Skeleton frame assembly for a tent

A tent skeleton frame assembly includes vertical poles, each of which defines a first side and a second side transverse to the first side, and includes a first vertical rod, a second vertical rod spaced apart from and aligned with the first vertical rod along the first side of a respective one of the vertical poles, a third vertical rod spaced apart from and aligned with the second vertical rod along the second side of the respective one of the vertical poles, and three elongated latticed plates. Each vertical rod is formed with two engaging grooves. Each latticed plate has opposite sides respectively engaging an adjacent pair of the engaging grooves in an adjacent pair of the vertical rods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tent, more particularly to a skeleton frame assembly for a tent.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional tent assembly includes a skeleton frame which comprises a plurality of spaced apart vertical poles cooperatively defining a shelter space thereamong, a plurality of tie beams, each of which is disposed between an adjacent pair of the vertical poles and each of which has two opposite ends respectively secured to top ends of the adjacent pair of the vertical poles, and a roof frame disposed above the tie beams and the top ends of the vertical poles. A flysheet can be spread over the top frame for shielding purposes.

The conventional tent assembly is disadvantageous in that the skeleton frame cannot withstand strong winds and that the vertical poles and the tie beams have a monotonous appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a skeleton frame assembly for a tent, which is capable of overcoming the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.

According to the present invention, a skeleton frame assembly for a tent includes: at least three spaced apart vertical poles cooperatively defining a shelter space thereamong, each of the vertical poles defining a first side and a second side transverse to the first side, and having opposite upper and lower ends, each of the vertical poles including a first vertical rod, a second vertical rod spaced apart from and aligned with the first vertical rod along the first side of a respective one of the vertical poles, a third vertical rod spaced apart from and aligned with the second vertical rod along the second side of the respective one of the vertical poles, and three elongated latticed plates, each of which interconnects an adjacent pair of the first, second and third vertical rods, each of the first, second and third vertical rods having a non-circular cross-section and being formed with two engaging grooves extending along a longitudinal length thereof, each of the latticed plates having opposite sides respectively engaging an adjacent pair of the engaging grooves in the adjacent pair of the first, second and third vertical rods; at least three pole couplers mounted respectively on the upper ends of the vertical poles; at least three horizontal tie beam units, each of which has two opposite ends connected respectively to an adjacent pair of the pole couplers so as to provide stability and rigidity to the skeleton frame assembly; and a roof frame disposed over the pole couplers and the tie beam units above the shelter space.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 1to4, the preferred embodiment of a skeleton frame assembly for a tent according to the present invention is shown to include four spaced apart vertical poles1, four pole couplers14, four horizontal tie beam units2, and a roof frame3.

As illustrated, the four vertical poles1are adapted to be seated on a supporting surface, and cooperatively define a shelter space thereamong. Each of the vertical poles1defines a first side, a second side transverse to the first side, a third side opposite to the first side and transverse to the second side, and a fourth side opposite to the second side and transverse to the third side. Each of the vertical poles1has opposite upper and lower ends, and includes a first vertical rod12, a second vertical rod12spaced apart from and aligned with the first vertical rod12along the first side of a respective one of the vertical poles1, a third vertical rod12spaced apart from and aligned with the second vertical rod12along the second side of the respective one of the vertical poles1, and a fourth vertical rod12spaced apart from and aligned with the third vertical rod12along the third side of the respective one of the vertical poles1. Each of the vertical poles1further includes four elongated latticed plates13, each of which interconnects an adjacent pair of the first, second, third and fourth vertical rods12. In this preferred embodiment, each of the first, second, third and fourth vertical rods12is made from aluminum alloy, has an octagonal cross-section, and is formed with two engaging grooves121extending along a longitudinal length thereof. Each of the latticed plates13has opposite sides respectively engaging an adjacent pair of the engaging grooves121in the adjacent pair of the vertical rods12.

The pole couplers14are mounted securely and respectively on the upper ends of the vertical poles1.

Each of the tie beam units2has two opposite ends212connected respectively to an adjacent pair of the pole couplers14so as to provide stability and rigidity to the skeleton frame assembly.

