Patent Publication Number: US-6904924-B2

Title: Triangular frame tent

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a tent structure whose top is supported by a flying pole, which rests on a cable network. The cable network is attached to the corners of the frame structure and the only frame elements extending down to the ground are those at the corners. The shape of the tent as viewed from the top is triangular. A plurality of triangular frame tents or a plurality of triangular frame tents in combination with tents of other shapes can be very efficiently used to cover irregular areas. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Although it is possible to join a number of square tents to cover a large square or rectangular area, it is more difficult to use a number of square tents to cover curved areas, areas with a sharp bend, or irregularly shaped areas. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved tent structure that more effectively allows the coverage of irregular areas. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a tent structure that can be used with other shapes of similar tent structures to produce a wide variety of overall shapes. 
   It is a still further object of the invention to provide a tent structure that can be expanded modularly to cover large areas. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the invention there is provided a triangular frame tent having a triangular-shaped perimeter frame comprising three corner joints coupled to at least three rigid frame members. The perimeter frame is supported by three corner posts, which are coupled to the corners of the perimeter frame. In addition there are three cables each having one end connected to a corresponding corner joint and another end removably connectable to a common junction element. A flexible roof canopy is attached to the perimeter frame and is tensioned by a flying pole, which is couplable at one end to the common junction element and at another end to an interior surface of the roof canopy. The point of contact between the flying pole and the roof canopy forms the peak of the triangular frame tent. 
   By tensioning the roof canopy with a flying pole supported by a cable network the present invention provides a structure free of interior poles that extend to the ground, which allows for unimpeded movement under the tent. 
   Due to its size and simple construction, the triangular frame tent, or a plurality of triangular frame tents, can be quickly and easily erected by one person. 
   Advantageously, the triangular frame tent may be modularly expanded allowing a plurality of tents to be coupled to cover large areas. 
   The triangular shape of the present invention makes it possible, when a plurality of triangular frame tents are joined together or when one or more triangular frame tents are joined to tents of other shapes, to more effectively provide cover to irregularly shaped areas than could be previously done without triangular frame tents. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further features and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description, given by way of example, of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a triangular frame tent; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a corner joint; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a corner joint; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an assembled triangular frame tent; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing how the triangular frame tent can be used with a hexagonal tent and square tents; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing how the triangular frame tent can be used with a square tent; 
       FIG. 7  is top view showing another alternative combination of how the triangular frame tent can be used with a central hexagonal tent to form a star shape; 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of a combination of square and triangular frame tents used to follow an irregular shoreline; 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of a plurality of triangular frame tents joined in linear sequence where a bend is introduced into the linear sequence; 
       FIG. 10  is a top view of a plurality of triangular frame tents joined in linear sequence where the linear sequence branches in two; 
       FIG. 11  is a top view of a plurality of square tents joined in linear sequence where a branch is introduced into the linear sequence by introducing a triangular frame tent; 
       FIG. 12  is a top view of a combination of hexagonal tents and triangular frame tents wherein the areas between the hexagonal tents are covered by the triangular frame tents; 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of triangular frame tent with a wall membrane affixed. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the assembled triangular frame tent  10  consists of a perimeter frame  17  consisting of perimeter frame members  16  and corner joints  35 . The perimeter frame  17  is supported from the ground by three corner posts  12  each resting on a base plate  13 . The flexible canopy  14  is supported by a flying pole  24 , which stands vertically, supported on junction  11  of cables  29 . Peak  20  in the canopy  14  corresponds to the location where the flying pole  24  contacts the canopy  14 . Guy wires  22  may be attached between each of the corner joints  35  and the ground to offset forces that tend to deform the perimeter frame  17  and to stabilize the tent against winds. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , there are shown perspective views of a corner joint  35  with frame connectors  28 , an attachment point  18  for cables  29  (see  FIG. 1 ) and attachment point  55  for guy lines  22  (see FIG.  1 ). The frame connectors  28  have a non-circular cross-section so as to prevent twisting of perimeter frame members  16  in response to tensioning of flexible canopy  14  (see FIG.  1 ). 
