Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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RETRACTABLE POLE ASSEMBLY FOR A FOLDABLE TENT
FIELD AND BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates in general to foldable or instant tents,
and more
particularly to a retractable pole assembly for a foldable tent.
[0003] Foldable tents are known in the art and have become very popular in
recent years. In
fact, every major retail outlet sells a foldable tent or instant tent in one
form or another. In
general, foldable tents comprise a tent fabric coupled to a collapsible frame
assembly, pre-
assembled, at a radially inner space of the erected frame assembly so that the
tent fabric and
frame assembly could be collectively opened and folded. However, foldable
tents are
manufactured in different configurations with a variety of features.
Improvements of existing
features continue to be made and new features are being developed as well.
[0004] More recently, whether an instant tent or a traditional assemble-to-use
tent, providing
sufficient ventilation within tents has become a requirement for the consumer.
This is
accomplished by providing a permeable material around a roof portion of the
cabin portion of
the tent and covering the permeable portion with a separate rain fly. It is
also beneficial to
have the rain fly cover windows and doors of the tent to provide the tent with
additional
protection from water leakage. For instant tents, this additional step of
covering the cabin
portion of the tent with a rain fly defeats the meaning of an "instant tent."
Often times
applying the rain fly requires more than one person and is time consuming as
the users must
also manually secure the rain fly to a bottom portion of the tent or to a
ground surface.
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[0005] In order to eliminate the need of a separate rain fly on instant tents,
the present
inventor developed an instant tent with an integrated rain fly, described in
U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2012/0055525A1 (Application No. 13/295,396, filed
November
14, 2011) ("the '396 Application). The instant tent with integrated rain fly
allows the user to
simply open the tent for use and fold the tent for storage without having to
assemble and
disassemble a separate rain fly. This is accomplished by providing collapsible
eave or awning
structures above the permeable portions of the cabin portion of the tent.
[0006] Each collapsible eave structure includes an eave pole extending from a
hub and a tent
fabric or eave portion extending from the cabin portion of the tent. The eave
portion is
attached to the eave pole by attachment means extending from the eave portion
including at
an outer end of the eave pole. One problem encountered with this collapsible
eave structure is
that the eave portion could become loose or flimsy which could cause rain
water to
accumulate thereon. Another problem associated with the collapsible eave
structure is that a
great deal of stress is concentrated on the end of the eave portion where a
seam is formed for
the hook attachment. These stresses could be caused either when the tent is in
the open
configuration or when the tent is folded.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY
[0007] The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the
invention
in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary is
not an extensive
overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical
elements of the invention
or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present
some embodiments of
the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed
description that is
presented later.
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[0008] The present invention is intended to overcome at least the above-
described
disadvantages and to provide additional advantages to foldable tents with
integrated rain flies.
The present invention provides a well ventilated instant tent with integrated
rain flies that is
easily opened and folded. In the open state, the rain fly or eave portion is
taut to ensure that
water or debris is not collected on the eave portion. A housing portion or
pocket is provided
at the ends of the eave portion for coupling to an eave pole. The housing
portion reduces the
stresses caused by the eave pole. The eave pole is also retractable so that
when the tent is
folded stresses to the eave portion is reduced.
[0008a] Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a retractable pole assembly
for
coupling to a tent fabric of a foldable tent, the retractable pole assembly
comprising: a pole
section having an inner end and an opposing outer end, said outer end being a
free end, said
inner end pivotally coupled to a hub for pivotal movement between an open
state and a folded
state of the foldable tent; a biasing member having an inner end and an
opposing outer end,
the biasing member inner end engaging the pole section outer end and extending
therefrom in
a substantially aligned configuration along a longitudinal axis; and a sleeve
having an inner
end and an opposing outer end, the sleeve circumscribing the pole section
outer end and
biasing member along the longitudinal axis, the sleeve inner end being
slidable along the pole
section outer end, the biasing member outer end engaging the sleeve outer end;
wherein the
entire biasing member is positioned within the sleeve in the open and folded
states; and
wherein the sleeve outer end is coupled to the tent fabric such that in the
open state the sleeve
is extended and the biasing member is compressed, and the tent fabric is
substantially taut.
