Patent Application
20240200357
Pole tents 10, such as the tent shown in prior art
The stakes 50 must be able to resist and maintain the tensioning forces of an associated guyline 40 by not being pulled from or shifted relative to the ground 500. Accordingly, for large pole tents 10, very long stakes are utilized that can be driven several feet (typically 2′ or more) into the ground. As can be appreciated, driving, and more particularly, removing very long stakes can be time consuming and difficult. Furthermore, driving long stakes into the ground runs a risk of impinging on and potentially damaging buried electric, gas, water, irrigation, and telephone lines.
Many public parks do not permit staking of large pole tents 10 fearing damage to the lawn and/or the puncturing irrigation lines 510 or other buried lines traversing the park. Accordingly, in these settings, guylines 40 are often secured using large water or sand filled barrels. The barrels are disadvantageous for many reasons including being unsightly, heavy, and time consuming to place and remove. Further, barrels do not offer the holding power of long stakes. Many public parks do, however, permit volley ball nets and small personal tents to be installed using short 6-10″ stakes.
Embodiments of the present invention comprise a guyline securing system using a rigid base (also referred to as a ground plate or ground board) and relatively shorts stakes for securing the guylines of tents and other erectable in a ground surface, and particularly in a ground surface comprising a lawn. The guyline securing system typically comprises ground plate with a plurality of spaced holes bored therethrough in a predetermined array or pattern, a plurality of relatively short auger stakes that pass through the holes and are secured into the ground, and a connector for coupling the plate to the guyline of the tent. The auger stakes are typically a fraction of the length of a prior art stake; however, the guyline securing system provides comparable and even superior pull-out force. A plurality of guyline securing systems is utilized in the erection of a tent with each system replacing a prior art stake.
Embodiments of the invention also comprise the method of using the foregoing system to erect and disassemble a pole tent; as well as, a combination comprising a pole tent and a plurality of securing systems.
The terms and phrases as indicated in quotes (“ ”) in this section are intended to have the meaning ascribed to them in this Terminology section applied to them throughout this document including the claims unless clearly indicated otherwise in context. Further, as applicable, the stated definitions are to apply, regardless of the word or phrase's case, to the singular and plural variations of the defined word or phrase.
The term “or” as used in this specification and the appended claims is not meant to be exclusive, rather the term is inclusive meaning “either or both”.
References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “a preferred embodiment”, “an alternative embodiment” and similar phrases mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least an embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all meant to refer to the same embodiment.
The term “couple” or “coupled” as used in this specification and the appended claims refers to either an indirect or direct connection between the identified elements, components or objects. Often the manner of the coupling will be related specifically to the manner in which the two coupled elements interact.
Directional and/or relationary terms such as, but not limited to, left, right, nadir, apex, top, bottom, upper, lower, vertical, horizontal, back, front and lateral are relative to each other and are dependent on the specific orientation of an applicable element or article, and are used accordingly to aid in the description of the various embodiments and are not necessarily intended to be construed as limiting.
Unless otherwise indicated or dictated by context, the terms “approximately” and “about” mean+−20%. Unless otherwise indicated or dictated by context, the term “substantially” means+−10%. The term “generally” means for the most part.
The term “stake” as used herein refers to any elongated structure configured to be driven or screwed into the ground. Often, “stakes” are used to secure an associated item, such as a tent by way of guylines.
The term “auger stake” as used herein refers to as a stake having threads coiling around its shaft.
The phrase “tent” as used herein refers to any portable structure having at least a canopy made of a fabric or other flexible material that is held at least partially taut by support structures, such as poles and staked guylines. As used herein, a tent may but need not have sidewalls and/or a floor.
The phrase “pole tent” as used herein refers to a tent that is supported by poles and secured in place on a ground surface by guylines that extend outwardly from the edges of the tent proximate a roof or canopy thereof at an angle and are secured to the ground at a distal end typically through a stake or weight, such as a barrel of water or sand. A pole tent often includes one or more vertical fabric sides enclosing an interior but other versions exist that comprise primarily the canopy and do not include sides.