   The corner joints  35  may additionally include scuppers (not shown) to accept water from the roof canopy  14  and channel it down through the corner posts  12  (see FIG.  1 ). Corner joints  35  may further include additional frame connectors (not shown) operative to receive perimeter frame members of adjacent tent structures, such that two adjacent tents share common corner joints  35 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , assembly of the triangular frame tent  10  starts by assembling the perimeter frame  17 . The first step is to insert the ends of the first perimeter frame member  16  into the frame connectors  28  of two corner joints  35 . 
   Proceeding to step  2 , the end (not shown) of the second perimeter frame member  16  is inserted into a frame connector  28 . 
   Proceeding to step  3 , the end (not shown) of the third perimeter frame member  16  is inserted into a frame connector  28  of the other of the corner joints  35  that is connected to the first perimeter frame member  16 . 
   Proceeding to step  4 , the remaining ends (not shown) of the second perimeter frame member  16  and the third perimeter frame member  16  are inserted into the frame connectors  28  of the third corner joint  35 . 
   Once the perimeter frame  17  has been assembled, two corner posts  12  are connected to frame connectors  28  of respective corner joints  35  so as to raise one side of the perimeter frame  17 . Three cables  29  are each connected at one end to attachment points  18  of corresponding corner joints  35 , and at another end to a common junction element  11 . A first end of the flying pole  24  is connected to the junction element  11  and a second end of the flying pole  24  is inserted into a canopy cup (not shown) at the center of the flexible canopy  14  making the entire structure tensioned. The third corner joint  35  of the perimeter frame  17  resting on the ground is then raised and the third corner post  12  is connected to the frame connector  28  of the third corner joint  35 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a perspective view of a fully assembled and tensioned triangular frame tent  10 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a central hexagonal tent  26  tensioned by a flying pole compressed between a junction of six cables, each affixed to a corresponding corner joint, and the center of the canopy  30 . Attached to each side of the hexagonal tent  26  is a similarly tensioned square tent  32 . The uncovered areas between the square tents  32  are filled with triangular frame tents  10 , thus producing a substantially circular-shaped combined tent structure. Adjacent tents in this configuration share perimeter frame members and there is only one perimeter frame member between adjacent tents. In addition, each pair of adjacent tents shares two corner joints located at the ends of said shared perimeter frame member. Said shared corner joints have additional frame connectors to connect to frame members of adjacent tents. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , another structure achieved by combining square tent  32  and triangular frame tents  10  is shown. In this instance, as in  FIG. 5 , adjacent tents share perimeter frame members and corner joints. The shared corner joints have additional frame connectors  28  (not shown) to connect to frame members of adjacent tents. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a combination of a central hexagonal tent  26  with several triangular frame tents  10  to achieve a star-shaped tent structure  33 . In this instance, as in  FIG. 5 , adjacent tents share perimeter frame members and corner joints (not shown). The shared corner joints have additional frame connectors  28  (not shown) to connect to frame members of adjacent tents. 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , an alternative combination of square  32  and triangular frame tents  10  allows placement of the combination tent structure so that it follows a shoreline. It will be appreciated that any number of contours are made possible with the use of the triangular frame tent  10  in combination with tents of other shapes. In this instance, as in  FIG. 5 , adjacent tents share perimeter frame members and corner joints (not shown). The shared corner joints have additional frame connectors  28  (not shown) to connect to frame members of adjacent tents. 
   Referring to  FIG. 9 , there is shown a combination of triangular frame tents  10  joined in linear sequence such that a bend is introduced into the linear sequence. This configuration may be used, for example, to cover a pathway with a bend or to follow a shoreline. 
   Referring to  FIG. 10 , there is shown a combination of triangular frame tents  10  joined in linear sequence such that the linear sequence is branched. This configuration may be used, for example, to cover a branched pathway. 
   Referring to  FIG. 11 , there is shown a combination of square tents  32 , joined in linear sequence, and a triangular frame tent  10 , such that said linear sequence is branched. This configuration may be used, for example, to cover a branched pathway. 
   Referring to  FIG. 12 , a combination of triangular frame tents  10  and hexagonal tents  26  are shown whereby the spaces between the hexagonal tents  26  are covered by the triangular frame tents  10 . This configuration may be used to cover large areas. 
   Referring to  FIG. 13 , a flexible wall membrane  62  is attached along the length of the perimeter frame member  16  (see  FIG. 1 ) and corner posts  12  so as to form a wall of the triangular frame tent. 
   While this invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to this description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as fall within the true scope of the invention.