Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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TITT F OF ~HF INVFNTION
IMPROVED CLEVIS ASSEMBLY AND FLY ADAPTOR ASSEMBLY FOR
COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA TENT AND FRAME THEREFOR
FTFT T) OF THF INVFNTION
The present invention relates to an improved collapsible umbrella tent and specifically
to an improved clevis assembly which has an improved locking mech~ni~m The improved
clevis assembly may further contain an enhzlnce~l feature for adding a separate fly adaptor
assembly to which a fly sheet may be added to such tents.
RAC~GROUNT) OF THF lNVFNTION
Unnbrella tents have a long history of existence and use. Collapsible umbrella tents date
back to the beginnin~ of this century and have usually included a collapsible frame on which the
fabric or other flexible sheet m~ri~l of the tent is supported when the tent has been erected.
The reference to "umbrella" tents is commonly used in the commercial trades because such tents
can be erected and t1i~m~ntled in much the same manner as an umbrella. An example of a
contemporary umbrella tent can be found in US Patent No. 4,945,936. Other examples of
collapsible umbrella tents can be found in US Patent Nos. 4,033,366; 3,929,146; 3,794,054;
3,000,386; 1,666,757; 1,124,420; and 1,079,757. Generally, tents of the umbrella type are
normally comprised of a collapsible frame which has a plurality of legs pivoted at their upper
ends by a clevis assembly having an upper clevis member and a lower clevis member. Each leg
has a radial stay member that is attached from the upper end of the leg and faces inward with
each stay member connected inwardly to a lower clevis member. The upper and lower clevis
members are designed to engage when the tent is erected. The upper clevis member may contain
a central downwardly opening recess, while the lower clevis member contains a central upwardly
projecting pin, post or rod as shown in US Patent No. 4,945,936. Alternatively, the upper clevis
member may contain a central downwardly projecting pin, post or rod, while the lower clevis
member contains a central opening recess as shown in US Patent No. 3,929,146. One
disadvantage of these tents lie in this arrangement of the locking mech~ni.~m for the joining of
the lower and upper clevis members when the tent is erected. This disadvantage is due, in part,
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to the torque and twist forces put on the clevis members as the tent is erected. Thus. one object
of the present invention is to improve the locking mech~ni~m of collapsible umbrella type tents.
Collapsible tents have been made with the frame exterior to the tent fabric (see for
example US Patent No. 4,945,936), or with the frame interior to the tent fabric (see for example
US Patent No. 3,929,146). Either type of tent can also be provided with fly covers which
provide an air space between the tent fabric and the fly cover. (A fly cover is sometimes
referred to herein as a fly sheet or simply a fly.) This air space can act as a water barrier and
an insulator for the user. Although a fly cover has previously been applied to collapsible tents
with an exterior frame, it is desired to improve the ~tt~çhment of a fly cover to the çxt~rn~l
frame collapsible tents in order to expedite the setup of the tent and fly cover. In addition,
collapsible tents with an internal frame do not normally have the technical design to
accommodate the addition of a fly cover when needed. Thus, one object of the invention is to
provide a fly adaptor assembly and a modified clevis assembly for the optional attachment of
the fly adaptor assembly to the modified clevis member to aid in securing a fly cover to a
collapsible tent.
SUMM~RY OF T~F INVFNTION
The present invention is directed to a modified clevis assembly for collapsible tents. The
clevis assembly is modified so that it contains a conical pin (post or rod) entry guide on a first
clevis member to allow safe directing of the tip of the pin on a second clevis member into the
recess of the first clevis member. In the modified clevis assembly the pin is guided into the
recess should any torque or twist to the frame occur when the tent is erected due to the inherent
flexibility of the materials used in the construction of tent frames and the tendency for the user
to inadvertently apply force off of vertical through pressure from the user's hands when moving
the lower clevis member toward the upper clevis member. In one embodiment, the upper clevis
member is modified to include a cenkal downwardly opening recess in its under side that
advantageously includes a conical pin entry guide to allow for the safe directing of the tip of the
upwardly facing pin centrally located in the center of the upper surface of the lower clevis
member. The conical pin entry guide forms an integral part of the under surface of the upper
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clevis member. The conical pin entry guide may be modified to include a downwardly
extending shroud extension which is an integral part of the upper clevis member.In a second embodiment, the lower clevis member is modified to include a centralupwardly opening recess in its upper side that advantageously includes a conical pin entry guide
5 to allow for the safe directing of the tip of the downwardly facing pin centrally located in the
center of the under surface of the upper clevis member. The conical pin entry guide preferably
forms an integral part of the upper surface of the lower clevis member. The conical pin entry
guide may be modified to include an upwardly e~t~n-linp shroud extension which is an integral
part of the lower clevis member.
