PORTABLE TENT

Abstract

A portable tent has a base in the form of a folding dihedral in which two planar elements formed are linked by a folding line, a perimeter zipper surrounding the base for fastening the two planar elements together, a folding cover attached to the sides and a plurality of transverse rods, each rod being in a shape of an inverted U and being attached to the folding cover and to the planar elements. The cover with the rods forms a canopy when the planar elements are opened. The folding cover has a partial cut-out in a front middle zone disposed between two center-most of the transverse rods and covered by a door. The partial cut-out defines an entrance to the tent and the folding cover covers an area between the center-most rods outside the partial cutout such that the tent remains in an upright state when the door is opened.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a portable tent, especially designed for babies, young children and pets, although it could easily be scaled up to larger sizes for use by adults.

The object of the invention is to provide a foldable tent, easily assembled, folded and transported with only one hand, which in inoperative situation presents a minimum volumetric occupation.

The Prior Art

Although it is usual to design tents with a folding character that offers a minimum volumetric occupation in an inoperative situation, the folding manoeuvres that require this type of devices are relatively complex, especially for people with little experience in this type of devices, requiring the use of both hands, some skill and a learning time, which is clearly undesirable.

Thus, although this type of device is deployed quickly and easily, the reverse operation is much more complex and tedious, as mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The portable tent recommended here solves the above-mentioned problem in a fully satisfactory manner, based on a simple but effective solution, so that the folding and unfolding manoeuvres of the tent are equally quick and easy, all with a structure so simple that these manoeuvres can be carried out with just one hand, without any special skill and without requiring any learning period.

To this end, and more specifically, the tent of the invention is made up of a kind of folding dihedral which, when folded, constitutes a kind of briefcase, with its corresponding handles for manual transport, and optionally a strap for carrying it as a shoulder bag, so that the two sides or planes of the dihedral are linked by a common folding line, as well as the rest of its three free sides by means of a zip fastener.

These sides or planar elements define the base of the tent at the opening of the case, so that a fabric is sewn to them as a canopy with a gusset-type structure, in which a series of inverted U-shaped rods are attached transversally to the canopy at different points, their free ends coinciding with the ends of the lower folding line of the case, so that when unfolded it forms a domed roof.

Between the two arches closest to the centre of the device, the fabric has a partial cut that defines an entrance to the tent, so that a free sector is defined as a flexible door, which will be linked to the frame defined by these two rods by means of a zip that allows this access to be closed. The partial cut ensures that the rest of the center portion of the tent remains intact, so that the tent stands fully upright even when the flexible door is opened. The location of the flexible door in the center is most convenient for entry and exit of the tent, yet the permanent coverage of the rest of the center portion keeps the structure of the tent intact during use.

The canopy can be complemented at one or both of its ends with a different type of sector, such as a fabric grille, defining a ventilation or light entry window, which could be concealed by means of a zip linking its lateral ends to each other.

The device thus described has a configuration in the form of a briefcase, which is easily transportable, in such a way that it is sufficient to place it on one of its two external sides on a surface and undo the zip to be able to unfold it like a book, thus obtaining a tent very quickly and easily, a manoeuvre that can be carried out even with one hand, without any special skill whatsoever.

At the same time, the folding manoeuvre is just as easy, as the device offers no resistance to the folding and fastening manoeuvres of the perimeter zip, unlike conventional tents.

The device thus described is easily scalable in order to obtain tents of suitable dimensions for babies, children, pets and even adults.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to complement the description that will be given below and with the aim of helping a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferential example of practical realisation of the same, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of the said description, in which the following has been represented for illustrative and non-limiting purposes:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a portable tent made in accordance with the object of the present invention in inoperative or transport situation.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 in an intermediate deployment manoeuvre.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the deployed tent.

FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the tent of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the tent in a deployed position.

FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of the tent in a fully open position, with the door folded back.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In view of the figures shown above, and in particular FIG. 1, it can be seen how the tent of the invention is made up of a kind of folding dihedral in which two planes or faces 1 of a textile nature are linked by means of a transversal folding line, as well as a perimeter zip 4, defining a kind of briefcase, with its corresponding handles 2 for manual transport, as well as optionally a strap 3 for carrying it as a shoulder bag.

