Improvements in Tents.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1899-Accepted, 10th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tents.
I, ROSWELL OTIS STEBBINS, of No. 4, East Forty Third Street, New York,
in the County of New York and State of New York, United States of America.
Dentist, 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 tents and particularly to articles of this class which
are adapted to be transported from place to place, and to be frequently set up
and taken down and some of the objects of the invention are to provide such a
tent, which will be simple and cheap in construction, and at the same time being
complete in itself, that is, not requiring auxiliary means for setting up the same,
and also to provide a tent which can be readily and quickly set up and taken
down, and rolled into a small and compact mass for transportation.
A further object is to provide a tent having a dark or shaded upper portion and
a transparent lower portion, so that the eyes of the occupant will not be subjected
to the intense glare of light occasioned when the entire tent is constructed of
transparent material, and yet a sufficient quantity of light will be admitted through
the lower portion of the tent.
Another object is to produce a tent having an integrally formed bottom or floor,
cloth or waterproof, or other material and also to provide an auxiliary portion or
vestibule upon the tent to prevent the entrance of draughts of cold air or the
admission of insects into the tent proper.
Furthermore to dispense with the numerous poles and timbers required to set
up a tent of the ordinary construction; and with these and other objects in view
the invention consists substantially of the construction, combination and arrange-
ment of parts hereinafter more fully described in the following specification and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1, is a vertical central section of my improved tent;
Fig. 2, is a horizontal section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is a top plan view of the tent set up;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tent in position:
Fig. 5, is a perspective view of a modified form of the construction herein
before described and shown, wherein the entire front of the tent is open and the
side and top extensions thereof are extended to form a vestibule; and
Fig. 6, illustrates the same closed.
Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts through the
several views.
Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1, designates a tent, constructed
in accordance with my improvements, which may be made of any desired material,
but preferably of "pegamoid," as this material is peculiarly adapted for the
purpose, being very light and durable; the tent may be of any preferred form or
shape required for the peculiar purpose for which it may be used, however I prefer
the construction described and shown, for all of the space enclosed by the walls of
the tent can be utilized.

page_text: In practice I prefer to construct the upper or sloping portion of the tent
of dark colored material, and the lower or main portion thereof of light colored
or transparent material, to prevent the intense glare of light within the tent,
caused by the glare or refraction of the outside light or rays of the sun, upon the
light colored or transparent material of which the ordinary tent is entirely con-
structed, and by making the lower or main portion only of light colored or
transparent material sufficient light will be afforded within the tent without
injury or inconvenience to the occupant of the same.
This feature of my invention is most important, as has been demonstrated by
actual practice and by the endorsement of army men; for soldiers frequently
suspend a sheet of dark-colored or non-transparent material from the ridge pole of
their tents to lessen the intense glare of light within the tent, caused by the
refraction of the rays of outside light upon the white and transparent upper or
sloping portion of the tent.
My improved tent preferably is provided with a bottom or floor-cloth 2, which
may be made approximately square in form having an extension 3, formed on, or
connected with one side thereof, and attached to the outer-edges of the floor cloth
by stitching, or in any suitable manner, or formed integrally therewith, are four
side portions or walls 4, which may be made in separate parts and if desired the
walls 4, may be formed of a plurality of strips or sections 5, connected by an over-
lapped seam 6, and when the walls are so constructed the eyelets or openings 7
for the guy-ropes are formed in the flange 16, to afford additional strength along
the line of strain caused by the pull on said rope.
The meeting edges of the floor-cloth and the walls are preferably bound, as shown
at 8; and the rear wall is preferably provided with an opening 9, of any suitable
size or shape, for ventilation or observation, above which is secured a flap or
cover 10, to close the same when desired.
The upper or sloping portion of the tent consists preferably of four portions or
walls 11, also desirably formed of a plurality of parts or sections united by a flat
over-lapping sean; and the walls 11, are approximately of the form of an
equilateral triangle, but they may be of any form or shape, and the apex of the
walls 11 is provided with an opening 12, to receive a centre pole 13", as will be
understood; but this centre pole may be dispensed with and the tent supported from
above by means of a rope secured between two trees or boulders and attached to
the apex of the tent, as hereinafter described.
