Patent Application
20240352763
The invention relates to a zipped flap opening system. The invention is particularly suited to an arrangement whereby the zipped flap can be opened from an interior side.
The following discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgment or admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction as at the priority date of the application.
Portable structures, such as tents, are not readily designed to accommodate rigid sub-structures for defining doors, windows and the like. This is due not only to the general difficulty in carrying such rigid structures, but also their attendant weight. It is therefore necessary for portable structures to incorporate lightweight and easily transportable door and/or windows sub-structures.
The most common method of incorporating lightweight and easily transportable door and/or window sub-structures is to make the portable structure out of textile or a like material. The door and/or window sub-structures are generally formed through slits in the textile material to define one or more flaps. Opening and closing of the flap is then generally achieved by some sort of fastening mechanism. The use of a zip is a common preferred fastening mechanism.
The problem with this arrangement is that opening and closing of the flap needs to be possible from both inside and outside of the portable structure (i.e. opening and closing the flap when transiting from the exterior of the tent to the interior and vice-versa). More specifically, opening the flap when transiting from the interior of the tent to the exterior is generally cumbersome and poses additional problems.
When a tent or like structure has been subjected to inclement weather (or continues to be subjected to inclement weather), there can be a build-up of material on the flap. This build up may take the form of precipitation such as snow or rain, or even dirt. This means that, when opened, the material may fall on the person exiting the tent.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a zipped flap opening system that can be operated from the interior of a portable structure and draw the flap away from the created opening so as to prevent, or at least ameliorate in part, one or more of the aforementioned problems.
Throughout this document, unless otherwise indicated to the contrary, the terms “comprising”, “consisting of”, and the like, are to be construed as non-exhaustive, or in other words, as meaning “including, but not limited to”.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is a zipped flap opening system comprising:
Preferably, the cord is made from material of limited elasticity. In a further preferred arrangement, the cord is inelastic. The cord may incorporate means for preventing the running end from being drawn into the channel.
In one configuration, the secured end of the cord is looped back on the rope and secured in place by stitching that transverses both the secured end of the cord and the section of the cord that the secured end loops back on.
A zipped flap opening system according to any preceding claim, where the cord passes through a cord lock located in the open end. In one configuration, the cord lock is a bracket having a pair of axially aligned apertures, the cord operable to pass through a first axially aligned aperture in a first direction and pass through the second axially aligned aperture in a second, opposite, direction. In an alternate configuration, the cord lock comprises:
The tent material may be folded over to form the enclosed channel. In a preferred arrangement, the enclosed channel extends the whole length of the second side. Ideally, the length of the enclosed channel is greater than the length of the zipper.
Preferably, the zipper has a pair of running stops at one end and a cord stop at the other, such that, when the zipper is closed, the running stops are proximate the corner, the cord stop being covered by a textile wrap. Ideally, the distance between the cord stop and the corner is less than the distance between the cord stop and the open end.
In variable configurations, the flap forms part of a framed structure. The framed structure may include an anchoring point for the running end of the cord. The open end may be being located proximate a portion of the frame. In the latter configuration, a portion of the frame may incorporate a pulley wheel, the cord extending out from the open end being wound about the pulley wheel before terminating at the running end.
The textile from which the flap is made may be a low-friction material having a weight of 100 gsm or less.
The first side preferably meets the second side at an angle of 90°. However, the first side may meet the second side at either an obtuse or acute angle. The angle of the corner formed by the meeting of the first side and the second side is immaterial, provide that the length of the zip is less than the distance between the open fully open end of the zip and the open end of the channel.
Ideally, the zipped flap opening system forms part of a tent or a cover for a tent.
The cord may incorporate means for preventing the running end from being drawn into the channel.
The zipped flap opening system preferably forms part of a tent. In such a configuration, the tent material may be folded over to form the channel. Optionally, the tent includes a tent frame and the tent frame includes an anchoring point for the running end of the cord.
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention there is a zipped flap opening system 10 for a tent 1. Before describing the invention, it is necessary to properly describe the tent 1.
The tent 1 comprises a canvas 2 which has been sized and cut to fit over, and attach to, a tent frame 3. The tent frame 3 is typically flexible to facilitate setup and disassembly. The tent frame 3 rests on a surface 4 where it is desired to pitch the tent 1 by way of a plurality of feet 5.