The textile sides 1 of the case will define the base of the tent when unfolded, so that a folding canopy or cover 5 of a textile nature is attached to them, which has a gusset-type structure, in which a plurality of transverse rods 6 in the shape of an inverted “U” participate, These rods are fixed transversally to the canopy at different points via seams 14 (see FIG. 2), their free ends coinciding with the ends of the lower folding line of the case, so that when unfolded, they form a domed cover.

These rods are preferably attached by seams 14 to the folding cover 5.

As shown in FIG. 3, the textile part determining the folding cover 5 has a partial cut-out in its front middle area 11 defining an entrance 7 to the tent between the two transverse arches or rods 6 closest to the centre of the device, so that a free sector 9 is defined as a flexible door, which will be linked to the frame defined by these two rods by means of a second zipper 8 allowing this access to be closed. The cover 5 spans the middle section 11 between the two middle rods 6 over at least a portion of the circumference of the tent, leaving only the free sector 9 open. This allows the tent to stand up fully without collapsing, even when free sector 9 is open. Thus, opening and closing the main opening of the tent does not affect the tent structure during use. The entrance 7 covers only a portion of the circumference of the tent in this area so that the middle section 11 of the cover keeps the center rods 6 in an upright position and prevents the rods 6 from collapsing when the free sector 9 is opened. This can be seen especially in FIG. 7, where the free sector 9 is fully opened and the tent is still fully upright.

As mentioned above and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the textile part that determines the folding cover 5 can be complemented at one or both of its ends with a different type of sector, such as a fabric grille 12, defining a ventilation or light entry window, which could be concealed by means of a zipper 10 linking its lateral ends together, so that when inoperative it is folded in the form of a gusset and remains concealed.

The device thus described can be complemented with a mattress 13 made of two identical pieces that coincide with the two dihedral planes that define the base of the tent when unfolded, which can be inserted inside the tent as shown in FIG. 7.

The canopy fabric shall be made of waterproof, anti-bacterial and UV-protected textile materials, such as ballistic nylon.

Finally, the device can be hand-washed without any damage.

Claims

1. A portable tent comprising: a base in the form of a folding dihedral in which two planar elements formed from a textile material are linked by means of a folding line extending between transverse edges of the planar elements,a perimeter zipper surrounding the base and being arranged so as to fasten the two planar elements together after folding along the transversal folding line,carrying means connected to the portable tent;a folding cover formed from a textile material, said folding cover being attached to said sides at edges of said sides,a plurality of transverse rods, each rod being in a shape of an inverted U and being attached to said folding cover, said rods being attached transversally to opposite transverse edges of each planar element to form a canopy, the transverse rods being arranged parallel to the transversal folding line, so that when the planar elements are unfolded, the folding cover forms a domed cover over the planar elements,wherein the folding cover has a partial cut-out in a front middle zone disposed between two center-most of the transverse rods, wherein the partial cut-out defines an entrance to the tent, and wherein a free sector of the cover that forms a door is connectable to one of the two central rods by means of a zipper, and wherein the folding cover spans an area between the center-most rods outside the partial cutout to prevent the rods from collapsing when the door is opened.

2. The portable tent according to claim 1, wherein the folding cover comprises a sector that defines a ventilation or light entrance window, the sector being disposed at one or both ends of the folding cover, wherein said sector is retractable by means of a zipper that links lateral ends of the sector together, so that in an inoperative situation the sector remains hidden and folded in the form of a gusset.

3. The portable tent according to claim 1, where the carrying means are handles.

4. The portable tent according to claim 1, wherein the carrying means is a shoulder strap.

5. The portable tent according to claim 1, further comprising a mattress made of two identical pieces that correspond in shape to the planar elements.

6. The portable tent according to claim 1, wherein the cover is made from waterproof, antibacterial and UV-protected textile materials.

7. The portable tent according to claim 1, where the transverse rods are attached by seams to the folding cover 5.