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10008b1 Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a retractable pole assembly
of a
foldable tent comprising: a pole section having an inner end and an opposing
outer end, said
inner end pivotally coupled to a hub for pivotal movement between an open
state and a folded
state of the foldable tent, said outer end having an outer surface; a biasing
member having an
inner end and an opposing outer end, the biasing member inner end engaging the
outer surface
of the pole section outer end; a sleeve having an inner end and an opposing
outer end, said
outer end being a free end, the sleeve circumscribing the pole section outer
end and the
biasing member, the biasing member outer end engaging the sleeve outer end,
the entire
biasing member positioned between the outer surface of the pole section outer
end and the
sleeve outer end; and an eave portion of the foldable tent, the eave portion
being constructed
of tent fabric and fixedly attached to and extending from a main portion of
the foldable tent,
the eave portion having an outer perimeter, the outer end of the sleeve fixed
to the eave
portion outer perimeter; wherein in the open state the sleeve is extended such
that the eave
portion is substantially taut.
10008c1 Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a retractable pole assembly
for
coupling to a tent fabric of a foldable tent, the retractable pole assembly
comprising: a pole
section having an inner end and an opposing outer end, said inner end coupled
to a hub for
pivotal movement between an open state and a folded state, said outer end
having an outer
surface; a biasing member having an inner end and an opposing outer end, the
biasing
member inner end operably coupled with the outer surface of the pole section
outer end, the
biasing member outer end operably coupled with an outer perimeter of the tent
fabric; and a
sleeve having an inner end and an opposing outer end, said outer end being a
free end, the
sleeve circumscribing the pole section outer end and biasing member.
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[0009] Facilitating the above-mentioned objectives, the subject invention
provides an eave
structure of a foldable tent comprising: a pole assembly comprising a first
end and an
opposing second end, said first end pivotally coupled to a hub for pivotal
movement between
an open state and a folded state of the foldable tent, the pole assembly being
retractable such
that a length between the first and second ends is adjustable between the open
and folded
states of the foldable tent; an eave portion of the foldable tent, the eave
portion being
constructed of tent fabric and fixedly attached to and extending from a main
portion of the
foldable tent, the eave portion having an outer perimeter comprising a housing
portion, the
outer end of the pole assembly fixed within the housing portion; wherein in
the open state the
pole assembly is extended such that the eave portion is substantially taut.
[0010] In one embodiment, the eave structure includes a retractable pole
assembly
comprising: a pole section having an inner end and an opposing outer end, said
inner end
pivotally coupled to a hub for pivotal movement between an open state and a
folded state of
the foldable tent; a biasing member having an inner end and an opposing outer
end, the
biasing member inner end engaging the pole section outer end and extending
therefrom in a
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substantially aligned configuration along a longitudinal axis; and a sleeve
having an inner end
and an opposing outer end, the sleeve circumscribing the pole section outer
end and biasing
member along the longitudinal axis, the sleeve inner end being slidable along
the pole section
outer end, the biasing member outer end engaging the sleeve outer end such
that the entire
biasing member is positioned within the sleeve; wherein the tent fabric
comprises a housing
portion, the sleeve outer end being positioned within the housing portion such
that in the open
state the sleeve is extended and the biasing member is compressed, and the
tent fabric is
substantially taut.
100111 In another embodiment, the eave structure includes a retractable pole
assembly
comprising: a pole having an inner section slidably coupled to an outer
section, an inner end
of the inner section pivotally coupled to a hub for pivotal movement between
an open state
and a folded state of the foldable tent, an outer end of the inner section
having a first locking
member, an inner end of the outer section having a second locking member
engageable with
the first locking member, an outer end of the outer section positioned within
a housing portion
of the eave portion of the foldable tent; wherein in the open state the first
and second locking
members are lockably engaged and the outer section is extended from the inner
section such
that the eave portion is substantially taut, and wherein in the folded state
the first and second
locking members are disengaged and the outer section is retracted within the
inner section
such that the eave portion is less taut.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of
presently
preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in
conjunction
with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention,
there are shown in
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the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be
understood, however,
that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and
instrumentalities shown.
