Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02548670 2006-04-27
A FOLDABLE TENT FRAME
BACKGROUND OF THE 1NVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a foldable tent frame, and more particularly
to
connection sets used for connecting the pole to the bottom of main body of
tent.
2. Description of Prior Art
In accordance with the conventional foldable tent, as shown in Fig. 1, it is
con-
sisted of several foldable braces and some connection sets connection adjacent
member
bars and facilitating to fold. Due to fold function of the connection set, as
pitching up
the tent, the positioner must be employed for preventing the member bars from
folding
under large extra force from outside such like big wind or other load as
unexpected
striking.
On the other hand, the foldable brace set typically comprises several member
bars, at least three end by end in dull connection in common, and each nodal
point in
] 5 different position receives different external force of wind, so it bears
different stress.
Generally, the lower connection sets, due to facing to the wind in front
orientation, bear
stronger load; and the upper connection sets bear smaller load relatively. In
addition,
due to the location state of the connection sets of pitched tent frame, as
folding the tent,
how to conveniently release the location state of the connection sets,
whatever the
mechanism of the positioner is, is essential to the users. The lower
connection sets lo-
cated in the lower place will not bring any trouble to the user, but the upper
connection
sets located in the higher place maybe make some trouble to the shorter user
in opera-
tion; therefore, an easy operation position mechanism become more important to
the
shorter user.
Based on the above, regarding to the foldable tent frame, depending on the dif-
ferent place, the connection set should be designed in different mechanism for
meeting
different function.
_1-
CA 02548670 2006-04-27
OBJECTS Mr) SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a main object of the present invention to provide connection
sets,
which can be firmly located as pitching up, meanwhile facilitated to release
in operation
as folding up.
This object is achieved by a following resolution provided by the present
inven-
tion: foldable tent frame cornprised of a certain number of braces connected
each other
in dull connection by connection sets; the upper connection set includes two
connection
pieces hinged together in dull connection, wherein one connection piece has a
cut-away
groove along the axial at the open end to form a pair of opposite groove
sides, and a cut-
ting groove formed at the front side crossing the both sides of the cut-away
groove; -an-
other connection piece extends a tongue at the front end for correspondently
plugging
into the cut-away groove, and a slotted-eye is formed on the middle portion of
the
tongue, and coordinating to the cut-away groove, said tongue has a rim formed
at the
root, and a cam is extended from the surface of the rim coordinating to the
cutting
groove; the lower connection set includes two inter-hinged connection pieces,
wherein
one connection piece has a cut-away groove along the axial at the open end to
form a
pair of opposite groove sides, and a cutting groove crossing the both sides of
the cut-
away groove, and a stopping cam with a stopping surface extended out ftm the
open
side of the cutting groove approaching to the cut-away groove; another
connection piece
of the lower connection set extends out a tongue from the front end for
engaging into
the cut-away groove correspondently with a slotted-eye formed on the middle
portion,
and coordinating to the outside surface of the cut-away groove, said tongue
has a rim
formed at the root, and a cam is extended f3rom the surface of the rim
coordinating to the
cutting groove, said cam stretches a stopping surface along one side for
correspondently
matching with the stopping surface of the first connection piece.
In said upper connection set, one connection piece with the cut-away groove ex-
tends a catching lug from the inner side of the closed end of cut-away groove
to form a
recess with the bottom side of the cut-away groove; and the another connection
piece
extends a nose from the tip end of the tongue so that the nose is exactly
locked in the
recess as the member bars are unfolded; on the other hand, the waist slotted-
eye of an-
other connection piece is tilted to the inside and the bottom side.
In said lower cmection set, one connection piece with the cut-away groove ex-
tends a catching lug from the inner side of the closed end of cut-away groove
to form a
-2-
CA 02548670 2006-04-27
recess with the bottom side of the cut-away groove; and the another eonnection
piecc
extends a nose from the tip end of the tongue so that the nose is exactly
located in the
recess as the member bars are unfolded; on the other hand, the waist slotted-
eye of an-
other connection piece is enlarged one end approaching to the inside and the
bottom
side to 1'orm one big end and one small end.
In this case, due to employing the double caging devices in the present
invention,
such as inter-engaged cutting groove with the cam and the catching lug and the
nose, the
retaining intension of the connection set is improved greatly so that the
pitched tent
frame is more stably.