In this manner, when the tent frame 3 rests on the surface 4 by way of feet
5, the attached canvas 2 is divided into segments. For the purposes of describing this invention, the only segments shown are segment 6a, incorporating the opening system 10, and its adjacent segment 6b.
The canvas 2 has a plurality of internal loops (not shown) through which the tent frame 3 can pass through. The use of the internal loops are the means by which the canvas 2 attaches to—and remains attached to—the tent frame 3.
In this embodiment, the canvas 2 has reinforcing material 7 at the point where segments 6a, 6b connect near the foot 5. Extending from the reinforcing material 7 is a retaining strap 8. The retaining strap 8 of this embodiment includes a loop portion 9.
As mentioned above, segment 6a incorporates the opening system 10. The opening system 10 includes a length of zipper 12. Each length of zipper 12 is cut from a continuous zipper coil (not shown) and finished with a fabric wrap 14 at a first end 16. When in a fully closed state, the zipper 12 connects a first portion 18 of segment 6a to a second portion 20 of segment 6b.
The zipper 12 is of standard construction as would be readily known to the person skilled in the art and as such only those elements relevant to the current invention are further described herein.
The zipper 12 comprises a running stop 22 and a cord stop 24. The fabric wrap 14 acts as the cord stop 24. In this manner, the fabric wrap 14 extends across a gap 26 formed between the first portion 18 and second portion 20 at the first end 16.
The running stop 22 comprises a pair of ends 28. An end 28 is affixed to each of the first portion 18 and second portion 20. In this manner, when the zipper 12 is in a fully closed state, the ends 28 align with each other.
Extending between the running stop 22 and the cord stop 24 are teeth 30. The teeth 30 extend from both the first portion 18 and the second portion 20. A plurality of teeth 30 from both the first portion 18 and second portion 20 are received within channels 32 provided in a slider 34 at all times.
The slider 34 has a pull tab 36. The pull tab 36 allows the slider 34 to be directed to a position that puts the zipper 12 in either the fully closed state or a fully open state. When in the fully open state, the slider 34 is covered by the fabric wrap 14. When in the fully closed state, the slider 34 encapsulates running stops 22.
In this embodiment, segment 6a has a lower channel 38 provided therein. The lower channel 38 is formed by folding free end (not shown) of the canvas 2 at segment 6a back on itself and sewing it in place. The lower channel 38 has a closed end 40 and an open end 42. The closed end 40 is positioned adjacent the running stop 22. A cord lock 44 is received within the open end 42.
Contained within the lower channel 38 is a cord 46. The cord 46 is secured in place at the closed end 40. In this embodiment, to secure the cord 46 in the closed end 40, the cord 46 is first arranged to loop back on itself as shown in
It is important to note that the cord 46 must be made from material that is either inelastic or has limited elasticity.
Stitching the closed end 40 along axis X-X ensures that the cord 46 is secured in place at two points, i.e. across the looped portion 48a and the main portion 48b.
Main portion 48b of the cord 46 passes through the cord lock 44 before exiting the lower channel 38. The intent of the cord lock 44 is to apply friction to the cord 46 and prevent the cord 46 from freely withdrawing into, or being freely drawn out of, lower channel 38.
The cord lock 44 has a body 50 and an adjustor 52. The body 50 takes the form of an open-ended cylinder. A pair of aligned through apertures 54 extend through the cylindrical side wall 56 of the body.
The adjustor 52 has a receiving portion 58 and a retaining portion 60. The receiving portion 58 is sized and shaped so as to be received within the body 50. The retaining portion 60 is sized and shaped so as to prevent the receiving portion 58 from being permanently received within the body 50. The retaining portion 60 is also sized and shaped so as to prevent the retaining portion 60 from entering the lower channel 38 through open end 42.
A second through aperture 62 is provided in the receiving portion 58. The position of the second through aperture 62 is such that, when the receiving portion 58 is received within the body 50, the second through aperture 62 aligns with through apertures 54.
When fully assembled, the cord 46 extends through the second through aperture 62 and the through apertures 54, before exiting out into the interior of the tent 1. To prevent the cord 46 from exiting the apertures 54, 62, the portion of the cord 46 that extends into the interior of the tent 1 is knotted at a position proximate the cylindrical side wall 54.
