US3010463A - Tents - Google Patents

Description

E. E.v WADE Nov. 28, I961 TENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fileci Dec. 26, I958 ELMAN E. 11206 BY A TTORNE) E. E. WADE Nqv. 28, I961 TENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed. Dec. 26, 1958 INVENTOR. ELM/M! M4405 BY A TTOR/VEY United States Patent Ofihce 3,010,463 Patented Nov. 28, 1961 3,010,463 TENTS Elman E. Wade, St. Louis, Mo. (7070 Raymond, University City 30, Mo.) Filed Dec. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 783,031 11 Claims. (Cl. 135-1) This invention relates to improvements in tents. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in tents which can be erected and supported without the use of pegs or ropes.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved tent that can be erected and supported without the use of pegs or ropes.

In the erecting and supporting of a number of tents, it is necessary to use pegs and ropes. The use of pegs can be difficult and unsatisfactory where the ground is hard or rocky; and the use of pegs requires the camper to have a hatchet or some other tool to drive the pegs down into the ground. The use of ropes customarily requires a camping area larger than the tent, and the ropes frequently get in the way. As a result, the use of pegs and ropes in erecting and supporting tents is objectionable. The present invention obviates this objection by providing a tent which can be erected and supported without any need of pegs or ropes.

In the erecting of some tents, it is necessary for the camper to get inside the tent and so some of the erecting while inside the tent. This can be difficult and confusing; and hence tents that require the camper to get inside, and to do some of the erecting while inside, are objectionable. The present invention obviates this objection by providing a tent which can be erected without any need of getting inside the tent.

It sometimes happens that after a tent has been set up at a camp site, it becomes desirable or necessary to move the tent. With most tents, this means striking the tent, carrying it to the new site, and then reerecting it. With the tent provided by the present invention, however, it is not necessary to strike and then re-erect the tent; in-

stead, that tent can be lifted bodily and moved to the new site.

In the erecting of most tents it is usually necessary, after the tent poles have been raised, to make tensioning adjustments in the fabric which constitutes the walls of the tent. These adjustments are time-consuming, and they frequently lead to unequal tensioning of the fabric in the walls of the tent. The present invention obviates the need of such adjustments by providing a tent which can have the side walls thereof tensioned before it is erected. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a tent that can have the side walls thereof tensioned before it is erected.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description two preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and described, but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tent that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention as that tent appears when it is rolled up for transporting or storing,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tent of FIG. 1 as that tent appears after it has been erected and one of its flaps has been partly opened,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of the right-hand rear corner of the tent of FIG. 2, as that righthand rear corner is viewed from the rear,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, on the enlarged scaleof FIG. 3, of the left-hand rear corner of the tent of FIG. 2, and it shows part of the side wall of that tent being raised during the telescoping of one of the tent poles through the opening at that corner of that tent,

FIG. 5 is a partially-sectioned, perspective view, on the enlarged scale of FIG. 3, showing the engagement between two of the tent poles and the apex at the top rear of the tent,

FIG. 6 is a partially-broken, partially-sectioned, elevational view, on a still larger scale, of one of the tent poles used with the tent of the present invention,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, on the enlarged scale of FIG. 3, of theleft-hand corner of a modified form of tent that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

FIG. 8 is a partially-broken, perspective view, on the enlarged scale of FIG. 3, of the top rear portion of the modified form of tent of FIG. 7,

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of one of the clips, on the scale of FIG. 6, that secures the side walls of the tent to the tent poles, and

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the clip of FIG. 9.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 10 generally denotes one form of tent that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention. That tent is shown in the form of a prism with a triangular cross section. That tent is made of a suitable water-proof fabric, and it has a generally rectangular eft-hand side wall 12, a generally rectangular right-hand side wall 14, and a generally triangular rear wall 16. The front wall of the tent 10 is also generally triangular, but it is slit to form a left-hand flap 18 and a right-hand flap 20. The two side walls 12 and 14 are preferably formed from two or more pieces of fabric; and the rear wall 16 and the front wall are preferably suitably sewn or otherwise made integral with the side walls 12 and 14.

