Patent ID: 12241270

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1illustrates in perspective an embodiment of a deployable tent10in accordance with the present disclosure. InFIG.1, it is observed that the deployable tent10is in the deployed position.

The deployable tent10includes a frame12, better seen inFIG.3, as well as a tent fabric14, cooperating with the frame12.

In this exemplary embodiment, the frame12is disposed inside the tent fabric14. However, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, the tent fabric could be disposed inside the volume defined by the frame12.

Accordingly, the frame12, in this example, carries the tent fabric14. The deployable tent10includes a bottom wall19which, in this example, forms part of the tent fabric. Without departing from the scope of the present invention, the bottom wall can also belong to an optional internal chamber, separate from the tent fabric.

The frame12includes a first pole16and a second pole18, similar to the first pole16. The second pole18is disposed at a distance from the first pole16. As observed inFIG.3, in the deployed position, the first and second poles16,18extend substantially in two substantially vertical planes.

Referring now toFIG.2, the first pole16will be described more specifically.

In accordance with the disclosure, the first pole16comprises a first deformable elongate element20having a first end part20aand a second end part20b, opposite to the first end part20a.

The first pole16further comprises a second deformable elongate element22having a first end part22a, and a second end part22bopposite to the first end part.

In this example, the first pole16further includes a third deformable elongate element24including a first end part24aand a second end part24bopposite to the first end part24a.

The first pole16further includes a fourth deformable elongate element26including a first end part26aand a second end part26b.

As can be seen inFIGS.1and2, the first and second deformable elongate elements20,22of the first pole16cooperate with the tent fabric14.

Likewise, the third and fourth deformable elongate elements24,26of the first pole16cooperate with the tent fabric14.

In this example, the first, second, third and fourth deformable elongate elements20,22,24,26include rods made of fiberglass, aluminum or wood. It is observed that the first end parts20a,22aof the first and second deformable elongate elements20,22of the first pole16are disposed end to end, and define a first secondary tip25of the tent fabric when the frame is in the deployed position. Likewise, the first end parts24a,26aof the third and fourth deformable elongate elements24,26of the first pole are disposed end to end, and define a second secondary tip27of the tent fabric when the frame is in the deployed position.

In the deployed position, the first and second deformable elongate elements20,22, of the first pole16, are arranged to exert pressure against each other. To do so, in this example, the first end parts20a,22aof the first and second elongate elements20,22are disposed end to end and are connected together by a connection device30, which receives the first end parts of the first and second deformable elongate elements of the first pole.

In this example, the connection device30includes a sheath32which is fixed to the tent fabric by sewing. This sheath therefore receives the first end parts20a,22aof the first and second elongate elements.

It is also observed that the connection device30is arranged to allow an articulation between the first end parts20a,22bof the first and second deformable elongate elements20,22of the first pole16. As will be explained below, this articulation in particular facilitates the operations of deploying and folding the tent.

In the illustrated embodiment, the connection device further includes a flexible sleeve34, in this example, made of plastic material, which includes two receiving portions34a,34bfor receiving the end parts20a,22aof the first and second deformable elongate elements20,22. This flexible sleeve34is deformable, so as to form a flexible articulation, preferably of the ball joint type, between the first and second deformable elongate elements20,22. The flexible sleeve34also allows the first and second deformable elongate elements of the first pole16to exert a pressure against each other when the frame is in the deployed position.

As observed inFIG.2, the second and third deformable elongate elements22,24of the first pole16are disposed end to end and cooperate with the tent fabric14so as to define a main tip15of the tent fabric14of the deployable tent10. More specifically, the second end parts22b,24bof the second and third deformable elongate elements22,24, are disposed end to end and are held together by another connection device30, similar to the one that connects the first and second deformable elongate elements20,22. Likewise, first end parts24a,26aof the third and fourth deformable elongate elements24,26are disposed end to end and are held together by a connection device30.

Furthermore, the second end part20bof the first deformable elongate element20, as well as the second end part26bof the fourth deformable elongate element26, are engaged in pockets40fixed to the tent fabric14.

As observed inFIG.2, to improve the holding of the tent fabric14to the first pole16, the deployable tent10optionally includes loops42, fixed to the tent fabric14, and cooperating with each of the first, second, third, fourth deformable elongate elements20,22,24,26.

Referring toFIG.2, it is observed that the distance D1between the second end parts20b,22bof the first and second deformable elongate elements20,22of the first pole16is less than the sum of the lengths L1, L2of the first and second deformable elongate elements20b,22bof the first pole16.

In this example, the distance D1is taken between the end of the first deformable elongate element20, which is opposite to the second end part20bof said first deformable elongate element20, and the end of the second deformable elongate element22which is opposite to the first end part22aof said second deformable elongate element22.

In this example, in the deployed position, the first and second deformable elongate elements20,22of the first pole16are flexurally deformed. They are therefore in tension because of their flexural deformation.

The same applies for the third and fourth deformable elongate elements24,26.

In this example, in the deployed position of the frame, the distance D2between the second end parts24b,26bof the third and fourth deformable elongate elements24,26of the first pole16is less than the sum of the lengths L3, L4of the third and fourth deformable elongate elements24,26. The third and fourth deformable elongate elements24,26are, in the deployed position, flexurally deformed, their concavity being directed towards the outside of the deployable tent.

In this example, the second pole18also comprises a first deformable elongate element20′ having a first end part20′aand a second end part20′bopposite to the first end part20′a.

The second pole18further includes a second deformable elongate element22′ having a first end part22′a, and a second end part22′bopposite to the first end part.

The first and second deformable elongate elements20′,22′ of the second pole18cooperate with the tent fabric14.

The first end parts20′a,22′aof the first and second deformable elongate elements20′,22′ of the second pole18are disposed end to end and define a third secondary tip25′ of the tent when the frame is in the deployed position.

Like the first pole16, in the deployed position, the distance between the second end parts20′b,22′bof the first and second deformable elongate elements20′,22′ of the second pole18is less than the sum of the lengths L′1, L′2of the first and second deformable elongate elements20′,22′ of the second pole18.

As can be seen inFIG.3, the second pole18also includes third and fourth deformable elongate elements, similar to the third and fourth deformable elongate elements24,26of the first pole16. The third and fourth elongate elements are disposed end to end and define a fourth secondary tip27′ of the tent when the frame is in the deployed position. In this example, in the deployed position, the first, second, third and fourth deformable elongate elements of the second pole are also in tension due to their flexural deformation.

The second end parts of the second and third deformable elongate elements22′,24′ for their part define a second main tip15′ of the tent fabric of the deployable tent10.

The deployable tent10also includes connection devices for receiving the first end parts of the first and second deformable elongate elements20′,22′ of the second pole18. These connection devices, which allow connecting the second pole18to the tent fabric14are, in this example, identical to those which allow connecting the first pole16to the tent fabric14so that they will not be described in more detail.

As can be understood fromFIG.3, the first and second poles16,18are two elements separate from each other. Particularly, the frame12is devoid of connecting elements connecting together the first and second poles16,18. Particularly, the frame is devoid of a rod connecting together the first and second poles16,18.

Referring toFIG.1, it is observed that, in the deployed position, the tent fabric includes several tension areas.

The tent fabric14includes a first tension area Z1which cooperates with the first end parts20a,22aof the first and second deformable elongate elements20,22of the first pole16. This first tension area Z1constitutes a tension line which extends between a lower portion50of the tent fabric14and the first end parts20a,22aof the first and second deformable elongate elements20,22of the first pole16. This first lower portion50is, in this example, fixed to the ground by means of a fixing member52, in this case a peg, which is connected to the lower portion50by a loop54.

The tent fabric also includes a second tension area Z2which extends between a second lower portion56of the tent fabric which is connected to the ground, and the first end parts of the third and fourth deformable elongate elements of the first pole16.

The tent fabric also includes third and fourth tension lines Z3, Z4, similar to the first and second tension lines Z1, Z2, which extend between the first end parts of the first, second, third and fourth deformable elongate elements of the second pole18, and third and fourth lower portions58,60of the tent fabric, which are also connected to the ground.

The first, second, third and fourth lower portions of the tent fabric14are located at the four corners of the lower perimeter of the tent fabric.

Moreover, as observed inFIG.1, the tent fabric further includes a fifth tension area forming a tension line Z5which extends between the first end parts20a,22a, of the first and second deformable elongate elements20,22of the first pole16, and the first end parts20′a,22′aof the first and second deformable elongate elements20′,22′ of the second pole18. In other words, the fifth tension line extends between the first and third secondary tips25,25′.

Symmetrically, the tent fabric further includes a sixth tension area, forming a tension line Z6which extends between the first end parts of the third and fourth deformable elongate elements24,26of the first pole, and the first end parts of the third and fourth deformable elongate elements of the second pole18. In other words, the sixth tension line extends between the second and fourth secondary tips27,27′.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the tension areas Z1, Z5and Z3are disposed in the continuity of each other between the first lower portion50and the third lower portion58of the tent fabric. Likewise, the tension areas Z2, Z6and Z4are disposed in the continuity of each other between the second lower portion56and the fourth lower portion58of the tent fabric. This configuration allows improving the holding of the first, second, third and fourth secondary tips25,27,25′,27′.