The clevis assembly is further optionally modified to include in or on the upper clevis
member means to receive a fly adaptor assembly. In one embodiment, the upper clevis member
is modified to have a centrally located hollow core extending from the center of the upper
surface of the upper clevis member vertically through the center of the upper clevis member out
the base of the upper clevis member to the apex of the conical pin entry guide. In a second
15 embodiment, this centrally located hollow core is replaced by a centrally located fly adaptor
receptacle in the upper surface of the upper clevis member. In a third embodiment, the upper
clevis member includes a centrally and vertically protruding pin from the upper surface of the
upper clevis member.
The present invention is further directed to a fly adaptor assembly. The fly adaptor
20 assembly advantageously allows the user to mount the fly cover on an as needed basis on a
collapsible umbrella tent. The fly adaptor assembly is advantageously used with such tents in
which the frame is located interior to the tent fabric. The fly adaptor assembly comprises a
single clevis member with a plurality of arms. Centrally mounted on the underside of the fly
adaptor assembly's clevis member is a means to attach the fly adaptor to the modified upper
25 clevis member of the collapsible tent's frame. The attachment means of the fly adaptor is
designed to mate with the fly adaptor receiving means of the upper clevis member of the tent
frame.
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RRTFF T)FSCRTPTION OF THF nRA~ll~GS
Fig. lA is a cross sectional view of a clevis assembly of a collapsible tent with the upper
clevis member having a conical pin entry guide on its underside and a vertical hollow opening
through its center with a fly adaptor receptacle in the center of its upper surface and the lower
S clevis member having a pin projecting upwardly from its upper surface.
Fig. lB is a top view of the upper clevis member shown in Fig. lA.
Fig. 1 C is a cross sectional view of a clevis assembly of a collapsible tent with the lower
clevis member having a conical pin entry guide on its upper surface and a vertical hollow
opening through its center and the upper clevis member having a pin projecting downwardly
from its under surface and a fly adaptor receptacle in the center of its upper surface.
Fig. lD is a top view of the upper clevis member shown in Fig. lC.
Fig. lE is a cross sectional view of a clevis assembly with the upper clevis member
having a conical pin entry guide on its underside and a centrally located fly adaptor recess on
its upper surface and a lower clevis member having a pin projecting upwardly from its upper
1 5 surface.
Fig. 1 F is a cross sectional view of a clevis assembly of a collapsible tent with the upper
clevis member having a conical pin entry guide on its underside and a fly adaptor pin protruding
vertically from the center of its upper surface and a lower clevis member having a pin projecting
upwardly from its upper surface.
Fig. 1 G is a top view of the upper clevis member shown in Fig. lF.
Fig. 2A is a cross sectional view of the clevis member shown in Fig. lA with a shroud
extension extending downwardly from the conical pin entry guide.
Fig. 2B is a cross sectional view of the clevis member shown in Fig. lC with a shroud
extension exten-ling upwardly from the conical pin entry guide.
Fig. 3A is a cross sectional view of a fly adaptor assembly having a fly adaptor pin
centrally located on the underside of the fly adaptor clevis to fit in a receptacle of the upper
clevis member of a clevis assembly of a collapsible tent frame.
Fig. 3B is a cross sectional view of the fly adaptor assembly shown in Fig. 3A mounted
into the fly adaptor receptacle of the upper clevis member of the clevis assembly shown in Fig.
lA.
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S
Fig. 4A is a cross sectional view of the fly adaptor assembly shown in Fig. 3A mounted
~ into the fly adaptor receptacle of the upper clevis member of the clevis assembly shown in Fig.
lC.
Fig. 4B is a cross sectional view of the fly adaptor assembly shown in Fig. 3A mounted
S into the fly adaptor receptacle of the upper clevis member of the clevis assembly shown in Fig.
lE.