The numeral 22 denotes the floor of the tent 10, and that floor is generally rectangular in configuration. That floor is provided with an upstanding flange 24; and portions of that flange are stitched or otherwise secured to the lower edges of side walls 12 and 14 and to the lower edge of rear wall 16. The stitches that secure the flange 24 to the lower edges of the side walls 12 and 14 of the tent 10 are not continuous; instead those stitches secure just the lower corners and the greatest portions of the centers of the bottom edges of the side walls 12 and 14 to the flange 24, while leaving portions of those bottom edges free from that flange. The resulting openings, between the side walls 12 and 14 and the floor 22, are so closely adjacent the ends of the side walls 12 and 14 that they can be considered as being at the corners of the tent. Moreover, if desired, those openings can actually be disposed at those corners, as by not stitching the lower edges of the ends of the front, rear and side walls of the tent to the flange 24; the stitching being spaced short distances from each of those ends. The openings normally will be closed, but they can be spread open as shown particularly by FIG. 4.

The numeral 26 denotes a reinforcement, preferably of heavy fabric or of a tough material such as leather or plastic; and that reinforcement is secured inside the front portion of the tent at the top of that tent. That reinforcement has the shape of a hollow trihedron; A similar reinforcement 28 is secured inside the tent at the top rear of that tent. These reinforcements can be suitably secured to the side walls, to the front wall, and to the rear wall of the tent 10 by cement, stitching, or the like.

jacent the corners of the tent 10.

The numeral 32 generally denotes a clip which is shown particularly by FIGS. 9 and 10. That clip has a generally fiat portion with an opening 34 through it; and that opening is larger than the diameter of the tent pole used with the tent 10. An incomplete loop 36 is provided for the clip 32; and the free end of that loop is spaced far enough from the flat portion ofthat clip to permit the mid-portion of one of the strips 33 to be slipped between thatflat portion and that free end of that loop. Before the tent is shipped from the factory, a clip 32 will be assembled with each of the strips 30.

The numeral '38 generally denotes a tent pole that is used with the tent 10 provided by the present invention. That tent pole will preferably be made in sections; and, in the particular embodiment shown, that pole is made in two sections which have complementary ends that can telescope together. Specifically, the lower section 50 of that ten-t pole has substantially the same inner diameter throughout the length thereof, whereas the upper portion 46 has a reduced diameter lower end 48 which can telescope within the upper end of the lower section 58. The engagement between the reduced diameter lower end 48 and the interior of the upper end of the lower portion 54 is such that the two sections of the tent pole are readily assembled and disassembled. Further, that engagement is such that little or no wobbling of the two sections of the tent pole is experienced As shown particularly by FIG. 2, the'pole'38 extends downwardly and rearwardly from the reinforcement 26 at the top front of the tent 10, and it extends through the clip 32 at the left-hand rear corner of that tent. The pole 38 is disposed within the tent, and it will underlie the left-hand side wall 12 of that tent; and it will pass beneath the lower rear corner of the side wall 12, pass above the left-hand rear portion of the flange 24 of floor 22, and then pass through the adjacent clip 32 As shown particularly by FIG. 2, the tent poles 40 and 42 extend forwardly and downwardly from the reinforcement 28 at the top rear of the tent 10. The tent pole 40 underlies'the left-hand side wall 12, and the tent pole '42 underlies the right-hand side wall 14. The tent pole 40 passes through the opening at the front left-hand corner of the tent and through the clip 32 at that corner, while the tent pole 42 extends through the opening at the right-hand front corner of the ten-t and through the clip:32 at that corner. The tent pole 44 extends rear wardly and downwardly from the reinforcement 26 at the top front of the tent 10, and that pole extends through the opening at the right-hand rear corner of the tent 1t andthrough the clip 32 at that corner. Tent pole 42 underlies tent pole 44.

