Abstract:
Disclosed are structures and methods of assembling and positioning an improved tent assembly where members of the assembly use flexible hollow sleeve structures with integral fabric hub intersections that are held in tension in combination with compression members that can be used for a variety of applications. Disclosed techniques make assembling tent assemblies significantly easier than known prior art since the intersecting flexible hollow sleeve structures can be made continuous. In addition, the improved tent assembly is significantly stronger when deployed with compression members because the hollow sleeve structures, with integral fabric hub intersections, can be tensioned, thus significantly increasing the strength of the overall structure.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/366,921, entitled “Flexible Hollow Sleeve Frame Support Structure with Integral Fabric Hub Intersections,” filed Jul. 22, 2010, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to tent constructions, and more specifically, to an improved tent assembly that can easily be erected by a user, where the improved tent assembly uses a web truss for providing an internal frame structure, where the web truss is a flexible hollow sleeve frame support structure with integral fabric hub intersections. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Tents of conventional construction are typically time-consuming to erect. For example, tents with conventional internal frames require substantial effort by more than one person to place all the poles in position and then build a tent body around the pole structures. Some prior art tent assemblies allow for tent bodies to have provisions for pole structures to enable ease of construction. However, even in such tent assemblies, it is difficult to enable the tent body to form a certain structure without provisioning additional poles within the tent assembly. Moreover, given the number of poles that need to be erected to provide frame support on each side of the tent assembly, users have to hassle with dealing with a large number of poles during the assembly of the tent. Also, when erecting prior art tent assemblies, a fly sheet and/or tent body has to be added to the tent assembly to provide adequate structural integrity to the tent assembly. Attaching fly sheets or tent bodies is particularly challenging in high wind conditions. Several other such disadvantages exist in prior art necessitating a need for an improved tent assembly. Overall, the examples herein of some prior or related systems and their associated limitations are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of existing or prior systems will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the following Detailed Description. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION 
     In at least one embodiment, the techniques described herein relates to a structure and method of assembling and positioning compression members using a singular or plurality of flexible hollow sleeve structures with integral fabric hub intersections that are held in tension in combination with compression members that can be used for a variety of applications. The present invention makes assembling structures significantly easier than known prior art since the intersecting flexible hollow sleeve structures can be made continuous. This allows users to erect the structure without the need for additional help. In addition, the improved tent assembly discussed herein is significantly stronger when deployed with compression members because the hollow sleeve structures, with integral fabric hub intersections, can be tensioned, thus significantly increasing the strength of the overall structure. 
     In embodiments, a further advantage of the improved tent assembly includes ease of assembly in, for example, high wind conditions. The web truss of the disclosed tent assembly may be set up merely with the tent poles without a need for a flysheet and/or a tent body. The pole sleeves of the web truss may be tensioned merely using provisions of the web truss it self, at which time the tent assembly is at full strength even before the flysheet and/or tent body is added. In embodiments, the tent assembly achieves complete structural integrity when the web truss is fitted with the poles. In prior art, since poles are added to the tent body or flysheet one at a time, high wind conditions often damage (e.g., snap) the poles and damage the tents, especially because complete structural integrity of the tent is not attained until the tent is fully erected with all tent poles in position. 
     In at least these respects, the improved tent assembly discussed here substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art. Other advantages and features will become apparent from the following description and claims. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects, features and characteristics of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from a study of the following detailed description in conjunction with the appended claims and drawings, all of which form a part of this specification. In the drawings: 
         FIGS. 1 to 6  illustrate examples of pitching an improved test assembly; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates one exemplary embodiment where the pole sleeves may be tightened for providing additional tension; 
         FIG. 8  depicts an embodiment of the improved tent assembly that specifically illustrates an example of a flexible hollow pole sleeve structure with 12 integral fabric hub intersections; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a pole intersection point; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an example of how a tent pole is automatically guided in the correct pole sleeve section inside the integral fabric hub intersections because of the curved shape of the integral fabric hub intersections; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an embodiment of a fully assembled flexible hollow pole sleeve structure with integral flexible material hub intersections, flysheet and tent poles; 
         FIG. 12  further depicts an embodiment of a fully assembled flexible hollow pole sleeve structure with integral fabric hub intersections, flysheet, and tent poles with the flysheet door open; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates the rear of the flysheet on an exemplary embodiment of a tent assembly; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a tent body affixed to the flexible hollow pole sleeve structure with clips; 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a scenario where a plastic clip with a stainless steel gate is used for secure attachment to an o-ring; 
         FIG. 16  illustrates an embodiment of the tent assembly with a different method of attaching the tent body; 
         FIG. 17  shows an end view of an exemplary embodiment of a flexible hollow pole sleeve structure with an inner tent body; 
         FIG. 18  shows the vestibule area inside the flysheet and in front of the tent door; 
         FIG. 19  illustrates a single wall tent with a waterproof coated fabric in combination with a flexible hollow pole sleeve structure; 
         FIG. 20  illustrates flexible an exemplary embodiment of a hollow pole sleeve frame structure with integral fabric hub intersections that form of a sphere; and 
         FIG. 21  illustrates an embodiment of an improved tent assembly where a display banner is attached from the interior of the flexible hollow pole sleeve frame structure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Various examples of the invention will now be described. The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding and enabling description of these examples. One skilled in the relevant art will understand, however, that the invention may be practiced without many of these details. Likewise, one skilled in the relevant art will also understand that the invention can include many other obvious features not described in detail herein. Additionally, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or described in detail below, so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the relevant description. 