The term “guylines” as used herein refers to any elongated generally flexible line, whether cord, rope, strap, chain, cable, or wire, that extend from a supported structure, such as a pole tent, and can be secured to an underlying surface, such as ground, to provide tension to the structure and hold the structure in place and in a desired structural shape. Some “guylines” can include tensioning mechanisms, such as those commonly referred to as ratchets.
The phrase “pop-up tent” refers to a generally lightweight collapsible shelter that automatically or semiautomatically unfolds and expands into its full structure from a condensed form, often with minimal effort by the person erecting it. These tents are typically small (about 12′×12′ or smaller) and are typically held down with stakes at its base with lightweight staked guylines that extend from the corners.
As shown in
The rigid base 110 shown in Figures is typically comprised of Nylon and is about 24″ long, about 6″ wide, and about 0.50″ thick and has a substantially flat bottom. The rigid base has two longitudinal rows of seven stake holes 115 that are about 1.2″ in diameter. Each hole is configured to receive an associated stake therethrough. The rigid base further includes two additional connector holes 140 spaced apart along the longitudinal axis configured to receive a looped strap or cord guyline connector assembly 120 therethrough.
The shape and size of the rigid base 110 is not limited to any particular configuration and can be square, round, ovular, triangular, or any other suitable shape. In some variations, the rigid base may comprise a partial isogrid-type structure to exhibit high rigidity while maintaining a low weight. In yet other variations, the top side of the rigid base need not be planer and can include gussets and ribs to provide additional stiffness and strength. Similarly, the number and the placement of the holes 115 & 140 can vary. In yet other variations, protrusions or spikes can be molded into the bottom side to increase the rigid base's purchase of the underlying ground. The rigid base can also be comprised of any suitable rigid material including but not limited to wood, plastic, reinforced plastic, and metal. The size and thickness of the rigid base depends on both the material of which it is comprised, and the load it is configured transfer between a plurality of associated stakes 105 and a guyline 40 when in use.
Various types of guyline connectors can be used as part of the system. Their primary function is to provide an attachment means for a tent guyline. The connector assembly 120 shown in the figures comprises a fabric strap 125 that passes through the aforementioned connector holes 140. The strap has two end loops though which a carabiner 130 or other joining device is passed to join the ends and create a looped strap. The strap assembly further includes a metal ring 135 configured to slide along the strap and provide a point of connection with the distal end of a guyline 40.
As can be appreciated a connector assembly 120 can be comprised of any suitable line instead of a strap 125 including but not limited to rope, wire, cable and chain. Typically, these are passed through connector holes 140 in the rigid base 110 and joined into a loop; however, in one variation each end of a rope or other type of line can be knotted or fittings attached after its ends are passed through the connector holes to inhibit the ability of the end to pass back through the hole operatively attaching the connector to the rigid base. Other variations using a flexible line connector are also known as would be obvious to one of ordinary skill given the benefit of this disclosure. In yet other variations, a rigid connector assembly 120A comprising a U-bolt or other rigid bracket that is mechanically fastened can be used in place of a strap assembly is used as is shown, for instance, in
A plurality of stakes is typically used to secure the rigid base to the ground, although the number of stakes required to sufficiently secure the rigid base 110 to a ground surface 500 is often a fraction of the number of stake holes 115 provided. When auger stakes 105 (or auger screws) of the type illustrated in
As illustrated embodiment of an auger stake 105 is typically comprised of an impact resistant plastic, such as a fiberglass reinforced or unreinforced nylon, formed by any suitable means, such as injection molding. As shown in
The integrally molded head 155 including a generally flat bottom portion having a diameter greater than the stake hole diameter from which the shaft extends. The bottom portion can comprise an integrally molded flange also referred to herein as an integral washer. The integral washer is typically disk-like and annular but in variations can be of other shapes. For instance, the washer can be about 1.50-1.75″ in diameter on an auger stake intended for use in a ground rigid base having about 1.2″ holes 115. The upper portion 165 of the head is typically adapted to permit the stake to be screwed into and out of the ground using a suitable wrench, socket, ratchet or electric driver. The upper portion as shown is hexagonal, but other suitable shapes are contemplated including triangular, square, and octagonal to name a few.
