1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mechanism for facilitating the opening and closing of a tent, and more particularly to a hub or roof connecting mechanism of a foldable tent.
2. Description of Prior Art
Hubs or roof connecting mechanisms of foldable tents are often used for pivotally connecting tent poles to a central location so that the tent would be able to have a foldable function.
Roof connecting mechanisms or hubs in the conventional bell tents are only provided for purposes of connecting components of the tent such as roof strut rods or poles. In other words, those parts require assembly and disassembly when the tent is pitched and stored away, respectively.
In larger conventional tents, the roof connecting mechanism or hub is kept in hinge connection with the roof strut rods or poles such that when the tent is folded, all of the roof strut rods or poles centrally pivot around the hub and are bent down so that the poles are gathered closely together. However, the larger conventional tents also require that the poles be further supported by sub-braces which connect from the poles to a downward extended portion of the hub. As a result, not only do the connecting mechanisms of the sub-braces become intricate but the overall structure of the tent framework becomes complicated. Moreover, the volume of the tent is larger due to the number of components of the hub assembly, and opening and closing the tent becomes more difficult.
It is therefore a main object of the present invention to provide a foldable canopy tent with a relatively smaller volume having a simplified roof connecting mechanism or hub for carrying out opening and closing functions without assembly or disassembly, that can also be manufactured at a low cost. For achieving the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a roof connecting mechanism or hub of a foldable tent for pivotally connecting a plurality of radially spaced apart poles. The connecting hub comprises a base for preventing the poles from pivoting beyond the surface of the base.
A plurality of radially spaced apart slots are formed by a plurality of adjacent walls independently extending upward from the base to provide corresponding slots for receiving each pole. Each of the poles are pivotally connected to the radially inner portion of each slot such that the poles are prevented from downward pivotal movement beyond the base surface. Thus, when the tent is in an open configuration the poles rest on the top surface of the base, and when the tent is in a closed configuration the poles are pivoted upward.
Alternatively, the hub assembly can be inverted so that the plurality of adjacent walls extend downward from the base to provide corresponding slots for receiving each pole. Each of the poles are pivotally connected to the radially outer portion of each slot located at the bottom portion of the base such that the inner ends of the poles are prevented from upward pivotal movement beyond the bottom surface of the base. The base, however, is provided with an opening or void at the radially outer portions of the slots at a portion of the base opposing the pivotal connection of the poles. Thus, when the tent is in an open configuration the pole inner ends engage the bottom surface of the base, and when the tent is in a closed configuration the poles are pivoted upward through the opening of the base.
With respect to the poles, a cap having a curved outer surface is fixed to the inner end of each pole, and each pole and cap have a matching pivoting hole built upon the inner end of the pole for pivotally connecting the radially inner end of each pole to a corresponding slot. Alternatively, each of the poles could be directly pivotally connected to the walls of the slots without caps.
Each slot has a curved groove built on the inside portions of the walls for receiving the curved outer surfaces of each corresponding cap.
In operation, the tent of the present invention is opened by pivoting the poles downward and expanding the poles until the tent structure is completely spread out and the feet of the poles are fixed to the surface so that the hub above is supported. At the same time, the base of the hub prevents the poles from pivoting downward past the top surface of the base. Therefore, the hub assembly provides a balanced and simple structure when the tent is in the open configuration.
In the alternative embodiment having the inverted hub described above, the same occurs when opening the tent except that the base of the hub prevents the inner ends of the poles from pivoting upward past the bottom surface of the base, thus preventing the poles from pivoting downward past the base of the hub.
To fold or close the tent, the feet of the poles are disengaged with the surface and the poles are pivoted upward. The weight of the hub assists with this process as the hub is lowered and the poles are collectively pivoted upward into a compact configuration.
Referring to
The hub assembly further comprises a plurality of roof strut rods or poles 2, each having at least two sections coupled by a joint 21, and each pole 2 is received by a corresponding slot 11. Each of the poles 2 are telescoping via a telescope locking member 25 and allows for the poles 2 to compact further in the closed configuration as described in more detail below. A pivoting cap 3 having a curved lug or curved outer surface 31 is fixed on the inner end of each pole 2 such that each cap 3 is sufficiently secured or tightly fit onto each pole 2. It is preferred that the external diameter of the pivoting cap 3 is less than or equal to the width of the inside of the slot 11, which allows for the each pole 2 to pivotally maneuver in and out of each corresponding slot 11. Each corresponding pole and cap have holes extending through the pole and cap such that the holes are substantially aligned.
The poles 2 extend radially outward from the hub 1 and each pole 2 is pivotally connected to a corresponding slot 11 proximate the radially inner end of each slot 11. A pivoting pin 4 extends through each cap 3 and corresponding pole 2 at a radially inner end of each cap 3 and each end of the pivoting pin 4 extends into the pivoting holes 41 on each side of the walls 51 of each slot 11 thereby forming a pivoting axis for the poles 2. The pivoting pin 4 can be any type of fastener such as a rod, bolt or screw as shown, for example, in
In the first embodiment of the present invention, shown in
In operation, the tent of the first embodiment is opened by pulling the frame of the tent, i.e., the poles 2, radially outward (see
Similarly, to close the tent the feet 53 of the poles 2 are first disengaged from the supporting surface. Without support from the feet of the poles 2, the hub 1 moves downward due to its weight and assists in the closing of the tent. The bottom portions of the poles 2 are telescopically retracted and folded radially inward toward the hub 1 (see
Referring to
The hub assembly further comprises a plurality of roof strut rods or poles 2 and, similar to the arrangement in the first embodiment, each pole 2 is received by a corresponding slot 11. A pivoting cap 3 is fixed on the inner end of each pole 2 such that each cap 3 is sufficiently secured or tightly fit onto each pole 2. It is preferred that the external diameter of the pivoting cap 3 is less than or equal to the width of the inside of the slot 11, which allows for the cap 3 of each pole 2 to pivotally maneuver in and out of each corresponding slot 11. Each corresponding pole and cap have holes extending through the pole and cap such that the holes are substantially aligned.
The poles 2 extend radially outward from the hub 1 and each pole 2 is pivotally connected to a corresponding slot 11 proximate the radially outer end of each slot 11. A pivoting pin 4 extends through each cap 3 and corresponding pole 2 at a radially outer end of each cap 3 and each end of the pivoting pin 4 extends into the pivoting holes 41 on each side of the walls 51 of each slot 11, thereby forming a pivoting axis for the poles 2. Alternatively, the poles 2 can be directly connected to the connecting hub 1 without a pivoting cap as shown in
Referring again to
In operation, similar to the operation of the tent in the first embodiment, the tent of the second embodiment is opened by pulling the frame of the tent, i.e., the poles 2, radially outward (see
Referring to
As described above, the slots 11 of the hub 1 not only restrict the poles 2 from pivoting beyond the base 12 in the open configuration but also provide for the poles 2 to pivot into a folded, compact closed configuration. Furthermore, the structure is simplified and the material cost is reduced while providing an easy and convenient opening and closing operation.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2007 2 00089913 U | Nov 2007 | CN | national |
This application is a Continuation-in-Part of PCT Application No. PCT/CN2008/073142 filed 21 Nov. 2008 which claims priority to China Application No. 2007200089913 filed 30 Nov. 2007 which is currently pending.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/CN2008/073142 | Nov 2008 | US |
Child | 12658473 | US |