Tent with extendable windows

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6763841
  • Patent Number
    6,763,841
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, February 28, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 20, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A tent (10) with tendable windows (14) having a main structure (12) including a plurality of walls (16,18,20) which are oriented at a first angle (60) with respect to a vertical reference. The tent (10) also includes at least one window (14) which is extendable to a second angle (62) with respect to a vertical reference, where the second angle (62) is a more negative angle than the first angle (60) thus producing windows (14) which are horizontally extendable further than the tent walls (16,18,20).
Description




FIELD




The present invention relates generally to portable living structures and specifically to tents.




ART




Tents have been used for centuries as temporary structures for camping trips. During these trips, there may be competing desires for comfort on one band, while a camper may still desire to get away from the complications of city life. The use of lightweight materials has made the satisfaction of these competing desires more easily accomplished. Tent fabrics, as well as tent poles and frame structures, can now be made to be very strong, while also very lightweight. This use of materials allows more imaginative and varied structures to be designed, which are still light enough to be easily portable, and thus practical for camping trips.




Another pair of competing needs facing campers and users of tents is that of the need for a reasonably small floor space, while providing enough internal volume for comfort. When camping in the woods, the extent of usable flat ground area may be limited, by trees or uneven terrain, thus a tent which has a large “footprint” or floor area will find fewer useable sites than one that has a smaller footprint. At the same time, a user will generally feel a need for “elbow room” and may feel cramped without a reasonable amount of space.




Thus there is a need for a tent which has a compact footprint, but which has an interior volume which is greater than that of a tent having the traditional inwardly tapering, or even strictly vertical walls.




SUMMARY




Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tent which has a compact footprint.




Another object of the invention is to provide a tent which has an enlarged internal enclosed volume.




And another object of the invention is to provide windows which are protected from rain entry.




A further object of the present invention is to provide windows which are extended from the main body of the tent, and thus enlarge the interior volume.




Briefly, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is a tent with extendable windows having a main structure including a plurality of walls which are oriented at a first angle with respect to a vertical reference. The tent also includes at least one window which is extendable to a second angle with respect to a vertical reference, where the second angle is a more negative angle than the first angle thus producing windows which are extendable horizontally further than the tent walls.




An advantage of the present invention is that it provides extendable windows which extend from the main volume of the tent, and thus enlarge it.




Another advantage of the present invention is that the extendable windows can be retracted against the tent sides if necessary.




And another advantage of the present invention is that the extendable windows have a water-proof awning portion, and the screen area of each window slopes negatively back towards the main tent structure, thus preventing rain from entering.




A further advantage of the present invention is that the extendable windows provide an enlarged volume area at or around a typical adults' head, shoulder and torso area, thus providing enlarged volume in the area where more adults are largest, rather than down by their feet.




A yet further advantage is that the enlarged volume provides a psychological feeling of being less cramped to some people, which may be out of proportion to the actual increase in volume achieved.




These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become clear to those skilled in the art in view of the description of the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and the industrial applicability of the preferred embodiment as described herein and as illustrated in the several figures of the drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The purposes and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:





FIG. 1

shows an isometric front view of a tent with extendable windows having an open screen roof.





FIG. 2

illustrates a front plan view of a tent with extendable windows;





FIG. 3

shows a side plan view of a tent with extendable windows, and





FIG. 4

illustrates an isometric view of a tent with extendable windows having a soffited roof.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION




A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a tent with extendable windows. As illustrated in the various drawings herein, and particularly in the view of

FIG. 1

, a form of this preferred embodiment of the inventive device is depicted by the general reference character


10


.





FIG. 1

illustrates an isometric view of a tent with extendable windows


10


. The configuration of the actual tent main structure


12


may have many different forms and variations for which the extendable windows


14


of the present invention are suitable. The tent will generally include a front wall


16


, a rear wall


18


, side walls


20


, a floor


22


and a roof or ceiling


24


. In this figure, the roof


24


is open except for a screen


26


, whereas in

FIG. 4

, below, the roof is a soffited roof


28


with an overhanging portion


30


.




In

FIGS. 1 and 3

, there are shown to be two extendable windows


14


, which are on either side wall


20


of the tent


10


. This is of course one variation among many, as the rear wall


18


may, in other designs, include a extendable window, for a total of three, or there may be only one extendable window


14


, or there may multiple smaller extendable windows along one side wall


20


, in tents which have longer side walls


20


compared to the width of the front wall


16


shown here.




Referring now also to

FIGS. 2-4

, the extendable window


14


includes an upper panel or awning


32


, which is preferably water-proof or water resistant, and joined at a rear seam


34


to the main body of the tent


12


. The extendable window


14


also preferably includes a frame


36


, which in turn is preferably made up of several segments


38


which link together to form a bow-shaped member, roughly parabolic in shape, although this shape is not a requirement. The segments


38


may be completely detachable from each other, or they may be joined by an internal elastic cord


40


(not visible), which keeps the segments


38


together in proper order, but still allows the frame


36


to be folded for easy storage.




