FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR FOLDING TENTS

ENSEMBLE OSSATURE POUR PLIER DES TENTES

English Abstract

A frame assembly for folding tents is disclosed. The tent frame assembly has a
working rod (20). The working rod (20) has a housing tube (21) having one or
more first vertical guide slits (21'). A lower stationary support (22) has
first regularly spaced multiple external support projections (22') and is
fixed to the bottom of the housing tube (21). An externally threaded rotating
rod (24) is rotatably inserted into the interiors of the housing tube (21) and
the stationary support (22). A first support collar (29) has second regularly
spaced multiple external support projections (29') and one or more inner
projections. The first support collar (29) is movably positioned around the
housing tube (21). Multiple posts (30) individually have an upper post (31).
The upper post (31) is provided with a support cap (33) having third multiple
external support projections on the top of the upper post (31) and is provided
with a second support collar (35) having fourth multiple external support
projections around the upper housing tube (21). A lower post (37) is
telescopically inserted into the upper post (31) and has a retractable support
(38) at its upper portion. A wire (36) extends from the second support collar
(35) to the lower post (37) through a guide roller (34). Multiple bar linkages
consist of a joint (12) and three bars (11). Each of the linkages connects
each of the support caps (33) with the first support collar (29) and connects
each of the second support collars (35) with the lower stationary support (22).

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un ensemble ossature pour plier des tentes. L'ensemble ossature comprend une tige de travail (20) munie d'un tube de gainage (21) présentant une ou plusieurs fentes-guides (21'). Un support fixe (22) inférieur, qui comprend une première série de multiples saillies de support (22') extérieures disposées à intervalles réguliers, est fixé à la base du tube de gainage (21). Une tige rotative (24) à filetage externe est insérée rotative à l'intérieur du tube de gainage (21) et du support fixe (22). Une première bride de soutien (29) comprend une deuxième série de multiples saillies de support (29') extérieures disposées à intervalles réguliers et une plusieurs saillies intérieures. La première bride de soutien (29) est placée amovible autour du tube de gainage (21). Plusieurs poteaux (30) présentent individuellement un poteau supérieur (31). Le poteau supérieur (31) est muni d'une coiffe de support (33) comportant, au sommet du poteau supérieur (31), une troisième série de multiples saillies de support extérieures; il est équipé d'une deuxième bride de soutien (35) présentant une quatrième série de multiples saillies de support extérieures autour du tube de gainage (21) supérieur. Un poteau inférieur (37) est inséré de manière escamotable à l'intérieur du poteau supérieur (31) et comporte un support rétractable (38) à sa partie supérieure. Un câble (36) s'étend de la deuxième bride de soutien (35) au poteau inférieur (37) par le biais d'une poulie de renvoi (34). Des liaisons à barres multiples sont constituées d'un joint (12) et de trois barres (11). Chaque liaison relie chaque coiffe de support (33) à la première bride de soutien (29) et raccorde chaque deuxième bride de soutien (35) au support fixe (22).

Claims

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Claims:
1. A frame assembly for folding tents, comprising:
a working rod having,
a housing tube having one or more first vertical
guide slits,
a lower stationary support having first
regularly spaced multiple external support projections and
being fixed to the bottom of the housing tube,
an externally threaded rotating rod being
rotatably inserted into the interiors of the housing tube
and the stationary support, and
a first support collar having second regularly
spaced multiple external support projections and one or
more inner projections, the first support collar being
movably positioned around the housing tube with each of
the inner projections being engaged with the threads of
the externally threaded rotating rod through each of the
vertical guide slits;
multiple posts individually having,
an upper post having a second vertical guide
slit, the upper post being provided with a support cap
having third multiple external support projections on the
top of the upper post and being provided with a second
support collar having fourth multiple external support
projections around the upper housing tube,
a lower post being telescopically inserted into
the upper post and having a retractable support at its
upper portion so as to support the bottom of the upper
post when each of the posts is extended, and
a wire extending from the second support collar
to the lower post through a guide roller through the
second vertical guide slit, so that the second support
collar is vertically movable by the movement of the
rotating rod; and
multiple bar linkages consisting of a joint and
multiple bars, each of the linkages connecting each of the
support caps with the first support collar and connecting
each of the second support collars with the lower
stationary support.

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2. The assembly according to Claim 1, wherein said
rotating rod is provided at its lower portion with a hole
into which an operating handle may be inserted so as to
manually rotate the rotating rod.
3. The assembly according to Claim 1, wherein said
rotating rod is provided with a motor at its lower end so
as to automatically rotate the rotating rod.
4. The assembly according to Claim 1, wherein said
lower post is provided with a wheel at its bottom so as
to render the tent frame assembly to be movable and is
provided with a wheel receiving hole at its lower end
portion so as to receive the folded wheel when the wheel
is not used.

