Abstract:
A tent with integral air mattress for improving camping comfort and including a base member composed of a bottom, water resistant layer and at least one inflatable air mattress attached to the top of the bottom layer. A support frame extends upward from the base member and supports a fabric shell so as to define a tent interior. The bottom surface of the bottom layer includes a series of intersecting grooves for permitting air flow and water flow underneath the tent. The shell is attached to a skirt member which extends from the base member. The air mattress does not cover the entire top surface of the bottom layer, so that a portion of the bottom layer adjacent the door of the tent is exposed, forming a flat area suitable for placing shoes and other gear thereon. The support frame preferably comprises a plurality of telescoping support poles which can be locked in an extended position through a twisting motion of the support poles.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a substitute for application Ser. No. 08/833,930, filed Apr. 10, 1997, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to tents and more particularly pertains to a new tent with integral air mattress for improving camping comfort. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of tents is known in the prior art. More specifically, tents heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,545; U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,585; U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,389; U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,442; U.S. Pat. Des. 330,745; and U.S. Pat. Des. 285,880. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new tent with integral air mattress. The inventive device includes a base member composed of a bottom, water resistant layer and at least one inflatable air mattress attached to the top of the bottom layer. A support frame extends upward from the base member and supports a fabric shell so as to define a tent interior. The bottom surface of the bottom layer includes a series of intersecting grooves for permitting air flow and water flow underneath the tent. The shell is attached to a skirt member which extends from the base member. The air mattress does not cover the entire top surface of the bottom layer, so that a portion of the bottom layer adjacent a door of the tent is exposed, forming a flat area suitable for placing shoes and other gear thereon. 
     The invention further includes a tent structure having a support frame comprised of a plurality of support poles made of a series of telescoping pole elements. A locking means is provided to lock the pole elements in an extended position. The locking means comprises a tongue and groove arrangement which are engaged/disengaged through twisting movements of the pole elements. A central hub element is provided which receives the ends of the support poles and locks them in place using locking springs. 
     In these respects, the tent with integral air mattress according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of improving camping comfort. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of tents now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new tent with integral air mattress construction wherein the same can be utilized for improving camping comfort. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new tent with integral air mattress apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the tents mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new tent with integral air mattress which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art tents, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a base member composed of a bottom, water resistant layer and at least one inflatable air mattress attached to the top of the bottom layer. A support frame extends upward from the base member and supports a fabric shell so as to define a tent interior. The bottom surface of the bottom layer includes a series of intersecting grooves for permitting air flow and water flow underneath the tent. The shell is attached to a skirt member which extends from the base member. The air mattress does not cover the entire top surface of the bottom layer, so that a portion of the bottom layer adjacent a door of the tent is exposed, forming a flat area suitable for placing shoes and other gear thereon. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new tent with integral air mattress apparatus which has many of the advantages of the tents mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new tent with integral air mattress which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art tents, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new tent with integral air mattress which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new tent with integral air mattress which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new tent with integral air mattress which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such tent with integral air mattress economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new tent with integral air mattress which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new tent with integral air mattress for improving camping comfort. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new tent with integral air mattress which includes a base member composed of a bottom, water resistant layer and at least one inflatable air mattress attached to the top of the bottom layer. A support frame extends upward from the base member and supports a fabric shell so as to define a tent interior. The bottom surface of the bottom layer includes a series of intersecting grooves for permitting air flow and water flow underneath the tent. The shell is attached to a skirt member which extends from the base member. The air mattress does not cover the entire top surface of the bottom layer, so that a portion of the bottom layer adjacent a door of the tent is exposed, forming a flat area suitable for placing shoes and other gear thereon. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a new tent which uses telescoping support poles which collapse to a small size making transport of the tent apparatus easier. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new tent with integral air mattress that reduces the amount of equipment which needs to be carried while camping. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new tent with integral air mattress that reduces the discomfort and back pain normally associated with sleeping in tents. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new tent with integral air mattress according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2A is a bottom view of the tent looking generally in the direction of the arrow  2  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 2B is a side view of the base member only, looking in the direction of line  2 B— 2 B in FIG.  2 A. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base member with the shell shown in dashed lines for clarification. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the tent looking generally in the direction of the line  4 — 4  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a telescoping support pole. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view of two of the telescoping pole elements and how they connect together. 