Around the apex of the walls 11 is secured a hood or canopy 13, adapted to
cover the ventilating openings 14 surrounding the apex, and thus prevent the
admission of rain or snow within the tent and at the same time afford ventilation
for the upper part of the tent, the part most needing ventilation; and by means
of the contracting cords or ropes 15, passing through said opening said canopy may
be raised or lowered like an umbrella.
The side portions or walls 4, are preferably connected with the walls 11, in such
a manner as to form a horizontal flange or rib 16, provided with eyes or
holes 7, to receive the guy-ropes 17 which are secured to pegs or stones in the
usual manner.
In the front wall of the tent is formed an oblong opening 18, to serve as a
door, above which is secured a flap or cover 19, to close said opening, when desired,
upon the extension 3 of the floor-cloth, and enclosing the opening 19 is constructed
the auxiliary portion or vestibule 20, preferably consisting of two approximately
square side portions 21, a top portion 22, and a front portion 23, in which latter is
formed an entrance opening 24, adapted to be closed by a flap or cover 25, and the
free corners of said vestibule are provided with guy-ropes 26 and 27 adapted to be
respectively connected with stakes or pins secured in the ground at each side of the
vestibule.
The vestibule of my improved tent is designed to prevent the cold air from
entering the tent proper when the occupant leaves or enters the tent, and in the
latter case the outside flap 25, is raised, and, as soon as the person has entered the

page_text: vestibule, this flap is allowed to fall and cover the exterior opening 24, thus
excluding the outside air, then the inner flap 19, is raised and the person enters the
tent proper, but without admitting a blast or draught of outside air into the tent
proper, as would otherwise occur if the tent proper opened directly into the
open air.
This feature is especially desirable when the tent is used in a cold climate, for
the cold blast of outside air, which is driven into the tent when any one enters or
leaves the same, lowers the temperature in the tent, and chills the occupants of
the same, whereas by my improved construction these objectionable features are
avoided.
By constructing the floor-cloth of the tent as shown, delay and inconvenience is
avoided in setting up and taking down the tent, and the whole can be rolled up into
one compact mass for transportation; and by making the centre pole of detachable
or telescoping sections, it can be taken apart and enclosed within the tent material,
when the latter is rolled up for transportation, thereby dispensing with the
necessity and inconvenience of carrying or securing poles before the tent can be
put up and occupied.
Travellers and soldiers have always experienced much difficulty and incon-
venience in carrying, or securing, the necessary tent poles, or the material from
which to construct such poles; and in some localities it is impossible to secure.
material to support a tent.
The manner of setting up and taking down my improved tent will be readily
understood from the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings, and the following explanation thereof.
The tent is first opened up and spread out upon the surface over which it is to be
erected, and the centre pole is inserted within the socket in the centre of the
Hoor-cloth after the pointed end thereof has been inserted into the opening in the
apex of the tent, and after the tent has been thus raised the guy-ropes are secured
to stakes or stones around the outside of the tent, to draw or extend the walls
thereof in the usual manner and the same is ready for occupancy. If a centre-pole
is not employed the tent may be set up by securing a rope, or other device between
two trees or boulders in an approximately horizontal plane about the height of the
tent, and then attaching the apex of the tent to such rope, so that the tent is
suspended from above, instead of supported from within as when a centre-pole is
employed. But this latter method of supporting the tent by means of a rope
will preferably only be employed in cases where a centre pole cannot readily be
obtained.
In Figs. 5 and 6 I have illustrated a slightly modified form of construction,
wherein a tent 30 is provided with ventilation openings or windows, preferably
formed in, or cut out of, the side and rear walls of the tent; the side openings
or windows 31, extend approximately across the entire width of the side walls and
occupying about one third of the length thereof, although I do not confine myself
to the form or size of these windows, as the same may be varied in practice to suit
the climatic conditions under which the tent is used.
These side openings or windows 31, are preferably provided, either exteriorly or
interiorly, with a covering of mosquito netting or other reticulated material, to
permit the egress and ingress of air but to obstruct or prevent the ingress of
insects and the like; and each of these openings or windows is preferably provided
with a closing flap or cover 32, connected with the walls of the tent above the
openings or windows, or otherwise secured in position.
