Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Docket No. 127P002NP1-US
CONNECTOR DEVICE FOR A TELESCOPING TENT POLE
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims foreign priority to China Application Nos.
201320101781.4 and
201320101787.1, both filed on March 6, 2013, which are incorporated by
reference in their
entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a mechanism for connecting tent poles,
and more
particularly to a connector device for telescopically connecting tent poles.
2. Description of Prior Art
[0003] Camping tents have evolved over the years to be more user-friendly. One
of the features
with constant improvement is the tent poles. Over the years, designers have
eliminated the need
to separately assemble and disassemble each pole section. This was first
accomplished through
the use of a shock cord or elastic rope that runs through the tent poles,
allowing the pole sections
to stay together when folded and then snap back into place to assemble the
pole.
[0004] More recently, instant tents ¨ tents that are sold preassembled with
the tent fabric
connected to a foldable frame ¨ have gained popularity because of the ease of
folding and
unfolding the tent. These tents require that each pole section be collapsible
with respect to an
adjacent pole section either pivotally or telescopically, with the telescopic
connections usually
located at lower portions of the poles. However, telescopic tent poles in
prior art instant tents are
often connected together by complicated connection assemblies having numerous
parts. Such
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connection assemblies are costly, time consuming to factory assemble, and
difficult and
cumbersome to repair.
[0005] In addition, as with traditional tents, a tent fly or tent fly is
desired for instant tents to
provide additional protection from the elements. The user of the instant tent
is required to
assemble the tent fly separately after the instant tent is unfolded for use
and disassemble the tent
fly before folding the instant tent for storage.
[0006] Moreover, with shorter tent flies being the trend, the shorter tent
flies are often connected
to the fabric of the tent causing the fabric to stretch. Not only is the prior
art tent fly connection
aesthetically unappealing but there is also the possibility of damage to the
tent fabric as the tent
fabric is subject to tension created by the tent fly. Thus, it would be
desirable to connect the tent
fly to the poles without additional hardware.
[0007] It would be ideal to connect the shorter tent fly to a mid-portion of
the poles where the
telescopic pole connection assembly is located. However, telescopic pole
connection assemblies
of the prior art are not suited for coupling other accessories such as a tent
fly because the
connection assembly is unable to withstand the tension exerted by the tent
fly, thus causing the
connection assembly to disengage from the pole, making the pole unstable.
[0008] It would be further desirable to be able to fold and unfold the instant
tent with the tent fly
attached to the connection assembly so that additional assembly and
disassembly of the tent fly
would not be required. Thus, a stable means is needed for holding a tent fly
in place while a tent
is folded and unfolded.
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OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] 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.
[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simple,
convenient, and cost-
effective connector device for connecting tent poles together in a telescoping
arrangement. For
achieving the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a
connector device for
connecting tent poles with a tubular member having an interior with an
interior surface having a
detent, and a lower aperture for receiving a lower pole into the interior, and
a top member on the
tubular member having an upper aperture for receiving an upper pole into the
interior of the
tubular member. The detent secures the lower pole to the tubular member in a
snap-fit
engagement.
[0011] The lower pole may include a locking aperture which engages the detent
in the snap-fit
engagement. The interior surface may include a shaped protrusion, and an end
of the lower pole
has a corresponding complementary shaped slot to match the shaped protrusion
when the lower
pole is inserted into the interior of the tubular member, with the shaped
protrusion being
rectangular. The detent protrudes into the interior. The upper pole may be
locked into position
with the lower pole by a push-button engagement.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a stable
connector device for
coupling accessories such as a tent fly. For achieving the above-mentioned
object, the present
invention also provides a connector device for connecting tent poles with a
tubular member
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having a longitudinal axis, and an outer surface having a tent fly fastener
for fastening a tent fly,
a slit extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a fastener receptacle
to receive a fastener
oriented perpendicular to the slit, an interior with an interior surface
having a pair of detents, a
lower aperture for receiving a lower pole into the interior, and a top member
on the tubular
member having an upper aperture for receiving an upper pole into the interior
of the tubular
member, with the pair of detents securing the lower pole to the tubular member
in a snap-fit
engagement.
[0013] The lower pole includes a pair of locking apertures which engage the
pair of detents in
the snap-fit engagement. When the lower pole is inserted into the lower
aperture, the slit
expands until the pair of detents secure the lower pole to the tubular member
in a snap-fit
engagement, and the fastener is inserted and secured in the fastener
receptacle to secure the
lower pole in the tubular member. Accordingly, the tent pole connector device
is able to
withstand tension from the tent fly.
