Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Portable shelter – Accessory or adjunct
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-31
2001-08-07
Kent, Christopher T. (Department: 3635)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Portable shelter
Accessory or adjunct
C135S118000, C248S508000, C248S530000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269825
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to tents having structural poles and, more particularly, to a device that serves to securely support the pole on the ground so that the pole is maintained in the desired support orientation regardless of weather and ground conditions. The invention also pertains to a method of securely anchoring and supporting a tent pole on the ground.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
A problem often confronted by a person utilizing a collapsible tent is keeping the tent in the expanded, useable condition. Particularly, there is often difficulty in preventing the tent poles from shifting or falling from their desired support orientation. It is believed that this is primarily attributable to poor ground conditions (e.g., loose soil, solid rock, etc.) and/or weather conditions (e.g., windy or rainy conditions) which permit or cause the end of the pole placed on the ground to shift out of its original location. In any case, when a tent pole becomes dislodged from the desired support orientation, the tent will likely collapse and possibly blow away. In wet conditions, the contents of the tent are consequently susceptible to becoming wet. It will be appreciated that this problem also creates a nuisance and hassle for the camper, as the tent must be repeatedly erected.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Responsive to these and other problems, an important object of the present invention is to reduce the risk of a tent collapsing caused by dislodgement of the tent pole(s) from the desired support orientation. That is to say, an important object of the present invention is to provide a system that essentially ensures that the tent pole(s) remain in the desired support orientation regardless of weather and ground conditions. It is particularly an important object of the present invention to provide a device that securely anchors and supports the lower end of a tent pole on the ground. It is also an important object of the present invention to provide a tent pole ground anchor and support device that is capable of being used with virtually every known commercially available tentpole. Yet another important object of the present invention is to provide a tent pole ground anchor and support device that has a durable yet inexpensive construction.
In accordance with these and other objects evident from the following description of the preferred embodiment, the present invention concerns a tent pole ground anchor and support device comprising a unitary body that includes a lower face configured for placement on the ground. A stake-receiving opening extends through the body so that the device may be securely anchored on the ground by inserting a ground stake through the opening and into the ground. The body further includes a pole-retaining recess that is cooperatively defined by a floor and an upright surface. The surface includes an opening that is configured to receive at least a portion of the pole when the pole is placed in an oblique orientation relative to the upright axis about which the recess is defined. The pole may consequently be “nested” within the hole and thereby further retained in the desired support orientation.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 224200 (1880-02-01), Mayer
patent: 2185629 (1940-01-01), Dixon
patent: 2922653 (1960-01-01), O'Brien
patent: 2928405 (1960-03-01), Lawson
patent: 3957069 (1976-05-01), Denaro
patent: 4148332 (1979-04-01), Huddle
patent: 4343449 (1982-08-01), Osthus
patent: 4782846 (1988-11-01), Ting
patent: 5740827 (1998-04-01), Swarringim
Hovey Williams Timmons & Collins
Kent Christopher T.
Thissell Jennifer I.
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