BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tent with at least one awning or extended roof section.
Known are tent systems, for example so-called party tents, which are designed for a temporary, speedy use as protection from sun or rain. Essentially, these tents comprise a scissor-type linkage structure carrying the textile roof portion, said structure being fully collapsible when not in use and being pulled open in a simple manner when setting up the tent, such that the support rods that define the outer contour of the tent are being pulled apart and in this manner bring the entire tent into its use state. In this process, the linkage rods are pulled apart as well. In its simplest form, such a tent has a square design (e.g., 3 m×3 m) with a support rod being located in each corner. At the bottom, telescope-type extensions may be pulled out after the scissor-type linkage structure has been pulled apart, such that the tent can obtain its proper height. In this case, the pulled-apart linkage rods that are connected in a scissor-type manner are then located above the standing height of persons. The roof portion, which is made of a suitable textile material and rests on the linkage rods, is then its use state as well. Such a tent is described, for example, in WO 2004/015228 A1.
When in use, such tents typically exhibit a rectangular or square shape and may feature a hanging valance at the outer edges of the roof section giving the tent a pleasant appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the objective of the present invention to design a tent of the known type such that without significant effort it features a larger floor plan when in use.
This objective, as well as other objectives which will become apparent from the discussion that follow is achieved, according to the present invention, by providing a tent with a roof section which comprises at least one awning section and a linkage structure, which can be pulled from a non-use state to a use sate and, vice versa, which can be pushed together from the use state into the non-use state. The roof section can be arranged on the linkage structure. A mechanism is provided that brings the awning section (21) automatically from its non-use state to its use state when the linkage structure is pulled apart and brings the awning section automatically from its use state into its non-use state when the linkage structure is pushed together utilizing the movement of at least one linkage rod of the linkage structure.
The essential advantage of the present invention is that the floor plan of a tent in the use state can be extended in that during set-up of the tent—i.e., when pulling apart the scissor-type linkage structure—awning sections are placed into a position that enlarges the tent in a marquee-like manner toward the outside. It is significant that the movement that is generated when setting up the tent and pulling apart the linkage rods that are connected to each other in a scissor-type manner is used to automatically extend at least one awning section. This means that advantageously, it is not necessary to use laborious and time-consuming procedures to attach separate awning sections to the roof section of a set-up tent. Awnings extended in this manner increase the effective floor space of the tent subject to the invention. An additional advantage is that in this manner a protection from sun and rain is provided as well.
The preferred mechanism for extending the awning section has a simple structure and can be manufactured cost-effectively.
For a full understanding of the present invention, reference should now be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic presentation of an essentially known scissor-type linkage structure of the tent during set-up.
FIG. 2 shows the linkage structure of FIG. 1 in the non-use state.
FIG. 3 shows the linkage structure of FIG. 2 in a partially extended condition, whereby the linkage carrier section of the awning is in an interim position between the non-use state and the use state of the tent.
FIG. 4 shows the linkage structure of FIG. 3 in an additional interim position with the awning being raised higher.
FIG. 5 shows the carrier section for the awning in its use position.
FIGS. 6 to 8 show additional developments of the invention.
FIGS. 9 to 11 show additional developments of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-11 of the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are designated with the same reference numerals.
According to FIG. 1, the scissor-type linkage structure 10 of the tent subject to the invention comprises, as an example, four support rods 2, which during use of the tent are located at the four corner points of said tent. When not in use, the support rods 2 and the linkage rods 1 forming the linkage structure 10 in an essentially known manner are pushed together such that the support rods 2 are tightly adjacent to one another, as can be seen in FIG. 2. In this condition, the tent requires little storage space. To pull the tent into its use position, two persons P1 and P2 grasp the scissor-type linkage structure 10 according to FIG. 2, preferably in the shown manner at opposite sides, and to set-up the tent, pull the linkage rods 1 of the scissor-type linkage structure 10 in the direction of the arrows P3 and P4 towards the outside, such that the linkage structure 10 is fully extended and the support rods 2 are in the corner positions of the tent. To return the tent from the use state to the non-use state, the grabbed linkage rods 1, 1′ are—in a reverse manner—pushed toward the inside, such that the support rods assume the positions tightly adjacent to one another according to FIG. 2. The linkage structure 10 explained thus far is essentially known. The linkage rods 1, 1′ of the linkage construction or linkage structure 10 cross each other in the space defined by the support rods 2 and are hinged to one another at the upper and lower sides. An upward pointing linkage rod 1 and a downward pointing linkage rod 1′ end at each support rod 2. Preferably, two upward pointing and two downward pointing linkage rods 1, 1′ end at each support rod 2, whereby the linkage rods 1 pointing upward and the linkage rods 2 pointing downward are arranged in one plane, respectively, said plane being formed between two neighboring support rods 2.