Fig. 4C is a cross sectional view of a fly adaptor assembly having a centrally located
recess in the underside of the fly adaptor clevis member mounted onto the fly adaptor pin of an
upper clevis member of a clevis assembly.
10Fig. 5A is a cross sectional view of a fly adaptor assembly having a pin mount socket
in the center of the underside of the fly adaptor clevis.
Fig. SB is a cross sectional view of the fly adaptor assembly shown in Fig. SA mounted
onto the fly adaptor pin of the upper clevis member of the clevis assembly shown in Fig. lF.
Fig. SC is a cross sectional view of the fly adaptor assembly shown in Fig. 5A mounted
lS onto the fly adaptor pin of the upper clevis member of Fig. lF in which the clevis assembly is
on the interior of the tent fabric.
Fig. 6A is a cross sectional view of a fly adaptor assembly having a hollow mount
pedestal in the center of the underside of the fly adaptor.
Fig. 6B is a cross sectional view of the fly adaptor assembly of Fig. 6A mounted onto
20 the fly adaptor pin of the upper clevis member of Fig. 1 F in which the clevis assembly is on the
interior of the tent fabric.
Fig. 7A is a general schematic of an erected collapsible umbrella tent showing the fly
adaptor pin the same as that described in Fig. 1 F protruding through the apex of the tent fabric.
Fig. 7B is a general schematic of a tent described in Fig. 7A with a fly adaptor assembly
25 having a hollow pedestal mount similar to that described in Fig. 6A.
Fig. 7C is a general schematic Gf a tent described in Fig. 7A showing the fly adaptor
assembly described in Fig. 7B mounted onto the fly adaptor pin.
Fig. 7D is a general schematic showing a tent described in Fig. 7A showing the fly sheet
fabric placed over the fly adaptor assembly described in Fig. 6A and secured by tie downs to
30 the tent pegs.
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Fig. 8A is a semi-diagrammatic view of one embodiment of a tent and tent frame with
the clevis assembly of the present invention.
Fig. 8B is a semi-diagrammatic view of a second embodiment of a tent and tent frame
with the clevis assembly of the present invention.
5 l )FTATT Fn nFSCRTPTION OF THF INVFNTION
The present invention is directed to a modified clevis assembly and a fly adaptor
assembly for collapsible tents. The modified clevis assembly can be utilized in the construction
of frames for collapsible tents and in collapsible tents known in the art, including those described
in the patents identified above. The modified clevis assembly can be used in collapsible tent
10 frames in which are either exterior to the tent fabric or interior to the tent fabric. The fly
adaptor assembly can be used with clevis assemblies modified to allow for the ~tt~chment of the
fly adaptor assembly. Several such modifications are described below. The modified clevis
assembly and fly adaptor assembly of the present invention can be used with collapsible umbrella
tent frames m~nllf~ctured from any suitable materials used in such tents including, but not
15 limited to, metals, fiberglass, carbon fibers, or plastics. Similarly, the modified clevis assembly
and fly adaptor assembly and any of their components can be m~nllf~ctllred of any suitable
m~t.?ri~l~ used for collapsible tents.
In general, the clevis assembly is modified so that one of the two members (either the
upper or lower clevis member) accommodates a unique conical pin entry guide that provides
20 a safe guiding mech~ni.~m for the con~ tent entry of the pin centrally located on the other clevis
member and serving to guide the tip of the pin into the locked position on assembly of the
frame. In addition, the upper surface of the upper clevis member is modified to accommodate
the securement of a unique fly adaptor assembly
More specifically, the clevis assembly is modified so that it contains a conical pin (post
25 or rod) entry guide on a first clevis member to allow safe directing of the tip of the pin on a
second clevis member into the recess of the first clevis member. In the modified clevis
assembly, the pin is guided into the recess should any torque or twist to the frame occur when
the tent is erected due to the inherent flexibility of the materials used in the construction of tent
frames and the tendency for the user to inadvertently apply force off of vertical through pressure
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from the user's hands when moving the lower clevis member toward the upper clevis member.
The conical pin entry guide may also include an integral shroud extension to allow the pin to
be intercepted by the shroud extension at an early stage in the erection of the frame. This
shroud extension is particularly useful when flexible materials are used in the tent frame and
S provides an additional measure of safety to the user.
In one embodiment, the upper clevis member of a clevis assembly is modified to include
a central downwardly opening recess in its under side that advantageously includes a conical pin
entry guide to allow for the safe directing of the tip of the upwardly facing pin centrally located
in the center of the upper surface of the lower clevis member. The conical pin entry guide forms
an integral part of the under surface of the upper clevis member. In a second embodiment, the
lower clevis member of a clevis assembly is modified to include a central upwardly opening
recess in i~s upper side that advantageously includes a conical pin entry guide to allow for the
safe direct;ng of the tip of the downwardly facing pin centrally located in the center of the under
surface of the upper clevis member. The conical pin entry guide preferably forms an integral
part of the upper surface of the lower clevis member.
The clevis assembly is further optionally modified to include in or on the upper clevis
member means to receive a fly adaptor assembly. In one embodiment, the upper clevis member
is modified to have a cenkally located hollow core ext~n~ling from the center of the upper
surface of the upper clevis member vertically through the center of the upper clevis member out
the base of the upper clevis member to the apex of the conical pin entry guide. In a second
embodiment, this centrally located hollow core is replaced by a centrally located fly adaptor
receptacle in the upper surface of the upper clevis member. In a third embodiment, the upper
clevis member includes a centrally and vertically protruding pin from the upper surface of the
upper clevis member.
The present invention is further directed to a fly adaptor assembly. The fly adaptor
assembly advantageously allows the user to mount the fly cover on an as needed basis on a
collapsible umbrella tent. The fly adaptor assembly is advantageously used with such tents in
which the frame is located interior to the tent fabric. The fly adaptor assembly comprises a
single clevis member with a plurality of arms. Centrally mounted on the underside of the fly
adaptor assembly's clevis member is a means to attach the fly adaptor to the modified upper
clevis member of the collapsible tent's frame. The attachment means of the fly adaptor is
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designed to mate with the fly adaptor receiving means of the upper clevis member of the tent
frame. Thus, in one embodiment the underside of the fly adaptor assembly clevis has a centrally
located, downwardly projecting pin. In a second embodiment, the underside of the fly adaptor
clevis has a centrally located recess. In a third embodiment, the underside of the fly adaptor
5 assembly clevis has a centrally located hollow pedestal mount. The fly adaptor assembly may
also contain means for securing a fly cover to aid in proper in~t~ tion of the fly cover to the
collapsible tent.
The details of the modified clevis assembly and the fly adaptor assembly follows. The
modified clevis assembly can be utilized with any tent frame directly or after slight modifications
10 to take into consideration the design features of a particular tent frame. Such modifications will
be readily ~pa~ to a person skilled in making tent frames. In addition, the clevis assembly
and fly adaptor assembly are de~i~necl to be used with tents in which the fabric is exterior to the
tent frame or interior to the tent frame. The ~tt~hment of the fabric to each type of tent is well
known in the art. Suitable tent frames include those described in the patents referred to above.
Especially suitable tent frames can be found in US Patent Nos. 4,945,936 and 3,929,146, both
incorporated herein by reference.
The modified clevis assembly of the present invention is illustrated in Figs. lA-lG and
2A-2B. According to these figures, the clevis assembly 1 comprises an upper clevis member 2
and a lower clevis member 3. A plurality of legs (not shown) of a tent frame (not shown) are
20 connected to the clevis assembly 1. Each leg comprises an upper section 4 and lower section
(not shown) or sections with each section being pivotally connected to each other. The upper
section 4 of each leg is pivotally connected to the upper clevis member 2 by a pivot connector
5 with pin 6. The legs and pivot connector 5 are of any suitable tent construction material.
Each upper leg section 4 readily bend to follow the curvature necessary to lead to the upper
25 clevis member 2 of the clevis assembly 1.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. lA and lB, the lower clevis member 3 comprises amain body 7 having a central recess on its upper surface within which a center pin 8 is mounted.
The center pin 8 may be mounted by a threaded base at one end of the center pin 8 or,
alternately, mounted in the recess by bonding the end of the center pin 8 into the recess of the
30 lower clevis member 3. The upward facing pin 8 has a main body 9 of larger diameter and pin
tip 10 of smaller diameter at the upper end joining the body 9 in an upwardly directed shoulder
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11. Optionally, a stop member (not shown) tlimen~ioned and shaped to fit slidably within the
upper clevis member 2 can be seated on the shoulder 11. The lower clevis member 3 further
comprises a pivot connector 12 pivotally connected to the lower clevis member by pin 13. Each
pivot connector 12 receives a radial member 14 of the tent frame.
S The upper clevis member 2 is advantageously designed to comprise a main body 15
having a base 16 and a vertical hollow opening 17 extentling through the upper clevis member
2. The base 16 extends downward in a column that has on its underside facing the lower clevis
member 3 a conically tapered pin entry guide 18 c-llmin~tin~ at its apex in a recess or socket
19 at the lower end of the hollow opening 17. The recess 19 is ~limen~ioned and shaped to
suitably receive the pin tip 10 of the pin 8 exten-ling vertically from the lower clevis member
3. The conically tapered pin entry guide 18 guides the pin 8 into the recess 19 in the event the
pin tip 10 deviates from the target of the recess 19 due to torque or twist of the lower clevis
member 3 during erection of the tent frarne. If the shoulder 11 of pin 8 contains a stop
member, the stop member fits within recess 19.
In the embodiment shown in Figs. lC and lD, the upper clevis member 2 comprises a
main body 15 having a central recess in its lower surface within which a center pin 8 is
mounted. The center pin 8 may be mounted by a threaded base at one end of the center pin 8
or, alternately, mounted in the recess by bonding the end of the center pin 8 into the recess of
the upper clevis member 2. The downward facing pin 8 has a main body 9 of larger diameter
and pin tip 10 of smaller diameter at the lower end joining the body 9 in an downwardly directed
shoulder 11. Optionally, a stop member (not shown) ~limen~ioned and shaped to fit slidably
within the lower clevis member 3 can be seated on the shoulder 11.
The lower clevis member 3 is advantageously designed to comprise a main body 7 having
a base 20 which extends upward in a column that has on its upperside facing the upper clevis
member 2 a conically tapered pin entry guide 18 cl-lmin~ting at its nadir in a recess or socket
19 dimensioned and shaped to suitably receive the pin tip 10 of the pin 8 extending vertically
from the upper clevis member 3. The conically tapered pin entry guide 18 guides the pin 8 into
~ the recess 19 in the event the pin tip 10 deviates from the target of the recess 19 due to torque
or twist of the lower clevis member 3 during erection of the tent frame. If the shoulder 11 of
pin 8 contains a stop member, the stop member fits within recess 19.
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In the embodiment of the upper clevis 2 is shown in Fig. lE, the main body 15 contains
a recess or socket l9a instead of a vertical hollow opening with a recess as shown in Fig. lA.
The upper clevis member 2 of the present invention can be further modified to contain
a means for attaching a fly cover. As shown in Figs. lA and lB the fly cover attaching means
5 is the vertical hollow opening 17. The vertical hollow opening is dimensioned and shaped to
suitably receive a fly adaptor assembly. When the tent fabric 21 is exterior to the tent frame,
the tent fabric 21 is secured to the upper surface of upper clevis body 15 by any suitable fabric
securing means. In one embodiment, the fabric securing means is velcro 23. When velcro is
used for the tent fabric securing means, the tent fabric also contains velcro 24 on its underside.
10 The tent fabric 21 is secured in a way to enable access to the vertical hollow opening 17.
A second embodiment for a fly cover ~ rhing means is shown in Figs. lC and lE. In
this embodiment, the fly cover ~tt~ching means is a recess 25 centrally located in the upper part
of upper clevis body 15. The recess 25 is ~1imen~ioned and shaped to suitably receive a fly
adaptor assembly. Velcro 23, or other suitable fabric securing means, is provided on the upper
15 surface of upper clevis body 15 for a tent in which the frame is interior to the fabric. The tent
fabric 21 is secured in a way to enable access to the recess 25.
A third embodiment of a fly cover ~ rhing means is shown in Fig. lF. The fly cover
attaching means in this embodiment is a fly pin 26 which is centrally located on the upper
surface of upper clevis body 15 and extends vertically from the clevis body 15. The fly pin is
20 dimensioned and shaped to receive to suitably receive a fly adaptor assembly. The fly pin 26
may be square or rectangular as shown in Fig. lF, or it may be circular. When the tent fabric
is exterior to the tent frame, the tent fabric is ~1imen~ioned and shaped to accommodate the fly
pin 26 through a grommet or seal 27.
Although the modifications to the upper clevis member 2 shown in Figs. lA-lG has been
25 shown with reference to the tent fabric being on the exterior of the frame, the modified upper
clevis member 2 can also be used with tents having the frame on the outside of the tent fabric.
Figs. 2A and 2B illustrate the modified clevis assembly having a shroud extension. The
elements shown in these figures have the same me~ning as the elements shown in Figs. lA-lG.
The shroud extension can also be part of the clevis assembly shown in Fig. lE having a fly
30 adaptor recess or a part of the clevis assembly shown in Fig. lF having a fly adaptor pin. In
Fig. 2A, the base 16 extends downward in a column that has on its underside facing the lower
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clevis member 3 a conically tapered pin entry guide 18 cl-lmin~ting at its apex in a recess or
socket 19 at the lower end of the hollow opening 17 and cnlmin~ting at its nadir in a shroud
extension 22 which extends downwardly from the conical end of the conical pin entry guide 18.
The shroud extension 22 is preferably cylindrical in shape and an integral part of the conical pin
S entry guide 18 and base 16. In Fig. 2B, the lower clevis member 3 is advantageously designed
to comprise a main body 7 having a base 20 which extends upward in a column that has on its
upperside facing the upper clevis member 2 a conically tapered pin entry guide 18 cnlmin~ting
at its nadir in a recess or socket 19 and cnl,.,i~ at its apex in a shroud extension 22 which
extends upwardly from the conical end of the conical pin entry guide 18. The shroud extension
22 is preferably cylindrical in shape and an integral part of the conical pin entry guide 18 and
base 20. The shroud extension 22 hll~ rc~L~ pin 8 during erection of the tent and the conical
pin entry guide 18 guides pin 8 into recess 19.
The fly adaptor assembly 40 of the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 3A, SA, and
6A. The fly adaptor assembly 40 preferably comprises a meçh~ni~m separate from the tent
lS clevis assembly 1 and tent frame (not shown) that has a single fly clevis member 41 with a
plurality of arms 42. Advantageously, the number of arms 42 corresponds to the number of legs
of the tent frame. Each arm 42 is pivotally connected to the fly clevis member 41 by pivot
connector 43 with pin 44. According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3A, a downwardly
protruding fly pin 45 is centrally located on the llntl~r.ci(le of fly clevis member 41. The fly pin
45 has a body 47 of larger diameter and fly pin tip 48 of small diameter at the lower end of fly
pin 45. Fly pin 45 may be circular as shown in Fig. 3A, or it may be square or rectangular as
shown in Fig. 4A. Fly pin 45 is r~imen~ioned and shaped to engage the vertical hollow opening
17 or the recess 19 of upper clevis member 2.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. SA, fly adaptor assembly 40 contains a fly mountsocket 49 in the base of fly clevis member 41. The fly mount socket 49 is dimensioned and
shaped to engage the fly pin 26 of the modified upper clevis member 2 shown in Fig. lF.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6A, fly adaptor assembly 40 contains a hollow fly
~ pedestal mount 50 on the underside of the base of fly clevis member 41. The hollow fly
pedestal mount 50 is dimensioned and shaped to engage the fly pin 26 of the modified upper
clevis member 2 shown in Fig. lF.
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Tn~t~ tion of the fly adaptor assembly to the clevis assembly of the tent frame is shown
in Figs. 3B, 4B, 4C, SB, SC and 6B. To install the fly adaptor assembly 40, the centrally located
downwardly extended fly pin 45 from the underside of the fly adaptor assembly clevis 41 is
inserted in the centrally located recess 19 or l9a or into the vertical hollow opening 17 of the
S upper clevis member 2 of the tent frame. If the tent fabric is exterior to the frame the fly pin
45 is inserted through a predesigned entry point in the fabric on the center of the top of the tent.
