Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ENCLOSURE FOR EQUIPMENT
AND PSETHOD OF USING llHE ENCLOSURE
Specif ication
Technical Field
This invention relates to sheltering worlcpersoJIs in
the ~ield and more particularly to providing an enclosu:re
for facilitating controlling the en~rirs:)nment around a
cabinet housing equipment during ~aintenance of such
equipmeJ)t .
Backqround Art
In the past, protection of worlcpeople has been
prov.ided by freestanding structures such a~ th~ tents
hown in U.S. Patent 3,B10,482 for a Collapsible Tent and
Frame Therefor issued May 14, 1974. Such freastarlding
tent~ are used to protect working are~R above open
manholes and to prevent rain and snow, etc. fro~ falling
into the ~anhole. IIowever, sus:h tents have be~n speci-
fically d.e:3igned with four sides so a~s to be ~rees~anding
and, depanding on their size, often require two
workpersons to deploy the~ in position relative to the
manholeO
Wvrk areas adjacent to vehicles have also been
protectad by enclosures such as Model Number 6200A V21n
and Trailer Tents manufactured by T.A. P~lsue Company of
Denver, Colorado. However, such enclcssures have been
speci~ically designed to be partly supported on the
vehiale adjacent to Ithe work space~ Mor20ver, such ~tent~
have not been designed for placement on top of the
vehicle nor for deployment into a deployed po~ition ~rom
a stowed position on top of the vehicle. Rather one or
two workpersons deploy the Model Number 6200A Tent from
the ground adjacent to the vehicle.
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Other ~tructur~s llave been propo~;ed ~or use in
defining ~n enc~osure ad~ac@nt to a cabinet ~or telephone
equipment. As an example, U.S. Patent 4,834,129 for ~ent
Structures For Covering Free-Standing E~uipment issued
May 30, 1989 ~hows a thxee dimensional, generally
box-like cabinet that houses telephone equipment located
in areas remote ~ro~n a central telephone of f ice . Such
cabinets have one or mor~ doors, ~ncluding door~ at the
front, sides or rear thereof. Such doors are openable to
provide access to the telephone e~uipment 'cherein to
~a3cilitate repair of such equipment. The enclosure 6hown
in patent number 4, 834 ,129 includes a rigid bas~ frame
having the dimensions oiE the entire periphery o~ the ~op
of the cabinet. Such rigid ~rame is shown and de~;cribed
as being in a permanent, relatively larg~ con~iguration
conforming to the periphery o~ the top of the cabinet.
Accordillgly, unless the structural members of the rigid
bas~ ~rame are detached ro~ each other a~ter u~e or the
~eparate members are assembled one-by-one into the
rectangular rigid base ~rame prior to use, th~ van or
other vehicle used by the workper~ons to tr~vel ~rom
cabinet to cabinet must be large enough to receive the
entire bas frame. Alternatively~, such basa fra~e must
be stowed in its original large configuration on the top
of the vehicle. Since the rigid base ~ram~ is relatively
large, it is dif~icult ~or the workpersons to ~ount and
dismount the rigid base frame ~or use in connection with
forming the enclosure around the work area adjacent to
the ~abinet. Additionally, the base member is sh~wn in
patent number 4,834,129 in conne~tion with pivotable ar~s
that are permanently secured to the rigid base frame.
Thi~ add~ to the weight of the rigid ba~e fra~e and to
the dif~iculty of ~towing the rigid base frame either in
or on the vehicle during such time as the rigid base
frame and other structure are not being used to ~or~ the
enclosure around the work area adjacent to the cabinet.
Additionally, although in use, such frame may be
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preattached to the ~abric ~ro~ which t~e enclosure is
fabricat~d, in one embodiment such patent teache3 the
deployment of the rigid base frame into a ~ully deployed
po~ition prior to draping or otherwise placing the fabric
thereover to for~ the enclosure. As a result, many
separate operations are required as a part of the
d~ployment of the tent. such operation~ require a
r~latively substantial amount of ti~e a~d thus reduc~ the
ti~e available for the ~orkperson to actually work on the
repair of the equipment. Alternatively, to ~inimize the
deployment ti~e, ~ore than one workperson is required for
deploying the enclosure.
Others have provided a variety o~ tents for use with
cars. For example, in U.s. Patent 1,3~4,579 a rea~ edge
of the roof of a car is used to support the te~t after it
is erected on the ground near the car. Some have us2d
p~rman~nt housings on a car to carry a tent, ~ th~
bufflper~ounted housing in U.S. Patent 1,71g~055, or in
the tray that i~ shown mount d on the top of a car in
UOS. Patent 1,752,571. These tents ~re not suit0d for
use in the repair of equipment in cabinet~ ~ince the
cabinets are o~ten in locations that are inaccessible to
a vehicle. Further, the provision of a tent per~anently
on every remote cabinet that houses equipment to be
serviced would be prohibitively expensive.
~i~closure of I ~ention
An ob~ect o~ the present invention is to provide an
enclosure for defining a work volume adjacent to equip-
ment to be repaired, wherein 6uch ~nclosure may be
deployed by one workpersonO
A further object of the present invention i5 to
provide an enclosure that includes integral support
members and fabric, wherein the enclosure may be
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initially stowed in a relatively compact undeploy~d
configuration for place~ent on 'cop o~ a c:ab~net only when
~quipmellt in tha cabinet i~ to be ~naintained or rep~ired,
and wherein the enclosure ~ay be made ready for
deployment from the top o~ the cabinet.
Another object of the present invention is to
provide an enclosure including integral fabric and
supporting members that may be deployed by a ~ingl~
workper~on~ ~rom a compact undeployed position on top of
a cabinet that houses e~ipment to be repaired, into a
~ully d~ployed position def ining a work volume adljacent
to such cabinet.
A still further object of the pre~ent invention i~
to provide a retainer eactendable over the top of such
cabinet in conjunction with ~acilities for securing the
retainer to th~ top of he cabinet, wherein the retainer
is effective to engage the enclosure and secure sam~ in
relation to the cabinet ~s the enclosure i~ deployed for
defining the wor~ volu~e adjacent to the cabinei:.
Yet another object o~ the preserlt invention resides
in a connector between the previously mentioned retainer
and the previously mentioned enclosure, wherein the
~onnector permits the undeployed enclosure to be placed
by a single workper~on on top of the retainer in a
properly balanced position, with part o~ the enclosure
extending beyond the top edges of the cabinet.
An additional object of the present invention
re~ide~ in a l:ent for d~ining a work voluma adjacent to
a cabinet that houses telephone equipment tv be repaired,
wherein a connector limits forward motion of the tent
relative to the cabinet during deployment of and before
the tent is securely fastened to the cabinet.
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A related object Or th~ present inv~ntion i~ thQ
provision of a ~eam joining ~ free edge o~ the conneGtor
to a rear edge o~ the tsnt ~o that the ~ea~ m~y move
forward during deployment of the tent to a po~.ition
wher2in a strap holds the connector and the seam onto the
front of th~ cabinet to prevent the tent from b~ing
pushed backward over the cabinet in high wind conditions.
Another related object o~ the present inven ion is
the provision of a universal tent clesigned to define a
work volume adjacent to many different ~i2e8 and types of
cabinets, wherein a retain~r is designed for each
different cabinet and is ~electably attached to thQ
universal tent prior to deployment of the universal tent
so that one universal tant may be use~ with ~any
diffPrent cabinets~
~ ith th2se and other objects in mind, the preaent
inven~ion contemplate~ an anclosure assembly ~or de~ining
a clos~d anviron~ental volu~e ad~acent to an equip~ent
cabinet to be serviced by one op~rator. The enclo~ure
~0 as~embly i~ normally stowed away from the cabinet in a
stowed configuration and is designed to be pIaced by th~
on~ operator on a top of the cabinet in a pre-d~ployment
con~iguration. In the pre-deployment con~iguration, a
tent of ~he assembly is ready for deploy~ent into a
~onfiguration for de~ining the environmental volume. The
~nclosure asse~bly includes a retainer rOr engaging the
c~binet to define a ~ixed support extending transversely
across the rear of the cabinet. A co~nector having a
~ront edge secured to the ~ix~d support extends laterally
ror a fielected distance or langth to a ~re~ edgQ. The
tent i5 provided for defining the closed environment.
The tent includes a ceiling panel having a rear portion
secured to the free edge of the connector. The distance
is selected for permitting the tent and its elongated
support rods to be placed on the top of the cabinet with
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~ ~ajority of the weight of the enclosure assembly
re~ting on the cabinelt ~n ~ properly balarlced po~ition.
The connecltor havirlg the sel~cted length al~o li~its the
forward movement of the rear portion of the tent ~during
S deployment from the pre-deployment conf iguration into a
deployed conf iguration . In deployment o~ the tent under
windy conditions, this limiting of forward ~ove~ent
stabilizes the tent before it is tightly secured to the
ca~inet. The connector is al~;o ef~ective during
deployment of the tent oiE the enclosure assembly to
position the rear portion of the ceiling panel adjacent
to a front o~ the top of the cabinet.
After the tent is in the deployed config~ration, a
f irst skirt secured to the rear portion of the tent
overlies at least a portiorl of th2 ~om~ector. The ceil
ing panel ha~ lateral sides. A side panel is connected
to eas:~h o~E the lateral sides of the ceiling panel. Each
side panel has a ~econd skirt extendable into overlapping
relationship with a sid~ of the cabinet. A ~trap extends
over the fir3t ~kirt ~nd over the sec:ond skirts and i5
secured for holding the free edlge o~ the connector and
the rear portion of t~e c:~iling panel in a fixed po~ition
relative to the top of the cabinet, and for holding the
second skirts tightly against the sides oP the cabinet.
