Abstract:
Disclosed is a foldable frame for supporting a shelter, e.g., a tent or awning, including a supported tent cloth, top transverse rod, auxiliary top rods, and vertical rods connected to the auxiliary top rods. The frame of the utility model is simple in structure and convenient to use, and the usable area of a shelter supported by the frame can be increased even though the number of rods is not increased.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The utility model relates to outdoor leisure products, and particularly to a shelter frame. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Collapsible shelters (e.g., tents or awnings) are among the leisure products which are ever prepared for outdoor use. However, as for a relatively large tent or awning, it is required for several persons to unfold the tent or awning successfully due to its bulky and heavy nature. Accordingly, various supporting structures have been designed to facilitate unfolding the tent or awning. 
         [0003]    As outdoor equipment, the tent has currently become an essential item for people who enjoy outdoor and leisure activities like traveling, camping, or the like to experience nature. Currently there are various tents for outdoor applications. There are large and small tent sizes, and square, round, and hexagonal shapes. The tent primarily includes a tent cloth and a tent frame for supporting the tent cloth. The common tent frame generally includes several groups of supporting rods or poles that connect to a top rod. The top rod provides support for the top of the tent. However, the tent known in the art has the following drawbacks. Tents are usually complicated in structure. In some tents, a pivoting seat is arranged at the top of the tent to connect several tent top rods for the purpose of unfolding the tent and increasing its usable area. However, such a tent is relatively heavy and large area tents require many supporting rods. It is difficult and time consuming to support and put up such tents. Besides, the manufacturing cost is increased. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a diagram for a frame of the utility model in use; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a structural diagram for the frame of the utility model in an unfolded state; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a structural diagram for the frame of the utility model in a half folded state; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a structural diagram for the frame of the utility model in a further folded state; 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a structural diagram for the frame of the utility model in a folded state; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a structural diagram for the frame of the utility model in a half folded state, depicting alternative three-way connectors. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    The utility model will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to specific embodiments to provide a further understanding of the technical solution of the utility model. 
         [0011]      FIGS. 1 and 2  depict a collapsible shelter in accordance with one embodiment. The shelter includes a frame  1  connected to a cloth  2  that cooperates with the unfolding and folding of the frame. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, frame  1  includes a straight, top transverse rod  11  having first and second ends at a top portion of frame  1 . First and second auxiliary top rods  13  connect at a first (inner) end to the first end of top transverse rod  11  through a first three-way connector  12 . The first ends of third and fourth auxiliary top rods  13  connect to the second end of top transverse rod  11  through a second three-way connector  12 . Three-way connector  12  allows top transverse rod  11  and auxiliary top rods  13  to fold toward one another in a first direction to fold the frame into a folded state. A second (outer) end of the first, second, third, and fourth auxiliary rods  13  are connected respectively to a first end of first, second, third, and fourth vertical rods  15  respectively through first, second, third, and fourth connectors  14 . Vertical rods  15  may be comprised of telescopic sleeves. In one embodiment, top transverse rod  11  includes multiple sections, (e.g., a multi-section rod) ( FIG. 4 ), comprising a first transverse section and a second transverse section, and a connector (not shown) disposed between the first and second transverse sections. A multi-section rod allows the space at the top portion of a shelter supported by frame  1  to be extended when frame  1  is in an unfolded state, and compressed when frame  1  is in a folded state. The sections of top transverse rod  11  are telescopic in the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . In other embodiments, the sections of top transverse rod  11  may be interconnected by various types of connectors. In this way, the length of top transverse rod  11  may be advantageously increased. Further, auxiliary top rods  13  may also be telescopic to increase the area within a shelter supported by frame  1  in an unfolded state, and may be directly folded when frame  1  is in a folded state, thus facilitating a small volume when the frame is folded. Top transverse rod  11  is shown telescoped in  FIG. 4 , whereas each of auxiliary top rods  13  and vertical rods  15  is depicted in an un-telescoped (e.g., collapsed) state. 
