Title:

Steel pole for a rectangular dome-shaped tent

United States Patent Application 20030089390

Kind Code:

Abstract:

A steel pole for a rectangular dome-shaped tent is disclosed wherein a plurality of unit rods 1 are made of an elastic steel pipe with a certain thickness. One end portion of each of the unit rods is press-formed into an insert part 1a for being inserted into an insert hollow 1b of another unit rod 1, the insert part having a proper length and a proper diameter. The unit rods consist of straight rods 1A and bent rods 1B, the bent rod 1B being bent at a certain angle to support a corner portion between the tent ceiling and the tent wall. Each steel pole consists of a plurality of the unit rods 1 in the form of a straight rod 1A or a bent rod 1B, and the rods 1 are arranged in a number and in an order suitable to pitch a dome-shaped tent. A flexible and elastic string s passes through the unit rods thus arranged for forming an arched pole. Two arched poles A and B are installed on the ground, the top portion of the arched poles crossing each other for pitching a rectangular dome-shaped tent 2.

Inventors:

Seo, Chun Sik (Seoul, KR)

Application Number:

09/987488

Publication Date:

05/15/2003

Filing Date:

11/15/2001

Export Citation:

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Assignee:

SEO CHUN SIK

Primary Class:

135/127

Other Classes:

135/114, 135/120.4

International Classes:

E04H15/60; E04H15/32; (IPC1-7): E04H15/60

View Patent Images:

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Attorney, Agent or Firm:

FITZPATRICK CELLA HARPER & SCINTO (30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA, NEW YORK, NY, 10112, US)

Claims:

What is claimed is:

1. A rectangular dome-shaped steel pole for a tent, comprising: a plurality of unit rods 1 made of an elastic steel pipe with thickness and diameter suitable for a tent pole; one end portion of each of the unit rods being press-formed into an insert part 1a for inserting into an insert hollow 1b of another unit rod 1, said insert part la being formed as an integral part of the unit rod 1; said unit rods consisting of straight rods 1A and bent rods 1B, the bent rods 1B having a bent portion c suitable for supporting the portions between the tent ceiling and the tent walls; said straight rods 1A and bent rods 1B are arranged in numbers and in an order suitable for poles A, B for supporting a tent, a flexible string s passing through the arranged straight rods 1A and bent rods 1B; and two arched poles A and B being installed on the ground with the top portion of the arched poles crossing in an X-shaped form for pitching a dome-shaped tent 2.

2. The steel pole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert part 1a is press-formed so that the unit rod 1 and the insert part 1a are integrally formed; the insert part 1a has a thickness and length and an outer diameter suitable for being inserted into the inner diameter of the insert hollow 1b of another rod 1; and the unit rods 1A, 1B are disassembled from or assembled with one another through the insert portion 1a and the insert hollow 1b.

3. The steel pole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bent rods 1B of the arched poles A and B have bent rods 1B with a bent portion c with a bent angle suitable for supporting the corner portions between the tent ceiling and the tent walls.

4. The steel pole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ends of the connecting string s are fixed to both ends e, e of each of the arched poles A and B; and the connecting string s has a sufficient flexibility and elasticity for assembling the connected rods 1A, 1B into an arch-shaped pole or for disassembling and folding.

Description:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to steel poles for a rectangular dome-shaped tent.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The unit rods of the conventional tent used in mountains and open fields are pipes of a reinforced plastic or aluminum.

[0003] As shown in FIG. 5, in a conventional tent, the connecting part of the rods is constituted as follows. That is, a separate insert member I is inserted into the hollow h of a pipe rod R in such a manner that the insert member I protrudes to the outside. Then the protruded portion of the insert member I is coupled to another pipe rod R, thereby coupling the two pipe rods. In this manner, the tent poles are assembled.

[0004] In these conventional tent poles which are made of a reinforced plastic or aluminum, the installation of the tent itself can be carried out with no problem, but the tent installed in this way presents problems as a tent.

[0005] That is, the tent poles which are made of reinforced plastic are too heavy, and their manufacturing cost is very high, although they are comparatively stronger than aluminum poles in resistance to distortion.

[0006] However, the insert member as the connecting part is weak, and therefore, if the pole is deflected more than the deflection limit due to carelessness, force is concentrated on the thin insert member, with the result that the insert member is broken.

[0007] Or if a strong wind blows, the tent oscillates due to the forces of the wind, and the load is concentrated on the thin insert member, with the result that the insert member is broken.