     FIG. 7 is a view of the central hub element looking in the direction of line  7 — 7  of FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the central hub and all its elements. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates the outlet port and cap for one of the mattresses. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a bag for carrying the tent. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 10 thereof, a new tent with integral air mattress embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 10, the tent with integral air mattress  10  comprises a base member  12  supported upon the ground, a support frame  13  extending upwardly from the base member, and a shell  14  attached to the base member and supported by the frame  13 . 
     The base member  12 , as best illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2 A-B, and  3 , is composed of a bottom layer  15  of a water resistant material, such as rubber, or the like. The layer  15  rests directly upon the ground and therefore it has a pre-selected thickness for cushioning and insulating the base member  12 . The bottom surface  16  of the layer  15  includes a series of intersecting grooves  17   a, b  formed therein for permitting air and water to pass underneath the base member when it rests on the ground. The bottom surface  16  is also suitably roughened to prevent slippage of the base member upon the ground. Skirts  18  of the same material as the layer  15  extend upwards from the top surface of the layer  15 , the purpose of which will become apparent later in the description. 
     The base member  12  also includes a pair of air mattresses  19   a ,  19   b  fixedly attached to the top surface of the bottom layer  15  using any suitable means. The air mattresses  19   a ,  19   b  are preferably made of a material capable of holding air and are covered in a soft material for improving the comfort of the mattresses. Such materials are generally known in the art and therefore no further discussion of them is needed. The mattresses  19   a ,  19   b  are generally identical, so only one will be described in detail, it being understood that the other one is similar. 
     The mattress  19   a  defines an enclosed chamber which is separate and distinct from the chamber defined by the mattress  19   b . An air inlet port  20  of conventional configuration communicates with the chamber, permitting air to be input into the chamber, but preventing air escape. In addition, a separate air outlet port  21  communicates with the chamber for permitting rapid deflation of the mattress  19   a . As shown in FIG. 9, the air outlet port  21  comprises an outlet nozzle  22  integral with the mattress and having a threaded end which engages with an internally threaded cap  23  for closing the nozzle  22  and preventing escape of air. The nozzle  22  is configured such that when the cap is removed, it allows air to freely exit the chamber of the mattress, such that the mattress can be rapidly deflated. 
     As illustrated, the mattresses  19   a ,  19   b  are disposed substantially side by side upon the layer  15 , and have a thickness such that the skirts  18  extend upward above the top of the mattresses. However, the mattresses do not completely cover the entire top surface of the layer  15  such that a lowered area  24  is formed at the ends of the mattresses. The lowered area  24  thus comprises the portion of the layer  15  which is not covered by the mattresses. The lowered area  24  forms a suitable location for shoes and other equipment to be placed before climbing up on the mattresses. The shoes and equipment placed in the area  24  are kept from direct contact with the ground by the layer  15 , thus keeping such items dry. 
     The support frame  13  comprises four flexible, telescoping support poles  25   a ,  25   b ,  25   c ,  25   d  which each extend upward from a respective corner of the base member  12  and are connected thereto by being disposed within connectors  26  disposed at each corner of the base member. The opposite ends of the poles  25   a ,  25   b ,  25   c ,  25   d  are connected to a central hub element  27 . Turning to FIG. 5, one of the telescoping support poles  25   a  is shown, it being understood that the remaining poles  25   b-d  are identical to the pole  25   a . The pole  25   a  is composed of a series of telescoping pole elements  28   a ,  28   b . . . n  with the element  28   a  having a larger diameter than the element  28   b  which has a larger diameter than the next element, and so on. The support poles  25   a-d  can be comprised of any number of individual pole elements  28   a ,  28   b . . . n . The elements  28   a  are adapted to fit within the connectors  26 . The pole elements are thus able to be retracted into the largest pole element  28   a , similar to an antenna, and extended out for use. A means for locking the pole elements in the extended position must therefore be provided. Such a means is illustrated in FIG. 6, where two of the pole elements  28   a ,  28   b  are shown. The interior wall of the element  28   a  includes a pair of circumferentially spaced shoulder assemblies  29   a ,  29   b  formed thereon, with the assemblies being separated by gaps  30   a ,  30   b . Each shoulder assembly  29   a ,  29   b  comprises a pair of axially spaced shoulders  31   a ,  31   b  defining a groove  51  therebetween. The pole element  28   b  includes at one end thereof a pair of projecting tongues  52  on diametrically opposite sides thereof. The tongues  52  are sized for fitting through the respective gaps  30   a ,  30   b , so as to permit the pole element  28   b  to be telescoped into the pole element  28   a . The pole element  28   b  is axially locked relative to the element  28   a  by axially aligning the tongues with the grooves  51  and rotating the elements relative to each other, so that the tongues are disposed within the grooves thus preventing axial movement of the element  28   b  relative to the element  28   a . It should be understood that each of the pole elements includes a pair of projecting tongues at one end and a pair of shoulder assemblies on its interior at the other end, except for the two end pole elements  28   a ,  28   n . The pole element  28   n  includes only the projecting tongues. Thus each of the pole elements is locked in a similar fashion to the connection between the elements  28   a ,  28   b . As can be seen in FIGS.  5  and  7 - 9 , the distal end of each support pole (i.e. pole elements  28   n ) includes a neck region  53  followed by a bulbous tip  54 , the purpose of which will become apparent later in the description. It is preferable that the pole elements  28   a ,  28   b . . . n  be made of a graphite material such that it is able to be flexed into an arched configuration. 
