Patent Application
20220251869
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The disclosure relates to tent assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new tent assembly for viewing the sky. Disclosed herein is a tent assembly comprising a foldable frame, which supports a hammock. A portion of a shell, which is selectively positionable over the frame so that the portion is positioned on a top of the frame, is substantially transparent to allow for a view therethrough.
The prior art relates to tent assemblies. Prior art tent assemblies may comprise foldable frames for tents and hammocks, tents having shelves integral thereto, tree supported tent and hammock combinations, tents with screened viewing ports in tops thereof, and tents having at least one substantially transparent roof section. What is lacking in the prior art is comprising a foldable frame, which supports a hammock. A portion of a shell, which is selectively positionable over the frame so that the portion is positioned on a top of the frame, is substantially transparent to allow for a view therethrough.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a frame, a shell, and a hammock. The frame comprises a plurality of segments, which are hingedly interconnected so that the frame is selectively positionable in a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration. In the deployed configuration, the frame is substantially cuboid shaped and defines an interior space. In the stowed configuration, the segments are proximally positioned. The hammock is selectively engageable to the frame so that the hammock is suspended therefrom and positioned in the interior space. The shell is selectively positionable over and around the frame and thus is configured to shelter a user positioned on the hammock. At least a portion of the shell positioned over the top is substantially transparent and thus configured to allow the user a view therethrough.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
The plurality of segments 14 comprises a set of posts 18, a pair of end rails 20, and a pair of side rails 22. Each end rail 20 is hingedly engaged to and extends between adjacently positioned posts 18 so that the end rails 20 are opposingly positioned across a top 24 of the frame 12. Each side rail 22 is hingedly engaged to and extends between adjacently positioned posts 18 so that the side rails 22 are opposingly positioned across the top 24 of the frame 12. Each of the posts 18, each of the end rails 20, and each of the side rails 22 comprises two segments 14, as shown in
The frame 12 also may comprise a pair of crossbeams 26. Each crossbeam 26 is positioned below a respective end rail 20 and is engaged to and extends between adjacently positioned posts 18 proximate to a bottom 28 of the frame 12. The crossbeam 26 comprises two segments 14, which are rotationally engaged proximate to midpoints 30 thereof. Each segment 14 has a lower end 32 hingedly engaged to a respective one of the adjacently positioned posts 18. The segment 14 has an upper end 34 selectively engageable to the other of the adjacently positioned posts 18 so that the crossbeam 26 is X-shaped, as shown in
The upper end 34 of the segment 14 of the crossbeam 26 has a first fastener 36 engaged thereto. The first fastener 36 is positioned to selectively engage a second fastener 38, which is engaged to the other of the adjacently positioned posts 18, so that the segment 14 is removably engaged to the other of the adjacently positioned posts 18. The first fastener 36 and the second fastener 38 may comprise a latch closure 40, or other fastening means, such as, but not limited to, bolts, pin locks, and the like.
A hammock 42 is selectively engageable to the frame 12 so that the hammock 42 is suspended therefrom and positioned in the interior space 16. The hammock 42 comprises a sling panel 44, which is engaged to and extends between a pair of beams 46. Each beam 46 has opposed ends 48, each of which is selectively engageable to a respective post 18. As shown in
A shell 60 is selectively positionable over and around the frame 12 and thus is configured to shelter a user positioned on the hammock 42. At least a portion 62 of the shell 60, which is positioned over the top 24, is substantially transparent and thus configured to allow the user a view therethrough.
The shell 60 has a slit 64 positioned in a wall 68 thereof. The slit 64 is configured for entry of the user into the interior space 16. A closure 66 is engaged to the wall 68 proximate to the slit 64. The closure 66 is positioned to selectively close the slit 64. The closure 66 may comprise a zipper 70, as shown in
Each of a plurality of rods 72 is hingedly engaged by a first endpoint 74 to the top 24 of the frame 12 and extends therefrom. Each rod 72 has a second endpoint 76, which is hingedly engaged to a hub 78 so that the hub 78 is hingedly engaged to each rod 72 of the set of rods 72. The rods 72 are resiliently flexible so that the set of rods 72 is selectively positionable in a deployed position and a stowed position, as shown in
A shelf panel 80 is engaged to and extends between the side rails 22 proximate to a respective end rail 20. The shelf panel 80 comprises fabric, elastomer, or the like, so that the shelf panel 80 is flexible. The shelf panel 80 is positioned to fold as the frame 12 is motivated into the stowed configuration. The shelf panel 80 extends substantially planarly between the side rails 22 with the frame 12 in the deployed configuration and thus is configured to have an article position thereupon.
In use, the frame 12 is transported to a selected location then motivated from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration. The hammock 42 then is attached to the posts 18 and the shell 60 is positioned over the frame 12 and the rods 72. The user can enter the shell 60 by opening and passing through the slit 64. An overhead view is available to the user through the portion 62 of the shell 60 that is substantially transparent.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
