Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Portable shelter – Umbrella-type
Patent
1995-12-14
1997-10-07
Mai, Lanna
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Portable shelter
Umbrella-type
135135, 135119, 135907, F04H 1528
Patent
active
056737203
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a structure, and more particularly, to a structure comprising a substantially rigid support frame mounting a fabric skin. Examples of this kind of structure include tents, marquees, canopies and awnings.
BACKGROUND ART
In various forms this type of structure have been known for many thousands of years. Improvements on the basic theme have tended to relate generally to one or other of two principle groupings. The two aforementioned groupings are those structures held erect by way of internal poles and a system of outwardly projecting guy ropes and pegs, and those which are free standing, relying almost solely on the strength of the frame to provide support and stability.
Members of both the above noted groups have their disadvantages.
In this connection, structures held erect with internal poles and systems of guy ropes etc require significantly larger areas within which to be set up than their free standing counterparts. Moreover, the internal poles and external guy ropes provide undesirable obstructions which, to a degree, limit the range of applications in which these kind of structures can be used.
On the other hand, free standing structures are generally heavier, more costly, more complex, and/or slower and more difficult to erect. DE 386766, FR 2579654 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,634 disclose examples of this group.
DE 386766 more particular relates to a tent frame comprising a central hub splaying outwardly from which are six equispaced legs. When the tent is erected each frame leg is maintained in relative angular orientation with respect to the hub by way of a bracing member. Further, the lower, free end of each leg is intended to be driven into the ground to provide additional stability. The fabric skin is merely draped over the frame to provide a weather proof enclosure.
As will be immediately apparent, the fabric skin is not intended to fulfil a structural function in terms of maintaining the stability of the erected frame.
Failure to utilise the inherent structural capabilities of the fabric skin results in the need for a greater number of legs to achieve a stable configuration, thus resulting in a more complex and heavier structure than might otherwise be required. Moreover, cross bracing, in this case provided by the ground, is necessary to maintain the spacing of the legs.
The subject matter of FR 2579654 is a modular shelter structure made of wood and fabric. The structure is hexagonal in shape. The roof portion comprises a central hub from which radiate six rafters. A fabric skin covers the roof portion, and is stretched between the outer ends of the rafters and a pole upstanding from the central hub.
It is to be noted that although the fabric skin may be stretched in biaxial stable tension, this has not been fully utilised, as cross bracing (20') is provided to spread the outer ends of the rafters and maintain the hexagonal shape of the whole. These additional members, as well as the need for six rafters, increases the overall complexity and weight of the structure. Such considerations are of less importance to a structure of this kind, which appears to be intended for longterm or semi-permanent use.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,634 describes a framework forming a support for the fabric skin of a light shelter. The framework comprises a base member in the form of a regular polygon, and a central pole maintained in position by a plurality of support arms, two extending to each side of the base member. The fabric skin is stretched over the central pole and is hooked along the edges of the base member. As with the structures of FR 2579654 and DE 386766, the frame of this patent specification is complex, requiring lateral bracing between the radiating support arms.
Overlaid upon the aforegoing disadvantages are the problems and advantages associated with modularity in this type of structure.
By way of explanation, the term "modularity" is used to describe the ability of a particular structure to interconnect with one or more further structures of substa
REFERENCES:
patent: 1772646 (1930-08-01), Strombeck
patent: 1820002 (1931-08-01), Forrester
patent: 2555220 (1951-05-01), Brown
patent: 2928403 (1960-03-01), Hoskins
patent: 3751862 (1973-08-01), Linecker
patent: 4890634 (1990-01-01), Dalo et al.
patent: 5000211 (1991-03-01), Speare et al.
patent: 5394897 (1995-03-01), Ritchey et al.
Camel 1974 Tent Catalog.
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