     The terminology used below is to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific examples of the invention. Indeed, certain terms may even be emphasized below; however, any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this Detailed Description section. 
       FIGS. 1 to 6  illustrate examples of pitching an improved test assembly.  FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100 . The overall web of sleeve structures may sometimes be referred to herein as a web truss. Such a web truss provides the basic framework allowing a user to build a tent assembly frame, as will be explained in detail herein. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates examples of tent poles (or simply, “poles”)  105  used in conjunction with the improved tent assembly. In embodiments, the tent poles  105  are segmented and are held together with special elastic cord such as a shock cord.  FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary procedure for sliding in or directing poles within the web truss. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a first tent pole  105  is inserted into the opening of one of the flexible hollow pole sleeve structures  100 . It is noted that while some of these exemplary figures show equal length tent poles fully inserted in the flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100 , it is envisioned that non-equal poles may also be used as required in a particular application. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of an improved tent assembly where a water resistant or waterproof flysheet  130  is placed over the flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100  to form a weatherproof enclosure. It is noted that the improved tent assembly can be configured to form a frame with either a flysheet or a tent body (that is internal to the frame formed by the web truss) as will be discussed further below. It is important to note that the frame, enabled by the insertion of the tent poles within the sleeve structures of the web truss, is independent of and does not require either for fly sheet or the tent body for completion of formation of a structurally complete structure for use as a tent. In contrast, all known prior art tent assemblies utilize either a fly sheet or a tent body as an essential component of formation of the eventual frame structure of a tent assembly. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of the improved tent assembly where a flysheet is partially draped over the flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100 . A zipper  140  entrance on the flysheet allows for user ingress and egress.  FIGS. 1 through 6  discussed an exemplary embodiment of an improved tent assembly where multiple poles were used in conjunction with multiple pole sleeves of a web truss in order to create a frame structure that formed the improved tent assembly. While the exemplary figures illustrate the use of as many as 6-12 web hubs (or fabric hubs) that provide housing for pole intersections, it is understood that a frame may be formed using a web truss that has even a single fabric hub. In such an embodiment, two poles may be used to intersect within the fabric hub and still be able to provide support to form a structurally sound frame. In the disclosed embodiments, as can be evidenced from the supporting figures, the improved tent assembly allows for continuous feeding and insertion of tent poles from just one end or base of the web truss. The tent pole extends all the way out to the other end. Issues are normally encountered when two tent poles need to cross over or intersect each other. In such scenarios, the web hubs of the disclosed improved tent assembly has separate angled housing that, as discussed herein, allows the two intersecting tent poles to slide through without allowing the two to collide with each other. This enables a user to simply feed in the poles from just one end of the web truss, while the pole sleeves and the web hubs cause the tent poles to be slid through in a direction and structure so as to form the entire frame of the improved tent assembly. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates one exemplary embodiment where the pole sleeves (and hence the corresponding web hubs coupled with the pole sleeves) may be tightened for providing additional tension (and hence additional strength) to the overall frame. In the illustrated embodiment, the web truss includes tent body grommet tab  125 , grommets  120 , webbing  170  loop, perimeter fabric skirt  150 , tension wings  155 , tensioning system  160  for the flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100 , pole sleeve opening  175 , pole sleeve reinforcements  155  and o-ring  180 . In the disclosed exemplary embodiment, the tensioning system  160  for the flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100  comprises of a buckle  165  which is attached to or near the pole sleeve opening  175  and a webbing  170  strap that is affixed at one end to the o-ring  180 , with the opposite end of the webbing  170  threaded through the tensioning buckle  165 . In the illustrated embodiment, the tension of the flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100  can be adjusted by pulling  190  on the webbing  170  strap as shown in  FIG. 7 . The amount of tension applied to the flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100  may be adjusted based on the need for additional strength for extreme environmental conditions such as high wind or heavy snow loads. It is understood that the above description is merely one example of how the tensioning system may be applied to the web truss in order to enable control of tension applied to adjust and control the tension (and corresponding strength) of the frame of the improved tent assembly. For example, the arrangement of the o-ring, the webbing, the tensioning buckle, etc. may be altered with respect to the web truss and the sleeve structures as may be suited for a particular design or an application of the tent assembly. Other arrangements or provisions for providing a tensioning mechanism, as may be understood by people of ordinary skill in the art may also be used to substitute the illustrated tensioning mechanism. 
