Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02336452 2002-07-19
TRIANGULAR FRAME TENT
FIELD
The present invention relates to a tent structure
whose top is supported by a flying pole, which rests on a
cable network. The cable network is attached to the corners
of the frame structure and the only frame elements extending
down to the ground are those at the corners. The shape of
the tent as viewed from the top is triangular. A plurality
of triangular frame tents or a plurality of triangular frame
tents in combination with tents of other shapes can be very
efficiently used to cover irregular areas.
BACKGROUND
Although it is possible to join a number of square
tents to cover a large square or rectangular area, it is
more difficult to use a number of square tents to cover
curved areas, areas with a sharp bend, or irregularly shaped
areas. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to
provide an improved tent structure that more effectively
allows the coverage of irregular areas.
It is a further object to provide a tent structure
that can be used with other shapes of similar tent
structures to produce a wide variety of overall shapes.
CA 02336452 2002-07-19
Another object of the present invention is to
provide a tent structure that can be expanded modularly to
cover large areas.
SiJMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a
triangular frame tent having a triangular-shaped perimeter
frame comprising three corner joints coupled to at least
three rigid frame members. The perimeter frame is supported
by three corner posts, which are coupled to the corners of
the perimeter frame. In addition ther=e are three cables
each having one end connected to a corresponding corner
joint and another end removably connectable to a common
junction element. A flexible roof canopy is attached to the
perimeter frame and is tensioned by a flying pole which is
couplable at one end to the common junction element and at
another end to an interior surface of the roof canopy. The
point of contact between the flying pole and the roof canopy
forms the peak of the triangular frame tent.
By tensioning the roof canopy with a flying pole
supported by a cable network the present invention provides
a structure free of interior poles that. extend to the
ground, which allows for unimpeded movement under the tent.
Due to its size and simple construction, the
triangular frame tent, or a plurality of triangular frame
tents, can be quickly and easily erected by one person.
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Advantageously, the triangular frame tent may be
modularly expanded allowing a plurality of tents to be
coupled to cover large areas.
The triangular shape of the present invention
makes it possible, when a plurality of triangular frame
tents are joined together or when one or more triangular
frame tents are joined to tents of other shapes, to more
effectively provide cover to irregularly shaped areas than
could be previously done without triangular frame tents.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further features and advantages will be apparent
from the following detailed description, given by way of
example, of a preferred embodiment taken. in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a triangular frame
tent;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a corner joint;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a corner joint;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an assembled
triangular frame tent;
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Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing how the
triangular frame tent can be used with a hexagonal tent and
square tents;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing how the
triangular frame tent can be used with a square tent;
Fig. 7 is top view showing another alternative
combination of how the triangular frame tent can be used
with a central hexagonal tent to form a star shape;
Fig. 8 is a top view of a combination of square
and triangular frame tents used to follow an irregular
shoreline;
Fig. 9 is a top view of a plurality of triangular
frame tents joined in linear sequence where a bend is
introduced into the linear sequence;
Fig. 10 is a top view of a plurality of triangular
frame tents joined in linear sequence where the linear
sequence branches in two;
Fig. 11 is a top view of a plurality of square
tents joined in linear sequence where a branch is introduced
into the linear sequence by introducing a triangular frame
tent;
Fig. 12 is a top view of a combination of
hexagonal tents and triangular frame tents wherein the areas
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between the hexagonal tents are covered by the triangular
frame tents;
Fig. 13 is a perspective view of triangular frame
tent with a wall membrane affixed;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS
Referring to Figure 1, the assembled triangular
frame tent 10 consists of a perimeter frame 17 consisting of
perimeter frame members 16 and corner joints 35. The
perimeter frame 17 is supported from the ground by three
corner posts 12 each resting on a base plate 13. The
flexible canopy 14 is supported by a flying pole 24 which
stands vertically, supported on junction 11 of cables 29.
Peak 20 in the canopy 14 corresponds to t,he location where
the flying pole 24 contacts the canopy 14. Guy wires 22 may
be attached between each of the corner joints 35 and the
ground to offset forces that tend to deform the perimeter
frame 17 and to stabilize the tent against winds.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3, there are shown
perspective views of a corner joint 35 with frame connectors
28, an attachment point 18 for cables 29 (see Fig. 1) and
attachment point 55 for guy lines 22 (see Fig. 1). The
frame connectors 28 have a non-circular cross-section so as
to prevent twisting of perimeter frame members 16 in
response to tensioning of flexible canopy 14 (see Fig. 1).
5
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The corner joints 35 may additionally include
scuppers (not shown) to accept water from the roof canopy 14
and channel it down through the corner posts 12 (see Fig.