     The central hub element  27 , which receives the ends of the support poles  25   a - 25   d , comprises a solid, cross shaped member having four arms  55   a - 55   d , with each arm having an aperture  56  formed therein. Disposed within each aperture  56  is a locking spring  57  which is configured to matingly receive the neck region  53  and bulbous end  54  of the support poles, to secure the distal ends of the poles within the hub element  27 . The distal ends of the poles are thus frictionally retained within the apertures  56  by frictional engagement with the springs  57 . The ends can be removed from the hub by a simple pulling force applied to the pole element  28   n.    
     The shell  14  is supported by the support poles  25   a-d  so as to define a tent interior area. The shell  14  is comprised of a series of nylon panels connected to each other to define the walls of the tent  10 . The base of the shell  14  is affixed to the skirts  18  such as by stitching and/or gluing, in order to form a watertight connection between the shell and the base member  12 . Therefore the shell  14  is permanently attached to the base member  12 . The shell  14  includes a plurality of spaced, nylon sleeves  32  attached thereto, such as by stitching, through which extend the poles  25   a-d  for supporting the shell. 
     One of the panels of the shell  14  includes a door means  33  formed therein. The door means  33  comprises a pair of outer flaps  34   a ,  34   b  which preferably are a part of the shell  14 . The flaps  34   a ,  34   b  are integral at one edge thereof with the shell  14 , while the remaining edges are removably secured by zippers, as is conventional. The door means  33  also includes an inner mesh screen composed of separate mesh flaps  35   a ,  35   b  appropriately affixed to the inside of the shell  14  as is also conventional. The mesh screen permits fresh air to enter the interior of the tent when the flaps are moved out of the way, while keeping out bugs. 
     As best shown in FIG. 4, the tent  10  includes a door mat means  36  which can be rolled onto the ground in front of the door means  33 . The door mat means  36  comprises a flexible sheet material which is integrally connected along one edge thereof to the base member  12 . The sheet is preferably rolled-up when not in use, as illustrated in FIG. 1, for storage within the tent. To use, the door means is opened, allowing the sheet to be unrolled in front of the area of the door means. 
     The side of the shell  14  opposite the door means  33  includes a mesh screen window  37  therein, so as to permit fresh air flow into the tent. The shell  14  also includes a donut shaped, mesh screen sun roof  38  adjacent the top thereof for further increasing air flow and sunlight into the tent. A central fabric area  39  encloses the hub element  27  and is suitably attached to the mesh sun roof  38  so as to secure the fabric area and the hub element to the tent  10 . The central fabric area  39  comprises a fabric layer above and below the central hub element  27  and stitched together so as to secure the hub element between the layers. Apertures are provided between the layers, aligned with the holes  56 , in order to allow passage of the pole elements  28   n  so that they can be inserted into the hub element. Preferably, means are provided within the tent so as to permit selective covering and uncovering of the window  37  and the sun roof  38 . The mesh flaps  35   a ,  35   b , mesh window  37 , and mesh sun roof  38  are preferably formed of a UV resistant mesh material to protect the occupants of the tent from the harmful effects of UV rays from sunlight. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a carrying bag  40  which can be used to carry the tent  10  when it is not assembled. The bag  40  defines an interior volume for holding the base member and shell, and includes an exterior sleeve  41  for holding the telescoping poles  25   a - 25   d . The bag also includes a pocket  42  for holding miscellaneous items such as a mattress repair kit. A pair of adjustable, locking straps  43 ,  44  are used to close the bag. The bag can also include a conventional zipper connection  45  for gaining access to the interior of the bag. In order to provide for easy carrying of the bag, a pair of handles  46 ,  47  are attached thereto, and can be secured together using a conventional strap member  48 . 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.