The body 50 is physically connected to the adjustor 52 by way of a helical spring 64. The coil spring 64 is arranged so as to be in concentric alignment with the longitudinal axis Y-Y of the body 50. In this manner, the coil spring 64 connects to the adjustor 52 by way of the receiving portion 58. The coil spring 64 operates to bias the receiving portion 58 to a position where at least some of the receiving portion is not received within the body 50.
In this embodiment, the cord 46 not secured within the closed end 40 terminates in a toggle 66.
This embodiment of the invention will now be described in the context of its intended use.
The zipper 12 starts from a fully closed position. In this position, the slider 34 abuts the running stops 22.
A person positioned within the tent 1 takes hold of the toggle 66. When they wish to open the zipper 12, the person pulls on the toggle 66 with enough force to overcome the frictional force applied by the cord lock 44.
Due to the opposing end of the cord 46 being secured in place at the closed end 40, the pulling of the cord 46 by the person causes it to tighten (if not already taut). Once taut, further pulling of the cord 46 causes the closed end 40 to move closer to the open end 42 and the canvas 2 that forms the lower channel 38 to gather about the cord 46.
To allow the cord 46 to pass through the cord lock 44 during this movement, the helical spring 64 retracts under tension applied by the cord 46. This retraction results in the helical spring 64 biasing the retaining portion 60 until the second through apertures 62 are brought into line with the aligned through apertures 54. This then allows the cord 46 to pass through the cord lock 44 easily. However, the presence of the knot in the cord 46 past the open end 42 prevents the cord 46 from withdrawing into the lower channel 38.
This same movement of the cord 46 causes the teeth 30 to pull away from each other and move the slider 34 in the direction of the fully open position. This continues until the slider 34 reaches the cord stop 24 (i.e. the fully open position has been reached). There being no further movement of the cord 46 through the cord lock 44, the helical spring 64 seeks to return to its natural position of applying bias to the retaining portion 60. This bias, in turn, again applies a frictional force to the cord 46 through the misalignment of apertures 54, 62.
The gathering of the canvas 2 caused by the operation of the zipped flap opening system 10 as described creates folds in panel 6a which create gutters for any material built up on the outside of the canvas 2 at segment 6a. These gutters channel such built up material to the ground rather than allowing it to fall on the person when they exit the tent 1.
It is important to note that the lower channel 38 should extend almost the whole lower length of segment 6a to prevent slack in the cord 46. Similarly, the distance between the cord stop 24 and the zippered corner 68 must be less than the distance between the cord stop 24 and the open end 42. If this is not the case, the canvas 2 of segment 6b may not be sufficiently taut as to allow for it to gather as described above.
It should also be appreciated that this arrangement ensures that the person is also able to activate the opening system 10 from the interior of the tent 1 easily and conveniently, except in the case of mechanical failure of the zipper 12 (such as may occur when water freezes in the zipper 12).
The person skilled in the art should appreciate that while the invention has been described in the context of the opening system applying to a door flap for a tent or outer cover for a tent, the same opening system can be applied to facilitate the opening of tent window flaps or as an opening in a textile section of another structure. Furthermore, while the invention has been described in the context of facilitating an opening by gathering of the canvas 2 at segment 6a, the invention can easily be reversed so as to facilitate the gathering of the canvas 2 at segment 6b instead (i.e. the invention applies whether right-aligned or left-aligned).
While the above embodiment has been described in the context of the material to which the zipped flap opening system 10 is attached, the invention can be applied to any textile material provided that it does not generate a large amount of friction when engaging the cord 46. However, the applicant believes that the best results can be achieved where the textile material is lightweight (i.e. less than 100 gsm).
In an alternative configuration, the cord lock 44 is replaced with a bracket 100. The bracket 100 includes a pair of axially aligned apertures 102. The cord 46 then passes through the first axially aligned aperture 102a before being threaded back through the second axially aligned aperture 102b.
The bracket 100 contemplated in this alternative configuration is shown in
It should also be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the above invention is not limited to the embodiment described. In particular, the following modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention:
It should be further appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the above variations and modifications, not being mutually exclusive, can be combined to form yet further embodiments that fall within the scope of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021106630 | Aug 2021 | AU | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/AU2022/050945 | 8/22/2022 | WO |