These closing flaps or covers 32, may be rolled upon themselves and confined
above the openings or windows when not in use, and when it is desired to prevent
the egress or ingress of air these flaps or covers may be unrolled and confined over
the openings or windows, and also prevent the entrance of moisture.
I also preferably construct or form an opening or window 33, in the rear or back
wall of the tent and cover the same with reticulated material, and provide a closing
flap or cover therefor, (not shown) in the manner before described.

page_text: In the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the entire front of the tent is
preferably left open, except for the upturned edge of the floor-cloth, which is
employed to prevent the entrance of snakes or insects into the tent, and the walls 36,
of the tent are preferably provided with extensions or flaps 37, extending
approximately one half of the length of the open front of the tent, as shown in
Fig. 6, and when it is desired to close the tent these flaps are drawn together and
laced or otherwise secured, as shown in Fig. 6.
The front portion of the top or cover 38, of the tent is preferably provided with
a flap or extension 39, adapted to depend over and outside of the extensions 37,
when the tent is closed as shown in Fig. 6, to prevent the entrance of air or
moisture within the tent.
When it is desired the entire front of the tent may be opened out by projecting
the top extension 39 in a horizontal plane in front of the tent and attaching the free
corners thereof to guy-ropes 40, as shown in Fig. 5; and the side extensions 37,
may be projected in the same vertical plane as the side walls of the tent and the
free upper corners thereof may be secured to the said ropes 40 approximately at the
point of attachment of the corners of the extension 39, and the free lower corners
can be secured by pegs or stones. If desired poles may be employed to retain
said extensions 39 and 38 in the aforesaid extended position or any other preferred
means may be employed.
If desired, I may also employ a table 41, adapted to fit about the center pole 42,
preferably formed in hinged sections, adapted to fold upon each other when not
in use, and having legs or supports 43, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.
The remaining features of the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, are
substantially similar to those heretofore described and shown, and further
description thereof will be unnecessary.
I do not desire to confine myself to the construction, combination and arrange-
ment of parts herein shown and described, and I therefore reserve the right to make
all such changes in, and modifications of the same as come within the spirit and
scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1-A tent having a vestibule provided with a floor-cloth or bottom, consisting
of an extension of the bottom or floor-cloth of a tent.
2-A tent provided with an observation or ventilation and an entrance opening,
both provided with a closing flap or cover, a floored vestibule enclosing said
entrance opening, having an entrance opening provided with a closing flap or
cover.
3-A tent comprising in its construction a vestibule portière, a portière for
the tent proper leading from said vestibule and a ventilation portière upon the side
walls of the tent and in allignment with the vestibule and tent portières for
insuring thorough ventilation of the tent.
4-A tent provided with an observation or ventilation and an entrance opening,
both having a closing flap or cover, a vestibule enclosing said entrance opening,
and also provided with an entrance opening having a closing flap or cover and a
bottom or floor-cloth connected with said vestibule and constituting an extension
of the bottom, or floor cloth of the tent.
5-A tent provided with a vestibule having an entrance opening registering with
the entrance opening of the tent, closing flaps or covers for said opening and a
bottom or floor cloth connected with the vestibule and constituting an extension
of the tent.
6-A tent provided with an entrance and observation or ventilation opening, both
having a closing flap or cover, a hood or canopy secured above the ventilating
holes in the top of the tent, means for operating said hood or canopy to cover
or uncover said holes a vestibule enclosing the entrance opening of the tent and

page_text: having an entrance opening provided with a closing flap or cover and a floor-cloth
or bottom connected with the vestibule and constituting an extension of the
floor-cloth of the tent.
7-A tent provided with a flexible top and side walls made of the same material,
said top wall being colored opaque and said walls being translucent for the purpose
specified.
8A tent having ventilation openings near its apex contracting and lowering
cords passing therethrough and a hood or canopy constructed and arranged to
protect and expose said openings and be controlled by said cords.
Dated the 2nd day of Fishmua 1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.