Inflatable self-erecting tent

Details Inflatable self-erecting tent Inflatable self-erecting tent

1999-05-13

2001-07-24

Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)

Static structures (e.g., buildings)

Shaped or strengthened by fluid pressure

Intersecting tubular elements form framework

C052S002110, C052S002130

Reexamination Certificate

active

06263617

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to inflatable tent supports for erecting and supporting light weight shelters such as awnings and tents or other lightweight portable structures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Tents commonly utilize a semi-rigid, segmented pole. Segmented fibreglass or aluminium poles are commonly used to support, for example, dome tents.
The inflatable tent supports of the present invention overcome several difficulties associated with commonly utilized tent supporting structures. It requires no assembly prior to use. It is not normally subject to loss by being misplaced. It is easily used by those persons unfamiliar with the erecting of tents or those persons lacking sufficient strength or manual dexterity for such an undertaking and may be rapidly and easily used during inclement weather or at night.
As opposed to most other patents involving inflatable tents, there are no manifolds at the apex, or apexes instead, inflatable tubes criss-cross one another to provide for uplifting self-erecting of the tent, and once erected, to provide structural integrity to the tent. In particular, in the prior art applicant is aware of U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,086 which issued to Heim on Apr. 27, 1993 for an inflatable tent. Heim teaches a tent having a flexible canopy, floor and a series of inflatable tubes serving as frame hoops which, according to the teaching of Heim do not criss-cross in the manner of conventional domed tent supports. The tubes of Heim are fastened removably to the tent using sleeves that open along a longitudinal slit, wherein hook and loop releasable fasteners are employed for closing the sleeves onto the tubes. Each of the tubes are independently inflated and thus the tent of Heim is not self-erecting as the tubes are inflated as is the case in the present invention. The tubes of Heim are taught to be made of thermal plastics or vinyl and are the same diameter as the corresponding sleeves. Rigid boot cups are provided at the ends of the tubes for supporting the tube ends therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the inflatable tent of the present invention, one or more inflatable tubes are used to support a self-erecting tent. If two or more tubes then they may have at least one cross over criss-crossed at each juncture in the manner of conventional domed tent poles. The tube or tubes are secured or releasably secured to the tent so that the tent is self-erecting as the tube or tubes are inflated. When two or more tubes are employed, the tubes are pneumatically connected by an auxiliary tube so that forcing pressurized air into one tube results in all tubes inflating simultaneously. The ends of the tubes are self-sealing so as to accommodate relatively high air pressure within the tube, in the order of 20-30 pounds per square inch inflated pressure, thereby providing a significantly rigid structure from which the tent is suspended. Advantageously, the auxiliary tube extends between the two criss-crossing tubes in airflow communication therebetween at approximately the apex of the dome shape defined by the tubes. The ends of the tubes and along the length of the tubes are attached or mounted to the tent, advantageously along corresponding seams between tent panels. The tubes may, in one embodiment, be releasably mounted onto the tent by means of releasable fasteners such as zippers. The end result is that, once the tent of the present invention has been erected, it does not need to be held up by auxiliary structures such as guy wires as is the case in the Heim teaching.
The tubes comprise an outer non-resilient sleeve containing an inner resilient bladder, for example made of rubber inner-tubes. This is not intended to be limiting as it may be reasonably foreseen to use a tubeless sleeve, where the sleeve itself is air-tight and an inner bladder is not required. The ends of the inner rubber bladder coincide with the ends of the non-resilient sleeves and are self-sealing by means of the ends of the inner-tubes being folded over onto themselves within the sleeve so that inflation of the inner-tube sandwiches the folded over end between the inflated inner-tube and the inner non-resilient surface of the sleeve. Folding over the end of inner bladder, combined with the use of conventional adhesives to seal the open ends of the bladder provides for an airtight seal even at high inflated pressure. The ends of the tubes therefore have no rigid parts which may become crushed or distorted in use as in the case of the Heim device. The rubber bladder is sewn into the sleeve so as to trap the folded over portion of the bladder within the ends of the sleeve. Increasing the air pressure within the inner-tube merely forms a stronger airtight seal at the ends of the bladder by increasing the compressive force applied to the folded over end sandwiched between the inflated bladder and the sleeve.
In the embodiment of the present invention in which the tubes are releasably mounted to the tent by means of releasable fasteners such as zippers, in the case of puncture of the bladder within a tube, that tube may be unzipped from the tent, and otherwise unfastened at its ends from the bottom corners of the tent, for example by undoing snaps or other releasable fasteners holding the ends of the tubes securely fastened to the bottom corners of the tent, and replacing the punctured tube with an identical spare tube. This may be quickly accomplished. Since tubes used to support the tent are identical, only one spare tube need be carried.
The criss-cross between the tubes at the apex of the tent support structure does not result in interference between the two tubes by reason of adjustments made to the circumferential profile of the corresponding tent seams over which the tubes pass. Whether or not the tubes pass over seams between tent panels, the circumferential portions of the tent over which the tubes pass are adjusted, by adjusting the circumferential length of segments of the corresponding circumferential profiles so that one tube crosses over the apex at higher point than the other tube.
Thus, in one preferred embodiment, first and second criss-crossing inflatable tubes are mounted or mountable to corresponding criss-crossing first and second circumferential profiles wherein the first and second circumferential profiles may correspond to the seams between tent panels making up the tent. In any event, the first and second circumferential profiles are differently shaped when view in cross-section in first and second corresponding planes containing correspondingly the first and second circumferential profiles, the first circumferential profile having a shorter circumferential distance than the second circumferential profile. Thus, when the first and second tubes are mounted along their corresponding first and second circumferential profiles along segments of those profiles not including segments at the apex of the tent, and in view of the fact that both the first and second tubes are identical in length, the first tube forms an arch at the apex of the tent which extends a higher vertical distance above the tent apex than does the corresponding portion of the second tube. The first tube therefore crosses over the second tube at the apex of the tent by reason of its higher arched profile.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2591829 (1952-04-01), Katzenmeyer et al.
patent: 2830606 (1958-04-01), Daugherty
patent: 3145719 (1964-08-01), Johnson
patent: 3899853 (1975-08-01), Wertman
patent: 3999333 (1976-12-01), Amarantos
patent: 4068418 (1978-01-01), Masse
patent: 4197681 (1980-04-01), Holcombe
patent: 4271642 (1981-06-01), Karr
patent: 4709718 (1987-12-01), Nichols
patent: 4766918 (1988-08-01), Odekirk
patent: 4819389 (1989-04-01), Kihn
patent: 4825892 (1989-05-01), Norman
patent: 4876829 (1989-10-01), Mattick
patent: 4901481 (1990-02-01), Seeley, Jr.
patent: 4918877 (1990-04-01), Dutka
patent: 5005322 (1991-04-01), Mattick et al.
patent: 5007212 (1991-04-01), Fritts et al.
patent: 5122400 (1992-06-01), Stewart
patent: 5205086 (1993-04-01), Heim
patent: 5247768 (1993-09-01), Russo
patent: 5421

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Inflatable self-erecting tent does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Inflatable self-erecting tent, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Inflatable self-erecting tent will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2466852