Improvements in Portable Tents or Structures.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1890-Accepted, 7th June, 1890
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable Tents or Structures.
I, CARL WEISS of Fabrikant, Hanover, in the Empire of Germany, Engineer, 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 portable and adjustable tents, for garden, invalid, and
military purposes.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents in longitudinal vertical
section, a tent or enclosed structure, constructed and arranged according to my
invention.
Figure 2 represents a top-side plan of the same, partly in section, and also the chain
lines representing the positions which the walls of the tent, and roof rods, respectively
take, when the said tent is opened out, to a greater or less diameter.
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 show the details of construction, whilst figures 9 and 10,
represent an elevation, and section of one of the roof struts or rods, not according to
figures 1, and 2, but a modification, in which the said struts or rods, are made
telescopic and adjustable.
Thus, the walls of the tent or structure, are made primarily from upright lengths or
laths, united together by flexible hinged joints, which admit of the edge of one
upright or lath, turning within a recessed and adjacent edge of the next lath.
The same letters of reference, indicate corresponding parts, in the several figures of
the drawings.
a are wood or metal uprights or laths, united together by bands or wires b, passed
through them, and with the ends of the said cords or wires, connected to the upper
ends of spring arms c, enclosed within primary and stouter uprights d, so that the
said laths, when thus united together, by flexible hinges, the radius of the panelling
thus produced, admits of being increased or diminished, according to the size of
tent required.
The edges of the laths or strip uprights, are made to be joint-wise one within the
other (see figure 8) in manner that the seams or junctions of the adjacent laths,
remain always closed.
The roof of the tent or structure, consists of radially directed struts or bars e, with
their outer ends e³, pin jointed or connected to brackets f, secured to the tops of the
upright d, whilst, the upper and inner ends e, are made hook like, and take into
rings g, suspended from connections 9, depending from the underside of the crown
or middle h.
The increasing or decreasing of the diameter of the tent or structure, increases or
decreases the angle of the struts or bars e, over which, canvas, or other portable
covering, comes, and is secured by tacking or other means, to the principal
uprights d.
It may be observed, that the flexible panellings a, are shorter, to the extent of
the uprights d, by the flooring or boards j, upon which the lower ends of the
uprights a, rest.
The flexible joint bands or wires b, may be kept tort by other spring means, than
the arms c,
When a small tent is to be formed, the terminal struts d', of the principal
struts d, approach each other to an extent as may be desired, and leaving sufficient
room for entrance or exit purposes, and which entrance is covered by a curtain or
the like.
When a tent is required of larger diameter, as in the full lines figure 2, the
division thus formed, between the uprights d', is covered in by a curtain k,

page_text: suspended by rings ², from a rod or cord 1, stretched or hung between the top
of the said uprights d'. This curtain rod is preferably made telescopic, so as to admit
of distending or contracting itself, as the size of the opening may require.
The chain dotted lines, indicate the positions which the walls of the tent, take when
expanded or contracted to a greater or less, extent than the full lines as shown.
The roof covering may be connected or secured in position, if necessary, by
buttoning or other means, whilst the flexible wall panellings, when folded up, allow
the roof rods to fold, and lie parallel with them, so as to take up as little room as
possible, when folded for transit or storage.
Although I have described that the laths or uprights are united together by wires
or flexible cords, yet the same may be attachedly connected by rigid connections,
hinged at the junction of one edge (convex or concave) with its adjacent one.
The roofing rod figures 9 and 10, consists of an outer length m, sliding telescopically
within an inner tubular end n, pierced with adjustable holes n², wherethrough one or
other of the said holes, and a hole m², in the inner end of the rod m, a pin n³,
transversely takes, and by which means the said roof rod lengths admit of being
adjusted as may be required.
It will be observed that both the inner and outer ends of the lengths, have eyes,
wherethrough pins of joints, or knuckle joints, carried by upright and crown
respectively takes.
The canvas roofing is preferably fixedly connected to the wall panellings, in manner
that the said roofing admits of being rolled up with the panels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
cluin is
:-
First A portable tent or structure, of which the walls consist of flexible or folding
panelling or panellings, united and put together, in manner and for the purpose, as
set forth.
:-
Secondly A tent or structure, uniting the uprights constituting the outer walls,
by means of flexible or yielding joints, whose connections are made, in manner
substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly-A tent or structure, consisting of fixed or adjustable roof rods or lengths,
and flexible or adjustable panellings, constructed, arranged, and combined, as set forth
in the several figures of the drawings.
:-
Fourthly The improvements in the construction and arrangements of tents, and,
in the joints and connections thereof, substantially as described and set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1890.
CARL WEISS.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.