Patent Publication Number: US-6216715-B1

Title: Convertible tent for rain, cold, and hot conditions

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates generally to tents, specifically to a tent that can be converted for use in different climactic conditions. 
     2. Prior Art 
     The art is replete with tents and other enclosure devices with conversion features for different climactic conditions, but such tents are not versatile, simple, easy to use, effective, or reliable. 
     Benson, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,391,871 (1946) shows a canvas covering with a window. One side of the window is attached to the canvas and the other sides are removably attached to the canvas by a zipper. This device is simple, but can only be opened or closed and thus cannot adapt to a range of climactic conditions, such as rain, heat, cold, etc. 
     Powers, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,666,441 (1954) shows a tent window comprising a pocket in the tent and a transparent sheet that is inserted in the pocket. A flap also can cover the opening. Although more complex and versatile, this device is awkward, heavy, and difficult to adjust for differing climactic conditions. 
     Hibbert, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,800,814 (1974) shows a tent that resembles an elongated building with a curved roof, such as the Quonset brand. The sidewall has a vertical zipper and two bottom horizontal zippers, as shown in FIG.  6 . While somewhat versatile, this tent is difficult to adjust rapidly and easily and lacks good versatility. 
     Nicolai in U.S. Pat. No. 3,970,096 (1976) shows another elongated tent; this one has spaced inner and outer porous layers. The layers are supported by tent poles that extend transversely over the tent. 
     This arrangement is complex and awkward and hence difficult to adjust and use. 
     Beavers, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,417 (1978) shows a tent with frame members that have ends inserted in multi-socket connectors. Again, it lacks versatility for different climactic conditions. Barker, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,261 (1981) shows a pyramidal tent with triangular side windows which are covered by triangular, awning-like covers. While unique, this arrangement is complex, difficult, and awkward to adjust, and still lacks good versatility. 
     Eppenbach, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,635 (1989) shows a tent having a ceiling opening that can be covered by a pivotable member attached to a flap. The tent also has a rain fly that the pivotable member can support. While somewhat versatile, this arrangement is not simple to use and is complex to fabricate. 
     Ritchey and Leavitt, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,897 (1995) shows interconnected tents. Modules that zip onto the tent openings connect the tents. The tent has inner and outer panels. They are mated by pairs of zippers as follows: inner:  72 - 74 ; outer  78 - 80 . However they don&#39;t interconnect in a simple, reliable manner and do not provide a simple, versatile arrangement for a single user. 
     Zheng, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,467,794 (1995) and 5,579,799 (1996) shows a tent with collapsible shade awnings. The frame has hinged members. This arrangement suffers from the same disadvantages as Barker, supra. 
     Heisler and Remza, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,584 (1998) show a tent with a two-ply door. The first ply is porous for air venting and the second ply is waterproof. The waterproof ply is attached by a zipper with two zipper slides or pulls such that the waterproof layer can be opened at the top or bottom. While somewhat versatile, this arrangement is still relatively complex and awkward to use, erect, and fabricate. 
     Another type of convertible tent is made by Sierra Designs of Emeryville, Calif. and sold under the trademark Nightwatch. This tent consists of an inner canopy with a window. The window has a solid panel that can be zipped open. A net panel (netting) that prevents mosquitoes from entering covers the outside of this window. This inner canopy is suspended from several arched tent poles. An outer waterproof flysheet is spaced about 7.5-13 cm away from the inner canopy, on the outside of the poles. When the solid panel is opened, the netting allows the occupants of the tent to see the sky, get ventilation, preserves the structural integrity of the tent, and keeps insects out. Thus the tent is convertible since opening the panel ventilates the tent when it is warm outside, e.g., in the summer. Closing the panel makes the tent warmer for cooler weather, e.g., in the spring and fall. The outer flysheet in installed to cover the window whenever external conditions, such as rain or snow, require more shielding. The flysheet is left partially off to enjoy the view and have ventilation when the weather is clement. However when precipitation occurs, installing the flysheet to cover the window is awkward: Since the netting covers the opening, an occupant must scramble out to arrange the flysheet to cover the window. The occupants and the inside of the tent will get wet or colder in the meantime. Even if the flysheet is installed to cover the window, spindrift (fine, wind-blown snow) will pass through the zipper of the flysheet and under the bottom of the flysheet. The netting will catch and hold the snow, so that the next time the window is open, the spindrift will fall into the tent. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention are to provide an improved convertible tent which is more versatile, less awkward to use and handle, simple, easy to make and erect, and easily adjustable for a wide range of climactic conditions. It can be adjusted for different conditions, especially for rain, from the inside. It will not have an outer net to catch spindrift in the winter and the flysheet can be installed from inside the tent 
     Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of a tent according to the invention without its flysheet. 