In another aspect of the present invention, t:he top
of the cabinet extends a given distance laterally ~rom
the front to a rear thereof. The top has a predetermined
shape which is usually rectangular. The retainer is in
thQ for~ of a first fabric unit having that predetenmined
shape and is adapted to overlie the top ~or de~ining a
first rear edge that forms the ~ixe~ support. The
connector is formed by a second fabric unit. In one
embodiment, the connector has that predetermined shape
and the front edge thereof is attached to the first rear
3S edge to form a first seam. The second fabric Ullit has
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the ~ree edge opposite to ~he ~irst 5e~. In th~ one
em~odi~ent, the later~l length o~ th~ ~eco~d ~a~ric u~it
~ro~ the fir~t ~eam to the free edge i~ ~ub~tant~ally th~
same as the given distance. The tent has a rear he~
attachad to the free edge of the conneotor to for~ a
second movable sea~.
The present invention alco contemplate~ a ~ethod of
stowing the tent asse~bly. ~he ten~ as~embly i~ to be
placed on the cabinet i~ the stowed con~iguration, 1
then to be attached to the cabin~t in the pre-deployment
configuration, and is then to be deployed ~or de~ining
the work volume. Each of the ceiling panel and the side
panels of the tent has a hu~o For a qiYen panel, such as
the oeiling panel or the side panels, four flexible rods
extend from within pock~ts o~ the hub. One rod extends
to each pocket formed in each corner o~ the panel. The
t~nt assembly is stowed or collapsed into the stowed
configuration by per~orming the following step~: r
~ upporting the tent (in~luding the panel~, the
hubs and the rods thereo~) ~paced ~ro~ the $100r;
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(2~ extending the connector from the tent to a
support surface above the floor;
(3) spreading the retainer over the support surface
~o that it is extended substantially to its full ~i~e
with the connector extending rom the t~nt over the
spread retainer, with the tent and it~ hub~t rods and
panels still ~upported at ona ~id2 o~ the retaine;r;
(5) collecting the hubs of each panel ~o that the
hubs are aligned, the rod~ thereof extend away fro~ the
hubs in parallel relationship, and the panels thereof are
gathered;
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(6~ placing the s:ollected hub~, the parallel rods
and the gathered panels on the spread retalner WitPI the
rods in a properly balanced position, whic:h i~ peraitted
by the lateral dimension of the connector; and
(7) wrappiny the retainer over a portion of the
gathered panels and o~er a portior~ o~ the parallel rods
to ~orm the tent assembly into the stowed c~n~iguration.
The present invention also conte~plates a method of
deploying a ten~ assembly that include~ the te~t ~or
~e~ining a work volume in front of the ~quip~nt cabinf~t.
The cabinet has at least one door that ~wings fro;~ a
closed posi~ion to an open position. The door is to be
opened only after the work volume has been established
adjacent to ~he door o~ the cabinet. The tent as~sembly
irl the above-described stowed configuration is placed on
the top of the cabinet Wit21 the hubs of the panel~ at the
fron~ Or tho cabinet and ~he rods and the panels
extending to or beyond the rear o~ the cabinet. The tent
asse~bly is sequentially put in the pre deployment
co~fig~ration, and then in ~h~ deploy~d confi~ration.
The method of deploying the ten~ ~rom ~he ~;towed
configuratian includes the following steps:
( ~ unwrapping the r~tainer ~roDI the gat:hered
panel~ and ~ro~ the parallel rods;
(2) ~ecuring the retainer ~o ~he top o~ the
cabinet, whereupon the tent assembly is in the pr~-
deployment configuration;
(3) arranging the set of rods of the ceiling panel
and of the side panels with one set of the side rods on
either side of the set o~ ceilîng rods;
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~ 4) from a location in front of the cabin~t, liPt-
in~ the c~iling ~et of rod~ by grasping two ~rked, front
ceiling rods and lifting the gra~ped r~dæ ~ro~ the
cabinet forwardly and overhead;
(5) moviny the two rods to spread the ceiling panel
and the ceiling rods into an open position overhead, the
li~ting and moving also lifting the ide panels and the
side rod~ and ~oving them forward and transversely o~f
the cabinet,
19 (6) extending the connector into a taut position to
limit the forward motion of th~ ceiiing panel;
~7) rendering the ceiling panel and the ceiling
ro~ self-supporting to maintain the side panels separ-
ated; and
(8) rendering each of the side panels and the side
rods sel~-supporting to ~ertically support the c~iling
panel and to define the environmental volume while the
connector pr~vents further forward ~otion of th~ csiIing
panel and thQ side panels.
~rie~ Description Qf Drawin~
Other objects, f~atures and advantages of the
present invention will be apparent fro~ an examina*ion o
the following detailed descriptions which include the
attached drawings in which:
FIGsO 1~ through 1~ show a variety o~ cabinets that
house equipment that requires servicing and that may be
used with the enclosure ~or tent) assembly of the present
invention, wherein the cabinet of FIG. lA has doors at
the front of the cabinet, and the enclosure assembly is
shown being placed on the cabinet; the cabinet of FIG. lB
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ha~ doors at the front o~ the cabinet, but th~ lower
~ide~ are ~traight without a lip; the cabinet of FIG~o lC
and lD have doors at the left side; the eabinet ~hown in
FI~. lE has doors at the ~ront and the rear; and the
S cabinet shown in FIGs. lF and lG is shown provided with
a central raised top;
FIG. 2 shows a carry bag containing the enclosure
assembly and baing carried by one workper~on to the
~abinst;
FIG. 3 shows the en~losure assembly with a retainer
wrapped ~round a tent and the hands oP the operator
grasping the retainer;
FIG. 4 shows the tant assembly on the cabi.net wi~h
the retainer wrapped around the tent, and in dashed lines
shows the retainer unwrapped and resting on ~he top of
the cabinet;
FIG. 5A i~ an enlarged view o~ a corner o~ th~
cabinet covered by the retainer;
YIG. 5B i~ an enlarged cross sectional view of the
front edg~ of the cabinet showing air outlets;
FIG. 6 i~ a view Qf the retainer and a connector
that ~oins the tent to the retainer;
FIGs. 7A through 7I ~how the deploy~ent o~ the te~t,
wherein FIG. 7A show~ the operator grasping two rods
associated with a c~ilinq panel; FIG. 7B ~hows the
operator lifting and spreading the two ceilirlg panel
rods; FIG. 7C ls a side elevational view of the deploy-
ment of the tent showiny a taut connector limiting
forward movement of the tent during deployment; FIG. 7D
shows the ceiling panel deployed and separating the side
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panel~; PIG. 7E sh3ws the op~rator deploying the left
side panel; FIG. 7F ~hows a strap overlying a ~kirt on
the top of the tent and s~rts at the ~ide o~ the tent
for securing the tent to the cabinet; FIG~ 7G shows the
tent deployed and the operator securing he top skirt and
~ide skirts to the cabinet by tightening a strap; FIG. 7
shows the operator clvsing the environmental (or work)
volume by zipping a front door closed; and FIG. 7I shows
the connector held on~o the cabinet by th~ ~trap, with a
movable seam between the tent, the connector and th~
upper skirt being adjacent to the front of th~ cabinet;
FI~. 8 is a plan view æhowing the tent a~sembly
- spread out on a surface;
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view o~ a sea~ of the
tent;
FIGs. lOA through lOD are cros~-sectional views
~howing tWQ embodimenta of the connector ~or use with
di~ferent length rods o~ the tent, in each case showing
the tent as~embly properly balanc~d on the cabinet;
FIG. 11 is a view of a clip for securing the strap
~o a bottom edge of the cabinet;
FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a hub for holding the
rods;
FI~. 13 ~8 a cross-sectional view of the hub and one
rod;
FIG. 14 is a plan view o~ the hub with the rods in
a deployed configuration de~ining the letter X;
FIG. 15 is a view of the hub with the rods parallel
to each other in a stowed configuration;
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FIGsO 16A through 16E, in con~iunotion wlth FIG 7A
and 4, show the sequenoe of step~ ~or ~towinSl the ten~
a~sembly ~rom the deployed coniEiguration to the pre-
deployment configuration to the stowed configuration;
5FIGs. 17A, 17B, 17t: and 17D show other embodiments
of the retainer that are adapted to it cabinets with
clifferent size or 6hape tops; and
FIG. ~8 is a perspective view o~ an additional
embodiment of the re~ainer, wherein the retainer i5
10adapted to function with two c:onnectors and with two
tents that can be deployed on opposite sides of the
cabinet.
Mode(s~ . For Carryin~_Out The Invention
Th~
15An en~losure a~sembly 29 of the presen* inventi3n is
designed for use with a cabinet 30, such as the cabinet~
3 ûA and 3 OB shown in respective FIGs . lA and lB . The
cabinet 30 ~ay house equiplllent 31 (FIG. lC) to be
serviced. Access to the eguipmenlt 31 iB proYided by
20doors, such as doors 32A o~ the cabinet 30A, doors 32B
(FIG. lB), ~ront doors 32C (FIG. lC), a ~ide door 33 on
a cabin~t 30C ~FIG. lD) or doors 34 o~ the front and rear
of another cabinet 3 OE ( FIG . lE) .
The eguip: nent 31 iE~ sensitive to the environment,
25such as the temperature of th~ ambient air. The enclo-
sure assembly 29 is designed to be deployed before
opening the doors 32A, 32E~, 32C or 34, so that a work
volume or enclosed space 36 (FIG. 7G) may be established
and, for example, the temperature thereo~ controlled
30before the. doors 32A, 32B, 32C or 34 are opened. In this
manner, the equipment 31, which may be sensitive
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telephone switching equipment, or example, i~ protected
fro~ the ambient environ~nellt as the ~quip~ent 31 is
serviced ~
For purposes of' describing th~ enclosure assembly 29
o~ the present inverltion, the side 35 of the cabinet 30
that has doors, such as th~ doors 32A, 32C or 34, is
referred to as the front side or front 35F o~ the
cabinet 30. The opposite side 3S that generally doe~ not
have doors 32A (as in the cabinet 3ûA) is referred to as
lo the rear side or rear 35P~ of th~ cabinet 30. The
sides 35 that extend between the fxollt ~;ide 35F and the
rear ~ide 35R are referred to as the sides 355L or 35SPs
according to whether such ~ide is respectively on tbe
left or th~ right as one faces the doors 32P~ or 34 of the
cabinet 30, for example. In the embodiment o~E the
cabinet 30 shown in FIG. lE, door~ 34 are provided in
both the front side 35F and the rear side 35R.
