pole system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising restricting means (5), which are arranged between the bottom ends of adjacent tube

3. A pole system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the hoisting means are

4. A pole system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the locking means is a

5. A pole system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the entrance portion of the slot has a rounded V-shape, so as to permit the strap to fold double

6. A pole system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the restricting means (5)

7. A pole system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a spreader

8. A pole system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said spreader means comprises a pin extending in the direction of the tube members, and a pair of wings being pivotably fitted at the bottom end of said pin, so as to be unfoldable in order to provide a wider support of the net, while said pin is arranged to be introduced in a hole in said cover, in order to keep the

9. A pole system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a groove extending longitudinally in the outer surface of each inner tube member is arranged

10. A pole system as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least the outermost

11. A pole system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outermost tube member is provided with a removable cap, which is connected to the

12. A pole system for pitching a camouflage net, attent canvas or any similar cover, comprising

at least two cylindrical tube members which are telescopically and slidably arranged within each other,

restricting means which are fixed at and extend between the bottom ends of each pair of adjacent tube members,

hoisting means of which each is fixed at the bottom end of each inner tube member, extends upwards in the play between adjacent tube members, and extends over the upper edge of the surrounding tube member a distance that permits gripping of the free end of the strap when the inner tube members are to be lifted out of the outer tube members, and

locking means in the form of a slot at the upper end of each outer tube member, permitting a locking of each hoisting means by pulling said hoisting means down into a slot so that said hoisting means is wedged therein.