Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Portable shelter – Shelter suspended from diverse support means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-10
2001-04-24
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Portable shelter
Shelter suspended from diverse support means
C135S095000, C135S137000, C135S115000, C005S121000, C005S113000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220264
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a light weight tent that can be suspended form overhead to support the floor above the ground.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There is a substantial need for tents of this class. They would have application in difficult frontier travel where the usual means of transport is back pack. The importance of lightness of weight will be apparent. The presently available tents in this class have a fabric bottom supported by a rectangular steel peripheral frame strong enough to support the floor. They are heavy and cumbersome, but, notwithstanding this objection, remain in use because there is no alternative. Typically, these tents weight over
30
pounds mostly because of the weight of the frame.
In respect of the tents of the prior art, which have a fabric support surface with a tubular metal peripheral frame, when load is applied to the floor the downward force of the weight tends to draw in the opposed sides of the frame. This results in a sag in the floor. To avoid undue sag from this cause, it has been the practice to design the frame to be strong enough to resist it. The result has been heavy frames that significantly contribute to the overall weight of the tent for transport.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention overcomes the problem of having to use heavy frames to avoid sag and it does so by a unique arched configuration for the sides of the frame that support the floor. The floor is supported between two opposed flexible arches that extend between two opposed base sections of the frame. The base sections are drawn towards each other to flex the arched sections outwardly of each other to stretch the fabric of the floor between them and provide a firm flat surface able to support the weight to be placed on it in use.
The base sections are so drawn together by means of a belt and they are maintained in this position by keeping the tension on the belt. Thus, the ends of the arches are located against outward movement. This prevents any inward movement of the sides toward each other as a result of downward forces on the floor during use. The downward forces of weight on the floor appear as increased tension on the belt that extends longitudinally of the base section of the frame.
The arched frame design makes it possible to make a support surface of much reduced weight and therefore a tent of much reduced weight while giving a support surface design that does not sag as a result of frame flexing due to weight on the floor.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved light weight suspension tent of good utility and low cost that has an improved floor construction.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved floor construction in any article of manufacture that has a metal frame for a fabric or like support surface.
With these and other objects in view, according to this invention there is provided in an article of manufacture having a fabric support surface: a fabric support surface; a peripheral frame for the support surface, said frame having opposed base sections and opposed flexible arch sections extending between the base sections; and arch flexing means for moving the opposed base sections towards each other to flex the arch sections outwardly of each other and for maintaining the base sections from separation whereby to tension the fabric support surface between the arch sections and form a firm support for weight placed thereon and to restrain the effect of weight thereon from moving the opposed arch sections inwardly of each other.
REFERENCES:
patent: 650554 (1900-05-01), Conley
patent: 1209479 (1916-12-01), Nesom
patent: 2442132 (1948-05-01), Laythe
patent: 2567697 (1951-09-01), Craighead, Jr. et al.
patent: 2788530 (1957-04-01), Ferguson
patent: 3215153 (1965-11-01), Huddle
patent: 3545461 (1970-12-01), Carlson
patent: 4320542 (1982-03-01), Cohen
patent: 4526307 (1985-07-01), Parler
patent: 4811751 (1989-03-01), Maloney, II
Dowell & Dowell , P.C.
Friedman Carl D.
Terrelogic, Inc.
Yip Winnie
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