[0013] In the drawings:
[0014] Fig. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a foldable tent of the
present invention in
an open configuration;
[0015] Fig. 2 is a side view of the foldable tent shown in Fig. 1;
[0016] Fig. 3 is a plan view of the foldable tent shown in Fig. 1;
[0017] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a frame assembly of the foldable tent
shown in Fig. 1;
[0018] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the frame assembly shown in Fig. 4 in a
partially folded
state;
[0019] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the frame assembly shown in Fig. 4 in a
fully folded
state;
[0020] Fig. 7 is an exploded view of a first embodiment a retractable pole
assembly of the
present invention;
[0021] Fig. 8 is an exploded view of a second embodiment a retractable pole
assembly of the
present invention;
[0022] Fig. 9 is an exploded view of a third embodiment a retractable pole
assembly of the
present invention;
[0023] Fig. 10 is an exploded view of a fourth embodiment a retractable pole
assembly of the
present invention;
[0024] Fig. 11 is an exploded view of a fifth embodiment a retractable pole
assembly of the
present invention; and
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[0025] Fig. 12 is a plan view of a housing portion of an eave or awning
portion of the present
invention.
[0026] To facilitate an understanding of the invention, identical reference
numerals have been
used, when appropriate, to designate the same or similar elements that are
common to the
figures. Further, unless stated otherwise, the features shown in the figures
are not drawn to
scale, but are shown for illustrative purposes only.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] Certain terminology is used in the following description for
convenience only and is
not limiting. The article "a" is intended to include one or more items, and
where only one item
is intended the term "one" or similar language is used. Additionally, to
assist in the
description of the present invention, words such as top, bottom, upper, lower,
front, rear,
inner, outer, right and left are used to describe the accompanying figures.
The terminology
includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and
words of similar
import.
[0028] Referring to Figs. 1-6, a foldable or instant tent 1 of the present
invention is shown.
The foldable tent 1 is similar to that shown and described in the '396
Application with several
improvements, which are described in detail below. In general, the foldable
tent 1 includes a
frame assembly 10 and a tent fabric 30 slidably attached thereto via a
plurality of attachment
means 20, preferably by hooks and sleeves. The foldable tent 1 is opened or
erected to an
open state as shown in Figs. 1-4, and folded or collapsed to a collapsed state
as shown in Fig.
6, without requiring assembly or disassembly of any parts (i.e., the frame
assembly 10 and
tent fabric 30 are factory pre-assembled).
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[0029] Referring to Figs. 4-6, the frame assembly includes a hub 11 which
centrally supports
the tent 1. A plurality of main poles 13 are pivotally attached to the hub 11.
In this
embodiment, there are four main poles but the tent 1 could be constructed with
anywhere
from three to an unlimited number of main poles. Each main pole 13 includes a
roof pole 15
which is pivotally connected to a side pole 17 by a pivoting joint 19. It is
preferred that the
pivoting joints 19 are covered by fabric joint covers 21 to protect the tent
fabric 30 from wear
and tear during the folding process and transport. Each side pole 17 includes
an upper section
17a which is telescopically coupled with a lower section 17b. However, the
upper and lower
sections 17a, 17b could be pivotally coupled together as well. A plurality of
eave poles 23
also extend from the hub 11, specifically, an inner end 23a is pivotally
coupled to the hub 11
while an outer end 23b is free. Each eave pole 23 extends radially outward at
a length
substantially equal to the width of the tent 1, as shown in Fig. 3, to ensure
that any windows
or doors are sufficiently covered. In this embodiment, two eave poles are
present but more or
less eave poles could extend from the hub 11. Furthermore, the length of each
eave pole 23
could vary without departing from the scope of the invention. A variety of
materials such as
metal tubing, composite tubing (tubing made of resin impregnated fibers) or
solid composite
poles may be used. For instant dome tents, the roof poles 15, side pole upper
sections 17a and
eave poles 23 are preferably flexible fiberglass reinforced plastic, and the
side pole lower
sections 17b are preferably metal tubing to form an overall round tent. For
instant cabin tents,
the roof poles 15, side poles 17 and eave poles 23 are preferably metal tubing
to form a more
cabin-like tent. However, different combinations of materials could be used
for different
sections of the frame assembly depending on the desired overall configuration
of the tent.
