Patent Publication Number: US-6981680-B1

Title: Tent leg weights

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Tents are often utilized at trade shows, such as art and craft shows, at an exhibitor&#39;s booth. Tents are also used at track and cross country meets for a team&#39;s gathering site and shelter. The tents generally include four legs with an upper frame work to support a fabric cover. The fabric sidewalls may also be provided for the tent. At outdoor craft shows, the tent legs must be weighted or staked to the ground to secure the tent against winds. Such weight is typically provided by bulky, concrete blocks or large PVC pipe filled with concrete or sandbags, all of which present hazards to people around the tent due to their bulky size. Also, such blocks and pipes are difficult or awkward to carry and handle, and take up substantial space during transport or storage due to their bulky size. 
     Similarly, display stands used at trade shows without an overhead covering have legs which often times must be weighted or staked to the ground for stability. However, some shows are held on pavement, such as parking lots, which does not permit the use of stakes. The bulky concrete blocks, concrete-filled PVC tubes and sandbags are also commonly used for such display stands, similar to the craft show tents. 
     The bulky size, awkwardness, and safety hazards presented by conventional weights for tent legs or display stand legs create numerous problems which would preferably be avoided. 
     Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved weight for the leg of a tent or a display stand. 
     Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a weight for a tent leg or display stand leg which is flat so as to minimize risk of tripping by people standing near the leg. 
     A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a weight for tent and display stand legs comprising one or more steel plates which can be stacked and secured together, as needed. 
     Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved weight for tent legs and display stand legs which includes a handle for easy carrying of the weight. 
     Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved weight for tent and display stand legs which allow the legs to be quickly and easily secured to the weight. 
     Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a weight for tent and display stand legs which includes adjustable leveling legs to accommodate uneven terrain. 
     A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a weight for tent and display stand legs that is compact for transport and storage. 
     Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a weight for tent legs and display stand legs wherein the weight comprises a plate having at least one contoured edge which is adapted to matingly nest with a similar edge on a second plate so as to minimize movement of the plates during transport. 
     A further objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved weight for legs of tents and display stands which is economical to manufacture, simple and safe to use, and durable in use. 
     These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The weight of the present invention for a tent or display stand leg comprises one or more flat, steel plates. Multiple plates may be secured together with fasteners to provide a set of plates. Each plate includes one or more apertures. A fastener is adapted to engage or extend through the foot on the bottom of the leg and into the upper plate aperture to releasably secure the leg to the plate. Preferably, each plate, or at least one of the plates in each set of secured plates, includes a handle for carrying the plate or assembled plates. A stake for staking the weight to the ground to prevent movement of the weight may extend through the handle pocket or through a stake hole in the plate. Adjustable leveling legs may be provided on the plate to accommodate uneven ground or pavement. Each plate includes a cut out portion. In one embodiment, a handle is welded to the plate so as to extend across the cut out portion. In another embodiment, the cut out portion defines integrally formed handle, which is adapted to matingly nest within the cut out portion of an adjacent plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tent having legs secured to one embodiment of the weights of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of one of the weights shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the weight of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the weight of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the weight and showing two weights nested together for transportation. 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of one of the weights shown in  FIG. 5   
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a tent  10  having a canopy  12  supported by legs  14 . Each of the legs  14  of the tent  10  are secured to a weight  16  of the present invention.  FIGS. 1–4  show a first embodiment of the weight  16 . The weight includes a pair of flat plates  18 ,  20  which are secured together by fasteners  22 . Alternately, the plates  18 ,  20  may be welded together. Each plate  18 ,  20  include holes  24 A–E. Preferably, the fasteners  22  are flat headed bolts threadably received within holes  24  in each of the plates  18 ,  20 . The heads of the fasteners  22  are preferably counter-sunk in the plate  20 , as best seen in  FIG. 2 . Two or more fasteners  22  are used to secure the plates  18 ,  20  together. 
     Another fastener  28 , such as a thumb screw, is adapted to extend through a tent foot  30  connected to the leg  14  and into one of the holes  24 A–E. For example, as shown in the drawings, the fastener  28  is received in the center hole  24 A such that the leg  14  is approximately centered on the weight  16 . It is understood that the fastener  28  may be secured in any of the holes  24 A–E to secure the leg  14  to the weight  16 . 
     The weight  16  is provided with a cut out portion  32  across which a handle  34  extends. Preferably, the plates  18 ,  20  are made from steel, and the handle  34  is made from steel so as to be weldable to the sides of the cut out portion  32  or to the ends of one of the plates  18 ,  20  adjacent the cut out portion  32 . The handle may be covered, such as coated with plastic or wrapped with grip tape, for thermal insulation and safety, since the steel handle  34  tends to become hot when the weight  16  is used outdoors in the sun. 
     While holes  24 A–E and fasteners  22 ,  28  are preferably threaded, it is understood that other types of fasteners may be utilized, such as an expandable weld nut, which does not utilize threads. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , adjustable leveling legs  36  may be provided so that the weight  16  can be used on sloped or uneven ground, with the leveling legs  36  being threaded into any one of the holes  24 B–E on the bottom of the lower plate  18 . 
     The plates  18 ,  20  may include an enlarged hole  37  adapted to receive a stake (not shown) for insertion into the ground, if desired by a user. Alternatively, a stake can be placed over the handle  34  to secure the weight  16  to the ground or asphalt. 
     A second embodiment of the weight  16  is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In this embodiment, each plate  38 ,  40  is provided with holes, for receiving the fasteners  22  to secure multiple plates together, and holes  24 A–E for receiving a fastener, similar to fastener  28 , for securing the foot  30  of the leg  14  to the upper plate  40 . The plates  38 ,  40  include cut out portions  42  which form handles  44  at the ends of the plates. Pairs of plates may be positioned end to end, as seen in  FIG. 5 , such that the handles  44  of one weight  16  nests within the cut out portion  42  of an adjacent weight  16 . Such nesting arrangement of the weights  16  minimize storage and transport area and help minimize sliding of the weights  16  during transportation. 
     While the drawings show two plates  18 ,  20  or  38 ,  40  secured together, it is understood that a single plate may be used as the weight  16 , or three or more plates secured together for the weight  16 . The number of plates to be used depends upon the weight of the individual plates and upon the wind conditions in which the tent or display stand may be subjected. 
     The weight  16  provides a flat profile which minimizes the risk of tripping people standing near the legs  14 . The flat profile of the weights  16  also minimizes storage space for the weights. 
     The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.