1). Corner joints 35 may further include additional frame
connectors (not shown) operative to receive perimeter frame
members of adjacent tent structures, such that two adjacent
tents share common corner joints 35.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, assembly of the
triangular frame tent 10 starts by assembling the perimeter
frame 17. The first step is to insert the ends of the first
perimeter frame member 16 into the frame connectors 28 of
two corner joints 35.
Proceeding to step 2, the end (not shown) of the
second perimeter frame member 16 is inserted into a frame
connector 28.
Proceeding to step 3, the end (not shown) of the
third perimeter frame member 16 is inserted into a frame
connector 28 of the other of the corner joints 35 that is
connected to the first perimeter frame member 16.
Proceeding to step 4, the remaining ends (not
shown) of the second perimeter frame member 16 and the third
perimeter frame member 16 are inserted into the frame
connectors 28 of the third corner joint 35.
Once the perimeter frame 17 has been assembled,
two corner posts 12 are connected to frame connectors 28 of
6
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CA 02336452 2002-07-19
respective corner joints 35 so as to raise one side of the
perimeter frame 17. Three cables 29 are each connected at
one end to attachment points 18 of corresponding corner
joints 35, and at another end to a coffunon junction element
11. A first end of the flying pole 24 is connected to the
junction element 11 and a second end of the flying pole 24
is inserted into a canopy cup (not shown) at the center of
the flexible canopy 14 making the entire structure
tensioned. The third corrier joint 35 of the perimeter frame
17 resting on the ground is then raised and the third corner
post 12 is connected to the frame connector 28 of the third
corner joint 35.
Referring to Figure 4, there is shown a
perspective view of a fully assembled and tensioned
triangular frame tent 10.
Referring to Figure 5, there is shown a central
hexagonal tent 26 tensioned by a flyirig pole compressed
between a junction of six cables, each affixed to a
corresponding corner joint, and the center of the canopy 30.
Attached to each side of the hexagonal. tent 26 is a
similarly tensioned square tent 32. The uncovered areas
between the square tents 32 are filled with triangular frame
tents 10, thus producing a substantially circular-shaped
combined tent structure. Adjacent terits in this
configuration share perimeter frame members and there is
only one perimeter frame member between adjacent tents. In
addition, each pair of adjacent tents shares two corner
joints located at the ends of said shared perimeter frame
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member. Said shared corner joints have additional frame
connectors to connect to frame members of adjacent tents.
Referring to Figure 6, another structure achieved
by combining square tent 32 and triangular frame tents 10 is
shown. In this instance, as in Figure 5, adjacent tents
share perimeter frame members and corner joints. The shared
corner joints have additional frame connectors 28 (not
shown) to connect to frame members of adjacent tents.
Referring to Figure 7, there is shown a
combination of a central hexagonal tent 26 with several
triangular frame tents 10 to achieve a star-shaped tent
structure 33. In this instance, as in Figure 5, adjacent
tents share perimeter frame members and corner joints. The
shared corner joints have additional frame connectors 28
(not shown) to connect to frame members of adjacent tents.
Referring to Figure 8, an alternative combination
of square 32 and triangular frame tents 10 allows placement
of the combination tent structure so that it follows a
shoreline. It will be appreciated that any number of
contours are made possible with the use of the triangular
frame tent 10 in combination with tents of other shapes. In
this instance, as in Figure 5, adjacent tents share
perimeter frame members and corner joints (not shown). The
shared corner joints have additional frame connectors 28
(not shown) to connect to frame members of adjacent tents.
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Referring to Figure 9, there is shown a
combination of triangular frame tents 10 joined in linear
sequence such that a bend is introduced into the linear
sequence. This configuration may be used, for example, to
cover a pathway with a bend or to follow a shoreline.
Referring to Figure 10, there is shown a
combination of triangular frame tents 10 joined in linear
sequence such that the linear sequence is branched. This
configuration may be used, for example, to cover a branched
pathway.
Referring to Figure 11, there :is shown a
combination of square tents 32, joined in linear sequence,
and a triangular frame tent 10, such that said linear
sequence is branched. This configuration may be used, for
example, to cover a branched pathway.
Referring to Figure 12, a combination of
triangular frame tents 10 and hexagonal tents 26 are shown
whereby the spaces between the hexagonal tents 26 are
covered by the triangular frame tents 10. This
configuration may be used to cover large areas.
Referring to Figure 13, a flexible wall membrane
62 is attached along the length of the perimeter frame
member 16 (see Fig. 1) and corner posts 12 so as to form a
wall of the triangular frame tent.
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While this invention has been described with
reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is
not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various
modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as
other embodiments of the invention, will. be apparent to
persons skilled in the art upon reference to this
description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended
claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as
fall within the true scope of the invention.