[0014] The tent fly fastener may be a hook-shaped member extending from the
outer surface of
the tubular member. The interior surface may include a shaped protrusion, and
an end of the
lower pole has a corresponding complementary shaped slot to match the shaped
protrusion when
the lower pole is inserted into the interior of the tubular member. The shaped
protrusion may be
rectangular. The pair of detents may be rigid. The upper pole may be locked
into position with
the lower pole by a push-button engagement. When the lower and upper poles
form a part of a
tent and are moved to fold or unfold the tent, the fastened tent fly is held
in place on the tent fly
fastener. With the tent fly held in place by a tent pole connector device, the
tent pole connector
device does not require the tent fly to be detached when the tent is folded
and unfolded.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] 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 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.
[0016] In the drawings:
[0017] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of telescoping poles connected
by a connector
device of the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the connector device of Fig. 1
separated from the lower
pole;
[0019] Fig. 3 is a top side perspective view of the connector device of Fig.
1;
[0020] Fig. 4 is a front cross-sectional view of the connector device and
lower pole;
[0021] Fig. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector device and lower
pole;
[0022] Fig. 6 is a side plan view of the connector device of Fig. 3;
[0023] Fig. 7 is a front plan view of the connector device of Fig. 3;
[0024] Fig. 8 is a top view of the connector device of Fig. 3;
[0025] Fig. 9 is a top side perspective view of a second embodiment of a
connector device;
[0026] Fig. 10 is a side plan view of the connector device of Fig. 9;
[0027] Fig. 11 is a top view of the connector device of Fig. 9;
[0028] Fig. 12 is a front cross-sectional view of the connector device of Fig.
9;
[0029] Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the connector device of Fig. 9
connecting a pair of poles
and a tent fly; and
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[0030] Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the components of Fig. 13 with parts
separated.
[0031] 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 OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] 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.
[0033] Referring to Figs. 1-8, a connector device 1' for a telescoping tent
pole in a first
embodiment of the present invention is shown, in which the connector device 1'
includes a
tubular member having an interior with an interior surface having at least one
detent 11' and a
lower aperture for receiving a lower pole 2' into the interior. A top member
on the tubular
member has an upper aperture for receiving an upper pole 5' into the interior
of the tubular
member. The connector device l' is preferably manufactured by plastic
injection molding and is
one integral piece.
[0034] In the present embodiment, the lower pole 2' is tubular steel having a
circular cross-
section and the upper pole 5' is tubular steel having a generally semi-
circular cross-section. The
upper pole 5' is sized such that it telescopes within the lower pole 2', and
the upper and lower
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apertures of the connector device 1' are respectively sized and shaped for the
same. One of
ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the upper and lower poles 5', 2'
could take on other
shapes and sizes, for example, both with circular cross-sections and/or the
upper pole having a
larger cross-sectional area than the lower pole so that the lower pole
telescopes within the upper
pole. Similarly, the upper and lower apertures of the connector device 1'
could be sized and
shaped accordingly.
[0035] As shown in Figs. 2-8, the lower pole 2' may include at least one
locking aperture 21'
which engages the detents 11' in the snap-fit engagement. Preferably, the
lower pole 2' includes
a pair of locking apertures 21' on diametrically opposite sides of the end of
the lower pole 2'.
[0036] As shown in Figs. 1-2, the upper pole 5' may be locked into position
with the lower pole
2' and retracted within the lower pole 2' by a push-button engagement with a
push button 100'
extending through an aperture 110' in the lower pole 2'. The push button 100'
and associated
spring clip and plug may be included in the upper pole 5'.
100371 Referring to Fig. 4, the detent 11' of the connector device l'
protrudes into the interior of
the connector device 1' and secures the lower pole 2' to the tubular member in
a snap-fit
engagement. The detent 11' is positioned on a resilient member 111' formed by
three cut-outs
so that in a relaxed state an outer surface of the resilient member 111' is
substantially aligned
with an outer surface of the connector device l' (i.e., when the detents 11'
are secured within the
locking apertures 21' as shown in Fig. 4), and in an engaged state the outer
surface of the
resilient member 111' extends radially outwardly beyond the outer surface of
the connector
device l' (i.e., when the detent 11' contacts an outer surface of the lower
pole 2' as the connector
device 1' is being assembled onto the lower pole 2'; not shown).
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[0038] Furthermore, as shown in Figs. 2, 5, and 8, to enhance the stability of
the locking of
lower pole 2' in the connector device 1' (e.g., to further prevent the
connector device 1 from
rotating on lower pole 2), the interior surface of the connector device 1' may
include a shaped
protrusion 19', and the end of the lower pole 2' may have a corresponding
complementary
shaped slot 22' to match the shaped protrusion 19' when the lower pole 2' is
inserted into the
interior of the tubular member, with the shaped protrusion 19' being, for
example, rectangular to
match the rectangular shape of the slot 22'. Thus, the connector device 1'
shown in Figs. 1-8
provides a simple and cost-effective means for securely connecting two
telescoping tubular poles
2', 5'.
[0039] Referring to Figs. 9-14, in a second embodiment of the present
invention, a connector
device 1 for connecting a telescoping tent pole as well as for securing a tent
fly 3 is shown. The
connector device 1 is preferably constructed by injection molding plastic into
one integral
component. The interior of the connector device 1 has an interior surface
having a pair of
detents 11 extending laterally therefrom; a lower aperture for receiving a
lower pole 2 into the
interior; and a top member on the tubular member has an upper aperture for
receiving an upper
pole 5 into the interior of the tubular member. A longitudinal axis extends
through the upper and
lower apertures of the tubular member substantially parallel to the interior
of the connector
device 1. Also, the configuration of the upper and lower poles 5, 2 are
substantially identical to
the upper and lower poles 5', 2' described above.
[0040] Still referring to Figs. 9-14, an outer surface of the connector device
1 includes a tent fly
fastener 15 for securing the tent fly 3. As shown in the figures, the tent fly
fastener 15 may be a
hook-shaped member extending from the outer surface of the tubular member and
adapted to
receive the tent fly 3 but could take on other shapes and sizes. It is
preferred that the connector
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device 1 be constructed in a manner that a free end of the tent fly fastener
15 is positioned close
to the outer surface of the connector device 1 so that the tent fly 3 is well-
secured to the tent fly
fastener 15 while being resilient so that the tent fly 3 could be removed if
needed.
[0041] As shown in Figs. 9-12, opposite the tent fly fastener 15 is a slit 12
extending parallel to
the longitudinal axis. A fastener receptacle 131 is formed by a pair of
fastener mounts 13 on
respective sides of the slit 12 to receive a fastener 14 oriented
perpendicular to the slit 12.
[0042] Referring to Figs. 13 and 14, the lower pole 2 includes a pair of
locking apertures 21 on
diametrically opposite sides of the end of the lower pole 2, which engage the
pair of detents 11 in
snap-fit engagement. Preferably, the detents 11 are rigid. When the lower pole
2 is inserted into
the lower aperture of the connector device 1, the slit 12 expands due to the
detents 11 engaging
an outer surface of the lower pole 2, and thus the connector device 1 expands,
until the pair of
detents 11 are secured within the locking apertures 21 of the lower pole 2 in
a snap-fit
engagement. The fastener 14 is then inserted and secured in the fastener
receptacle 131, formed
by the pair of fastener mounts 13, to secure the lower pole 2 in the tubular
member.
Accordingly, as shown in Fig. 13, attachment of a tent fly 3 to the tent pole
connector device 1 at
the tent fly fastener 15, in conjunction with the fastener 14 in the fastener
receptacle 131, does
not affect the security of the connection device 1 despite tension to the
connector device 1 from
the tent fly 3.
[0043] Referring to Fig. 11 and 14, to enhance the stability of the locking of
lower pole 2 in the
connector device 1 (e.g., to further prevent the connector device 1 from
rotating on lower pole 2),
the interior surface of the connector device 1 may include a shaped protrusion
19, and the end of
the lower pole 2 may have a corresponding complementary shaped slot 22 to
match the shaped
protrusion 19 when the lower pole 2 is inserted into the interior of the
tubular member 1, with the
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shaped protrusion 19 being, for example, rectangular to match the rectangular
shape of the slot
22. However, the shaped protrusion could have other shapes and sizes with the
shaped slot
having other matching shapes and sizes corresponding to the shaped protrusion.
[0044] In addition, as shown in Figs. 13-14, the upper pole 5 may be locked
into position with
the lower pole 2 and retracted within the lower pole 2 by a push-button
engagement with a push
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button 100 extending through an aperture 110 in the lower pole 2. The push
button 100 and
associated spring clip and plug may be included in the upper pole 5.
[0045] In this embodiment, the lower pole 2 and upper pole 5 form a part of a
tent and are
moved to fold or unfold the tent with the fastened tent fly 3 held in place on
the tent fly fastener
15 of the connector device 1. With the tent fly 3 held in place by the
connector device 1, the
connector device 1 does not require the tent fly 3 to be detached when the
tent is folded and
unfolded. Thus, as shown in Figs. 9-14, the connector device 1 of the second
embodiment
provides a stable means for holding the tent fly 3 in place, as shown in Fig.
13, while a tent is
folded and unfolded.
[0046] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without
departing from
its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be
considered in all
respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention
is, therefore, indicated
by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes
which come within
the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within
their scope.