Description

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FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR FOLDING TENTS
Technical Field
The present invention relates, in general, to folding
tents and, more particularly, to a frame assembly for
folding tents allowing a tent to be easily and correctly
folded and unfolded and permitting the tent to be easily
moved to a desired place.
Background Art
As well known to those skilled in the art, a tent is
a portable shelter of skins, canvas, plastic, or the
like, supported by one or more poles or a frame and often
secured by ropes fastened to pegs in the ground. The
tent is used for camping in the open air during the
tourist season or the vacation season, or is used to
avoid sunshine or rain in outdoor functions.
However, since a conventional tent having multiple
individual poles should be set up by assembling the
individual multiple poles, a long period of time, several
persons and tools are required for setting up and
dismantling the tent. This inconvenience is increased in
a large-sized tent.
On the other hand, in a conventional tent having a
connected frame assembly, the folding and unfolding
operation of the tent may not be performed correctly
because the working mechanism of the frame assembly is
imperfect, the tent is too heavy and large for a sole
person to operate it so as to fold and unfold it and the
tent is so large that storage of it is difficult.
Disclosure of the Invention
Accordingly, the present invention has been made
keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior
art, and an object of the present invention is to provide
a frame assembly for folding tents allowing a tent to be
easily and correctly folded and unfolded and permitting

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the tent to be easily moved to a desired place.
In order to accomplish the above object, the present
invention provides a frame assembly for folding tents,
comprising: a working rod having, a housing tube having
one or more first vertical guide slits, a lower
stationary support having first regularly spaced multiple
external support projections and being fixed to the bottom
of the housing tube, an externally threaded rotating rod
being rotatably inserted into the interiors of the housing
tube and the stationary support, and a first support
collar having second regularly spaced multiple external
support projections and one or more inner projections, the
first support collar being movably positioned around the
housing tube with each of the inner projections being
engaged with the threads of the externally threaded
rotating rod through each of the vertical guide slits;
multiple posts individually having, an upper post having
a second vertical guide slit, the upper post being
provided with a support cap having third multiple external
support projections on the top or the upper post and
being provided with a second support collar having fourth
multiple external support projections around the upper
housing tube, a lower post being telescopically inserted
into the upper post and having a retractable support at
its upper portion so as to support the bottom of the
upper post when each of the posts is extended, and a wire
extending from the second support collar to the lower
post through a guide roller through the second vertical
guide slit, so that the second support collar is
vertically movable by the movement of the rotating rod;
and multiple bar linkages consisting of a joint and
multiple bars, each of the linkages connecting each of
the support caps with the first support collar and
connecting each of the second support collars with the
lower stationary support.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The above and other objects, features and other
advantages of the present invention will be more clearly

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understood from the following detailed description taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an unfolded
tent frame assembly for folding tents according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view
showing a working rod of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of the working
rod of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a post of the
present invention;
Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section showing the post
when extended;
Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section showing the post
when retracted; and
Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the folded tent
frame assembly for folding tents of the present invention.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
As shown in Figs. 1-S, a frame assembly for folding
tents according to an embodiment of this invention is
assembled by connecting an upright center working rod 20
with a plurality of surrounding posts 30 by means of a
plurality of bar linkages.
The working rod 20 comprises a housing tube 21
having one or more first vertical guide slits 21'. A
lower stationary support 22 having first regularly spaced
multiple external support projections 22' is fixed to the
bottom of the housing tube 21. An externally threaded
rotating rod 29 is rotatably inserted into the interiors
of the housing tube 21 and the star=ionary support 22. A
first support collar 29 having second regularly spaced
multiple external support projections 29' and one or more
inner projections is movably positioned around the housing
tube 21 with each of the inner projections being engaged
with the threads of the externally threaded rotating rod
24 through each of the vertical guide slits 21', so that
the first support collar 29 is vertically moved by the
rotation of the rotating rod 24.

