Improvements in the Construction of Collapsible Tents.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 31st Jan., 1894-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Collapsible Tents.
I TOM HARDING of 48 and 49 Union Street Torquay Ironmonger do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of collapsible tents which can
be rapidly put up and taken down when required and which can collapse into a very
small compass.
Four strong angle iron posts are employed which form the four
corners of the tent, connected together by a peculiar arrangement of cross stays,
which forms the main part of my invention, the arrangement allowing the parts to
be folded closely together. Two arms are pivotted to each angle of each post, one
at the top, and one at the bottom, in one case to the inner side, and in the other to
the outer side of the post. The two lower arms of each set are connected together
by loosely rivetting or otherwise, so that they can turn on each other, and the
upper arms are similarly connected, the two pairs crossing each other. These form
three sides of the tent, the fourth being left open. This arrangement which forms
the body of the tent, will fold in the length of the posts, the intermediate stays
being much shorter and lying, when folded, closely against each other. The form
when folded will be approximately square with a central passage in which will lie
the remaining parts hereinafter described. Four separate stays are used to connect
the tops of the posts, the latter having a screwed pin or extension at top over which
eyes or loops on the ends of these stays will pass. The top of the tent framework
is formed by four arms arranged pyramidally and hinged to a central connecting
plate. These are each furnished with a loop or eye which is placed on the screwed
end of the post on top of the stays above mentioned. A nut is then screwed down
on top of the loops, connecting the whole rigidly together. The canvas attached in
any ordinary manner. The top parts are all of about the same length and as
above stated, lie inside the collapsed body of the framework the whole forming a
narrow compact arrangement of the length of the posts or struts, whichever are
made of greater length.
Dated this 29th day of April 1893.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Collapsible Tents.
I, TOM HARDING of 48 and 49, Union Street, Torquay, Ironmonger, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of collapsible tents, which can
be rapidly put up and taken down when required, and which can collapse into a
very small compass. Four strong angle iron posts are employed which form the
four corners of the tent, connected together by a peculiar arrangement of cross
stays which forms the main part of my invention, the arrangement allowing the
parts to be folded closely together. Two arms are pivoted to each angle of each
post, one at the top, and one at the bottom, in one case to the inner side and in the
other to the outer side of the post. The two lower arms of each set are connected

page_text: together by loosely riveting or otherwise, so that they can turn on each other, and
the upper arms are similarly connected, the two pairs crossing each other. These
form three sides of the tent, the fourth being left open. This arrangement which
forms the body of the tent will fold in the length of the posts, the intermediate
stays being much shorter and lying, when folded, closely against each other. The
form when folded, will be approximately square with a central passage in which
will lie the remaining parts hereinafter described. Four separate stays are used to
connect the tops of the posts, the latter having a screwed pin or extension at top
over which eyes or loops on the ends of these stays will pass. The top of the tent
framework is formed by four arms arranged pyramidally and hinged to a
central connecting plate. These are each furnished with a loop or eye which is
placed on the screwed end of the post on top of the stays above mentioned. A nut
is then screwed down on top of the loops connecting the whole rigidly together.
The canvas is attached in any ordinary manner.
The top parts are all of about the same length and as above stated lie inside the
collapsed body of the framework, the whole forming a narrow compact arrangement
of the length of the posts or struts, whichever are made of greater length.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the extended framework complete,
Fig. 2 shows the method of collapsing,
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a front and side elevation of the connecting parts
of the cross stays,
Fig. 5 shows the method of connecting the roof and horizontal bars to the posts
and
Fig. 6 is a view of the plate at the apex of the roof to which the sloping bars are
hinged.
A A are the four posts which as shown are of angle iron, to give as great
strength as possible with minimum of weight. To these posts are pivoted the cross.
stays B, B', one set attached to the top of the posts and the other to the lower end.
The upper stays B of each section are pivoted to each other at the centre, as are
also the lower ones, the stays crossing, as shown clearly in Figs. 3 & 4, so that
they are interlocked, one lower stay being in front of the higher one at the same
side, and the other behind it. To allow of this the stays are situated alternately at
the outer and inner sides of the angle iron posts. One side of the framework is left
open as shown in Fig. 1 to allow of entrance to the tent.
Each arm or stay is perforated near its end at b, the holes of the back and front
stays being in line when the frame is extended, so that a pin b' can be thrust
through, fixing the frame in position and preventing it collapsing. The pins are
suspended by small chains from the ends of the stays.
When the sides are extended as above described the horizontal bars C are placed
in position. Each post A is furnished at the top with a screwed pin a, and the
bars C are furnished with eyes c at their ends so that they can be placed on top of
the posts holding them extended in a rigid manner. The roof D is formed of four
sloping rods pivoted to a central post d as shown in Fig. 6, each rod having an eye d¹
at its end to fit on to the posts in the manner above described for the horizontal bars.
To fix the parts together nuts or caps a' are employed screwing on to the pins a and
holding the eyes firmly in position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.-
(1.) A collapsible tent frame consisting of corner posts, a double set of cross
stays pivoted to the top and bottom of the posts, each pair being pivoted together
at the ends, and so arranged that each upper and lower pair interlace, and can be
fixed together, horizontal bars connecting the posts at the top and a roof frame
also fitted to the posts, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

page_text: (2.) In a collapsible tent frame, the combination of four corner posts, each
having a screwed pin at top connected together at top and at bottom by cross stays
pivoted to the posts and to each other at their ends, the upper and lower sets inter-
facing and being fixed together by pins, with horizontal bars and pyramidal roof
framework pivoted to a top piece, threaded on the screwed pins and fixed by means
of nuts or caps, substantially as and for the purposes described.
(3.) In a collapsible tent frame, the combination with a pyramidal roof formed
of hinged rods and horizontal bars furnished with eyes at their ends, of four corner
posts of angle iron to which the roof and horizontal bars are fitted in a removable
manner and cross stays pivoted to the top and bottom of the posts, the upper and
lower sets interlacing and being fixed together when extended, the arms being
pivoted alternately at the outer and inner sides of the posts, substantially as
described and shown and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 31st day of January 1894.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.