Referring again toFIG.1, it is observed that the deployable tent10further includes a first connecting element70which is fixed to the tent fabric14, in the vicinity of the first end parts20a,22aof the first and second deformable elongate elements20,22of the first pole16. In this example, the first connecting element is composed of a cord. There is also provided a fixing member72, in this case a peg, which is connected to the first connecting element70so as to tension said connecting element70.

The deployable tent10further includes a second connecting element74which is connected to the tent fabric14, in the vicinity of the first end parts20′a,22′aof the first and second deformable elongate elements20′,22′ of the second pole18.

In this example, the second connecting element is also composed of a cord.

The second connecting element is connected to the fixing member72, so as to tension the second connecting element.

In this example, the first and second connecting elements70,74form a single piece and are composed of a cord.

The deployable tent10includes, in this example, third and fourth connecting elements (not illustrated here), identical to the first and second connecting elements, and which are connected, respectively, in the vicinity of the first end parts of the third and fourth deformable elongate elements of the first pole, on the one hand, and in the vicinity of the first end parts of the third and fourth deformable elongate elements of the second pole, on the other hand.

In this example, the first, second, third and fourth deformable elongate elements of the first and second poles16,18, are composed of rods having substantially the same length.

FIG.4illustrates the deployable tent10, in the folded position. As observed, the first, second, third, fourth deformable elongate elements of the first and second poles are substantially parallel and are disposed side by side, while being surrounded by the tent fabric14, so that the length of the deployable tent, in the folded position, is substantially equal to, or slightly greater than, the length of the deformable elongate elements. Accordingly, when folded, the tent10has a very compact configuration and is easily transportable.

The deployment of the deployable tent10described above will now described usingFIGS.5to10.

FIG.5illustrates the shape of the deployable tent, after having unfolded the tent fabric14, so that the bottom wall19extends flat on the ground S. In this initial configuration, it is understood that the frame is folded, the poles16,18resting on the ground.

In this exemplary mode of implementation, the first, second, third and fourth lower portions50,56,58,60of the tent fabric are first fixed to the ground. The tent fabric is therefore fixed to the ground, so that its lower part has a substantially rectangular shape. The user then deploys the frame by pulling the first end parts of the deformable elongate elements towards him. In this example, illustrated inFIGS.6and7, the user pulls on the first and second connecting elements70,74. This pulling movement has the effect of flexurally deforming the deformable elongate elements so that their concavity is turned towards the outside of the tent, as illustrated.

In the pulling movement exerted by the user, the first and second deformable elongate elements in this example switch from an undeformed state, that is to say they are substantially rectilinear, to a flexural deformed state, illustrated inFIGS.8and9, in which their concavity is directed towards the outside of the tent.

As can be understood withFIG.9, during the switching from the undeformed state (folded frame) to the deformed state (deployed frame), the first and second elongate elements flexurally deform so that their flexural deformation increases until the first end parts of the first and second elongate elements cross a geometric line X connecting the second end parts of the first and second elongate elements, after which their flexural deformation decreases until the first end parts have reach a final deployed position, in which they are retained by the tent fabric. It is therefore understood that the flexural deformation of the first and second deformable elongate elements20,22of the first pole16increases then decreases during the switching from the folded position to the deployed position.

Likewise, the flexural deformation of the first and second deformable longitudinal elements20,22of the first pole18increases and then decreases, during the switching from the deployed position to the folded position. This means that, in the deployed position, the first and second deformable elongate elements cannot return to their initial state, insofar as, to do so, it is necessary to further flexurally deform the first and second deformable elongate elements so that they can cross the aforementioned geometric line X, which requires the intervention of the user.

It is therefore understood that the frame is held in its deployed position by the tent fabric14which holds the elongate elements in tension, which provides rigidity to the poles. At the same time, the tension lines contribute to improving the holding in position of the poles. Also, the frame has a stable position, as a result of which the deployable tent, in the deployed position, also has a stable position.

As explained above, the frame allows easy deployment while being compact in the folded position.

FIG.11illustrates one variant in which the deployable tent further includes a reinforcing element80.

The reinforcing element80includes a first part82connected to the first main tip15, a second part84connected to the first secondary tip25and a third part86connected to the second secondary tip27. In this example, the first, second and third parts constitute a single element forming a triangular panel. This panel is for example a flexible textile panel.

The triangular panel has two sides80a,80bfixed to the tent fabric, for example by sewing, and a third side80c, which may be arcuate or straight.

As understood inFIG.11, the panel extends in a substantially vertical plane.

The tent can include several reinforcing elements of the same type.

The reinforcing element has the effect of maintaining the distance between the first and second secondary tips in the deployed position, which allows reducing the risk of sagging of the tent under its weight when it is deployed.