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The rotating rod 24 may be rotated in a manual
operating mode or an automatic operating mode. The
manual operating mode is performed by inserting an
operating handle 27 into a hole 26 and rotating the
operating handle 27 manually, while the automatic
operating mode is performed by an electric motor 28.
Each of the posts 30 consists of an upper post 31,
a lower post 37 and a wire 36, with the lower post 37
being telescopically inserted into the upper post 31.
The upper post 31 has a second vertical guide slit
32. A support cap 33 having third multiple external
support projections is mounted on the top of the upper
post 31. A second support collar 35 having fourth
multiple external support projections is movably
positioned around the upper post 31.
The lower post 37 has a retractable support 38 at its
upper portion, the retractable support 38 being used to
support the bottom of the upper post 31 when the tent
frame assembly 10 of this invention is unfolded and each
of the posts 30 is extended. A v~~cel 3° is mounteu at
the bottom of the lower post 37 so as to render the tent
frame assembly 10 of this invention to be movable, and a
wheel receiving hole 40 is formed at the lower end portion
of the lower post 37 so as to receive the folded wheel 39
when the wheel 39 is not used.
The wire 36 extends from the second support collar 35
to the lower post 37 through a guide roller 34, so that
the lower post 37 is vertically moved by the movement of
the second support collar 35. At this time, the wire 36
which connects the second support collar 35 to the upper
portion of the lower post 37 through a guide roller 34
preferably has a length which prevents the lower post 37
from slipping out of the upper post 31 when the lower
post 37 is lowered and the second collar 35 is raised so
as to unfold the tent frame assembly 10 of this invention.
Each of the bar linkages consists of a joint 12 and
three bars 11. Each of the linkages connects each of the
support caps 33 with the first support collar 29 or
connects each of the second support collars 35 with the
lower stationary support 22. An end of each of the

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linkages is rotatably mounted at a projection of a
corresponding part.
The operation of the tent frame assembly of the
present invention is described in the following.
In order to unfold the tent frame assembly 10, the
following operation is performed. First of all, the
rotating rod 24 is rotated in a normal direction manually
by rotating the operating handle 27 inserted into the hole
26 or automatically by operating the electric motor 28.
When the rotating rod 24 is rotated in the normal
direction within the housing tube 21, the first support
collar 29 engaged with the threads of the externally
threaded rotating rod 24 is lowered down along the housing
tube 21. When the first support collar 29 is lowered
down, the folded linkages connected with the first support
collar 29 are radially unfolded to the outside, the joints
12 of the linkages are raised up and the posts 30 are
pushed to the outside.
On the other hand, since all component parts of the
30 tent frame assembly 10 are connected to eacr~ otr~er, the
linkages connected with the lower stationary support 22
are unfolded and the second support collars 35 are raised
up when the first support collar 29 is lowered down and
the linkages connected with the first support collar 29
are unfolded. As the second support collars 35 are raised
up, the lower posts 37 connected with the second support
collars 35 via the wire 36 are lowered down by their own
weights. When the posts 30 are expanded completely, the
retractable support 38 is retracted and supports the upper
posts 31, respectively.
When it is necessary to move the tent frame assembly
10 after the tent frame assembly 10 is unfolded, the wheel
39 is taken out of the wheel receiving hole 40 and is
positioned under the bottom of the lower post 37, thus
moving easily the unfolded tent frame assembly 10 to a
desired place. On the other hand, when it is necessary
to fix the tent frame assembly 10 at a place after the
tent frame assembly 10 is unfolded or when the wheel 39
is not needed to be used because the tent frame assembly
90 10 is folded, the wheel 39 is rotated counterclockwise and

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is received within the wheel receiving hole 40, thus
preventing the tent frame assembly 10 from being removed
from a fixed place or rendering the tent frame assembly
20 to be compact for convenience of storage.
After the tent frame assembly 10 is unfolded
completely, the tent frame assembly 10 may be covered with
skins, canvas, plastic, or the like on its top, so that
the tent is completed. The tent frame assemblies 10 may
be set up one next another.
In order to fold the tent frame assembly 10, the
following operation is performed. First of all, the
retractable support 38 is retracted. While the
retractable support 38 is retracted, the rotating rod 24
is rotated in a reverse direction manually by rotating the
IS operating handle 27 inserted into the hole 26 or
automatically by operating the electric motor 28. When
the rotating rod 29 is rotated in the reverse direction
within the housing tube 21, the first support collar 29
engaged with the threads of the externally threaded
2~ rOtct_:1~ rOC 2~ .... ~~~u~..~ up c,-,~~Orlg ~:':: ilou5ing tu~c 2i.
When the first support collar 29 is raised up, the
unfolded linkages connected with the first support collar
29 are radially folded to the inside, the joints 12 of
the linkages are lowered down and the posts 30 are
25 radially pulled to the inside.
On the other hand, since all component parts of the
tent frame assembly 10 are connected to each other, the
linkages connected with the lower stationary support 22
are folded and the second support collars 35 are lowered
30 down when the first support collar 29 is raised up and
the linkages connected with the first support collar 29
are folded. As the second support collars 35 are lov-ered
down, the lower posts 37 connected with the second support
collars 35 via the wire 36 are raised up into the
35 interiors of the upper posts 31 by the wire 36.
Since the folded tent frame assembly 10 is compact,
it is convenient for storage.
Industrial Applicability

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As described above, the present invention provides a
frame assembly for folding tents, allowing a tent to be
easily and correctly folded and unfolded and permitting
the tent to be easily moved to a desired place.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present
invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes,
those skilled in the art will appreciate that various
modifications, additions and substitutions are possible,
without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Representative Drawing