In some embodiments, the distal end or point 170 of the stake is blunted or rounded. For instance, the point of the illustrated embodiment has a generally hemispherical end with a diameter of about 0.1875″ to 0.375″ and most preferably about 0.25″. In other variations the end can be flat or less convex than a hemispherical end. Importantly, the blunted end significantly and substantially reduces the risk that the stake's end, if it comes in contact with a plastic pipe such as an irrigation line 510, will puncture or otherwise compromise the line. Additionally, a blunt ended stake is not likely to damage the insulating sheath on buried electrical lines.
Variations of the auger stake can be made of metal, such as steel or an aluminum alloy; however, plastic stakes, both reinforced and unreinforced, have been found to easily handle the developed loads, and have the added advantage of being lightweight.
In other variations of the system modified traditional-style stakes albeit shorter and having blunted ends 270, can be used in place of auger stakes. A traditional-style stake is shown in
When used on an appropriate surface, such as ground 500 covered in a thick carpet of turf 515 as might be found in a park, the system using 6-14 stakes has a pullout force of 1200-2600 pounds in many cases equaling or surpassing the pull out strength of a traditional 3-4 foot long prior art steel stake with the entire system having a fraction of the prior art stake's weight.
Another Embodiment of a Tent Securing System for Use with Popup Tents
The plate 175 comprises a single piece of shaped metal plate in which a u-shaped piece of metal has been attached on one end thereof to form a loop. The plate can be, but is not necessarily, comprised of any suitable metal, such as steel and aluminum alloy. In one variation, a larger plate can be used and have two holes for stakes. As can also be appreciated, larger plates with a significant number of stake holes similar to those in a rigid base are also contemplated for use with pole tents. In other variations, the hook or loop can be separately attached to the plate in a manner similar to that described above concerning a rigid base.
The erection of a pole tent 10 using embodiments of a tent securing system 100 is essentially similar to the prior art process of erecting a pole tent save for the process of securing the system to the ground. However, securing embodiments of the system to the ground is in many aspects advantageous compared to the use of a long heavy and unyielding steel stake.
The ground securing locations are chosen, such that the guylines 40, when tensioned between their connection with the tent's canopy and the ground, form about a 60 degree angle. Each rigid base 110 is placed on the ground at a chosen location and an appropriate number of auger stakes 105 are inserted through the stake holes 115 with the tips 170 or distal end of each pushed at least slightly into the ground. The stakes are then screwed into the ground using a suitable wrench, such as a rachet, or an electric driver until the washer is bottomed out against the top surface of the rigid base.
The number of stakes 105 chosen for each rigid base 110 will depend on the size of the tent 10, the load each guyline 40 is required to hold, and the type of ground into which the stake is being secured. In some circumstances only 3-4 stakes may be required to hold the rigid base down, such as when the tent is on the smaller side and the ground comprises well established turf. In contrast, the rigid bases used with large tents on a surface comprising only moderately compacted soil, ten or more stakes may be required.
Once the systems 100 are secured to the ground the guyline can be attached to the guyline 120 connector, such as by a carabiner attached to the end of the guyline. The guyline can be tensioned as desired and necessary.
Disassembling the tent and removing the guyline securing system 100 is essentially the reverse of its installation. The guyline is disconnected from the guyline connector 120, and the auger stakes 105 are unscrewed from the ground surface using a suitable wrench, socket, ratchet and/or driver. The systems are then packed away for future use.
The various embodiments and variations thereof, illustrated in the accompanying Figures and/or described above, are merely exemplary and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. It is to be appreciated that numerous other variations of the invention have been contemplated, as would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure. All variations of the invention that read upon appended claims are intended and contemplated to be within the scope of the invention.
This application claims priority to and completely incorporates by reference U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/432,511 filed on Dec. 14, 2022 having the same title and inventorship as the present application.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63432511 | Dec 2022 | US |