[0008] If any of the insert members of the poles is broken, then the entire pole frame of the tent is made useless, and therefore, the entire pole frame has to be replaced with a new one.

[0009] Meanwhile, the aluminum poles are light in specific gravity, and therefore, they are preferred by many people, for they are easy to carry. However, the material for the aluminum poles are weak, thus making their strength for supporting the tent is weak, and therefore, if a wild wind blows, the aluminum poles may be bent or broken, with the result that the tent collapses.

[0010] Further, the aluminum poles are liable to be deformed, and therefore, after the repetitive use of the aluminum poles, the assembling of the poles becomes difficult. Or the connecting parts become loose, and therefore, the connecting parts are apt to come apart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention is intended to overcome the above-described disadvantages of the conventional techniques.

[0012] Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide strong, durable steel poles for a rectangular dome-shaped tent that can be installed safely even under a strong wind.

[0013] In achieving the above object, the steel pole for a tent according to the present invention consists of a plurality of unit rods of certain length of a suitable diameter processed from an elastic steel plate.

[0014] One end portion of each of the unit rods is press-formed into a small diameter portion (an insert part) so as to make it possible to insert the small diameter portion into another unit rod, the small diameter portion having a proper length and a proper diameter for it to be inserted into another unit rod.

[0015] The unit rods consist of straight rods and bent rods, the bent rod being bent at a certain angle to support a corner portion between a tent ceiling and a tent wall.

[0016] A plurality of the unit rods, the straight rods and the bent rods, form one pole, and are arranged in a number and an order suitable to form an arched pole. A flexible, elastic string passes through the pipe holes of the arranged unit rods, the string being fixed by a suitable fixing means at both ends of the pole thus formed.

[0017] Thus the plurality of the unit rods constituting one pole are connected by the string, and therefore, the unit rods do not fall off from the group, while the order of the arrangement of the unit rods is maintained, thus offering convenience in handling of the poles.

[0018] Further, owing to the flexibility of the connecting string, each of the poles (each consisting of a plurality of the unit rods) can be assembled into an arch-shaped pole or split and folded into smaller lengths, making it easy and convenient to carry and store the poles.

[0019] When installing the tent, two arched poles are installed on the ground, the two poles crossing at the top portion, and a tent cloth is covered on them. Then the supporting ropes, which extend from the four corners of the tent cloth, are fixed onto the ground by fixing pins.

[0020] The dome-shaped tent can be installed more conveniently than an A-shaped tent as it uses two poles. Furthermore, it receives less pressure from the wind, and the interior space of the tent is relatively large.

[0021] In the above, explanation was made on the steel poles used for a dome-shaped tent, but it is apparent that they can be applied to the other forms of tents as well.

[0022] The steel pole for a tent according to the present invention is almost the same as a reinforced plastic pole in its weight, but it is much stronger in durability than the latter. In addition, the former has a better elasticity, making it possible to pitch a tent as one desires.

[0023] Furthermore, owing to the high strength of the steel poles, the pole is strong against deformation, and therefore, the tent does not fall even against a strong wind. This stability of a pitched tent is essential to the usefulness of a tent.

[0024] Even after the repetitive use of the poles, assembling and disassembling of the poles many times, the connecting portions of the unit rods are not loosened or broken as in the case of the conventional aluminum or reinforced plastic poles, but the coupling strength of the rods is maintained firmly.

[0025] Besides, the manufacturing cost of the steel poles is low, and if they are coated with various desirable colors, the poles look beautiful in harmony with the color of the tent. Therefore, people will certainly prefer the tent of the present invention with an added advantage of safety and convenience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The above object and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail the preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates the arched pole of the present invention in which a plurality of rods are connected with a string;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a partially sectional view illustrating how a unit rod is inserted into another in the present invention, in which the insert portion is formed integrally with the rod and inserted into another rod;

[0029] FIG. 3 is a side view of the tent of the present invention, in which the arch-shaped pole is secured on the ground;

[0030] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rectangular dome-shaped tent with the arched poles of the present invention applied therein; and

[0031] FIG. 5 is a partially sectional view of the conventional pole, showing the insert portion of the connecting part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0032] The pole of the rectangular dome-shaped tent according to the present invention is constituted in such a way that the pole consists of a plurality of unit rods 1 which are pipes of a suitable diameter with a certain length and thickness made of an elastic steel plate. One end portion of the unit rod 1 is press-formed into a smaller diameter portion, i.e., an insert part 1a, while the other end of the rod 1 has an insert hollow 1b for receiving the insert part 1a of another rod 1, the insert part 1a is formed integrally with the rod 1.