Referring to FIGo lB, the depth of the ca~ilaet 30B
from the front side 35F to the rear ~ide 35R i6 referred
to as e~cterlding in a l~teral direction 6hown by a lateral
dimension line 37, wh~reas the width o~ the cabinet 30
~cross the side 35F that has the doors 32B i~ re~erred to
as extendirl51 in a transverse direction shown by a
transver~e dimension lina 38. The c:abinet 30A has a
top 39 pro~Jideà with edges 40 that defins the p~ri~eter
of the top 39. The edge 40 that is at the top o:E the
~ront ~ide 35F i5 referred to as the top edge 40F. The
edge 40 that i8 at the top of the rear side 3sj~ is
referred to as the top edge 40R. Si~ilarly, the edge 40
that i5 at th~ top of the le~t ~ide 35SL (not ~ho~n in
FIG. lB - see similar side in FIG. lE) is referred to as
the top edge 40SL, and the top edge 40 that is at the top
of the right side 35SR is referred to as the top
edge 40SR. The doors 32C in FIG. lC and the door~ 34 in
FIG. lE are shown in an open position that is more than
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90~ from the closed position. The open door~ 32A, 32B or
34 ~ay extend apart ~ore than the transverse di~ension 38
of the top 39 o~ the cabinets 30.
Another cabinet 3OF is shown in Figs. lF and lG.
This cabinet 30F may be of the type manu~actured by
Reliance Electric and is provided with central sides 35G
that support the cabinek 30F. The centr~l sides 35G
extend transversely along the line 3BW that ~5 longer
than a transv~rse line 38C that define~ the transverse
dimension o~ the cabinet 30F. The lateral dep~h 37S of
the central side 35~ is less than th~ lateral depth 37C
of the cabinet 3OF. Further, the top 39 o~ the cabinet
30F is stepped, and is higher at a central section 39C
tha~ extends transversely ~rom the central sides 35G.
The top 39 also has a ~ront lower section 39F that is
lower than the central higher section 39C and that
defines the upper surfac~ of the cab~net 30F. A lower
rear section 39R of the top 39 i5 shown in FIG. lG.
Doors 32G are ~own on the ~ront side 35F of the cabinet
30F, and may also be on the r~ar side 35R of the eabinet
30F.
It is to be understood, then, that the enclosure
assembly 29 may be used to define the work VOlUm2 36
adjac~nt to any side 35 of th~ cabinet 30 that is
provided with the ~oors 32A, 32B, 32C, 32G, 33 or 34.
General DesQr tion
o~ the Inventio~
Referring now to FIGs. 6 and 7GI the present inven-
tion generally includes the enclosure assembly 29 fordefining the work volume 36 (FIG. 7G), which may be a
closed environmental volume adjacent to the equipment
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cabinet 30 t3 be servired by an ~perator 41. The enclo
BUre a5gembly 29 i8 ~or~ally ~towed aw~y ~ro~ the
~abine~ 30 in a s~owed con~iguration ~ . 2~ and i8
designed to be placed by the one operator 41 (FIG. lA) on
the top 39 of the cabinet 30 in a pre~deployment
oonfiguration (see dashe~ lines in FI~. 4~. In tha pre
deploym~nt configuration, a tent 42 o the as~e~bly 29 i~
xeady ~or deployment into a deployed con~iguration
~FIG. 7G) ~or defining the e~vironm~ntal volume 36 (FIG.
7G).
In describing the tent assembly 29, the terms
~front, n nrear" and "side~ ar~ used consistently with
the use of those terms to de~cribe the cabinet 30. Thu~,
a "front" of the tent assembly ~9 is in the direction o~
the front 35F of the cabinet 30, for exampleO The
enclosure assembly 29 includes a retainer 43 (des:Lgnated
43~ in FI~. 6) for ~ngaging the cabinet 30 to d~fine a
~ixed ~upport 44 (de~ignated 44A in FIG. 6) extending
tr~nsversely ~see line 38 in ~IG. lB~ ~cros~ the rear
edge 40R t~IG lB~ o~ the top 39 of the cabinet 30~ A
conn~c~or 45 (designated 45A in ~IG. 6~ having a front
edge 46 secured to the ~ixed suppor~ 44 extends laterally
for a selected length or di tance (see line 47A in FIG.
6) to a ~rae edge 48. The retainer ~3 is identified by
dot~ in th~ FIGURES ~or ease in di~;tingui~;hing it from
lthe connector 4 5 .
~`he tent 42 is provided ~or de~ining the closQd work
volume 3~. The ~ent 4~ include~ a ceiling panel 49
tFigs. 6 and 7I) having a rear edge 50 secured to the
~ree edge 48 o~ the connector ~5. The di~tancc 47 ~FI~
8) is sel~cted for allowing the ~ent 42 to be properly
balanced or positioned on the top 39 of the cabinet 30 in
the pre-deployment configuration prior to deployment.
A.lso, the selected distance 47 enables the connector 45
to limit the forward movement (see arrow 51A in FIG. 7C)
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o~ khe rear edge 50 of the tent 42 during deployment fro
the pre-dep.loyment c:on~igur~tion (FI~ ) into 1:he
d~ployed configuration ~FIt;;. 7~;~. The connector 45 i~
also ef ~ective during deployJDent o~ the tent 42 to posi-
tion the rear edge 50 oP the ceiling panel 49 adjacent to
the front edge 40F of the top 39 of the cabin~t 30
(FIG. 7I~.
A~tex the . ent 42 is in the deployed con~iguration,
a first ~kirt 51B secured to the rear edg2 50 of the
tent 42 overlies at least a portiorl o~ ~he connef~.tor 45
~designated 45B in FIC:. 7I). As shown in FIG. 7F, the
ceil~ng panel 49 has lateral sides 5~I. ans31 52R. 1!. side
panel 53L and 53R is connected to th~ respective lateral
sides 52L and 52R of the ceiling panel 49. Each side
panel 53L and 53R has a second skirt 54 extendable into
overlapping relationship with a side 35SL or 35SR o~ the
cabinet 3 0 . Then, a strap 55 that iB secured to the
first s36irt 51B and to the second skirts 54 i8 tightened
after a clip 56 is secured to an inverted u-~haped
channel that ~orms a lip 5~ (FIG. 7G) along e~ch
sid~ 355L and 35SR of the cabinet 30 for holdin5~ the ~ree
edge 48 of the c:onnecto:r 45 and the rear edge 50 oiE the
cailing panel 49 in a fixed position relative to the
top 3 9 of the cabinet 3 0 t FIG . 7 I ) .
In ~nother a~pect of the invention, the top 39 of
the cabinet 30 extends a distanc:e laterally (see line 37
in FIG. 113) from the front 35F to the rear 40R of the
cabinet 30 to define th~ depth of the top 39. The top 39
ha~ a predetermined shape, which i~ usually rectangular.
In a first embodiment ~FIG. 6), the retainer 43A is in
the form o~ ~ firs~ fabric unit 59 having that
predetermined ~hape and adapted to overlle the top 39 for
defining the first rear edge that forms the fixed
support 44A. The connector 45A is formed by a second
fabric unit 60, that in the first embodimen~ has that
1 7 ~ 5
predeterDIined shape. The coamector 45~ has the front
edge 46 (~ 6) attached to the rear ~dge (or ~ixed
support) 44~ of the retainer 43A to form a first ~ea~ 61
(FIG. 6)o The second fabric unit 60 has the free edge 48
opposite to the first seam 61. The lateral length (i.e.
the selected length 47A) of the second fabric unit 60
from the first seam 61 to the free edge 48 i~; selected a~;
described below, and is preferably the saD!e as the depth
37 of the top 39 of the cabinet 30. The tent 42 has a
rear hem 62 attac:hed to the free edge 48 and to the ~ir~t
skirt 51B to form a second or mova~le sea~ 63 (FI~;. 7I).,
The length 47 may be marginally les~ than o~e longer tllan
the depth 3 7 as long a~ the ~ovabl~ gea~ 63 i8 at the
front edge 40F of the cabinet 30 when the tent 42 is
deployed.
21ethod of Stowin~ Tent ~ssembly 2~
The present invention also includes a method of
stowîng the tent asse~bly 29 ~o that the tent asseDIbly 29
can easily be arranged ~rom the stowed c:onfiguration
2 0 ( FIG . 2 ) to the pre-deployment conf iguration on the
cabinet 30 ~FIS;. 4) ~o the deployed con~iguration
~FIG. 7G~ for defining the work volume 36. The ceiling
panel 49 has a hub S4 ~FI~ ) and the side panel~ 53L
and 53R each have one of the hubs 64. For a given p.anel,
~uch as the ceiling panel 49 or t~e ~ide panels 53L and
53R, four flexible rods 66 extend from within a pocket 67
(FIG. 12) at the hubs 6d,. One rod 66 extend~ to each
pockQt 6~ formed in each corner 69 o~ the panels 49, 53L
and 53R ~Figs. 7E and 8~. $he tent asse~nbly 29 i5
collapsed into the stowed con~iguration (FIG. 2) by
performing the following steps:
(1) supporting the ~ent 42, including the panels ~9
and 53, the hubs 64 and the rods 66 thereof, spaced ~rom
., . . , : , . . .
, . ~, - ; ..
' ~ ; ~'~ . : . :
.
- : ,
~2~2
-18-
the floor, uch a~ the ~ur~ace on which the op~rator 41
i~ stand~ng in Fig~. 7D and 7E;
(23 extending the connector 45 rom the tent 42 to
a support surfac~ ~e.g. he top 39 of the çabinet 30
above the floor;
(3) spreading the retainer 43 over the support
surface 39 so that it is extended substantially to i~
full size/
~4~ collecting the hubs 64 of each panel 49 and 53
0 #0 that the hubs 64 are aligned, the rodæ 66 therecf
extend away ~rom th~ hubs 64 in parallel relationship,
and the panels 49 and 53 thereof are gathered;
(5) placing the oollected hubs 64, the parallel
rod~ 66 and the gath~red panels 49 ~nd 53 on ~he spread
retainer 43 with the rods 66 properly balanced on the top
39, which is permitted by the lateral dimension 47 of the
connector 45; and
(6) wrapping the retainer 43 o~er a portion o th~
gathered panels 49 and 53 and over portions of the
parallel rods 66 to form the tent 4~ ass~mbly 29 into th~
stow~d co~figuration (FIG. 2~.