As seen especially in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the extendable window


14


includes a cloth or fabric sleeve


42


into which the frame


36


fits. There are preferably openings


44


in the sleeve


42


through which the end of the frame


36


may be inserted. These opening


44


may be at various locations in the sleeve


42


and are not limited to the location shown.




The extendable window


14


also includes a screen portion


46


, which is used to keep out insects, etc., and may include window flaps


48


or curtains, (not visible), which can be zipped together to keep out wind, light and to ensure privacy. These window flaps


48


may be internal or external to the tent main body


12


, but are preferred to be internal.




The extendable window


14


also includes a screen portion


46


, which is used to keep out insects, etc., and may include window flaps


48


or curtains, which can be zipped together to keep out wind, light and to ensure privacy. These window flaps


48


may be internal or external to the tent main body


12


, but are preferred to be internal.




The extendable window


14


also includes a bat wing panel


50


located at or near the leading edge


52


of the extendable window


14


. This bat wing panel


50


acts as an attachment site for a guy rope or wire


54


. The guy wire


54


is attached to a stake


56


(not shown) or branch or other anchoring object, and serves to keep the extendable window


14


expanded to its full extent. The extendable window


14


has a hinge portion


59


, in a manner of speaking, at its lower attachment seam


58


, as the fabric to which the sleeve


42


ends are fastened, allow the frame


36


to pivot forward when the extendable window


14


is extended, as when tensioned by the guy wire


54


. The extendable window


14


is however retractable to some extent, as for instance, when the camp site space is limited, and the extendable windows


14


would otherwise project into bushes or tree branches. In these cases, the frames


36


may be pivoted back towards the side walls


20


and perhaps fastened in place by VELCRO® loops, etc.




The side walls


20


shown in the figures slope inward in a conventional manner so that the floor area


22


is larger than the ceiling area


24


. Thus a window which is co-planar with the walls


20


(which are generally at some positive angle α


60


with respect to a vertical line), would be expected to receive some run-off during rain storms, or some amount of the rain falling vertically in that area. However, the tent with extendable windows


10


has the advantage that the extendable windows


14


extend out past vertical to present a negatively sloped angle β


62


to the screen


46


, as can be seen in FIG.


2


. The water-proof or water resistant awning


32


protects the window


14


from rain intrusion which falls vertically, and even prevents some component of wind-blown rain traveling at less than the negative angle β


62


. The window may also be at a positive angle β


62


, which is less positive (and thus more negative) than angle α


60


of the walls


20


. Thus, when the angle of the windows is spoken of as more negative than the slope of the walls, it includes cases where the angle β is negative, where angle β is positive but less positive than the angle α, or when the angle β is vertical and angle α is positive. For purposes of this discussion, a positive angle is considered to extend in a counter-clockwise direction from a vertical reference, and a negative angle is assumed to extend in a clockwise direction.




The frame


36


gives a defined shape to the extendable window


14


, but it is also possible to have a variation without a rigid frame, or perhaps no frame at all if additional guy wires or ropes are attached to the leading edge


52


.




An advantage of the present invention


10


is that it provides additional space near the region of the average adult's head and shoulders, a space which is typically constricted by the inward sloping of the walls. Most humans are wider near the shoulder area or torso area, rather than at foot or knee-height. Additionally, most humans form their perception of being “cramped” or “crowded” from visual cues received from head height. By adding volume near the shoulder and head area, without effecting the floor area, the tent may be perceived as being much more comfortable and roomy, while still maintaining a compact “footprint” or floor area. The compact footprint will generally enable the user a larger selection of usable camp sites than one with a larger footprint.




While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.




The present tent with extendable windows


10


is well suited for application in the home, backyard, or on camping trips and picnics.




The tent will generally include a front wall


16


, a rear wall


18


, side walls


20


, a floor


22


and a roof or ceiling


24


. One or more extendable windows


14


are included on either side wall


20


of the tent


10


. The extendable windows


14


each include an upper panel or awning


32


, which is preferably water-proof or water resistant, and joined at a rear seam


34


to the main body of the tent


12


. The extendable window


14


also preferably includes a frame


36


, which in turn is preferably made up of several segments


38


which link together to form a bow-shaped member, preferably roughly parabolic in shape. The segments


38


may be completely detachable from each other, or they may be joined by an internal elastic cord


40


, which keeps the segments


38


together in proper order, but still allows the frame


36


to be folded for easy storage.




The side walls


20


generally slope inward in a conventional manner so that the floor area


22


is larger than the ceiling area


24


. The extendable windows


14


preferably extend out past vertical to present a negatively sloped angle β


62


to the screen


46


. The water-proof or water resistant awning


32


protects the window


14


from rain intrusion which falls vertically, and even prevents some component of wind-blown rain traveling at less than the negative angle β


62


. The window may also be at a positive angle β


62


, which is less positive (and thus more negative) than angle α


60


of the walls


20


. The frame


36


gives a defined shape to the extendable window


14


, but it is also possible to have a variation without a rigid frame, or perhaps no frame at all if additional guy wires or ropes are attached to the leading edge


52


.