[0033] There are two types of unit rods--straight rods 1A; and bent rods 1B. The bent rods have a bent portion c with an appropriate bent an angle (e.g., 120 degrees) to support the corner portions between the tent ceiling and the tent wall.

[0034] The straight rods 1A and the bent rods 1B are arranged in proper numbers and in a proper order suitable to form the arched poles A, B. Each set of the unit rods 1A, 1B are connected by inserting a connecting string s through the hollows h of them, and both ends of the connecting string s are fixed to the ends e and e of each of the poles A and B.

[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the arched pole A or B of the tent of the present invention as to how the straight rods 1A and bent rods 1B are connected. There are three straight rods 1A connected in the middle portion of the arched pole A or B, and two bent rods 1B are connected to both ends of these three straight rods 1A. Further, two straight rods 1A are connected to both ends of the bent rods 1B, and thus, nine unit rods 1 form one pole.

[0036] However, the arched pole of the present invention is not limited to the above described example, but the number of the unit rods can be increased or decreased according to the composition of the pole, and the bent angle of the bent rods 1B can be varied to pitch a tent of various forms.

[0037] Thus the pole of the present invention is formed by connecting a plurality of unit rods (the straight rods 1A and the bent rods 1B) together with a connecting string s passing through them. A pair of such poles A and B is used as a frame or a pole for pitching a dome-shaped tent 2 of the present invention.

[0038] When installing a dome-shaped tent, the insert part 1a of the rod 1 is inserted into the insert hollow 1b of another rod 1, and repeating this process for more rods as required, the arched poles A, B are formed. Under this condition, the arched poles A and B are not as bent as they look when the tent is pitched.

[0039] Both ends of the arched poles A and B thus formed are put to the ground, and then, the distance between both ends of the pole A or B are narrowed so as to make the pole reach the desired curve. Thus the poles are put to a stable form, and as shown in FIG. 3, the straight rods 1A under the bent rod 1B form a post, while the straight rods 1A above the bent rods 1B form a curved frame for the ceiling of the tent.

[0040] These arched poles A and B are crossed in an X form when they are assembled, and a tent cloth is covered over the installed arched poles A and B. Then ropes r which extend from the four corners of the tent cloth are secured to the ground by using supporting pins p.

[0041] Thus as shown in FIG. 4, a rectangular dome-shaped tent 2 is installed with the two arched poles A and B. Of course, when installing other forms of tents, the same procedure is taken to install them.

[0042] The tent pole of the present invention consists of a plurality of elastic steel pipe rods, and therefore, it is easy to curve the poles into an arch form after assembling the rods into poles. Furthermore, once installed, the arched poles are not deformed or broken by the force of even a strong wind, and support the tent firmly.

[0043] The number of the straight rods 1A and the number of the bent rods 1B are decided by the length and the shape of the assembled poles depending upon the interior space of the tent.

[0044] Also, the larger the angle of the bent portion c of the bent rod 1B is, the steeper the slope of the ceiling of the tent becomes. On the other hand, the smaller the angle of the bent portion c of the bent rod 1B is, the less steep the ceiling of the tent becomes.

[0045] The assembling, disassembling, carrying, and handling of the poles of the present invention can be done in the same way as in the case of ordinary tents, but in the present invention, as the insert part is integral with the rod, even with the repetitive use of the rods, assembling and disassembling, the insert part is not broken, thereby maintaining the coupling strength even with a repetitive use. Therefore, the poles are durable and highly stable and useful.

[0046] According to the present invention as described above, the tent pole consists of a plurality of unit rods which are made of elastic steel pipes, the insert part is formed integrally with the rod, and therefore, the rods and the insert parts are strong, with the result that the poles, with strong supporting strength and durability, are not deflected or deformed or broken even by a strong wind. Consequently, the tent is firmly supported and will not fall down even under a strong wind.

[0047] Furthermore, the poles can be folded into shorter lengths, so that they can be carried and stored in an easy and convenient manner. Further, even with a repetitive use of the poles, assembling and disassembling, the strong connecting parts of the unit rods will not be loosened, deformed, or fall apart as in the case of other conventional rods.

[0048] Furthermore, with their strong durability of the poles, they can be used for a long time. Besides, the poles of the present invention are advantageous to use, as they are economical in view of their manufacturing cost as compared with the conventional reinforced plastic or aluminum poles, and are convenient to use.

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