FIGS. 2 to 5 show a support rod 2 located at one corner of the tent with a first linkage rod 1 of the linkage structure 10 being hinged at a point 6. An additional linkage rod 1′ is attached to the support rod 2 using a gliding part 7 preferably exhibiting the shape of a bushing that glides along the support bar 2. The end of the linkage rod 1′, which faces the support rod 2, is hinged to the gliding part 7 at a point 8. One end of a connecting rod 4 is attached to the linkage rod 1′ at a point 9. The other end of the connecting rod 4 is hinged to the carrier element 3 for the awning at a point 11. Finally, one end of the carrier element 3 for the awning is pivoted at the upper end section of the support rod 2 at a point 13. The awning section that is attached to the carrier element 3 and connected to the roof section 20 is designated with the number 21 and is shown in FIG. 3. The roof section 20 and the awning section 21 can also be made of one piece.
According to FIG. 2, in the non-use state of the tent, the gliding part 7 is in a lowest position, whereby the linkage rods 1 and 1′ are in their position resting against the support rod 2. In this state, the one end of the connecting rod 4 is moved so far down that the other end of the connecting rod 4 has pulled the carrying element 3 for the awning section into a position resting against the support rod 2. When setting up the tent and when pulling apart the linkage structure 10, the ends of the linkage rods 1 and 1′ are moved towards each other, whereby the gliding part 7 glides up the support rod 2 in the direction toward the upper end of the support rod 2, as indicated by the arrow P5. During the upward motion of the gliding part 7, this movement is transferred to the carrier element 3 via the connecting rod 4, such that said carrier element is raised. In the process, the one end of the connecting rod 4 pivots in point 9, the other end of the connecting rod 4 in point 11 and the carrier element 3 in point 13, such that the carrier element 3 is raised (arrow P6).
FIGS. 3 and 4 show interim positions with the bushing part 7 gliding upward along the support rod 2 and the carrier element 3 being raised to different heights.
Finally, FIG. 5 shows the linkage rods 1, 1′ in the use state of the tent with the linkage structure 10 being fully raised and the carrier element 3 being in a fully raised or extended position.
FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a tent being pulled into the use state of the tent in which the four support rods 2 are located in the corner points of the tent. The roof section of the tent viewed from above is designated with the number 20. It is apparent that the roof section 21 for the awning borders only on one edge 22 on the roof section 20 of the tent, or is attached, in particular by sewing, to this edge, respectively, whereby the carrier elements 3 that move and support the awning section 21 run preferably perpendicular to the edge 22. In this case, the carrier rod 3 and the two linkage rods 1, 1′ are preferably arranged in a plane of the linkage structure 10 perpendicular to the edge 22. In this embodiment, the roof section 20 and the awning section 21 can be made of one single piece as well.
FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the invention where an awning portion 21 runs across a corner and whereby the carrier elements 3 run at an angle α of 135° in relation to the edges 22 at which the awning sections 21 are connected to the roof sections 20. FIG. 10 shows in detail a view from above of the corner of a linkage structure 10 carrying the roof section 20 and the awning section 21. In this embodiment, the roof section 20 and the awning section 21 can be made of one single piece as well.
In particular with the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8, the ends of the connecting rods 4 are attached using so-called universal joints 23 at points 9 and 11, whereby the universal joints 23 permit a rotation of the ends of the connecting rods 4 in all directions.
Expressed generally, the invention relates to a tent with at least one awning, which can be brought from the non-use position to the use position, which is provided with a mechanism that transfers the movement of a scissor-type linkage structure onto the carrier elements for the awning section when said linkage structure is pulled apart into the use state of the tent. To this end, said mechanism may be designed in various ways. Similarly, the linkage structure or construction may be designed differently.
Following, a development of the invention will be explained in connection with FIGS. 9 and 10. Details that have already been explained in connection with FIGS. 1 to 8 are provided with corresponding reference characters. For example, in order to ensure a tight fit of the awning 21 for the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, at least two connecting rods 4 and 41 are provided in addition to the previously described carrier elements 3, which run perpendicular to the edge 22 of the roof section 20 and support the awning section 21, where said two connecting rods transfer the movement of the linkage structure 10 to the carrier elements 3, whereby one connecting rod 41 is at its one side pivoted at the gliding part 7 (point 42) and at its other side pivoted at the carrier element 3 (point 43). The connecting rod 41 runs in the pivoting plane of the carrier element 3. To avoid sagging of the awning section 21, a force tautening the awning section 21 is exerted through the connecting rod 4, whose one side is pivoted at a linkage rod 1 (point 9) and whose other side is pivoted at the carrier element 3 (point 11), with said force pushing the carrier element 3 and the awning section 21 connected to it toward the outside (arrow P6). Preferably, said point 11 is, for example, located about in the center between point 13, where the carrier element 3 is articulated to the support rod 2, and the free end of the carrier element 3. Point 3 is located in the area of the free end of the carrier element 3.
FIG. 11 shows another embodiment, according to which at carrier elements 3′, which are located between the outer carrier elements 3 of FIGS. 6 and 9, 10, a connecting rod 4 of the kind described above acts from each side upon the carrier element 3′. This significantly increases the stability of the entire awning section 21 in the use state.
There has thus been shown and described a novel tent with an extended roof portion which fulfills all the objects and advantages sought therefor. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the subject invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification and the accompanying drawings which disclose the preferred embodiments thereof. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is to be limited only by the claims which follow.
Patent Application
20070186967