On the other hand, due to the difference load received in different nodal
point
located in different place in the wind, the mechanism of connection set in
each nodal
point is designed in different. Regarding to the upper connection set, due to
higher place
located and smaller load received, so the easy operation is focused on, so
that the catch-
ing depth of the cutting groove and the cam is designed into shallow for
facilitating to
release once withdrawing the catch-in force, therefore, do not need to draw
out the both
connection pieces with both hands as folding up the tent frame, just need to
eliminate
the intensity of the tent frame, and tuin the member bars around the pivoted
point of the
connection set with a little force, the tent frame can be folded easily, even
if the user is
short.
Regarding to the lower connection set, due to lower place located and stronger
load received from wind, so the bearing capacity is focused on in design,
therefore, the
contacting surfaces of the cut-away groove and the cam is stretched out to
form a pair of
stopping surfaces to increase the engaging area, so that the two connection
pieces are
inter-locked tightly to improve the bearing capacity without any anxious about
collaps-
ing even under stronger wind as pitching up the tent frame. And when folding
this nodal
point, just draw out the engaged two connection pieces with the both hand, the
tent
frame can be folded easily, due to the lower place of the nodal point, the
operation is
became easier.
-3-
CA 02548670 2006-04-27
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Ok'THE DRAVIWIlNGS
Fig. 1 is a scheme showing the extennal look of the prior art.
Fig. 2 is an exploded view showing the upper connection set of the present in-
vention.
Fig. 3 is a scheme showing the combined upper connection set of the present in-
vention.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the engaging state of the upper connection
set
of the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the disengaging state of the upper
connection
set of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the folding action of the upper connection
set
of the present invention.
Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the folded state of the upper connection
set of
the present invention.
Fig. 8 is an exploded view showing the lower connection set of the present in-
vention.
Fig. 9 is a solid view showing the combined lower connection set of the
present
invention.
Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing thc engaging state of the lower connection
set of the present invention.
Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing the disengaging state of the lower
connection
set of the present invention.
Fig. 12 is a sectional view showing the folding action of the lower connection
set of the present invention.
Fig. 13 is a sectional view showing the folded state of the lower connection
set
of the present invention.
Fig. 14 is a scheme showing the using state of the present invention.
-4-
CA 02548670 2006-04-27
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Fig. 2 to Fig. 13, the tent applying the present invention
comprised
of a certain number of braces I connected each other in dull connection by
connection
sets; in this case, three-panel structure is described in detail as an
example, the upper
connection set A is used for connecting the top and the middle braces 1, and
the lowcr
conneetion set B connects the middle to the low braces 1 for facilitating to
folding the
whole frame.
Referring to Fig. 2 to Fig. 4, said upper connection set A includes two connec-
tion pieces A 1 A2 hinged together in dull connection, and their outside ends
are respec-
tively fixed on the coordinating tip ends of the up and the middle braces 1.
Wherein one
connection piece Al has a cut-away groove Al 1 along the axial at the open end
to form
a pair of opposite groove sides, and a through pin hole A12 drilled crossing
the both
groove sides, and a cutting groove A13 formed crossing the front ends of the
both sides
of the cut-away groove All, said cutting groove A13 can be a curved groove;
addition-
ally, the cut-away groove extends a catching lug A14 from the inner side of
the closed
end to forni a recess between the catching lug A14 and the bottom side of the
cut-away
groove A11.
Another connection piece A2 extends a tongue A21 at the front end for oorre-
spondently plugging into the cut-away groove Al l, and a slotted-eye A22 is
formed on
the middle port.ion of the tongue A21 so that a rivet S passes through and
rivets on the
pin hole A12 to hinge the two connection pieces Al A2 together, and
coordinating to
the outside surface of the cut-away groove A11, said tongue A21 has a rim A25
forn-ed
at the root, and a cam A23 is extended from the top end surface of the rim A25
coordi-
nating to the cutting groove A13, in addition, the tongue A21 extends a nose
A24 from
the tip end so that the nose can exactly catch in the recess formed between
the catching
lug A14 and the bottom side of the cut-away groove AlI to lock on the catching
lug
A14.
Referring to Fig. 5 to Fig. 7, as folding the upper connection set A, just
need to
draw out the two connection pieces Al A2 outward respectively so that the cam
A23 of
the connection piece A2 slides off$om the cutting groove A 13 of the
connection piece
Al, meanwhile the cam A24 simultaneously slides off from the recess to release
the
lock of the catching lug A 14=, then, fold up the both connection pieces Al A2
together.
For preventing the nosc A24 of the connection pieae A2 from interfering with
the bot-
-5.
