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The present invention relates to a reinforcement device of a folding tent, especially refer to the function of reinforcing two opposite branch frames of the tent poles and stretching straight as well as unfolding between the two branch frames in concurrent with the expanding and folding of the tent poles without any influence.
Current outdoor life popularizes the usage of folding tents whose frames can be extended quickly and supported by landing rods, and then covered with main tent and attached tent to shield from raining, sun burn, and windy condition. Traditional folding tents show various kinds of design, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,188, U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,356, U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,533, U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,853, U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,923, U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,572, U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,378, etc. The shapes judging from the top view of the tent are categorized into rectangle type ‘Cross-shaped’ X-shaped, etc. However, the designation of these tents were mostly dedicated in its shape, size, or folding structure, etc, and mostly neglects the structure of tents solidity and setup after extending. Therefore in practical use, the frame weakness is raised or even influenced the opening and folding frame structure of the truss bar and pole of tents.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a reinforcement device of folding tents, which comprises two connection sections and two connection rods; the two connection sections connected with the two opposite requiring reinforcement branch frames, whereas each individual connection section contains two pivots perpendicular to or in wide angle (an obtuse angle) to each other; and then one of the pivots connected with the branch frame of the tent poles, the other connected with the head end of connection rod. The two connection rods set up within the two connection sections, and link its two ends together with a pivot with a position member nearby which make the two rods extend straight firmly locked and yield a function of reinforcement; therefore the reinforcement device could be opened and folded concurrently with the extending and folding frame of tent poles to add the solidity of tent.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an option of reinforcement device, and with a position member at the end of each connection rod near pivot. The mechanic of position member could apply the application opinion of elastic pin, V button, Velcro belt, Buckle belt, casing ring, or U-shaped ring to lock the two connection rods tightly when the two rods stretch straight concurrently with the extending frame of tent poles and truss bar.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment in accordance with the present invention being applied on the tent poles;
FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged view of the embodiment in FIG. 1 in expanding status;
FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged view of the embodiment in FIG. 1 in folded status;
FIG. 4 is an explosive view of an embodiment in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is an explosive view of another embodiment in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a further embodiment in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a further embodiment in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the embodiment in FIG. 9 in folded status;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a further embodiment in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the embodiment in FIG. 11 being applied on tent poles and truss bar.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an embodiment according to the present invention being applied on tent poles and truss bar;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an embodiment according to the present invention being applied on another tent poles and truss bar.
First of all, referring from FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the reinforcement device 1 of the present invention fixed on the branch frames 3) of a folding tent comprises two connection section 10 and two connection rods 20 which is connected on the opposite requiring reinforcement branch frames 31, 32 of tent poles 3. Each connection section 10 comprises two sets pivots 11, 12 which cross with each other in wide angle (an obtuse angle) to or perpendicular to each other. The first set of pivot 11 connects with one of two opposite branch frames 31, 32 of the tent poles 3 whereas the second set of pivot 12 connects with the head end 21 of the connection rod 20 so that the two connection rods 20 can be expanded or folded concurrent with the folding as per FIG. 3 and expanding as per FIG. 1 & FIG. 2 with two opposite branch frames 31, 32 of tent poles 3 by means of the working of two connection sections 10 and two sets of pivots 11, 12.
Furthermore, the two connection rods 20 were set between two pivots 10 and linked by a pivot 23 at tail end 22 with a position member 24 as shown in FIG. 4. The connection rods 20 could be folded by the pivot 23 as per FIG. 3, or stretch straight firmly by the mechanic of position member 24 as shown in FIG. 2 & FIG. 5 to reinforce the supportive strength and area solidity of tent poles 3 after extending.
Further referring from FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, using two L-shaped angle irons 13, 14 combines into a united structure with two piece components, and coupled by one side of L-shaped angle irons 13, 14 into one unit to form the first pivot 11, while the second pivot 12 sets up at the other side of L-shaped angle iron 14 and connects with the head end 21 of rod 20, which makes two pivots perpendicular to each other to form a structure of universal joint. When in practical usage, the respective angle iron 13 of the two connection sections 10 connect with the opposite branch frames 31, 32 of tent poles 3 by each side of angle iron 13, whereas the second pivot 12 connect with head end 21 of rod 20; then by means of reciprocal adjustment of the two pivots 11, 12 of connection section 10 and the pivot 23 of the two connection rods 20 which can stretch straight or fold concurrently with the opening and folding of branch frames 31, 32. Please also refer to FIG. 11 & FIG. 12, the connection section 10 can be changed by a U-shaped angle iron 15 to form a one piece component structure. The U-shaped angle iron 15 has an wide angle opening with the first and second pivot 11, 12 at each side, and makes the two pivots cross in an wide angle and form into an universal joint to gain the effects of reinforce device 1.
The position member 24 arranged at the joint of respective end of the two connection rods 20 mainly fixes the two rods 20 when stretch straight with the expanding of the two opposite branch frames 31, 32 to yield an enough supporting force. The structure of the position member 24 is optional, it could be elastic pin type shown as per FIG. 4-5 which is fixed an elastic pin or V button 25 at one end of rod, and an opposite hole 26 at the other end of the rod, when the two rods 20 were stretch straight concurrent with the extending of the two opposite branch frames 31, 32 of tent poles 3, the elastic pin 25 at the end of a rod 20 embed into the opposite hole 26 at the end of another rod 20 to fix the two rods in straight position, while folding the tent poles 3, pull button 25 or press lever button (not shown) to release elastic pin 25 from opposite hole 26, and fold the two connection rods concurrent with the folding of tent poles 3 so as to meet the effect of convenient operation.
Please also refer to FIG. 6 & FIG. 7, the position member 24 could be bonded by buckle belt. A buckle belt 27 is arranged on the tail end 22 of one connection rod 20 or two connection rods 20. Thus when the two connection rods 20 stretch into straight and parallel status, fasten the buckle belt 27 to bind the tail end 22 of the two connection rods 20 firmly together and make the two rods in a solid straight status. Moreover, refer to FIG. 8, the position member 24 could be a casing ring. A moveable casing ring 28 is disposed on one of the connection rod 20 or the two connection rods 20. When the two connection rods 20 stretch straight and parallel, move the casing ring 28 toward the arrow direction to the tail end 22 of the two connection rods 20 so that the movable casing ring 28 firmly fastens the two connection rods 20 at the end and the connection rods 20 are positioned in stretching status. Further refer to FIG. 9 & FIG. 10, the position member 24 could be a U-shaped ring 29 with an opening whose width are two times of the thickness of the connection rod 20. The U-shaped ring 29 is pivoted on the end of one rod 20 or two rods 20, when the two connection rods 20 stretch into straight and parallel status, the U-shaped ring 29 will hook up to the tail end 22 of the two rods 20 and hold the two connection rods 20 firmly in straight status at the end.
The present invention of reinforcement device 1 could be installed on the poles of various kinds of collapsible tents, such as the rectangle-type tent poles 3 in FIG. 1, the reinforce device is mounted on the four branch frames 31, 32. Or the Cross-shaped tent poles per FIG. 13, the reinforce device is mounted between two transverse frames 41 and the two branch frames 42. Or the X-shaped tent poles in FIG. 5, the reinforce device is mounted between the top frame 51 and four branch frames 42 on four corners. The reinforce device acts synchronously with the extending and folding of the tent poles 3, 4, 5.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, and representative devices shown and described herein.
Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.