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Furthermore, each of the poles 15, 17, 23 could be provided with multiple
sections joined
together depending on the desired height and width of the tent in its open and
collapsed states.
[0030] Referring to Figs. 1-3, the tent fabric 30 includes a cabin or main
portion 31 and an
eave portion 33. In this embodiment, the cabin portion 31 includes four sides
and a floor
joined together, preferably by conventional sewing methods, forming an
enclosure for an
inside dwelling space. Thus, seams 39 are formed along adjoining borders of
the sides and
floor. As shown in the drawings, each side includes doors 35 and windows 37,
and could
include other desired features such as floor vents and electrical access
ports. Opposing top
portions of the cabin portion sides where the eave portions 33 are located
include a permeable
fabric (not shown) such as mesh to improve ventilation for the tent interior
while also
protecting the interior from bugs and debris. One of ordinary skill in the art
will recognize
that a permeable fabric can be added to any number of sides of the tent and
also take on
different shapes and sizes without departing from the scope of the invention.
For example, a
permeable section can be included on all sides of the tent fabric provided
that additional eave
portions are included on those sides.
[0031] Referring again to Figs. 1-3, the eave portion 33 is preferably
constructed of the same
material as the tent fabric of the cabin portion 31 but could be constructed
of material with
higher denier and additional water-resistant substances such as polyurethane
coating. In this
embodiment, each eave portion 33 includes a perimeter having four edges. Two
inner edges
41 are sewn into corresponding seams 39 of the cabin portion 31 such that
inner ends of the
inner edges 41 culminate at the center of the cabin portion 31. Two outer
edges 43 are free
and are joined at inner ends at a position substantially aligned with the eave
pole 23. Thus, a
peak is formed on the eave portion 33 directly below the eave pole 23 to
provide a decline on
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each side of the eave portion 33 to eliminate the possibility of water or
debris accumulating
on top of the eave portion 33.
[0032] Referring to Fig. 12, the portion of the eave portion 33 where the
inner ends of the two
outer edges 43 are joined includes a reinforcing material 51 sewn into the
fabric of the eave
portion 33. The reinforcing material 51 is preferably constructed of nylon but
could also be
constructed of the same material as the eave portion 33. A housing portion or
pocket 50
constructed of a rectangular fabric is sewn into the reinforcing material 51
and the eave
portion 33 underneath on three of four edges, leaving an opening 53 on an
inner end thereof.
Thus, a space is provided between a bottom surface of the housing portion 50
and a top
surface of the reinforcing material 51. The reinforcing material 51 provides
additional
support for seams 55 formed from sewing the housing portion 50 to the eave
portion 33 and
further protects the eave portion 33 from wear and tear from constant contact
with the eave
pole 23. The housing portion 50 is preferably constructed of nylon webbing
with a water
resistant coating but could be constructed of other tough, durable materials.
In the preferred
embodiment, the reinforcing material 51 is triangular and the housing portion
50 is
rectangular but both components could take on other shapes and sizes without
departing from
the scope of the invention. Referring to Figs. 1-3, outer ends of the eave
poles 23 are housed
within the housing portion 50 such that in the open state the eave portion 50
is substantially
taut.
[0033] Referring to Figs. 1-6, in operation, the tent 1 is erected by pivoting
each of the roof
poles 15 and eave poles 23 radially outward from the hub 11. The side poles 17
are unfolded
and the lower side pole 17b is extended from the upper side pole 17a and
locked in
alignment. With the frame assembly 10 fully erected, the tent fabric 30 is
substantially taut
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while tension from the tent fabric 30 provides a radially inward force on the
frame assembly
to maintain the tent 1 in the open state. The tent 1 is folded in reverse
order as shown in
Figs. 5 and 6, which is shown with only the frame assembly 10 to clearly show
the folding
process.
