Patent EA-002286-B1 (EA)
Title: Improved collapsible shelter/tent with frame locking mechanism
Inventor: RIUSSELLE GISELE B
IPC: E04H15/44
Filed: 1999-07-20
Abstract: 1. A collapsible shelter/tent, comprising: a collapsible frame including: a) three or more legs pivotally connected to a first clevis; and b) three or more support bars pivotally connected with respect to said legs at an outer end of said support bars and pivotally connected to a second clevis at an inner end of said support bars; a locking mechanism for locking said first and second clevises together when said shelter/tent is assembled which includes: a) a generally vertical pin extending from one of said first and second clevises, said generally vertical pin having a groove on a side thereof; b) a socket on the other of said clevises having a receiving bore aligned with said generally vertical pin; c) an engaging member supported within said socket that can firmly engage said groove in said generally vertical pin after said generally vertical pin is inserted into said socket; and a plurality sheet-material walls supported on said collapsible frame in the collapsed and uncollapsed states. 2. The collapsible shelter/tent of claim 1, wherein said sheet-material walls include sides around the perimeter of said shelter/tent and a ceiling. 3. The collapsible shelter/tent of claim 2, wherein said sheet-material walls are supported on an outside surface of said frame. 4. The collapsible shelter/tent of claim 1, further included biasing means for biasing said engaging member into said groove automatically upon engagement of said first and second clevises. 5. The collapsible shelter/tent of claim 4, wherein said biasing means includes at least one spring. 6. The collapsible shelter/tent of claim 4, wherein said biasing means includes a gravitational force on said engaging member. 7. The collapsible shelter/tent of claim 1, wherein said first clevis is above said second clevis and said generally vertical pin extends downward from said first clevis towards said second clevis. 8. The collapsible shelter/tent of claim 7, wherein said engaging member is located proximate said second clevis and is manually movable at a position proximate said second clevis and spaced substantially below said first clevis. 9.The collapsible shelter/tent of claim 8, wherein said socket is fixed to said second clevis and Includes a central bore and a widened opening having a funnel-shape receiving surface. 10. The collapsible shelter/tent of claim 9, wherein a diameter across said widened opening having said funnel-shape receiving surface is more than 2 times greater than a diameter across said vertical pin. 11.The collapsible shelter/tent of claim 10, wherein said diameter across said widened opening having said funnel-shape receiving surface is more than 2.5 times greater than said diameter across said vertical pin. 12. The collapsible shelter/tent of claim 11, wherein said diameter across said widened opening having said funnel-shape receiving surface is more than 3 times greater than said diameter across said vertical pin. 13.The collapsible shelter/tent of claim 10, wherein said generally vertical pin is generally cylindrical with a circular cross-section and said diameter across said vertical pin is a diameter across said circular cross-section, and wherein said generally vertical pin has a tapered bottom end. 14. The collapsible shelter/tent of claim 1, wherein one or both of said socket and said engaging member are color coded to identify when said engaging member is in a locked position and to identify when said engaging member is in an unlocked position. 15.The collapsible shelter/tent assembly of claim 1, further including: an assembly pole having a slide supported thereon; said assembly pole having a tip with an engagement element; said generally vertical pin having a lower end with a corresponding engagement element for engaging said tip of said assembly pole; and said second clevis and said socket having a through-hole through which said assembly pole is insertable so that said tip of said assembly pole can be engaged with said generally vertical pin. 16.A method of erecting a collapsible tent, comprising the steps of: a) providing a collapsible shelter/tent having: collapsible frame that includes: a) three or more legs pivotally connected to a first clevis; and b) three or more support bars pivotally connected with respect to said legs at an outer end of said support bars and pivotally connected to a second clevis at an inner end of said support bars; a locking mechanism, to lock said first and second clevises together when said shelter/tent is assembled, including: a) a generally vertical pin extending from one of said first and said clevises, said vertical pin having a groove on a side thereof; b) a socket on the other of said clevises having a  receiving bore aligned with said pin; c) an engaging member supported within said socket that can firmly engage said groove in said generally vertical pin after said generally vertical pin is inserted into said socket; and a plurality sheet-material walls supported on said collapsible frame; and b) placing said collapsible shelter/tent in a collapsed condition; c) moving said devices towards one another against a biasing force tending to separate said clevises created by said legs and said sheet-material walls d) upon reaching a certain position, having said legs and said sheet-material walls switch the direction of force on said second clevis so as to force said clevises toward one another; e) after reaching said certain position, locking said clevises together with said locking mechanism. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said step e) of locking said clevises together includes automatically biasing said engaging member into said groove upon engagement of said first and second clevises. 18. The method of claim 16, further including performing said step of automatically biasing said engaging member by at least one spring. 19. The method of claim 16, further including the step of providing said sheet-material walls on an outside surface of said legs, and further including the step of disassembling said shelter/tent by reaching from inside of said shelter/tent and manually moving said engaging member at a position proximate said second clevis member and spaced substantially below said first clevis member. 20. The method of claim 16, wherein said step c) of moving said clevises towards one another includes: a) providing an assembly pole having a slide supported thereon, said assembly pole having a tip with an engagement element thereon, and said generally vertical pin having a lower end with a corresponding engagement element for engaging said tip of said assembly pole, and said second clevis and said socket having a through-hole through which said assembly pole is insertable so that said tip of said assembly pole can be engaged with said generally vertical pin; and b) moving said clevises toward one another by manipulating said assembly pole and said slide.