     FIG. 2 is a view of part of a portion of an inner canopy of the tent showing an arrangement of zippers used on a window thereof. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic, section-like partial view of the window, including a flysheet panel, showing area  3  of FIG. 4 in detail. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view from above of the tent with its flysheet. 
    
    
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the invention, a convertible tent comprises an inner canopy having a convertible opening or window and a flysheet or outer canopy spaced above and covering the inner canopy. The flysheet has a convertible opening or window in alignment with the canopy&#39;s window. The canopy&#39;s window can be closed with either a solid or a net panel. This window has, around its edge, a row of zipper teeth (a zipper chain), which teeth mate with respective zipper chains around the solid and net panels. Thus either the solid panel or the net panel can cover the inner canopy&#39;s window. A panel can be zipped into or out of the aligned window in the flysheet. 
     Description—FIG.  1 —Inner Canopy With Dual-Closable Window 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view from above of the inner part of a tent according to the invention. A plurality of conventional tent poles  10  form an arched cage. The ends of these poles are anchored to the ground conventionally. An inner canopy, canvas, or tent body  12  is suspended from the poles by conventional hooks and web loops  14 , shown in more detail in FIG.  4 . The web loops are attached to seams or reinforcing cords  16  in canopy  12 . The main portion of the floor of the tent is not shown, but it has conventional upturned sidewalls  18  that cover the bottom portion of the canopy. The canopy has a conventional door  12 D on its left side (as seen in the drawing). The bottom edges of the tent have conventional web loops and attachments  20  at the bottoms of the poles. 
     In accordance with the invention, canopy  12  has a convertible opening or window  22  on its right or front side (as seen in the drawing) that can be closed by either of two panels: a net panel  24  or a solid panel  26 . Net panel is made of conventional mosquito netting and solid panel  26  is made of the same material as canopy  12  and is attached at its bottom to the outside of the net panel. As shown in FIG. 2, either of these panels can be alternatively zipped into window  22  so as to close the window with either a solid or a net closure. 
     Canopy  12  preferably is made of breathable rip-stop nylon; the tent floor is made of nylon with a waterproof coating, and the poles are made of aluminum, either solid or in sections. In one version the tent was about 1.5 m high., and window  22  was about 75 cm high and about 1 m wide. 
     Description—FIGS.  2  and  3 —Dual Window 
     FIG. 2 shows window  22  in detail. While shown as having a Tudor arch shape, it can have other shapes, such square, rectangular, triangular, circular, oval, hemispherical, etc. Either net panel  24  or solid panel  26  can be used to close or fill the window and each has the same shape as the window. Both are attached across their bottom edges to inner canopy  12 , preferably at the seam of one of the upturned sidewalls  18  of the floor. Starting from the outside, the stitches  28  attach the following parts together at the bottom of window  22 : the top edge of part of sidewall  18 , then solid panel  26 , then net panel  24 , and then an edge of canopy  12 . 
     The edge of canopy  12  (other than the bottom part that is sewn by stitches  28 ) has a zipper chain or row of teeth  30 , which constitutes one side of a zipper. This chain can mate with a chain  32  (a mating half of the zipper) on net panel  24  or a chain  34  (another mating zipper half) on solid panel  26 . One zipper pull or slide  24 P is used to zip chain  32  of net  24  to chain  30  of canopy  12 , while another pull  26 P is used to zip teeth  34  of solid panel  26  to chain  30 . Thus window  22  can be closed with either of panels  26  or  26  through the use of what is in effect 1 ½ zippers. Zipper pulls  24 P and  26 P are dual pulls which can be operated from inside or outside the tent. Net zipper pull  24 P is started from the right side of the window and solid panel pull  26 P is started from the left side. 
     FIG. 3 shows another, schematic view of the window panels that will aid in understanding. Ignoring optional flysheet  36  temporarily, note that canopy  12  is suspended by hook and web loop  14 , which in turn hangs from pole  10 . The edge of widow  22  in canopy  12  has zipper chain  30  around its sides (except the bottom where stitches  28  are used). The user can fasten net panel  24  to chain  30  by means of its chain  32 , thereby closing the window with netting. Alternatively the user can fasten solid panel  26  to chain  30  by means of its chain  34 , thereby closing the window with a solid panel. 
     Operation—FIGS.  2  and  3 —Dual Window 
     Users can deploy the tent, as thus far described, with canopy  12  and its dual-closable window, without the flysheet, yet it has significant advantages. When both panels  24  and  26  (net and solid) are not in the window, pull  24 P of net panel  24  is to the far right (FIG. 2) and a pull  26 P of solid panel  26  is to the far left (not shown). 