[0034] Referring again to Figs. 1-6, each eave pole 23 is coupled to the
housing portion 50 of
the eave portion 33 in the open and folded states and with this configuration
a substantial
amount of stress is exerted on the eave poles 33 as well as the housing
portions 50.
Especially in the folded state, because the eave poles 23 are folded upward
the eave portion
33 makes contact with a bottom or side portion of the hub 11 and the eave
portion 33 is
stretched further, causing additional tension on the eave portion 33 and the
eave pole 23.
Also, the eave portion 33 must be manufactured with precision in order to have
the eave
portion 33 taut in the open state. That is, the length of the eave portion 33
from the tent
center to the outer end of the housing portion 50 must be precise so that the
eave portion 33 is
sufficiently taut while the eave pole 23 is not over stressed. This is could
be difficult to do on
a consistent basis because of inevitable human error during the manufacturing
process. To
alleviate these concerns the eave poles 23 are constructed with retractable
pole assemblies at
the eave pole outer end 23b, as shown in the various embodiments in Figs. 7-
11.
[0035] Referring to Fig. 7, a first embodiment of a retractable pole assembly
60 of the present
invention is shown. The pole assembly 60 includes a biasing member 61,
preferably a torsion
spring, having an inner end 61a and an opposing outer end 61b. The biasing
member 61
extends in a substantially aligned configuration with the eave pole outer end
23b along a
longitudinal axis 2. A sleeve 63, having an open inner end 63a and an opposing
open outer
end 63h, circumscribes the eave pole outer end 23b and biasing member 61 along
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longitudinal axis 2. The inner diameter of the sleeve inner end 63a is sized
such that the
sleeve inner end 63a is slidable along the eave pole outer end 23b. The sleeve
63 includes a
coupling engagement means 64, preferably a slot extending through a side wall
proximate the
outer end 63b. A pole retaining member 65 is disposed within the sleeve 63
between the
eave pole outer end 23b and the biasing member inner end 61a. In this
embodiment, the pole
retaining member 65 is cylindrical and includes a channel 67 extending between
inner and
outer ends 65a, 65b. The inner end 65a is open and the outer end 65b is
enclosed such that
the eave pole outer end 23b is disposed within the channel 67 and engaged with
an inner
surface (not shown) of the pole retaining member outer end 65b. The diameter
of the pole
retaining member inner end 65a is greater than the diameter of the sleeve
inner end 63a so
that the pole retaining member 65 is prevented from movement beyond the sleeve
inner end
63a. The biasing member inner end 61a is engaged with an outer surface (not
shown) of the
pole retaining member outer end 65b. The retractable pole assembly further
includes a spring
retaining member 69 having a locking member 69a, preferably a detent, disposed
on a side
portion. The detent 69a is lockably engaged with the slot 64 to secure the
biasing member 61
within the sleeve 63. The spring retaining member 69 further includes a hook
portion 69b
extending toward and securing the biasing member 61. Thus, the entire biasing
member 61 is
positioned within the sleeve 63. In this embodiment, the diameter of the
biasing member 61
need not be smaller than the diameter of the eave pole 23. Instead, it is
sufficient for the
inner diameter of the biasing member 61 be less than the outer diameter of the
pole retaining
member 65. Fully assembled, an outer end of the pole assembly 60 is secured
within the
housing 50. In the tent's 1 open state the biasing member 61 is compressed and
generates
sufficient tension along the longitudinal axis 2 to provide a taut eave
portion 33. In the tent's
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1 folded state, the biasing member 61 is more compressed to accommodate for
the lost length
in the eave portion 33 from contacting the hub 11.
[0036] Referring to Fig. 8, a second embodiment of a retractable pole assembly
70 of the
present invention is shown. The pole assembly 70 includes a biasing member 71,
preferably
a torsion spring, having an inner end 71a and an opposing outer end 71b. The
inner diameter
of the biasing member 71 is equal to or less than the diameter of the eave
pole outer end 23b.
