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  Foldable tentUSPTO Application #: 20060185707Title: Foldable tent Abstract: A foldable self-erecting tent (10) has an elongate fabric shell (11) and frame ribs (16). Frame ribs (16) define an interior space the of tent (10), and a collapsed and folded configuration in which the shell (11) is compacted and the frame is manipulated such that the tent (10) is stored in carry bag (25). The frame ribs (16) are adapted to be fitted into sleeves (17) and secured at their ends such that ribs (16) are bowed in arcuate configurations, the ribs (16) being made from a resilient spring like material urging against the shell (11) of fabric sheet material to form the interior space. The frame ribs (16) are moveable from the erect configuration where they are spaced apart to the collapsed configuration where they adjacent to each other into a substantially flat arrangement with a diameter of the transverse cross section being substantially identical to that of the erect configuration, the ribs (16) being adapted to be manipulated into a loop arrangement (23) thereby reducing the diameter in the collapsed and folded configuration, the tent in flat collapsed and folded configuration being adapted to be stored in the storage carry bag (25). (end of abstract)
Agent: Greenberg Traurig, LLP - Chicago, IL, US Inventor: Dean Peter Viglione USPTO Applicaton #: 20060185707 - Class: 135126000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Tent, Canopy, Umbrella, Or Cane, Portable Shelter (i.e., Tent Or Canopy), Framework, Arch-shaped Or Dome Type, Flexible Structure, Collapsible As A Unit The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060185707. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is a continuation of, and claims priority of the filing date of, U.S. Ser. No. 10/332,755, presently pending, which itself is a U.S. national phase application, under 35 U.S.C. 371, of PCT/AU01/00843, having an international filing date of 13 Jul. 2001. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. The Technical Field [0003] The present invention relates to tents and, in particular, to a tent having an integral frame with attached fabric covering, which is self erecting, collapsible and is easily folded such that it is stowable in a carry bag or the like. [0004] 2. The Prior Art [0005] Self-erecting tents are tents which utilize as a frame, a number of wire loops which are sewn into a sleeve in the fabric covering such that when the tent is released form its collapsed state, it springs into the shape of a tent due to the spring action of the wire loops. [0006] However it has been found that prior art tents such as described above are not relatively easy to stow in a bag to be carried on one's back or over one's shoulder. [0007] It is therefore seen to be desirable to have a foldable self-erecting tent which has the provision of a frame which is easy to fold into a flat collapsed state such that it is easily stowable into a carry bag which is suitable to be carried on ones back or over ones shoulder. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION [0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a foldable self-erecting tent and a method of folding same which substantially overcomes or ameliorates the above mentioned disadvantages. At the very least, the object of the invention is to provide an alternative to known foldable self-erecting tents and their methods of use. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] According to one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed foldable self-erecting tent having an elongate shell of fabric sheet material and a plurality of frame ribs, said tent having an erect configuration in which said frame ribs of said shell define an interior space of said tent, and a collapsed and folded configuration in which the shell is compacted and the frame is manipulated such that said tent is stored in a carry bag, wherein said shell includes a floor panel and at least one upper panel joined thereto, said floor panel having fixing means being adapted to be fixed to the ground, said at least one upper panel having sleeves associated therewith, said sleeves extending from a plurality of positions adjacent adjoining sides of said upper panel and said floor panel on one side of said floor panel to a position on opposite side of said floor panel, said frame ribs being adapted to be fitted into said sleeves and being secured at their ends such that said ribs are bowed in an arcuate configuration, said ribs being made from a resilient spring like material urging against the shell of fabric sheet material to form said interior space, wherein said frame ribs are moveable from the erect configuration where they are spaced apart to said collapsed configuration where they are adjacent to each other into a substantially flat arrangement with a diameter of the transverse cross section being substantially identical to that of the erect configuration, said ribs being adapted to be manipulated into a loop arrangement thereby reducing the diameter in the collapsed and folded configuration, and said tent in flat said collapsed and folded configuration being adapted to be stored in the storage carry bag. [0010] The floor panel and the upper panel can be formed by an integral construction of the shell with a portion of the shell being relatively flat and being adapted to be fixed to the ground. The sleeves in this construction extending from ground level to ground level over the upper portion of the shell. [0011] Preferably, in the collapsed and folded configuration where the ribs are looped once with the ends of the ribs facing the same general direction, the ribs are held against the bias of the ribs by a strap means. Preferably, the ends of the ribs are tucked under the fabric sheet material when in this configuration. In other forms of the invention, the ribs can be looped one and a half times, or more. [0012] In a preferred form of the invention, the carry bag is a substantially flat oval shaped bag with two sides joined together. Preferably, the join of the two sides of the bag is reinforced by an oval rib. The carry bag preferably has at least one carry handle. [0013] In a preferred form of the invention, the ribs are removable from the sleeves in order that they can be replaced when necessary, and are secured to tags located adjacent adjoining sides of said upper panel and said floor panel. They are preferably secured by means of being received through an eyelet. Preferably, these same tags have are use to fix the tent to the ground by pegging same to the ground. Preferably, pegs are used through different eyelets to those used by the ribs. [0014] In a preferred form, the tent is elongate with a central upper panel and two oppositely located end upper panels. Openings are preferably provided in the end panels. [0015] In the preferred form, the ribs are formed into pairs wherein a pair of ribs and hence the sleeves have two cross over points about half the height of the tent with the upper portion of each rib being located substantially above the ends of the other rib in the pair. Adjacent pairs of ribs and sleeves pull apart from each other when in the erected configuration to give a taut surface to the fabric sheet material, due to the bias or spring action of the ribs within the sleeves. [0016] Naturally this preferred arrangement of the ribs can be altered whereby the crossover points of the ribs are located at the apex of the tent or in another alternative, there is no crossover points of each pair of ribs. A further alternative is where the ribs are not joined in pairs but are adjacent each other but directed in opposing directions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] The present invention will be now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: [0018] FIG. 1 is a side view of a tent according to one embodiment of the present invention illustrated in its erect configuration; [0019] FIG. 2 is a side view of the tent of FIG. 1 illustrated with an additional fly sheet; [0020] FIG. 3 is an end view of the tent of FIG. 1 illustrated in its erect configuration; Continue reading... Full patent description for Foldable tent Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Foldable tent patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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