Method of DeployingL~the Tent 42
The present inven~ion al~o includes a method o~
deploy~ng thQ tent 42 for defining the work volume 3~ in
~ront oP the equipmen~ cabinet 30. The cabinet 30 ha~ at
least one of the ~oors 32A, 32B, 32C, 32G or 34 (see
FIGs. lA through lG) that swing~ from the closed position
(FIG. lA~ to the open position (FIG. lC), the open
position being at one side of the work volume 36. The
tent assembly 29 in the above-described stowed
, :
, . ~
.. . .. . ..
- ~9 ::
con~iguratiGn (FIG. 2) is placed on the top 39 of the
cabinet 30 with thQ hub~ 6~ o~ the panel~ 49 and 53 at
the ~ront 35F oP the cabinet 30 and the rod~ 6S and the
panels 49 and 53 extending to or ~eyond the rear edge 40R
5 of the cabinet 30 (Figs. lOA-lOD). The method oî
deploying the tent 42 from the stowed configuration is
generally described as including the ~ollowlng steps:
Ste~ One unwrapping the retainer 43 fro~ the
gath2red ceiling p~nels 49 and 53 and ~ro~ the parallel
10 rods 66;
Step ~wo securing the rPtainer 43 to the top 39 of
the cabinet 30 ~FIG. 16E), whereupon th~ tent asse~bly 29
is in the pre-deployment configuration (FIG. 4);
step Three arranging the rods 66 of the ceiling
15 panel 49 and o~ the side panel~ 53~ and 53R with the side
panel rods ~hown as 66S) on ~ither side of the c~iling
panel rods (shown as 66~) ~FI~. 4~;
Step Four fro~ a location in front of t~e
cabinet 30, li~ting the ceillng panel rods 66 by grasping
two selected ones 66A and 66~ of the ceiling panel
rods 6~ ~FIG. 7~) and li~ting the grasped rods 66~ and
66B ~rom the cabinet 30 ~orwardly a~d overhead (FIG. 7B);
Step~Eive ~oving the free ends 65B o~ the two
rods 6~A and 66B apar~ to spread the ceiling panel 49 and
the ceiling rods 66 into an open position ~FI~s. 7~, 7C
and 7D) over the head of the operator 41 (FIG. 7D), the
li~ting and mov~ng of the rods 66A and 66B also being
effective to lift the side panels 53L and 53R and the
side rods 66 and move them forward and transversely off
the cabinet 30 into the position shown in FXG. 7C;
,
' : - ~ ' .
:~' ` `: ., ,' .
.
-20
S~ep Si~ extending th~ connector 45 ~nto a taut
2osition ~FIG. 7C~ to limit the forward ~otion o~ the
ceiling panel 49;
Step Seven rendering the ceiling panel 49 and
the ceiling rods 66 salf-supporting to maintain the side
panels 53L and 53R ~eparated ~PIG. 7D);
Step Ei~ht rendering each o~ the side panel~ 53L
and 53R and the sid~ rod~ 66 self-supporting (FIGs. 7E,
7G and 7H) to vertically support the ceiling panel 49 and
define the work volume 36 while the connector 45 prevents
further forward motion of the ceiling panel 49 and of the
side panels 53L and 53R; and
St ~_Nine when the work volume 36 ~ust be an
envixonmental volume having controlled temperature, ~or
example~ releasing a front door 70 fro~ fasteners 71,
unrolling the door 70, and securing the door 70 to each
of the side panels 53, as by the ~ippering step shown in
FIG. 7~.
Detailed Descr ~ion_o~ the Preferred E~bodi~ents
RefQrring now to FIG. 8, the tent assembly 29 is
~hown in plan view with all of the elements o~ the t~nt
assembly 29 spread out a~ if on a ~lat surface. The tent
a~se~bly 29 includ2s the t~nt 42, the connector 45 and
the retainer 43.
Detailed Desc~ ion of_The Tent ~
In FIG. 8 the tent 42 is shown ~onnected to the
connector 45 at the rear edge 50 of the ceiling panel 49
along the second ~eam 63. The ceiling panel 49 and the
side panels 53 L and 53 R of the tent 42 of the present
invention may be constructed as disclosed in U.S. Patent
' :.- ~, ': ::
.: .~' " " '' ' ;.
' . ' . . ` ` ~ :
''. `: ~ : .~' ' :
. .
-21 ~ J~J
~o~ 4,285,354 i~sued on Augu6t 25, l9~1, to T. A. Pelsue
Company for a Multipurpose Tent, which patent is
incorporated herein by re~erence. FIGs. 12 through lS
show the hub 64 that cooperates with opposite ends 65A
and 65B of the rods 66 that are respactively received in
pockets 67 of the hub 64 and pocke~s 68 o~ the cQrners 69
of the tent 42. FIGs. 12 through 15 show the hub 64 as
including a hu~ base 72 having four o~ the pocket~ 67
spaced at ninety degree intervals. Each pocket 67
defines part of a sphere and is adapted to receiv~ a
generally spherically-shaped end 73 of a rod ternina1 7
that i~ plac~d ov~r the ends 65A and 65B of each rod 66.
The end 73 of each rod terminal 74 conPorms to the shape
of the hub pock~t 67 to permit th~ end 73 to rotate
1$ freely within the volume of a cone. The rod terminals 74
are retained in the pockets 67 ~y a hub cover plate 75.
The cover plate 75 has four slots 76. Each 610t 76
limits the rotation of its respective rod terminal~ 74 to
one plane that is perpendicular to the plane of the hub
base 72. Edge~ 77 o~ the ~lots 76 are rounded and extend
over the end~ 73 of the ter~inal 74 to retain the ends 73
in the pockets 67 while per~itting ~uch rotation. A
fa~tener such as a screw 78 holds the cover plate 75 to
the hub base 72. The coQperation of the hub base 72 and
~he cover plat~ 75 allow the rods ~6 in the terminal. 74
to as~ume a radial orient~tion ( FIG . 14 ) - which
corresponds to the deployed configuration of ~he tent 42)
and to assume a parallel orientation ~FIC:. 15 - which
corresponds to the stowed and the pre-deploy~ent
configuration~ of the tent ~2).
Now considering one hub 6~ with its ~our rods 66
assembled with one of the panels, such as the ceiling
panel 49 shown in FIG. 7D, each such panel has one of the
tent pockets 68 in each corner 69 thereof as shown in
FIG. 8. The pockets 68 are provided on the inside
surfaces of the panels 49 and 53. The hub 64 and the
.
-,
-22 ~SI,~
rods 66 are thus located on the inside o~ the panel~ 49
and 53 (FIB. 7E), with tha co~er plat~ 75 oP each hub 6
facing outwardly. In that po~ition, when the bub ba~e 72
is moved inwardly, the rod~ 66 are free to "collapse"
into the parallel position (YIG.15). Each panel 49 (and
53) is dimensioned so that the di~tance fro~ one
corner 69 (FIG. 8) to the di~gonally opposite corner 69
i~ less than the aggregate length of the two rod~ 66 and
the hub 64 that extend along the same dlaqonal path. In
this manner, when the hub 64 i~ pushedl outwardly ~8 sho~n
in FIG. 7~ ~out o the tent 42)~ which i5 toward the
viewer as shown in FIG. 8, the fabric of the pane~ 49
will stretch and allow the hub 64 to ~ov~, ~vr example,
pas~ the horizontal plane of the ~abric of the c~iling
pansl 49 to form tha ceiling panel 49 into a relatively
flat pyramidal shape ~F}G. 7D~. The side panels 53 also
assume a flat pyramidal shape in a si~ilar mannsr. This
flat pyramidal-shape represents the deployed
con~iguration of one of the side~! 53 and of the ceiling
panel 4g. The ~abric remains ~tretched alld force~ the
hub 64 toward the out~i~e o~ the plane de~ined ~y the
pock~ts 68 at the corners 69 of the tent 42. In the
deployed configuration, the panel is sel~-supporting in
that, for example, a vertical ide panel 53 will remain
erect and will support the weight of the ceiling
panel 49~ Also, the deployed ceiling panel 49 will
~upport itsel~ in the sloped position ~hown in FIG. 7G
and will maintain the side panel~ 53 ~pread apart. Forre
applied by the operator 41 is required to overcome this
stretching force, thus the deplo~ed panels 49 and 53 tend
to stay in the d~ployed con~iguration.
As shown in FIG. 16A, the operator 41 may apply the
necessary force to move the hubs 64 inwardly. FIG. 16A
shows the hubs 64 o~ the right side panel 53R and of the
ceiling panel 49 having been moved inwardly past the
plane o~ the corner pockets 68 into a "collapsed"
.,. - . :. . .
, , , : ` ~ . : ;; . ` :
-23~ 7 ~ 5~ ~,3 ~
po~ition. Th~ operator 41 in FIG. 16A ia startirlg to
move the hub 64 of the le~t side panel 53L to the right
to collapse the panel 53L.
To assist in the deployment of the side panels 53L
S and 53R, a ~loor strap 80 is connPcted to the fron~ of
each side panel 53L and 53R. The strap 80 extends
between and interconnects the side panels 53L and 53R.
After deploying the ceiling panel 49, the operator 41
~teps on the qtrap 80 ~FIG. 7E) tv prevent the botto~ of
the side panel 53L from moving outwardly as the operator
pushes the ro~s 66 and the hub 64 outwardly to deploy the
side panal 63L. In a si~ilar manner, the 5trap 80 is
used to deploy the side panel 53R.
The ceiling panel 49 and the side panels 53L and 53R
are joined along the edges thereof. For example, FIG. 9
9hows a bound sea~ 81 joining the c~iling panel 49 ta the
sid~ panel 53R. The joined side panel~ 53L and 53R and
the ceiling panel 49 combine with the front 35~ o~ the
cabinet 30, the ground in front of the cabinet 30 and the
20 door 70 to define the work volume 3~.