The biasing member inner end 71a engages the eave pole outer end 23b and
extends in a
substantially aligned configuration with the eave pole outer end 23b along a
longitudinal axis
2. A hollow cylindrical sleeve 73, having an open inner end 73a and an
opposing open outer
end 73b, circumscribes the eave pole outer end 23b and biasing member 71 along
the
longitudinal axis 2. The sleeve 73 is sized such that it is slidable along the
eave pole outer
end 23b. The sleeve 73 includes a coupling engagement means 74, preferably a
female
thread disposed on an inner wall (not shown) of the sleeve outer end 73b. The
retractable
pole assembly 70 further includes a spring retaining member 79 having a
locking member
79a, preferably a male thread, disposed on and inner end of the spring
retaining member 79.
The male thread 79a is lockably engaged with the female thread of the sleeve
outer end 73b
to secure the biasing member 71 within the sleeve 73. When fully assembled, in
the pole
assembly's 70 elongated state (i.e., the tent's 1 open state), the biasing
member 71 is
compressed from its non-compressed rested state, and in the pole assembly's 70
retracted
state (i.e., the tent's 1 folded state), the biasing member 71 is more
compressed.
[0037] Referring to Fig. 9, a third embodiment of a retractable pole assembly
80 of the
present invention is shown. The pole assembly 80 includes a biasing member 81,
preferably
a torsion spring, having an inner end 81a and an opposing outer end 81b. The
inner diameter
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of the biasing member 81 is equal to or less than the diameter of the eave
pole outer end 23b.
The biasing member inner end 81a engages the eave pole outer end 23b and
extends in a
substantially aligned configuration with the eave pole outer end 23b along a
longitudinal axis
2. A hollow cylindrical sleeve 83, having an open inner end 83a and an
opposing enclosed
outer end 83b, circumscribes the eave pole outer end 23b and biasing member 81
along the
longitudinal axis 2. The sleeve inner end 83a is sized such that it is
slidable along the eave
pole outer end 23b. The enclosed outer end 83b could be integrally molded with
the sleeve 83
but could also be a separate attachment coupled to the outer end 83b by
attachment means
such as those described above with respect to the first and second embodiments
60, 70. The
biasing member outer end 81b is engaged with an inner surface (not shown) of
the sleeve
outer end 83b, which could include an internal locking member to secure the
biasing member
outer end 81b to the inner surface. When fully assembled, in the pole
assembly's 80
elongated state (i.e., the tent's 1 open state), the biasing member 81 is
compressed from its
non-compressed rested state, and in the pole assembly's 80 retracted state
(i.e., the tent's 1
folded state), the biasing member 81 is more compressed.
100381 Referring to Fig. 10, a fourth embodiment of a retractable pole
assembly 90 of the
present invention is shown. In this embodiment, a substantially rigid housing
portion 92 is
formed integral to the eave portion 33. An inner portion (not shown) of the
housing portion
92 includes an integrally formed cylindrically shaped hollow sleeve (not
shown) having a
channel extending along a longitudinal axis 2. The sleeve is shaped and sized
such that a
biasing member 91, preferably a torsion spring, having an inner end 91a and an
opposing
outer end 91b, fits within. The biasing member outer end 91b is engaged with
an inner
surface of the sleeve outer end (not shown), which could include an internal
locking member
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to secure the biasing member outer end 91b to the inner surface. The inner
diameter of the
biasing member 91 is equal to or less than the diameter of the eave pole outer
end 23b. The
biasing member inner end 91a engages the eave pole outer end 23b and extends
in a
substantially aligned configuration with the eave pole outer end 23b along the
longitudinal
axis 2 so that the biasing member 91 and eave pole outer end 23b are housed
within the
sleeve. The housing portion 92 further includes an integral base member 95
along a bottom
portion thereof for further support. A bottom surface of the base member 95 is
preferably
coupled to the eave portion 33 by adhesive but other methods could be used.
For example,
the base member 95 be attached to the eave portion 33 by heat welding or by
conventional
sewing methods. It is preferred that the housing portion 92 (i.e., sleeve and
base member 95)
is integrally constructed of a hard molded plastic to reduce manufacturing
cost and to
minimize the weight of the retractable pole assembly 90 but other materials
could be used
without departing from the scope of the invention. When fully assembled, in
the pole
assembly's 90 elongated state (i.e., the tent's 1 open state), the biasing
member 91 is
compressed from its non-compressed rested state, and in the pole assembly's 90
retracted
state (i.e., the tent's 1 folded state), the biasing member 91 is more
compressed.
[0039] The biasing members in the first through fourth embodiments are
preferably a torsion
spring constructed of metal capable of withstanding substantial wear and tear
from
continuous compression and de-compression. The torsion spring is preferably
flexible yet
durable so that in the open state sufficient tension is generated to provide a
taut eave portion
and in the folded state excessive tension is avoided on the eave portion and
the eave pole.
However, other biasing mechanisms such as pneumatic devices and spring clips
could be
used as well. It is also preferred that the other components of the
retractable pole assembly
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(i.e., the sleeve, the pole retaining member and the spring retaining member)
be constructed
of a hard molded plastic to reduce manufacturing cost and to minimize weight
but other
materials could be used without departing from the scope of the invention.
Furthermore,
even though it is preferred that the sleeves are substantially cylindrical in
shape, other shapes
could be utilized so long as the inner portion of the sleeves are capable of
housing the inner
components without interfering with their movement. Furthermore, each sleeve
has a length
sufficient to house the eave pole outer ends in the open and folded states of
the tent.
[0040] Referring to Fig. 11, a fifth embodiment of a retractable pole assembly
100 of the
present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the eave pole 23 is
constructed of tubular
steel and includes an inner section 102 slidably coupled to an outer section
110. That is, the
outer section 110 is slidable within the inner section 102. An outer end of
the inner section
103 includes a first locking member 120 and an inner end of the outer section
111 includes a
second locking member 130 engageable with the first locking member 120. In
this
embodiment, the first locking member 120 is a hole extending through a side of
the inner
section 102 and the second locking member 130 is a spring clip housed within
the outer
section inner end 111. The spring clip 130 includes a plastic engaging button
131. An upper
portion of the spring clip and engaging button 131 extend through an aperture
(not shown) of
the outer section inner end 111. The outer section inner end 111 is enclosed
with a first cap
or plug 115 which is fixed thereto and is also fixed to the spring clip 130 to
maintain the
spring clip 130 in a fixed position. A second cap or plug 117 is fixed to the
outer section
outer end 113. The second cap 117 is rounded at a free end so that friction is
minimized on
the eave portion housing portion 50. The outer section 110 is also provided
with a stopper
119 which is fixed thereto so that the outer section 110 is prevented from
retracting within the
CA 02820560 2015-01-21
inner section 102 beyond the stopper 119. A protective sleeve 121 is fixed to
the inner
section outer end 103 and circumscribes the inner and outer sections 102, 110.
Integral
detents (not shown) extend from an inner surface of the sleeve 121 and lock
into
corresponding apertures 123 of the inner section outer end 103. A top portion
of the
protective sleeve is provided with an opening 125 which is positioned over the
first locking
member 120. The protective sleeve 121 eliminates any exposed metal edges to
provide a safe
product for the user. The outer section 110 is extended and locked to the
inner section 102
when the tent 1 is in the open state so that the eave portion 33 is
substantially taut. The inner
and outer sections 102, 110 are unlocked and the outer section 110 is
retracted within the
inner section 102 when the tent 1 is folded to alleviate stresses on the eave
portion 33.
[00411 The embodiments shown in Figs. 7-10 are best utilized for eave poles
constructed of
FRP or other solid cylindrical configurations and the embodiment shown in Fig.
11 is best
utilized for eave poles constructed of hollow tubular steel. However, various
modifications
could be made to accommodate either type of pole for each of the embodiments.
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