The roof frame3is disposed over the pole couplers14and the tie beam units2above the shelter space. A flysheet (not shown) can be spread over the roof frame3for shielding purposes.

Each of the first, second, third and fourth vertical rods12has opposite upper and lower ends. The upper ends of the first, second, third and fourth vertical rods12cooperatively define the upper end of a respective one of the vertical poles1. The lower ends of the first, second, third and fourth vertical rods12cooperatively define the lower end of the respective one of the vertical poles1. The preferred embodiment further includes four footings11, which are adapted to be seated on the supporting surface, and each of which is formed with a rectangular slot111(seeFIG. 2) that receives fittingly the lower ends of the vertical rods12of a respective one of the vertical poles1.

Each of the pole couplers14has a top wall141disposed above the upper end of a respective one of the vertical poles1, and a peripheral wall140extending downwardly from the top wall141to enclose the upper ends of the vertical rods12of a respective one of the vertical poles1. The peripheral wall140of each of the pole couplers14includes a first side wall142A that faces the first side of a respective one of the vertical poles1and that is formed with a first tubular member143projecting outwardly therefrom, a second side wall142B that faces the second side of the respective one of the vertical poles1and that is formed with a second tubular member143projecting outwardly therefrom, a third side wall142C that faces the third side of the respective one of the vertical poles1, and a fourth side wall142D that faces the fourth side of the respective one of the vertical poles1. The opposite ends of each of the tie beam units2extend into and are secured to an adjacent pair of the first and second tubular members143of the adjacent pair of the pole couplers14through a plurality of fastener screws23(see FIGS.2and4).

The first and second side walls142A,142B of each of the pole couplers14cooperatively define a corner149(seeFIG. 4) therebetween. Each of the pole couplers14is further formed with a third tubular member33projecting outwardly from the corner149into the shelter space.

Referring toFIG. 5, each of the tie beam units2preferably includes left and right parts21, and an interconnecting unit22interconnecting the left and right parts21. Each of the left and right parts21includes upper and lower tie beams210, each of which has opposite inner and outer ends211,212″ and an engaging groove215extending between the inner and outer ends211,212″ thereof, and a webbed plate210″ extending between the upper and lower tie beams210and inserted into the engaging grooves215in the upper and lower tie beams210. When the left and right parts21are interconnected by the interconnecting unit22, the inner ends211of the upper and lower tie beams210of the left part21respectively abut against the inner ends211of the upper and lower tie beams210of the right part21, while the outer ends212″ of the upper and lower tie beams210of each of the left and right parts21cooperatively define a respective one of the opposite ends212of a respective one of the tie beam units2and engage a respective one of an adjacent pair of the first and second tubular members143of the adjacent pair of the pole couplers14. Alternatively, hinges (not shown) may be used to interconnect, pivotally the inner ends211of the upper and lower tie beams210of the left and right parts21so as to facilitate storage. The interconnecting unit22includes an upper interconnecting plate221that is disposed to overlap the inner ends211of an adjacent pair of the upper tie beams210of the left and right parts21, a lower interconnecting plate222that is disposed to overlap the inner ends211of an adjacent pair of the lower tie beams210of the left and right parts21, and a plurality of adjustable bolts223which extend through the upper and lower interconnecting plates221,222and which engage the inner ends211of the upper and lower tie beams210of the left and right parts21. The upper interconnecting plate221of the interconnecting unit22of each of the tie beam units2is formed with a fourth tubular member34projecting outwardly therefrom into the shelter space.

The roof frame3includes an apex portion31and a plurality of rafters35. The apex portion31is formed with a plurality of rafter-holding tubular member32sextending outwardly therefrom. Each of the rafters35has two opposite ends which are inserted respectively into a respective one of the rafter-holding tubular members32, and one of the third tubular member33of a respective one of the pole couplers14and the fourth tubular member34of the upper interconnecting plate221of the interconnecting unit22of a respective one of the tie beam units2, and which are secured therein through fastener screws36.

With the configuration of the vertical poles1and the tie beam units2in the skeleton frame assembly of this invention, the aforesaid disadvantages of the prior art can thus be eliminated.

With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be limited only as indicated in the appended claims.