Alternatively, the centrally located fly mount socket 49 or hollow pedestal mount 50 is inserted
onto the upwardly facing fly pin 26 centrally located on the top surface of the upper clevis
member 2. Once the fly adaptor assembly is mounted on the top of the tent, the plurality of
arms 42 are brought downward to their locked position.
The fly adaptor assembly 40 engaged with the vertical hollow opening 17 or the recess
19 or l9a of clevis assembly 1 is shown in Figs. 3B, 4B and SB. The fly adaptor assembly 40
engaged with the fly adaptor pin 26 of clevis assembly I is shown in Fig. 4C. The fly adaptor
assembly 40 engaged with the fly adaptor pin 26 of the upper clevis member 2 in which the
lS frame and clevis assembly I is interior of the tent fabric is shown in Figs. SC and 6B.
The shape and design of the mount (fly pin 45, mount socket 49 or pedestal mount 50)
of the fly adaptor assembly 40 is such to allow the plurality of arms 42 on the fly adaptor
assembly 40 to orient automatically with the orientation of the tent frame legs once the fly
adaptor assembly arms 42 are rotated into position. Alternatively, if the recess 19 or l9a or
vertical hollow opening 17 in the central portion of the upper surface of the upper clevis member
2 is circular and the fly pin 45 at the center of the base of the fly adaptor assembly clevis 41
is of a tubular or cylindrical design to fit into the recess 19 or l9a or vertical hollow opening
17, then the arms 42 of the fly adaptor assembly 40 can be m~n~l~lly rotated on the fly clevis
41 to orient the arms with the legs of the tent. The leg braking structures Sl on the pivot
connectors 43 joining the arms 42 with the fly clevis member 41 of the fly adaptor assembly 40
are of a shape and configuration that allow each arm to be rotated into a pre-set horizontal
position or, alternatively, into a pre-set position that may vary off of the horizontal if desired.
The upper surface of the fly adaptor clevis member 41 can have velcro 52 or other material that
can hold the fly sheet fabric.
When all of the arms 42 of the fly adaptor assembly 40 are locked downward in place,
the fly sheet 53 is then extended over the fly adaptor assembly 40 by placing a predesigned
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target of the fly sheet 53 onto the upper surface of the fly adaptor assembly clevis member 41.
This target area can be color coded on the fly sheet 53 or secured to the upper surface of the fly
adaptor assembly clevis 41 through the use of an attachment such as velcro 52. The corners of
fly sheet 53 are then tied down securely to the specific tie downs at the base of the legs or to
the tent pins. This procedure is sçhem~tically presented in Figs. 7A-7D. Conveniently the
removal of the fly sheet 53 and fly adaptor assembly 40 is a simple reversal of the procedure
used to install it.
Although the fly adaptor assembly of the present invention has been described to be
separate from the clevis assembly, the fly adaptor assembly could be made to be an integral part
of the clevis assembly. The fly adaptor assembly can also be used with the clevis assembly
having the shroud extension.
As previously described, the modified clevis assembly of the present invention can be
used with tent frames known in the art as illustrated by the patents set forth above. One such
frame, as described in US Patent No. 4,945,936, with the modified clevis assembly is shown in
Fig. 8A. The upper leg sections 4 are attached to the upper clevis member 2 as previously
described. At a point intermediate its length, each upper leg section 4 is provided with pivot
member 60 and a radial member 14. Each radial member 14 attaches to the lower clevis
member 3 as previously described. Lower leg sections 61 are pivotally connected to the upper
leg sections 4 by pivot connector 62.
The clevis assembly preferably contains four legs as shown in Figs. lB, lD and lG.
However, the clevis assembly ca be made to contain three to eight legs depending on the size
of the tent. Larger tents can also be made by using more than one lower leg section for each
leg, as shown in Fig. 8B. The upper portion 63 of lower leg section 61 is pivotally connected
to an upper leg section 4 by pivot connector 62. The lower portion 64 of lower leg section 61
iS pivotally connected to the upper portion 63 by pivot connectors 65.
It will be apparent that various changes and modifications can be made without departing
from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Thus, certain arms of the fly adaptor
assembly can be longer than others to allow for the fly sheet fabric to create a vestibule effect
and, further, the invention can be made of any suitable material normally used in tent frame
manufacturing or the invention can be used with tent frames manufactured from any suitable
material.
