Year: 1899

page_text: A communication to me from Dr. GEORG RUPPRECHT, of Reichenstein, in the
Empire of Germany, Chemist.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., Chartered Patent
Agents and Engineers, of 65 & 66. Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
This invention has for its object an improved circular tent, which can be very
easily carried about, as it can be folded together so as to occupy a very small space.
In order to effect the folding together, the tent is made in two parts, the bars
or ribs forming the frames of the tent turning upon the central axis of the latter
by means of separate joints at its top, so that the two halves of the frame can be
turned upon the centre until they all lie flat together, or can be opened out as
desired when the tent is to be used, each bar or rib of the frame being also jointed
at its centre so that the ribs can be folded together longitudinally.
The separate ribs are held in position at their lower ends by a connecting ring
round them.
To render easy the folding together of the frame of the tent, the ribs (which may
be suitably curved or shaped to give the required shape to the tent when they are
opened out) of each half of the frame are formed, at the centre where they meet.
with horizontal rings, which fit one above the other and are connected by a bolt
passing through them all so as to form a hinge. The hinges, or bolts, of the
two halves of the frame are connected together by plates above and below.
through which the two bolts pass, allowing the hinges to be arranged side by
side, the tent being very stable, and also when the two halves are folded to-
gether leaving a space between them which may be used to hold different parts
of the tent, ring pieces, door bars, and the like.
As already described, the ribs are hinged at or near the middle of their length,
so that they may be folded together longitudinally, and in order that, when in
their opened-out position they may be prevented from buckling or giving way,
the hinges are provided at their sides with bolis fitting into sockets in both parts
of the rib, the bolt being pushed up when necessary to allow the ribs to be
doubled up.
In order to give greater firmness and stability to the tent, rings are arranged
at the foot of the ribs, through which a larger ring is passed the ends of which
are fastened together.
To form an entrance to the tent, two of the outer ribs are connected together at
a suitable height by a cross bar. a door or curtain of the stuff forming the tent
being fastened to the bars by hooks and eyes.
In another modified form of arrangement, the tent is formed with a roof, which
is supported by upright bars or posts surrounded by the tent cloth. In this case,
the separate ribs for the roof are straight or slightly arched, and being of short

page_text: span do not require to be hinged at the middle of their length. The method of
construction in this case constitutes an umbrella-like as well as a tent-like
arrangement.
For the better utilization of the inner tent-space there may be formed upon
the lower part of the sides of the tent, pocket-like recesses of the material, which
form a kind of sleeping-hag in which persons lying in the tent are partly enclosed.
Dated this 2nd day of May 1899
A communication to me from Dr. GEORG RUPPRECHT, of Reichenstein, in the
Empire of Germany, Chemist.
I, EDчUSD Enwands, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., Chartered Patent
Agents and Engineers, of 65 & 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
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, and accompanying drawing, that is to say :--
This invention has for its object an improved tent, which can be very easily
carried about, as it can be folded together so as to occupy little space.
This folding together so as to reduce the space occupied is effected by making
the bars which form the frame of the tent so that they can be closed together round
the central axis of the latter by means of separate hinges or joints at the top.
Each hinge or joint is formed of two separate parts, and they are all connected
together by plates above and below.
In order that they may fold together, one half of the entire number of bars
or ribs are jointed together by a bolt passing through one end of the connecting
plates, the ribs fitting one above the other: and the remainder of the ribs are
similarly jointed togther by a bolt passing through the other end of the plates.
In this way the inner ends of the ribs are connected together in such a way
that the two sets can be folded together, and they may then be used to hold the
other two parts of the tent itself when being carried about.
In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the improved tent: -
Figure 1 is a vertical diametrical section.
Figure 2 is a plan.
-
Figure 3 is a somewhat modified farm, partly in longitudinal section, and
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, show separate parts.
In order to render possible the folding together of the frame of the tent, the
ribs which form the frame are so connected by a suitable hinge or joint, at
the centre where they meet, that they can be folded together round the axis of
the tent.
This hinge or joint consists of two separate joints e and d, which are con-
nected together by plates e, e (Figures 2, 4, and 5).
By this arrangement, when the frame is folded together, the ribs form two
separate groups, a space being formed between them which may be used to
receive the other parts of the tent.
By means of joints or hinges of the ordinary kind, the separate ribs may be
also folded together in the direction of their length. In order to prevent the ribs,

page_text: when so opened out, from buckling or giving way, these hinges are fitted at
their side with moveable bolts g (Figure 6) which before the frame is folded
together are pushed back.
is
To give the frame of the tent greater firmness and stability, a stay ring
passed through rings fixed to the foot of the ribs, one end of the stay ring
being made hollow and the other end being fitted into it, as shown in Figure 7.
In order to form an entrance to the tent, two of the outer ribs are connected
together at a suitable height by a cross-bar k, a door or curtain of the stuff
forming the tent being attached to the bar by hooks and eyes.
Figure 3 shows another modified form of arrangement, in which the tent is
formed with a roof, which is supported by bars or posts surrounded by the tent
cloth. In this case the separate bars or ribs a may be straight or slightly arched.
and being of short span do not require to be hinged at the middle of their length
so as to be folded up. The method of construction in this case forms an umbrella-
like as well as a tent-like arrangement.
For the better utilization of the inner tent space, there may be formed upon the
lower part of the sides of the tent, pocket-like recesses of the material, which
form a kind of sleeping bag in which the persons lying in the tents are partly
enclosed (see Figure 3).
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
A folding tent, the separate bars or ribs of which can be folded together round
the central axis of the tent, the joints c, d, of the separate bars or ribs a being
connected together by two plates c, so as to form two or more groups, which
when folded together one above the other, form a space to hold other parts of the
tent, substantially as described and ilustrated.
D
EDWARDS & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents and Engineers,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
EDWARDS & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents and Engineers,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.