         [0013]    In this manner, the top transverse rod  11  of the frame is connected with two auxiliary top rods  13  that extend outward. Each auxiliary top rod  13  is connected with a vertical rod  15  through the connector  14  which allows auxiliary top rod  13  and vertical rod  15  to fold toward one another in a second direction to fold the frame into a folded state. Four vertical rods  15  support the top surface formed by auxiliary top rods  13  and top transverse rod  11 . The shape of cloth  2  matches the shape of unfolded frame  1 , and is supported by the unfolded frame. The cloth is further stretched and unfolded in the frame. 
         [0014]    The frame of the utility model is simple in structure, and is convenient and quick to fold. To fold frame  1  in one embodiment, vertical rods  15  are firstly contracted, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Then the contracted vertical rods  15  are folded upward to lean against auxiliary top rods  13 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Finally, each group of vertical rods  15  and auxiliary top rods  13  which have leaned against one other is folded to lean against the top transverse rod  11 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . In another embodiment, top transverse rod  11  includes multiple sections and auxiliary top rods  13  include telescopic sleeves. The top transverse rod  11  is contracted into a relatively short rod, and auxiliary top rods  13  are also contracted. As a result, top transverse rod  11  and auxiliary top rods  13  are minimized in volume when the frame is in a folded state. The frame in the folded state exhibits minimum volume, is able to be stored conveniently, and is easy to carry. 
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a frame  20  in accordance with another embodiment. Frame  20  is similar to frame  1 , detailed above, with like-identified elements being the same or similar. As in frame  1 , frame  20  includes first, second, third, and fourth spreading angles (depicted in  FIG. 3  respectively at  31 ,  32 ,  33 , and  34 ) formed between top transverse rod  11  and respectively first, second, third, and fourth auxiliary top rods  13 . Spreading angles are determined from the perspective of a top view (also referred to as a “plan view”) of frame  1  or frame  20  in the unfolded state. Frame  20  differs from frame  1  in that first spreading angle  31  and second angle  32  may be unequal, and third spreading angle  33  and fourth spreading angle  34  may be unequal. In one embodiment, symmetry of the frame with respect to the elongated axis of top transverse rod  11  may be achieved by making equal first and third spreading angles  31  and  33 , and by making equal second and fourth spreading angles  32  and  34 . Angles differing from one another by more than 5% of the smaller angle are unequal. In one embodiment, three-way connector  21 , depicted in  FIG. 6 , is disposed in place of three-way connector  12  to facilitate unequal spreading angles. 
         [0016]    In the frame of the utility model, it is not necessary to arrange a top connecting seat at the top surface of the frame. Instead, at least two auxiliary top rods  13  which spread outward are connected at first and second ends of the top transverse rod  11  to form a supporting surface at the top of the frame. Each auxiliary top rod  13  is connected with a vertical rod  15  to form a standing support. The top transverse rod  11  and the auxiliary top rods  13  can also increase the length and usable space of a shelter supported by the frame. The auxiliary top rods  13  with a spreading angle unfold the top cloth at first and second ends of the top transverse rod, so as to form a shelter possessing a certain internal space. The frame of the utility model is simple in structure, and the usable area of a shelter supported by the frame can be increased without adding supporting rods. In addition, the frame is simple in structure, easy to put up and fold, and convenient to use. 
         [0017]    Although the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments, variations of these embodiments will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, control structures and related components for t, adjusting spreading angles, and the like can be used to advantage, e.g., for other types of collapsible devices and shelters such as portable awnings, gazebos, screen houses, sunshades, umbrellas, strollers, and cribs. Other modifications and variations likewise fall within the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the claims should not be limited to the foregoing description. 
         [0018]    Only those claims specifically reciting “means for” or “step for” should be construed in the manner required under the sixth paragraph of 35 U.S.C. §112.