Windows 82 (FIG. 8) may be provided in the ~ide
panel~ 53L and 53R, and in the ront door 70, for
exampl~, to provide ventilation for the work volume 35,
and ~ay bQ provided (not shown) in the skirt 95R of th~
retainer 43 to p~rmit equipment ven~ilation air to flow
through the cabinet 30.
Referring to FIG. 8, the ceiling panel 49 is ~hown
having a trapezoidal shape. A rear ed~e 83 o~ the side
panels 53L and 53R is shown shorter than a front
edge 84. The rods 66 are dimensioned accordingly to
maintain these shapes of ~he ceiling panel 49 and the
side panels 53. In this manner the ceiling panel 49 will
slope from an upper location at a front 85 (FIGs. 7E and
: - :
'.;. , -'~ '
2 ~ 7 ~
-24-
B~ o~ the tent to a lower position at a rear 86 of the
tent 42, and the ~ide panels 53 exltend from thQ r~ar edge
83 upwardly at an angle to support the ~loped ceiling
panel 49. Also, a front opening 87 (FIG. 7G) of the
tent 42 will be larger in height 88 and width ag than the
height and width of the cabinet 30. This allows easy
~cce~s to the work volume 36 upon opening o~ a flap so of
the door 70 that is connected l:o a ~ront edye 91
SFIG. 7H). The flap 90 is opened by releasing
fasteners ~2 at ~ides 93 thareof9 which ~asteners may be
zippers, for example (FIG. 7H). Strap fastener~, such as
that sold under the "Velcro" trademark, may be used to
maintain the flap 90 in a rolled-up position adjacent to
the front edge 91 of the ceiling panel 49 (FIG. 7G).
Upon closing the flap 90, the work volu~ 36 i~; fully
defined and the environment thereof may then be
controlled.
Det~iled ~escription of_R~etalner 43 and Conn~ctor 45
The retainer 43 and the connector 45 may be ~abri-
cated ~rom tent f~bric. Prototypes o~ the retainer 43
have been ~abricated from fabric having a color~ such as
orange, to distinguish ~ro~ the white, ~or exa~ple,
~abric fro~ which the connector 45 and the t~nt 42 are
fabricat~d.
The retainer 43 may be designed ~or use with the
variou~ typ~s of cabinets 30 shown in ~IGs. lA
through 7G. A ~irst embodiment of the retainQr 43 is
shown in FIG. 6 and is referred to a5 the retainer 43A.
The retainer 43A has a rectangular ~hape that confor~s to
the shape o~ the top 39 of the cabinet 30A. The retainer
43A is placed on and extends over the edges 40F~ 40R,
40SL and 40SR of the cabinet 30A. The retainer 43A has
the rear edge 44 that i5 connected to the front edge 46
of the connector 45. As the tent 42 is deployed, the
.... .. . ., : ,
:. ` ` , '` ' ' ' ~ ' ~ : '
`' . ~ 1 ' '.' .'. `.' '
-25~
tQnt 4~ pull~ the conn~ctor 45 ~orward ro~ t~ position
~hown ln FI~. 6 to the position ~hown in ~IG. 7I ~hQrein
the connector 45 extends over the retainer ~3~ For
purposes of describing the tent assembly 29 in layout
form, the retainer 43A is shown in FIG. 8 rotated around
the fixed support 44 out from under the connector 45 into
a fully laid-out position. The ~otto~ o~ the top 94
~FIG. 6~ of the retainer 43A i~ facing up in FIG. 8 and
i~ open to allow the retainer 43A to be placed over the
top 39 of the cabinet 30A.
In FIG. 6, the retainer 43A is shown in the normal
upright position in which it is placed over the top 39 of
the cabinet 30A~ and includes the fabric unit 590 The
~abric unit 59 includes the fabric top 94 and ~our
skirts 95 that hang or extend downwardly from the top 94.
one of the skirts, referred to as a front skirt 95F, i~
designed to cover an upper ri~ 9~ locat~d at the edge 40F
oP the fro~t 35F of the cabinet 30A as ~hown in FIGs. 5A
and 5B. ~he ~ront skirt 95F extends along the front 35F
of the cabin~t 30A and joins a side kirt 95S at a
corner 97. The corner ~7 is held down by a cro~s corner
rubber strap 98 ~FIG. 5~.
The side skirts 95S extend along the upper
edge~ 40SL and 40SR of the respective sides 35L and 35R
of the cabinet 3OA to the rear 35R o8 the cabinet 30A
whare they join a rear skir~ 95R. A~ shown in F]:G. 6,
each side skirt 95S has a discontinuous or two part lower
~ide he~ 99 that extends from the rear 35R upwardly to
the Pront 35~ of the cabinet 30~ under a ri~ 96
(FIG. 5B). The rear parts o~ the lower ~ide he~s 95l also
axtend to a lower rear hem 100 at the bottom of the rear
skirt 95R. A space lO1 is provided between the two parts
o~ the side hem 95S. A first or front belt 102 is
received in the front side hems 99 and is long enough to
extend around the front 35F of the cabinet 30A under the
'~" ' ~ " ' .
, :
.
ri~ 96 and rearwardly past the space 101. A econd or
rear belt 103 is received in the rear part o~ the side
he~ 9~ and in the rear he~ lO0. The rear belt 103 is
provided with a buckle 104 at each end. The buckles 104
function with the free ends of the first belt so that the
two belts 102 and 103 can be tigh ened at each side 35SL
and 35SR to draw the respective side and rear hems 95S
and 95R toward the cabinet 30A to hold the retainer 43A
on the top 39 of the cabinet 30A. The belts 102 and 103,
and ~he hems 99 and lO0 hold the rear edge 44 o~ the
retainer 43 tightly against the rear upper corner or edge
40R of the cabinet 30A so that the rear edge 44 functions
as the fixed suppor~ 44 described above. Thi~ enables
the first seam 61 to be at a fix~d location. As shown in
FIG. 6, the side hems 99 slope downwardly so that the
rear skirt ssR is wider than the front skirt 95F. This
provides additional fabric at the rear 35R of the cabinet
to withstand the ~orward force (see arrow 51A in FIGs. 7C
and 7F) from the connector ~5 on the fixed support 44 of
~he retainer 43A as the tent 42 is deployed. As sho~n in
FIG. 5B, at the center of the ~ront of the retainer 43A,
a narrow (~,g., one inch wide~ strap 105 is connected
~ro~ the front skirt 95F to the front belt 102 to hold
the fron~ 9~F of the skirt 95 of the retainer 43A down on
the top 39 of the cabinet 30A. In the ev~nt the cabinet
30A has a ventilation opening (not shown) at the rear
~ide 35~, then the rear skir~ 95R is provided with a
window or screen vent 106 shown in dashed lines in
FIG. 6.
Retainer ~3~
In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown
in FIG. 6, the rear edge 44 of the retainer 43A is held
by the front and rear belts 102 and 103 respectively
against the rear top edge 40R (FIG. lA) of the cabinet
30A to form the fixed support, identified by the
, ! . ~ ~ , "
,. '. ~ ~,. ' ' ` :`
-27~
reference mlmber 44A, coextensively with the rear top
sdge 40~ o the cabinet 30A. ~ nother e~ aent o~
the pr~3sent invention shown in FIG. 7I, al retainer 43E~
has a f ixed support 4 4 B that extends transversely across
the top 94 o~ the retainer 43B spaced by a distance ~see
line 107~ from the rear 35R of the cabinet 30A. In each
e~bodiment of the retainer 43~ and 43B, the ~ront edge 46
of the connector 45 is sewn to the fixed ~upport 44 to
form the first seam 61. The fir~t ~eam 61 i~ a hinge-
like seam around which the front edge 46 o~ the connector
45 may pivot.
In the first embodiment of the retainer 43A and the
connector 45A(FIG. 6), the selected length ~7A of the
connector 45 and the lateral length of the retainer 43
are the same and are equal to the depth 37 o~ the top 39
of the cabinet 30A. In the ~econd embodi~ent (FIG. 7I),
the selected length 47B of the connector 45B i~ l~s5 than
K the d~pth 37 of the top 39 of the cabinet 30~ In both
cases, the free edge 48 of the connector ~5 pr~erably
extends to the front edge 40F of the cabinet 30 as shown
in FIGs. 6 and 7I.
Also in both embodiments, and as shown in FIG. 7I,
the free edge 48 of the connector 45 is connected to the
tent ~kirt 51B and to the rear edge 50 of the c~iling
panel 49. This connection is formed by a bound ancl sewn
~eaDI 108. In the deployed configuration o~ the tent 4~,
th2 seam 108 ~xtends downwardly over the front rim 96 o~
the ~abinet 30A. A-~ shown in FIG~. 7I and 7G, a
~trap 55 i8 sewn to the tent ~kirt 51B a:nd to the sid~
skirts 54 to hold the connector 45 and the retainer 43
against the cabinet 30 when the connector q5 is fully
extended to the front 35F. The strap 55 provides a tight
seal between the tent 42 and the cabinet 30 ~o that the
work volume 36 will be relatively closed for ease of
, ~
-2~
controlling the temperature, for example, in the work
volum~ 36.
Referring to FIGs.lOA through lOD, the length or
select~d distance 47 of the connector 45 varies in he
first and second embodiments of the connector 45A
(FIG. 6) and 45B (FIG. 7I) according to (1~ the length of
the rods 66 and (2) the location of the firet or fixed
seam, which has previously been referred to using the
re~erence number 61. Two of the pockets 68 in the
ceiling panel 49 a.rs provided adjacsnt to the bound and
sewn seam lOB that join~ the ~onnector 45, the
retainer 43 and the skirt 51B, and a rod 66 is received
in ~ach o~ the pockets 68. FIG. lOD shows this relation-
ship for the first embodiment when the tent 42 is in the
deploye~ configuration, whereas FIG. lOB shows this
relationship ~or the second e~bodi~ent in the deployed
configur~tion~ FIG. lOC show~ his r~lationship of the
connector 45A, the retainex 43 and the skirt 51B for the
~irst embodiment when the tent 42 is in the pre-deployed
confi~uration on the top 39 of the cabinet 30A, wherea~
FIG. lOA s~ows this relation~hip ~or tha second
embodiment. By comparing FIGsO lOA and lOC, it ~ay be
observed that the greater selec~ed length 47G (See arrow
47G in FIG. lOc~ o~ the c~nnector 45A o~ th~ fir~t
embodi~ent allows the end~ 65B o~ the rods 66G opposite
to the hub~ 64 to extend over or cantile~er beyond the
rear edge 40R of the top 39 of the cabinet 30 for a
gr~ater di~tance (see line llOC) than the distance ~see
line 111) permitted by the shorter selected distance 47S
~see arrow 47S in FIG. lOB) of the connector 45B of the
~eicond embodiment. Since it i~ desirable to po~ition the
bound and sewn seam 108 at the front 35F of the
cabinet 30 in the deployed configuration, the maximum
length 47 of the connector 45 i~ the depth 37 ~FIG. lB)
of the top 39 of the cabinet 30. In the first embodiment
~FXGs. lOC and lOD), a connector 45A with that length 47A
,, . . :
:, ~ . .......... ... .
~.;:- ., :
-29- ~ ~ t~ 3 ~'j
i~ attached to the retainer 43 at the fixed ~a~ 61A,
w~ich i~ located at the rear edge 40R of the cab~net 30.
This provid2s the greatest distance llOC of overhang of
the rods 66G.
The shorter length 47s of the connector 45B i~ shown
in the second embodiment in FIGs. lOA and lOB ~or use
with shorter rods 66SS. The seam 61B is located forward
of the rear edge 40R o~ the cabinet 30 so that the bound
and sewn seam 108 will extend forward (FIG. lOB~ to the
~ront edge 40F of the cabin~t 30. The ends 65B of the
rods 66SS that are in the pockets 68 are positioned
adjacent to the rear edg~ 40R o~ the cabinet 30 in the
pre-deployment configuration, yet the hubs 64 may
overhang the front rim 96F by a distance shown by
line lllA in FIG. lOA equal to the distance shown by
line lllC in FIG. lOC. In this manner, the aggregate
weight o~ the hubs 64 for one of the pan~ls 49 or 53
and (2) the portion o~ the rod~ 66 tbat extend over the
front edge 35F of the cabinet 30 is less than that
required to tip the tent asse~b}y 29 against the ~eight
of the portions of the rods 66 that are resting on the
top 39 of the cabinet 30 and the weight of the portions
o~ the rods 66 that overhang the rear edge 35R of the
cabinet 30. This is referred to as having the tent
assemb~y "properly balancedN on the top 39 of the cabinet
30. As a result of having the tent assembly properly
balanced, there will be no tendency of the hubs 64 and
the rod~ 66 to tip forwardly and fa~1 o~f the front 35F
of the cabinet 30 when the tent assembly 29 is in th~
pre-deployment configuration. It ~ay be understood that
in both embodiments of the retainer 43 and the
connector 45, and as shown in FIG. lOC, the connector 45A
may extend rearwardly from the first seam 61A beyond the
rear edge 40R of the cabinet 30. In the ~irst
embodiment, the connector 45A may extend for the
distance llOC equal to the depth 37 of the top 39 of the
. .
.,
, ~ .: ~ . . . .
- ~ ~
.
. :
-30- 2~
cabinet 30 ~o that the rod~ 66 may be relatively long ~nd
aay sub~tantially overhang the rear edg~ 40R o~ the
top 39 of the cabinet 30. On t~le other hand, in the
second embodiment, the connector 45B extends the shorter
distance 111 beyond the rsar edge 40R of the cabinet 30,
and is a adapted for use with shorter rods 66S. The
shorter rod~ 66SS that cantilever less (or not at all)
over the rear edge 4VP~, do not position the hubs 64 at a
great di~tance lllA from the front 40F o~ the cabinet 30,
lo such that the weight of the hubs 64 and the portions o~
the rods 66 that extend bayond the front 40F o~ th~
cabinet 30 is insufficient to cause the hubs 64 and th~
rods 66 to tip and fall off the cabinet 30.
It may be f urther understood that if one were to
atte~pt to place the tent 42 on the cabinet 30 with the
xear edge 50 of the ceiling panel 49 secured direc:tly to
the front ~kirt 95F o~ the retainer 43, the pl~cing o~
the tent 42 on the top 39 of the cabinet 30 would require
the retainer 43 to be loose enough relative to the top 39
s:~f the cabinet 30 to allow the front skirt 95F to mo~e to
the rear ~OR of the top 39 o tl~e ca~inet 30 into a
position wher~ the retainer 43 could not be secured _o
the top 39 of the cabinet 30. On the other hand, i the
retainer 43 were fastened (by the straps 102 arld 103) to
the top 35 as described, so that the retain~r 43 remains
:in position on the top 39 of the cabine"c 3û as secured to
the top 39 by the belt~ 102 and 103, then the tent 42 (as
connected directly to the retainer 43) cou1d not be
placed on the cabinet 30. Rather, the tent 42 would have
to be held in a suf~iciently high position a~ to locate
the rear edg~ 50 of the ceiling panel 49 at tha ~ront
edge 35F o~ the cabinet 30 while the retainer 43 is
secured to the top 39 of the cabinet 30. It is believed
clear that it would be difficult, if not impossible, for
one operator 41 to hold the tent 42 in that position and
at the same time fasten the retainer 43 to the cabinet 30
., ,~
. . ,;~
~, . ~ I
~,
; . .
" ~ ,,
2~2~2
--310
a~ descri~ed above. Ther~fore, by allowing th~ tent
a~se~bly 29 to be properly balanc~d on t~e cabinet 30 in
the pre-deploy~ent configuration, the conne~tor 43 of the
present i~vention provides an unexpected ease of allowing
the tent 42 to be supported on the cabinet 30 while the
retain~r 43 is being secured to the top 39 vf the
cabinet 30, and ~urther temporarily prev~nts the tent 42
from noving too far forward during the deploym~nt of the
tent 420 Thus, the tent asse~bly 29 o~ the pre~ent
invention ~ay be deployed by the one operator 41 in
conditions, such as windy conditions, that axe relativ~ly
adverse.
Retainer 43C
Another embodiment o~ the retainer 43 is s~own in
FIGs. 17A and 17B for use with di~ferent size cabinets
~0. In partioular, the cabinet~ 30 may have d~ferent
depths 58. To provide one retainer that will ~it two
common depth~ ~ of the cabinet~ 30, the retain~r 43C
shown in FIGs. 17A and 17B ha~ an inter~ediate ~kirt 95I
~paced fro~ the rear skirt 95R. The `intermediate skirt
95I is She same as the rear skirt 95R, except that it is
secured to the fabric top 94 of the ret~iner 43 at a
}ocation 113 to provide a shorter selected length 47I~ as
compared to the length 47A provided by the rear skirt
95R. When the intermediate skirt 95I i~ us~d, the rear
skirt 95R hangs loose (FIG. 17A) at the rQar of the
cabinet 30 and the inter~ediate skirt 95I is held tightly
by the belt~ 102 and 103 to the upper ri~ 96 of the
cabinet 30. When the intermediate ~kirt 95I i~ not used,
and to allow us~ o~ the re~r skirt 95R, the inter~ediate
skirt i~ folded flat against the underside of the
retainer 43C (FIG. 17B) and the retainer 43C i5 used as
if the inte~mediate skirt 95I was not there.
~ . .
~ .
,
~' 1 .
-32-
Retainer 43~
Another embodi~ent of the retain~r 43 is shown in
FIG. 17C and facilitates the use of the tent assembly 29
with cabinets 30 having di~ferent size tops 39. This
embodiment provides a releasable fastener 114 between the
rear edge 50 of the tent 42 and the sewn and bound seam
108C that joins the skirt 51B to the connector 45. In
this manner, if the operator 41 knows that t~e cabinets
30 to be serviced have a particular si2e or shape top 39,
and knows the retainer 43 and/or th~ connector 45 that
are attach~d to the t~nt 42 are not suita~le for u~e with
th~ next cabinet 30 to be serviced, then a new retainer
43D having the appropriate size and shape top 94 may be
attached to the same tent 42 aft~r removing the existing
retainer ~3 and connector 45 by unfastening the
releasable fastener 114. The releasabl~ fast~ner 114 is
shown as a zipper, but other fasteners ~uch as those ~old
under the trademark "Velcro" may be used, for exampl~
Retainer 43~
FIG. 18 shows another ~mbodi~ent o the retainer 43
for use with the cabinet 30E shown in FI~. lE as having
both front and rear doors 34. Either embodi~ent of the
retainer 43 shown in FIGs. lOA through lOD may be adapted
for use with the cabinet 30E. For purposes of
illustration, the embodiment shown in FIG. 18 will be
described a3 adapted for use with the cabin~t 30E. The
ob~ect of this embodiment i~ to allow the one retainer
43E to be asse~bled with two tent~ 42E1 and ~2E2 so that
the two tents 42E1 and 42E2 may be si~ultaneously placed
on the top 39 of the cabinet 30E. The tents 42El and
42E2 are then deployed in succession by the one operator
41. To achieve this object, the retainer 43E is provided
with two connectors 45El and 45E2, each of which is one
half the transverse length 38 of the top 39 of the
.
2~2~2
--33--
cabinet 30E. The connector 45~ or the tQnt 42El
that is to bs~ deployed adjacent to the ~ront 35F o~ the
tent 42E, and faces in a direction suitable for that
deployment. The connector 45E2 is for the tant 42E2 that
is to be deployed adjacent to the rear 35R of the cabinet
30E and faces in an oppo~ite direction suitable for that
deployment . In particular, a f ixed support 44E1 of the
retainer ~5E is at the rear 35E of the cabinet 30E, ~uch
that the connector 45El is free to rotate forward (see
arrow 51) in the deployment oiE the tent 421~1 at the front
35F of the cabinet 301:. A fixed ~upport 44E2 of the
retainer 43E is located at the front 35F of the cabinet
30E, such that the conneotor 45E2 is ~re~ to :rotate
rearwardly (see arrow 115) in the deployment of th~e tent
42E2 at the rear 35R of the cabinet 30E. Even though the
connectors 45El and 45E2 are only half of tha 1:ransverse
length 38 of' the cabinet 30E, they ~unction in the saD~e
manner ~s the full-si2e (full lateral width) ::onnQctors
45 shown in FIG. 6. Thus, for exan~ple, the cormectors
45E1 and 45E2 are effective to prevent the tent~3 42~1 and
42E2 ~roTn moving too far forward and rearward, respec-
tively, during deployloent of the tentæ 42E1 and 42E2.
Tent Assembly 29~F
FIGs. lFt lG and 17D show the cabinet 30F with 1:he
central raised top section 39C. The retainer 43 is sho~n
in the form of another embodiment 43F having ~ront and
rear skirts 95FF and 95FR resp~ctively. No side ~kirts
nor side hemæ are provided. l~ather, a front he~ 122
(FIG. 17D) is provided with tha front belt 102 ~FIG. lF~,
and the rear hem 100 (FIG. 17D) is provided with the rear
belt 103 (YIG. lF). The buckle 104 is provid~d on each
side 35SL and 35SR of the central section 39C to tightly
hold khe retainer 43F to the top 39 of the cabinet 30F.
The retainer 43F is provided with the same fixed su~port
,
,
2 ~ 2
~34
44, which in this case extend~ along a rear edge 123
(FIG. 17D) of the central top sec~ion 39C.
The cabinet 30F shown in FIGs. lF and lG is usually
of the type shown in FIG~ lE, and has doors 32G at the
front 35F and at the rQar 35R. When the cabinet 30F has
such front and rear doors 32G, the retainer 43F i8
~abricated according to the e~bodiment 43E shown in FIG.
18 wherein two tents 42El and 42E2 are provided with two
connectors 45E1 and 45E2, resp~ctively. In FIG. lF, such
two connectors ar~ shown by the reference numbers 45Fl
and 45F2.
To simplify the description, only one of such
connectors i5 described below. Further, such connector
is le~gthened laterally as described below to cooperate
7 5 with the ca~inet 30F. FIG. 17D sho~s the cabinet 30F
extending to the front (to the left) b~yond a front edge
40F of tbe centx al section 39C. To position a tent 42F
of the tent ass~lobly 4gF in front of the ca~inet 30F, a
s~onn~ctor 45F is secured to the fixed ~upport 44 in the
manner of the connector 45A and the retainer 43A. The
connector 45F ~FIG. 17D) extend~ forwardly fro~ the fixed
support 44 by a lateral depth 37S o~ the central top
section 39F and hy a further lateral di~ension so that
the tctal lateral dimension ~see }ine 127 i~ FIG. 17D) o~
the connector 45F is sufficient to position a bound and
~wn seam 108F at the front 35F of the cabinet 30F. The
bound and ewn seam 108F connects a ~ree edge 48 of the
connector 45F to the rear edge 50 of the ceiling panel
49. After deploying the tent 42F in the ~anner described
above with xespect to the tent 42A, skirts 51F and 54F o~
the tent 42F are secured as described above. In
particular, the skirt 51F is designed to extend over the
connector 45F and the skirt~ 54F extend along the sides
35SL and 35SR of the cabinet 30F. The skirts 51F and S4F
are secured to the cabinet 30F by a strap 5SF that
I' ' ~ . ` .' ' .......... ~ 1 ' ' '
" :, :. : , . . : , : .
.... .
-35- ~7~
~xtend~ over the skirts 51F and 54F on each side 35SF of
th~ cabinet 30F.
Other Features of Tent Assembly 29
As shown in FIG. 5~, the cabinet 30 is provided
with vents 112 to aid in circulating air through the
cabinet 30. The retainer 43 has an opening 113 adjacent
to the front skirt 95F tD allow air to ~low through the
vents 112 o~ the cabinet 30 and through the ~crQen 106
tFIG. 6) of the rear sXirt 95R of the retainer 43.
Industrial Applicability
Method of Stowin~ Tent Assembly 29
The invention of the present invention also
includes a method of s~owing the tent asse~bly 29 so that
the tent assembly 29 can easily be arranged from the
stowed configuration (PI&. 2) to the pre-deployment
configuxation on the cabinet 30 (~IG. 4) to the deployed
configuration (FIG. 7G) for defining the work volume 36.
The t~nt assembly 29 is stowed into the stowed
configuration ~FIG.2) by performing the following s,tep~:
~ upporting the tent 42, inclllding the panels
43, S3L and 53R, the hubs 64 and the rods 66 thereof,
spaced ~rom the floor at one side of a ~upport surface;
(2~ extending the connector 45 from the tent 42 to
a support surface abov~ the floor;
(3) spreading the retainer 43 over the support
surface ~o that it i~ extended substantially to its full
size;
(4) collecting the hubs 64 of each panel 49 and 53
50 that the hubs 64 are aligned, the rods 66 thereof
extend away from the hubs 64 in parallel relationship
(FIG. 15~, and the panels 49 and 53 thereof are gathered;
:: .
~ :
: . ~, . -: . .
: : . . , . . ~ . . .
- :.: : : . :
.
2 ~3~ J
-36-
(5~ placing the collected hubs 64, the parallel
rods 66 and the gathered panels 49 and 53 on ~he spread
retainer 43 in the properly balanced po6ition, in which
the rods 66 may be generally centered on the retainer 43
5from side-to-side and from front-to-rear, which is
permitted by the lateral dimension 47 of the connector
45; and
(6) wrapping the ratainer 43 over a portion of the
gathered panels 49 and 53 and ov~r a portion of the
10parallel rods 66 to form the tent assembly 29 into the
~towed configuration tFIG. 4, solid lines~.
In greater detail, in the înitial manufacture of the
tent assembly 29 a cabinet-like or box-like support
having a support surface may be available. For purposes
15of illustrating the methvd of stowing, the cabinet ~0
shown in FIG. lB or 7G will be used to illustrate such a
support and the top 39 o~ the cabinet 30 will illu~trate
the support surface. In the manufacture of th~ tent
as~embly 29, a worker (not shown), ~or example, will hold
20the tent 42, the panels 49 and 53, the rods 66 and the
hubs 64 above the floor (i.e.~ "up~
To stow the tent assembly 29 from the deployed
configuration shown in FIG. 7G, it is understood that
upon deployment of the tent 42 adjacent to the cabinet
2530, the tent 42 itself supports itself on the floor (or
the ground), such that most of the structure of the tent
42 i~ ~paced from the floor (FIG.16B). Thus, the first
step of the method of stowing is either per~ormed at the
end of the manufacturing process (by a worker not shown)
30or by having the tent 42 in the deployed configuration
(FIG. 7G).
As to stowing step (2), in manufacture, with the
tent 42 held in the up position, the connector 45 is
extended to the top surface 39 of the cabinet 30. For
.
~' `: - '.`
.
-37-
stowing from the deployed conf iguration, in FIGo 7G the
~onnector 45 is shown extending fro~ the tent 42 to the
top 39 (see also FIG. 7I~.
As to stowing step (3), in manufacture, with the
connector 45 extended to the top 39, the retainer 43 is
spread over the top 39 (FIG. 4~ to its full size. The
tent 42 that has been deployed (FIG. 7G) has the retainer
43 spread over and secured to the top 39 tFIG. 5A)o
Stowing step (4~ is performed at both the end of
manu~acture and after deployment as shown in ~igs. 16A
and 16B. The hub collecting may ~tart in ~anufactllre the
same way as the tent 42 is stowed after deployment if the
panels 49, 53L and 53R were deployed in manu~acture. If
so, this step starts by pulling the hub 64 o~ ~he side
panel 53R into the ten~ 42 to collapse tha side panel
53R. The hub 64 of the ceiling panel 49 is then pulled
into the tent 42 to collap~e t~e ceiling panel 49 ~as
shown in FIG. 16A). The operator 41 (or worker) then
pulls the hub 64 of th left side panel 53L into the tent
42 as sh~wn in F~G. 16A. If during ~anufacture the
panels were not deployed, then the hub gathering starts
as shown in FIG. 16C in which the hubs 64 o~ each panel
49 and 53 are brought together with the rods 66 parallel
(FIG. 15~. As the rods 66 move into pa:rallel
relaticnship, the panels 49 and 53 are gathere.d a~d
extend near the rods 66 (FIG. 16C).
~5 to stowing step (5), and as shown in FIG. 16C,
the collected hubs 64, the parallel rod~ 66 and the
gathered panels 49 and 53 are li~ted and placed on the
top 94 of the spread retalner 43, which is supported by
the top 39 of the cabinet 30. With these items placed on
the top 94, the tent assembly 29 is thus returned to the
pre-deployment configuration (FIG. 4). Care is taken to
position the tent assembly 29 in a properly balanced
,.~ ~ :.: .. : .;
2 ~
-38-
location, as discussed aboYe. ~his i~ facilitated by the
~dequate length 47 of khe connector 45.
Stowing step (6) is performed by releasing the
retainer 43 from the top 39 (FIGo 4)o If the tent 42 was
deployed, this step is per~ormed by loosening the two
belts 102 and 103 to allow the sXirts 95 of the retainer
43 to be re~oved from the sides 35 of the cabinet 30.
The retainer 43 is then ~oved into the 801id line
position shown in FIG. 4, by which it is wrapped over tAe
center portion of the gathered panels 49 and 53 and over
the center portion of the parallel rods 66. The tent
asse~bly is thus in the stowed con~i~uration (PIG. 4) and
may be placed in a carry bag 116 ~FIG. 2~.
Method of Deployment o~ Tent 42
The method of deploying the te~t asse~bly 29
results in the t~t 42 de~ining the work volume 36 in
~ront o~ the equipment cabinet 30. The cabinet 30 has at
least one oP the doors 32A, 32B, 32C, 32G or 34 ~se~
FIGs, lA through lG) tha~ swings from the closed po~ition
(FIG. lA) to the open position ~FIG. lC), the open
position b~ing at one side of the work volume 36. The
tent assembly 29 in the above-described stowed
configuratio~ (FIG. 2) is placed on the top 39 of the
cabinet 30 with the hubs 64 of the pan~ls 49 and 53 at
the front of the cabinet 30 and the rods 66 and the
panels 49 and 53 extending to and beyond the rear
edge 40R o~ the cabinet 30 (FIG. lOC~ or to the rear edge
40R (FIG. 10~). The tent assembly 29 is properly
balanced at thi~ ti~e. The method Or d~ploying the
tent 42 ~rom the stowed con~iguration (FIG. 2) includes
the following steps:
Step One: Unwrapping the retainer 43 from the
gathered ceiling panels 49 and 53 and fro~ the parallel
rods 66. The unwrapping step is performed as shown in
^ . .
. : ~ j, , . .~ .- ,,
-3~
FI~. 4, from the ~olid line position o~ th~ r~tain~r ~3
to the dashed line position.
~ tep Two: Securing the retainer 43 to the top 39 of
the cabinet 30, whereupon the tent assembly 29 is in the
s pre-deployment configuration. Such securing is
accompli~hed by tightening the belts lQ2 and 103 using
the buc~les 104 (FIG. 5A), making sure that the skirts ss
of th~ retainer 43 extend over the upper edges 40 of the
cabinet 30. This secu~ing step tightens the center ~trap
105 to retain the front skirt 95F ovar the ri~ 96, and
urge~ the fixed support 44 against the rear edge 40R of
the ~abinet 30.
Step Three: Arranging the rods 66 of the ceiling
panel 49 and of the side panels 53L and 53R with the side
panel rods 66S on either side of the ceiling panel
rods 66C ~FIG. 4). If the hubs 64 are not in this
arrangement upon unwrapping the retainer 43 ~Step 1~,
then the hubs 64 are moved to that arrangement. To
identi~y the ceiling hub 64, it may be color coded.
Step Four: As sh~wn i~ FI~s. 7A an~ 7~, f~om a
location in front of the cabinet 30, the ceiling pan~l
rod~ 66 are lifted by grasping the two selected ones 66A
and 66B of the ceiling panel rods 66 and lifting the
qrasped rods 66A and 66B fro~ the ca~inet 30 forwardly
~5 and overhead. The rods 66A and 66B may al~o be color
coded for ease of identification. FIG. 7B shows the
li~ting of the rods 66A and 66B and the movement thereof
of~ the top 94 of the retainer 43. (FIG. 7C sh~ws move-
me~t of these elements over the head) of the operator 41.
Step Five: The free ends 65B of the two rods 66A
and 66B are moved apart to 6pread the ceiling panel 49
and the ceiling rods 66 into an open position over the
head o~ the operator 41 (FYG. 7D). The lifting and
moving of the rods 66A and 6SB is also effective to lift
the side panels 53L and 53R and the side rods 66 and move
them forward and transversely off the cabinet 30.
FIG. 7C shows the spreading of the free ends 65B of the
- - , . ~ . ........... .. . .
, . . . . - : . :.: ......... - : ~
, , , . . . ~ . .
... .. ~ . . ~ . :. .
-40 ~2~
two rods 66~ and 66B, which re~ults in ~ove~ent o~ the
rods 66A and 66B fro~ the position shown in FIG~ 15 to
that shown in FIG. 14. As the rods 66A and 66B ~o mov~,
the rods 66A and 66B spread the ceiling panel 49 and
cause the side panels 35L and 35R to fall over the side
edges 52 of the ceiling panel 49 into the loose vertical
position shown in FIG. 7D.
Step Six~ FIG. 7C show~ the extending of the
connector 45 into a taut position t:s li~it the forward
motion of the ceiling panel 49. The connector 45 becomes
taut as the tent 42 i5 pulled of~ ~he top 39 of the
cabinet 30 and off the top 94 of th~e retainer ~3. This
limits the forward motion o~ the tent 42 evan though it
has not been tightly secured to the top 39 or to the
sides 35 of the cabinet 30. The tent assembly 2g has
been deployed in windy conditions. The connector 45 is
effective ~o hold the rear edge 50 of the ceiling panel
49 to the cabinet 30, yet allows the tent 42 to ~ove in
varying wind conditions.
St~p Seven: The rendering of the ceiling pa~el 49
and the ceiling rods 66 ~el~-supporting to ~aintain the
side ~anel~ 53L and 53R separated i6 shown in FIGs. 7D
and 7E. To render the ceiling panel 49 self-supporting,
th~ ~perator 41 holds the ceiling hub 45 and pushes
upwardly against the weight oP the side panels 53L and
53R and of the associated rods 66. The opera~or 41 then
holds a rod 66 of the ceiling panel 49 in the right hand
~nd pushe~ the hub 64 of the side pa~el 53L outwardly
while ~tepping on the floor strap 80 to deploy the side
panel 53L in the manner described above. ~he operator 41
then moves to the right side o~ the tent 42 and while
6tepping on the ~loor strap 80 pushe~ the hub 64 Or the
side panel 53R outwardly to deploy the side panel 53R.
As described above, the action o~ deployinq each of the
ceiling panel 49 and the ~ide panels 53L and 53R renders
such panels self-supporting.
.
,, , . ~. . ~ .~
, ' , ' '; ' . : , , ~,
2 ~ ~ 2 ~
-4~-
~tep_Ei~ht: Rendering each of the side panels 53L
and 53R and th~ side rods selP-supporting is shown in
FIG. 7E. The panels 53L and 53R are deployed and
vertically support the ceiling panel ~9 to define the
work volume 36 while the connector 45 prevents further
forward motion 51 of the ceiling panel ~9 and o~ the ~ide
panels 53~.and 53R. FIG. 7E illustrates the operator 41
holding a rod 66 with the left hand and pushing the rod~
66 and the hub 64 outwardly to deploy the left sid¢ panel
53L as described above. This renders the side panel 53L
self-supporting, and i~ repeated for the right side panel
53R. FIG. 7F shows the operation o~ the connector 45 in
preventing further forward motion 51 o~ ~he tent 42.
After the panels 49 and 53 are deployed, the tent 42
is tightly secured to the sides and top of the cabinet
30. Thi~ is done by means of the strap 55 that is
secured to the skirts 51B, 54L and S4R and the cllp 56.
The strap 55 is tightened by drawing on the adjustable
buckle after the clip 5~ is placed under a ledge or
o~fset lip 119 of the cabinet 30~ The clip 56 is shown
in FIG. 11 having a generally L-sh~ped configuration with
a lip 120 for engaging the lip 57 of ~he cabinet 30
(FIGs. lA and 113.
gt~L_~in~: When the work volume 36 ~ust be an
environmental volume having controlled tempPrature, ~or
exa~ple, the front door 70 i5 released fro~ the
~asteners 71, unrolled, and secured to eaeh of the side
panels 53, as by the zippering step ~hown in FIG. 7~1. In
thi~ manner, the tent 42, with the ground in front of the
cabinet 30 and the front 35F of tbe cabinet 30, de~ines
the enclosure or work volu~e 36 within which the operator
41 may work wh~le servicing the equipment 31. - In the
event of windy weather, the operator 41 may place
elongated weights 126 on the bases of the side panels 53S
and the door flap 90. ~he operator 41 then controls the
environment within the tent 42, as by supplying warmed
air through an inlet 125. To start the servicing, the
, .. . . ~ -.- . ~ ..
: ,,
: .
. ~ : : : .
.~: I . . . . ...... .
--42--
operator opens the doors, such as the door~ 32A in FIG.
1~. Due to the trapezoidal shape o~ the ceiling panel
49, the deployed side pan~l~ 53S ~re positioned at an
angle 121 (such as 135) with respect to the front 35F of
the cabinet 30 (FIG. 8). This allows the operator 41 to
open the doors 32A as wide a~ pos~ible to expose the
eqllipment 31 for servicing.
The abov~ dascribed st~wing and deploying processes
may be performed with each embodi~aent of the retainer 43
and of the connector 45 since each ~unctions to permit or
assist in the stowinq according to steps (1~ tllrough (6~
and the deployment according to steps one through nine.
In addition, the deployment ~nay include use of additional
straps 117F and 117R that ~re routed horizontally around
the front and the back o~ cabinet 30B below the doors 32B
(FIG. lB). Buckles 117B axe use~ to ~;ecure the straps
117F and 117R. The buckles 11713 are released ~rhen the
tent assembly 29 is stowed. To as~;~le the s'traps 117F
and 117R to the tent assembly 29, the ~kirts 54 are sewn
to the front strap 117F near th~ ~ront corners of the
c:abinet 30 ~a1: loca~ions 117C in FIG. 113~. A snap
connector 118 ~such as a Fastex Company clip, Nodel
No. 67SP~Z) attached to the strap 117F is used to cornect
with a mating portion of the connector 118. The matiJIg
portion o~ the connector 118 is secured to the s~rap 55 .-
~FIG~ ~G3. In this manner, the strap 55 and the s,traps
117F and 117P~ hold the skirts 5~ and 54 securely a~ainst
~the side~ 35L and 35R of the cabinet 30B ~FIG. lB, ~or
example). In the case of the cabinet 30E shown in
FIG. 18, or the cabinet 30F ~hown in FIG. lF as having
respective rear and front doors 3~ and 32~, one of th~
tents 42E1 or 42E2 i~ deployed first, and then the other
tent is deployed.
While the preferred embodiments have been described
in order to illustrate the fundamental relationships of
:~ ~
,. :,... .
-43- ~72~
the present invention, it ~hould be under~tood that
nu~erous variations and ~odifications ~ay ~e ~ade to
these embodiments without dsparting ~ro~ the t~achings
and concepts o~ the present invention. Accordingly, it
should be clearly understood that the ~orm of the present
inve~tion described above and shown in the accompanying
drawings is illustrative only and is not intended to
limit the scope of the invention to les5 than thak
described in the following clai~s.
, : ~ . , . . ~
.
.