     In warm weather, the user zips net panel  24  into window  22  by holding the net panel in the window and drawing pull  24 P from right to left to attach chain  32  to chain  30 , thereby to install the net panel in the window. The user then will obtain good ventilation and a view of the sky through the net, yet the net prevents mosquitoes and other insects from entering. When net  24  is zipped into place, solid panel  26  is left to hang down, on the outside of the window. Due to the use of two-sided pulls, the user can zip net  24  into place or unzip it from the inside or outside. 
     In cooler weather, the user zips solid panel  26  into window  22  by unzipping the net panel (if it is in the window) and holding the solid panel in the window and pulling pull  24 P from left to right to attach chain  34  to chain  30 . This will install the solid panel in the window. The user thus obtains a solid shield to keep the tent warmer. When solid panel  26  is zipped into place, net panel  24  is left to hang down, inside the window. As with the net panel, the user can zip panel  26  into place or unzip it from the inside or outside. 
     Since the net panel is never on the outside of the canopy in cooler or cold weather as in prior designs, snow or spindrift will not accumulate in the net. Since both panels can be removed from inside the tent, the occupants can reach outside to adjust portions of the tent and open the window of the flysheet, as will be described. 
     Description—FIGS.  3  and  4 —Flysheet 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, flysheet  36  covers the tent structure of FIG. 1 (the pole cage and underlying canopy  12 ). Flysheet lies on top of hooks and web loops  14 , and poles  10 , and is attached to web loops  14  and poles  10  in conventional fashion by conventional quick-release buckles (not shown) so that outlines  10 O of the poles show through (FIG.  4 ). Flysheet  36  has a window  36 W and a flysheet panel  36 P that the user can zip into the window. The zipper (not shown) extends around the window on all sides, except the bottom, and also has a dual pull (not shown) so that the flysheet panel can be zipped in place from the inside or outside. 
     Operation—FIGS.  3  and  4 —Flysheet 
     The user many choose not to deploy the flysheet in warm weather. In cold (but not very cold) weather, and when there is no precipitation, the flysheet can be used, but with its window open. If it turns very cold, or rains or snows, the occupants can close the flysheet window by opening window  22  of canopy  12 , pulling up flysheet panel  36 P through window  22 , and zipping panel  36 P in place. Then the occupants can zip solid panel  26  in place to close window  22 . Even if spindrift leaks through the zipper of the flysheet, or blows under the flysheet, it will not be able to accumulate on any net since net  24  is inside the tent. The occupants can also open a closed flysheet from inside when the precipitation stops or if it gets warmer. 
     Conclusions, Ramifications, and Scope 
     Accordingly the reader will see that, according to the invention, I have provided an improved convertible tent which is more versatile, less awkward to use and handle, simple, easy to make and erect, and easily adjustable for a wide range of climactic conditions. The user can adjust the tent for warm weather by not using the flysheet and just using the net, for cooler conditions by using the panel in the canopy and for cold or precipitation by using the flysheet and closing its panel. All variations can be implemented from the inside, without the occupants getting out of the tent and being exposed to the precipitation or cold. The tent does not have an outer net to catch snow in the winter and the user can install and remove the flysheet from inside the tent. 
     While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but as exemplifications of the presently preferred embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the invention. For example, the flysheet window can be clear. Different materials, sizes, and interconnections can be used for all components. In lieu of zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, buttons, rib and slot slide closures, etc can attach the panels. Several windows can be used in a tent, and two complete zippers can be used on the inner panel window by providing the canopy with dual layers around the window. The flysheet can be omitted and just the inner canopy can be used with its advantageous alternative net and solid panels and its 1½ zippers. The flysheet can be spaced closer or adjacent to the inner canopy by changing hooks and web loops  14 . In lieu of net and solid panels on the inner canopy, any other two different panels can be used, such as transparent and opaque, The inner canopy can have a fixed net window with an adjacent openable slot or window and the flysheet can have an openable window (e.g., a panel with a U-shaped zipper) which is reachable through the slot in the inner canopy. 
     Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given. 
     REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       10  tent poles 
       100  outlines of poles 
       12  inner canopy 
       14  hooks and web loops 
       16  reinforcing cords 
       18  upturned sidewalls 
       12 D door 
       20  web loops and attachments 
       22  window or convertible opening 
       24  net panel 
       24 P zipper pull 
       26  solid panel 
       26 P zipper pull 
       30  zipper chain on window 
       32  zipper chain on net panel 
       34  zipper chain on solid panel 
       36  flysheet or outer canopy 
       36 P flysheet panel