Patent Application
20190226227
The technical field of the present invention relates to tents, and may more specifically relate to fabric tents supported by rigid poles.
In the accompanying drawings:
The instant invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings and/or photographs, in which one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be operative, enabling, and complete. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention. Moreover, many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosed by the embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of the present invention.
Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Unless otherwise expressly defined herein, such terms are intended to be given their broad ordinary and customary meaning not inconsistent with that applicable in the relevant industry and without restriction to any specific embodiment hereinafter described. As used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term “one”, “single”, or similar language is used. When used herein to join a list of items, the term “or” denotes at least one of the items, but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list.
For exemplary methods or processes of the invention, the sequence and/or arrangement of steps described herein are illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, it should be understood that, although steps of various processes or methods may be shown and described as being in a sequence or temporal arrangement, the steps of any such processes or methods are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequence or arrangement, absent an indication otherwise. Indeed, the steps in such processes or methods generally may be carried out in various different sequences and arrangements while still falling within the scope of the present invention.
Additionally, any references to advantages, benefits, unexpected results, or operability of the present invention are not intended as an affirmation that the invention has been previously reduced to practice or that any testing has been performed. Likewise, unless stated otherwise, use of verbs in the past tense (present perfect or preterit) is not intended to indicate or imply that the invention has been previously reduced to practice or that any testing has been performed.
Referring now to the drawing figures, an interactive Christmas tree tent is disclosed and indicated generally at reference numeral 1. The Christmas tree tent is intended to provide a fun alternative or addition to a traditional Christmas tree for families with babies and/or toddlers. The Christmas tree tent shares a similar basic shape and structure with a standard tent or tee-pee, however it is designed to look like a Christmas tree with certain unique interactive components for families who want the joy of Christmas in their home without the trouble of worrying about potential dangers associated with a conventional decorated tree.
Referring initially to
The cover 10 may be generally triangular shaped panels stitched together to give the teepee, or Christmas tree shape, with side poles 33 positioned at the seams (corners) between panels. In one embodiment the cover is made of green cotton felt.
One of the sides 12 of tent 1 is a front side 18 with an opening 20 for tent ingress and egress. Opening 20 may be in the form of a slit 21 (see particularly
In the depicted embodiment the floor 36 is a square, and the tent has four side poles 33 delineating four sides 12, including the front side 18, and a back side 13 opposite the front side. Alternatively, the tent can have more than four side poles 33 and sides 12, giving the tent for example a hexagonal or octagonal shape, with a corresponding hexagonal or octagonal shaped floor 36. The floor poles 35 may be straight as depicted, or arcuate forming a circle.
Referring now also to the cross-section view of
Referring now to
Tent 1 may further include non-removable fabric ornaments 48 and Christmas lights 51 disposed about the outside of cover 10 (see
The Christmas lights 51 may be a string of conventional electric lights that are wrapped around the outside of the tent, as shown for example in
Referring to
The tent may further include a fabric Christmas star 11 stitched to the top. In one embodiment the star 11 is configured as a pillow with two sides and a soft filler material.
The Christmas tree tent of the present disclosure further comprises a method of use. In one embodiment the method involves the following steps for providing a safe Christmas tree experience for a toddler:
1. providing a conical shaped fabric cover with a wide base and a generally pointed top;
2. supporting the cover with a plurality of evenly spaced side poles extending from the base to the top of the cover, where the side poles and cover together define a teepee shaped tent having corners and sides, and where one of the sides is a front side with an opening for tent ingress and egress;
3. attaching a plurality of buttons to an outside of the tent at a level within reach of a toddler; and/or
4. hanging a plurality of decorative fabric ornaments from the buttons using a cord loop attached to each ornament.
The above method may further comprise the following additional steps:
5. creating a tent frame by connecting the bottom ends of the side poles with floor poles and joining together the upper ends of the side poles;
6. attaching a fabric floor to the tent along bottom edges of the cover sides; wherein the buttons are between one and two feet from the bottom edges of the sides;
7. illuminating the outside of the tent with lights;
8. attaching a plurality of non-removable fabric ornaments to an outside of the tent above the area with the buttons and removable ornaments; and/or
9. providing four side poles, giving the tent four corners and four sides.
There has been described a novel christmas tree tent apparatus and process. For the purposes of describing and defining the present invention it is noted that the use of relative terms, such as “substantially”, “generally”, “approximately”, and the like, are utilized herein to represent an inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. These terms are also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described above. No element, act, or instruction used in this description should be construed as important, necessary, critical, or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Although only a few of the exemplary embodiments have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in these exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.
In the claims, any means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Thus, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures. Unless the exact language “means for” (performing a particular function or step) is recited in the claims, a construction under § 112, 6th paragraph is not intended. Additionally, it is not intended that the scope of patent protection afforded the present invention be defined by reading into any claim a limitation found herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62709525 | Jan 2018 | US |