CA 02548670 2006-04-27
tom side of the cut-away groove Al l, said slotted-eye A22 of the connection
piece A2
is cut into tilting to the inside and the bottom side; referring to Fig. 5, as
drawing the
two connection pieces A I A2 away, the tilted slotted-eye A22 will lift the
connection
piece A2 up so that the nose A24 will not interfere with the bottom side of
the cut-away
groove Al l as turning them around the rivet S (as shown in Fig. 6),
Referring to Fig. 8 to Fig. 10, the lower connection set B includes two inter-
hinged connection pieces Bl B2 of the same, and their outside ends are
respectively
fixed on the coordinating tip ends of the up and the middle braces 1. Wherein
as same as
above-mentioned connection set A in the structures of the both connection
pieces Al
A2, the lower connection set B includes a pair of socket joined cut-away
groove B11
and the tongue B21, by riveting the pin hole B12 to the slotted-eye B22 with a
rivet S,
and engaging the cutting groove B13 and the cam B23, and inter-locking the
catching
lug B14 and the nose B24, moreover the rim 1125 formed on the root of the
tongue B21
coordinating to the outside surface of the cut-away groove B11, and the cam
B24 is pro-
jected from the rim B25, the both connection pieces BI B2 are hinged and inter-
locked
together. The differences from the upper connection set A are as follows:
In one connection piece B1, the through cutting groove B13 crossing the cut-
away groove B11 extends out a stopping cam B15 on each side respectively to
form an
extended stopping surface B16, and coordinating to this, the cain B23 of
another con-
nection piece B2 has a stopping surface B26 for matching with the stopping
surface B 16.
For getting firmer location effect of inter-engaged two stopping surfaces B16
and B26,
the both stopping surfaces B 16 and B26 are designed into acute angle.
In addition, the waist slotted-eye B22 of another connection piece B2 is
enlarged
one end approaching to the inside and the bottom side to form one big end and
one
small end. In this case, as tenting to fold the lower connection set B, as
shown in Fig. I 1
to Fig. 13, draw away the two connection pieces Bl and 82 so that the cam B23
slides
out from the cutting groove B13 of the connection piece B2, meanwhile the nose
B24 is
simultaneously released from the inter-locked catching lug B14; while sliding
off be-
tween the two connection pieces B1 and B2, the bigger end of the slotted-eye
B22 is
leaving more space for lifting the another connection piece B2 up so that the
nose B24
will not interfere with the bottom side of the cut-away graove Bl 1(as shown
in Fig. 12).
Referring to Fig. 14, the connection sets provided of the present invention
are
used in a foldable tent frame, as tenting to pitch up for use, under the
stretching force of
the whole tent frame, the all connection sets A and B are received a pair of
opposite
-6-
CA 02548670 2006-04-27
forces on the nodal. point so that the each cam A23 or B23 catches into each
cutting
groove A13 or B13 to carry out location function preventing all the connection
sets A
and B from folding relatively, so they are in stable inter-locking state. On
the other hand,
due to employing the double caging devices in the present invention, such as
inter-
engaged cutting grooves A13 B13 with the cams A23 823 and inter-locked the
catching
lugs Al 4 B 14 and the noses A24 B24, the retaining intensions of the
connection sets are
improved greatly. Moreover, regarding to the lower connection set B, due to
the inter-
engaged stopping surfaces B16 and B26 of the cutting groove B13 and the cam
B23, as
pitching up the tent frame, the two connection pieces BI and B2 are locked
together
firmly to get enough intension of bearing strong wind without any anxious
about falling
down.
As tenting to fold up the tent fi-ame, due to emulating the stretching force
of the
whole tent frame out, all the nodal points are in free, regarding to the lower
connection
set B, the user just need to draw away the two connection pieces B1 and B2,
the connec-
tion set B can be closed together, due to it locates in a lower place, so the
operation is
easy. And regarding to the upper connection set A, due to the shallow engaging
depth of
the cutting groove A13 and the cam A23, even once the opposite forces coming
from
the stretching force of the whole tent frame are emulated, the two connection
pieces Al
and A2 can be fallen off, in this time, the user just draws the connection set
A along the
closing direction, the rivet S will slide along the slotted-eye A22 to lift
another connec-
tion piece A2 up, meanwhile the two connection pieces Al and A2 are closed in
this
processing, therefore, although the upper connection set A is located in the
higher place,
the operation is certainly easy and convenient, even to the sborter. user, it
is easy too.
Although the bearing intension of the upper connection set A is smaller than
the lower
connection set B, because it receives smaller wind force, but also it is
enough for bear-
ing strong wind without any falling down.
.7.