The present invention


10


provides additional space near the region of the average adult's head and shoulders, a space which is typically constricted by the inward sloping of the walls. Most humans are wider near the shoulder area or torso area, rather than at foot or knee-height. Additionally, most humans form their perception of being “cramped” or “crowded” from visual cues received from head height. By adding volume near the shoulder and head area, without effecting the floor area, the tent may be perceived as being much more comfortable and roomy, while still maintaining a compact “footprint” or floor area. The compact footprint will generally enable the user a larger selection of usable camp sites than one with a larger footprint. Thus, the tent


10


is useful in many camping situations and is expected to be popular with users.




For the above, and other, reasons, it is expected that the collapsible chair with resilient support elements


10


of the present invention will have widespread industrial applicability. Therefore, it is expected that the commercial utility of the present invention will be extensive and long lasting.




THIS CORRESPONDENCE CHART IS FOR EASE OF UNDERSTANDING AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AND DOES NOT FORM A PART OF THE FORMAL PATENT APPLICATION.






10


tent with extendable windows






12


tent main structure






14


extendable windows






16


front wall






18


rear wall






20


side wall






22


floor






24


ceiling






26


screen roof






28


soffited roof






30


overhanging portion






32


awning






34


rear seam






36


frame






38


segments






40


internal elastic cords






42


sleeve






44


sleeve opening






46


screen






48


window flaps






50


bat wing panel






52


leading edge






54


guy wire






56


stake






58


lower attachment seam






59


hinge portion






60


angle α






62


angles β



Claims
  • 1. A tent with at least one extendable window designed to increase usable space in the tent comprising:a main structure including a plurality of walls oriented at a first angle with respect to a vertical reference; and at least one window including a frame and screen extendable to a second angle with respect to a vertical reference, where the second angel is less than the first angle and the extended window is substantially vertical; whereby the tent has increased usable space when the window is extended; wherein the frame includes a flexible pole; and wherein the frame includes a sleeve into which the pole is positioned.
  • 2. The tent of claim 1, wherein:a lower attachment scam at a location below the midline of the main structure where a lower edge of the window attaches to the wall of the tent, which acts as a hinge mechanism, allowing the window to extend or retract.
  • 3. The tent of claim 1, wherein:the window includes a flap configured to selectively cover the window.
  • 4. A tent with at least one extendable window designed to increase usable space in the tent comprising:a main structure including a plurality of walls oriented at a first angle with respect to a vertical reference; and at least one window including a frame and screen extendable to a second angle with respect to a vertical reference, where the second angle is less than the first angle and the extended window is substantially vertical; whereby the tent has increased usable space when the window is extended; wherein the window includes an awning coupled to the main structure and the frame, and configured to hold the window in an extended orientation; wherein the frame includes a flexible pole; and wherein the frame includes a sleeve into which the pole is positioned.
  • 5. The tent of claim 4, wherein:the awning is configured to hold the window frame in a substantially vertical orientation.
  • 6. The tent of claim 5, wherein:a lower attachment seam at a location below the midline of the main structure where a lower edge of the window attaches to the wall of the tent, which acts as a hinge mechanism, allowing the window to extend or retract.
  • 7. The tent of claim 5, wherein:the window includes a flap configured to selectively cover the window.
  • 8. The tent of claim 4, wherein:a lower attachment seam at a location below the midline of the main structure where a lower edge of the window attaches to the wall of the tent, which acts as a hinge mechanism, allowing the window to extend or retract.
  • 9. The tent of claim 4, wherein:the window includes a flap configured to selectively cover the window.
  • 10. A tent with extendable windows designed to increase usable space in the tent comprising:a main structure including a plurality of walls oriented at a first angle with respect to a vertical reference; and a plurality of windows each including an awning, frame and single screen extendable to a substantially vertical orientation; whereby the tent has increased usable space when the windows are extended; wherein the frame includes a flexible pole; and wherein the frame includes a sleeve into which the pole is positioned.
Parent Case Info

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Applications Serial No. 60/272,385 filed Feb. 28, 2001, which has the same inventor as the present application.

US Referenced Citations (7)
Number Name Date Kind
1833096 Smith Nov 1931 A
2230454 Friesner et al. Feb 1941 A
3800814 Hibbert Apr 1974 A
4265261 Barker May 1981 A
5467794 Zheng Nov 1995 A
6067676 Carnahan et al. May 2000 A
6499497 Swetish et al. Dec 2002 B1
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
1268271 Jun 1961 FR
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry
American Camper brochure; Dome tents No. 4679 and No. 4681; 1996.
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/272385 Feb 2001 US