       FIG. 8  depicts an embodiment of the improved tent assembly that specifically illustrates an example of a flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100  with 12 integral fabric hub intersections  195 . The flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100  has an inner  270  flexible material layer and an outer  275  layer of flexible material. When joined, the inner and outer layers of material form the flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100  with integral fabric hub intersections  195 . The tent poles are fed into the flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100  at any pole sleeve opening  175 . The tent poles are located in-between the inner  270  flexible material layer and an outer  275  flexible material layer which form the flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a pole intersection point  200 . The integral fabric hubs  195  help guide the tent poles  105  in the correct direction without snagging or hanging up on another tent pole  105  or fabric.  FIG. 10  illustrates an example of how a tent pole  105  is automatically guided in the correct pole sleeve section  205  inside the integral fabric hub intersections  195  because of the curved shape  265  of the integral fabric hub intersections  195 . In the illustrated embodiment, the integral fabric hubs  195  can be cut on the straight of grain and eliminates bias stretch which helps increase the strength of the structure by holding the poles  105  more securely in place.  FIG. 10  shows the outer  275  and inner  270  integral fabric hub intersections  195 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an embodiment of a fully assembled flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100  with integral flexible material hub intersections  195 , flysheet  130  and tent poles  105 . In the illustrated embodiment, a perimeter skirt  150  is shown with a modified tension wing  155 . The tension wings  155  have been connected to create a perimeter sidewall  210 . The perimeter sidewall  210  helps keep wind blown snow, spindrift, rain, etc. from entering the tent assembly.  FIG. 12  further depicts an embodiment of a fully assembled flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100  with integral fabric hub intersections  195 , flysheet  130  and tent poles with the flysheet door  215  open. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates the rear of the flysheet  130  on an exemplary embodiment of a tent assembly. This embodiment further illustrates a perimeter sidewall  210 .  FIG. 14  illustrates a tent body  220  affixed to the flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100  with clips  225 .  FIG. 15  illustrates a scenario where a plastic clip  225  with a stainless steel gate  230  is used for secure attachment to an o-ring  180 . In embodiments, this protects the clips  225  from disengaging from the o-rings  180  when encountering, for example, high buffeting winds. In embodiments, the tent body  220  may be affixed to the flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100  via clips, webbing, grosgrain, o-rings, quick links, carabineers, hooks or other temporary or permanent means as may be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
       FIG. 16  illustrates an embodiment of the tent assembly with a different method of attaching the tent body  220  to the o-rings  180  located on the flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100 . In embodiments, multiple webbing  170  straps are attached to a plurality of o-rings  180  that are attached to the webbing or a flexible material, which are turn is attached the flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100 . The clip  225  on the tent body  220  may then be attached to a single o-ring  280  on the flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100 . 
       FIG. 17  shows an end view of an exemplary embodiment of a flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100  with an inner tent body  220 . In embodiments, the tent body  220  is shaped in such a manner as to create several vestibule areas  235  when the flysheet is engaged.  FIG. 18  shows the vestibule area  235  inside the flysheet  130  and in front of the tent door  240 .  FIG. 19  illustrates a single wall tent  285  with a waterproof coated fabric in combination with a flexible hollow pole sleeve structure  100 . This configuration is an example of a preferred structure for mountaineers.  FIG. 20  illustrates flexible an exemplary embodiment of a hollow pole sleeve frame structure  100  with integral fabric hub intersections  195  that form of a sphere. In embodiments, the poles are connected at the terminal ends to form a continuous loop inside flexible hollow pole sleeve frame structure  100  to create the sphere structure. Here, in embodiments, the tent poles are inserted or removed via an opening  255  in a pole sleeve segment  250 . The flexible hollow pole sleeve frame structure  100  can be tensioned as per the pole sleeve tensioning system illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 21  illustrates an embodiment of an improved tent assembly where a display banner  260  is attached from the interior of the flexible hollow pole sleeve frame structure  100  with integral fabric hub intersections  195 . The display material may be held in place by o-rings  180  or webbing  170  loops located on the inner  270  layer of the flexible hollow pole sleeve frame structure  100 . 
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense (i.e., to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”), as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense. As used herein, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variant thereof means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements. Such a coupling or connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Detailed Description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or,” in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list. 
     The above Detailed Description of examples of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above. While specific examples for the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. While processes or blocks are presented in a given order in this application, alternative implementations may perform routines having steps performed in a different order, or employ systems having blocks in a different order. Some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative or sub-combinations. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed or implemented in parallel, or may be performed at different times. Further any specific numbers noted herein are only examples. It is understood that alternative implementations may employ differing values or ranges. 
     The various illustrations and teachings provided herein can also be applied to systems other than the system described above. The elements and acts of the various examples described above can be combined to provide further implementations of the invention. 
     Any patents and applications and other references noted above, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts included in such references to provide further implementations of the invention. 
     These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description describes certain examples of the invention, and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its specific implementation, while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific examples disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed examples, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims.