An Improvement in the Construction and Arrangement of the Frames of Portable Tents and like Structures, and in Fastenings connected therewith.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1892-Accepted, 9th July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Construction and Arrangement of the
Frames of Portable Tents and like Structures, and in Fastenings
connected therewith.
I, EDWARD LYON BERTHON, of Romsey, Hants, Master of Arts, 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:-
The object of this invention is to make the frames or portions of the frames of
tents from strips of wood rivetted or otherwise secured together in the direction of
their length, said strips may be curved or moulded to shape according to the
position the compound strips have to occupy. The strips when so made are hinged,
linked, or otherwise connected for folding purposes, the joint portions being pro-
vided with clip links which can be slipped over projections, or over overlapping
ends. The lower ends of some of the strips can have sliding bolts or plugs attached
to enable the part or parts to be secured to the ground in combination or not with
guy ropes and screw toggles.
The uprights can have eyes or step pieces on them for the strainer rods to fit
into to keep the sides of the canvas extended.
In making a bell tent, all the upper strips are linked or jointed to a common
centre, at top, so that when the uprights or belly portion are set free they can
be brought close together and then the upper curved portions which are also
close together can be folded downwards and then strapped up to enable it to be
easily carried.
My invention is clearly represented in the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1
shows one of my rib frames A with a portion B forming a shoulder bent and
moulded to shape, preferably when steamed. The lower end of this rib A is shod
with a kind of plug C wedge shaped to readily enter the ground when pressure is
exerted upon the step piece D.
Figure 2 represents a modified construction of rib A, the shoulder B only being
formed by saw cuts, as shown where the bending and moulding to shape has to
be effected, this part being cemented, rivetted, or otherwise secured to hold the
strips firmly together.
The shoulder B is also bound by the strap E of a hinge joint F, a portion of
which strap forms the meeting surface to that of another strap G secured to the
top of the upright A, the inner portion having a clip loop H attached, which loop
can be sprung over a projection I of the other strap to bind the meeting edges
firmly together.
When the clip loop H is unfastened, the upper portion B of the frame rib can be
folded down, as shown at Figure 3, to reduce the length and to make it more
compact.
The lower end of the rib A, Figure 2, is provided with a sliding bolt J which
can be forced into the ground to secure the rib into position.
At Figure 4, 1 show a modified form of clip loop H, which has a sliding motion
upwards to secure the hinge joint in position, its downward motion being limited
by the studs K, K.
The upper ends L of these ribs A, B, have a metallic strap M secured over
them, the ends being looped and hold a strip of leather N therein to link them
side by side but at a distance apart as in the view Figure 5. The centre rib of
the series has a metallic ring N attached, so that when the ribs are spread in a
circular direction, as would be the case in forming a bell or similar tent, they

page_text: would assume the position indicated by Figure 6, the gap between the two ends
of the ribs of the series when in this position serve for the doorway or entrance
to the tent.
The ribs A have stretchers P fastened to them by a cord, as at Figure 2, the
stretchers being of wood with the ends notched, so that they can be pushed into
position to strain the canvas.
Where tents are required to be fixed, metal stretchers P, as at Figure 3, can be
attached to the ribs A to take into eyes on the adjoining ribs.
The canvas Q of the body portion of the tent is attached in sections to the ribs
by copper nails or tacks and the meeting or overlapping edges of the canvas and
the nail heads are in practice covered by a strip of wood to protect them. The
canvas of the body portion terminates at about the hinge joint, if the ribs are
hinged.
The upper or cover sections R of the canvas are separate from the body sections,
and are secured to the upper portions of the ribs in a similar manner. Their lower
ends are cut to any desired shape but I prefer that they form flaps S, S, which
serve as weather sheets, which can be buttoned down to the body canvas, or be
spread out as weather guards, as at Figure 7.
The upper ends of the cover canvas stop short near the centre of the tent, and
are covered with a loose fitting screen T for ventilation purposes, this screen is
surmounted by a knob of any suitable shape whose lower end fits the metal ring N'
as a terminal.
In the drawings at Figures 7, 8, and 9, I show three forms of tents whose ribs
may each be according to Figure 1, or according to Figure 2, if according to
Figure 1, when the lower ends are lifted from the ground and the stretchers
loosened, the whole of the ribs can be brought close together parallel with each
other into position, the canvas being gathered in during the folding, and the whole
strapped together for easy carriage or removal but if the ribs are joined, as at
Figures 2, 3, and 4, they can be brought side by side, as before explained, and the
clip loops released, the upper ends B being then folded down upon the uprights A
in which position they can be strapped together, as shown at Figures 10 and 11.
By this arrangement, the length is much reduced and more compact occupying
less room for storage than is the case with the former arrangement.
The door portion of the tent is formed from a separate canvas having a strip of
wood attached at its outer edge, so that it can be folded over the opening, or set
back against one of the sections, as shown at Figure 8.
The flap over the door detachable at one edge only may be of any dimensions
to serve as a weather sheet against rain, or the rays of the sun, and in say fine
weather the other flaps may be buttoned on the cover canvas for free ventilation
over the top edge of the body canvas.
Tents made according to my invention have no central pole, consequently the
whole interior of the tent is available for use, and may be of any shape or
dimensions, and two or more of them can be arranged as to form a single tent.
As. an additional security to the tent, or it may be a sentry box, during, say,
high winds, guy ropes U, U, and pegs V, V, (or toggles) may be fitted, as at
Figure 7:
The upper portions may have a canvas lining to form a space between that
and the outer covering, which inner lining is fastened in the same way to the
inner edges of the ribs, leaving a space between them for the passage of heated
air to rise and escape at the top ventilators.
In some cases, two or more of the adjoining uprights may be connected at their
lower ends by battens W, W, to which wheels may be fitted to facilitate removal
of the tent, say from one place to another in a field or garden, the shoes, bolts, or
plugs of the other uprights having been withdrawn from the ground, but the
stretchers not released, such as will be understood by reference to Figure 9.
I make these tents of a portable character for temporary use in cricket fields,
lawn tennis grounds, for camping out, and other similar, as well as for military

page_text: purposes, such as at firing points during shooting competitions, in which cases, the
stretchers may serve as racks for rifles, as at Figure 8.
The tent is not sewn together like others, in fact the needle is dispensed with
except for hemming and binding the tops and bottoms of the segments but the
canvas is permanently attached, so that the framework canvas and every part of
the whole are absolutely united together.
Another feature is that the two skins or coverings of the tent top being
separated from each other by the thickness of the ribs, the heated air passes up
between them and escapes by the ventilators at the top.
A further feature is, the tent is self supporting without ropes of any kind it can
be lifted bodily after being erected and moved into any other position near at
hand.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The construction and arrangement of frames of portable tents, and in the
means of securing the same in an open position, also the method of closing the
frames up into a small compass for easy removal as herein set forth.
2. Securing canvas permanently in sections to the ribs of tents, which ribs
with the canvas can be brought close together, and the canvas gathered in, as
described.
3. The construction of portable tents having radial ribs connected at a central
upper part dispensing with the usual centre pole, as described and substantially as
shown in the annexed drawings.
4. Jointing the ribs of tents to enable one part to be folded to the other to
reduce length of package, as set forth.
Dated this 4th o £ T 1000
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Edward Lyon Berthon, M.A.