In assembling the tent poles 38 and 40* with the tent 10, that tent is unrolled and laid on the ground with the side wall '14 facing down and with the side wall 12 facing up. The upper end of the tent pole 38 is passed through the opening 34 in the clip 32 adjacent the rear portion of the side wall 12, and then that upper end is passed through the opening between the left-hand rear portion of the upstanding flange 24 and the lower rear portion of the side wall 12. The clip 32 will be held so the plane of its fiat portion is at right angles to the axis of the tent pole 38, to facilitate ready telescoping of that tent pole through the opening 34; and then that tent pole will be moved relative to the clip 32"until the upper end of that tent pole engages and is held b the reinforcement 26. Thereupon, the clip 32 will be moved as close to the lower end of the tent pole 38 as can be done without exerting undue force on the side wall 12 and on the strip 30 holding that clip. Thereafter, the upper end of the tent pole 40 will be telescoped through the opening 34 in the clip 32 adjacent the front portion of the side wall 12, and will then be inserted through the opening at the left-hand front corner of the tent. The clip 32 will be held at right angles to the axis of the tent pole 46, to facilitate ready telescoping of that pole relative to that clip; and that 'tent pole will be moved relative to that clip until its upper end engages and is held by the reinforcement 28 at the top rear of the tent. Thereupon, the clip 32 will be moved as close to the lower end of the tent pole 40 as can be done without applying undue forces to the side wall 12 and to the strip 30 holding that clip. The pole 40 will underlie the pole 38, but it will bear against that pole. The two clips 32 will hold the upper ends of the poles 38 and 40 solidly Within the reinforcements 26 and 28, and will thereby enable those poles to tension the side wall 12 of the tent and to keep it taut. The poles will define an X-like frame which tensions the top, the bottom and the two ends of the side wall 12. I

Once this has been done, the tent 10 will be raised up and then laid with the side Wall 12 facing down and with the side wall 14 facing up. Thereupon the tent pole 42. will have its upper end passed through the clip 32 at the front edge of the side wall 14, and then through the opening at that corner of that side wall. That tent pole will then be moved relative to that clip and that corner until the upper end thereof is engaged and held by the reinforcement 28 at the top rear of the tent. At this time the clip 32 will be moved as fardown toward the bottom of the tent pole 42 as can be done without exposing the side wall 14 and the strip 39 holding that clip to undue stresses. The tent pole 44 will then have its upper end passed through the opening 34 of the clip 32 at the rear portion of the side wall 14, and through the opening at that corner of that side wall. That tent pole will then be moved relative to that clip and to that corner until its upper end engages and is held by the reinforce ,ment 26 at the front top of the tent. Thereupon the clip 32 is moved as close to the bottom of the tent pole 44 as'can be done without exposing the side wall 14 and the strip 30'for that clip to undue stresses. The two clips 32 at the lower ends of the tent poles 42 and 44 will hold the side wall 14 taut. Those two tent poles define an X-like frame which holds the ends and the bottom of the side wall 14 taut and also helps hold the top of that side wall taut.

The tent 10 can then be picked up by applying lifting forces to the reinforced ends of the top of that tent; and it can be erected by setting the lower ends of the tent poles 38 and 49 on the ground, and pullingthe lower ends of the tent poles 42 and 44 away from the tent poles 38 and 46 until the floor 22 islargely flat and smooth. While it is not necessary to press the lower ends of the tent poles 33, 40, 42 and 44 down into the ground, this can be done where the tent is to be placed in unusually exposed areas. Ordinarily, the tent will sustain itself in position without any need of the lower ends of the tent poles being pressed down into the ground.

If, after the tent 10 has been erected, it becomes desirable to move that tent it is only necessary to apply upward forces to the reinforced ends of the top of the tent; and thereupon the lower ends of the tent poles 38, 40, 42 and 44 will rise up off the ground and the tent can be carried bodily to the new site. The two, tensioned side walls 12 and 14 of the tent may tend to move toward each other as the tent is being carried, out it is a simple matter to move those side walls apart; as by setting the lower ends of the tent poles 38 and 40 on the ground and then moving the lower ends of the tent poles 44 and 42 away from the lower ends of the tent poles 38 and 40.

In erecting the tent 10, it was not necessary at any time to get inside that tent. Further, in erecting that tent, it was not necessary to use pegs or ropes. Moreover, in the erection of that tent, the side walls 12 and 14 were tensioned before that tent was actually erected; and those walls will remain tensioned even where the tent has to be picked up and moved.

To strike the tent, it is only necessary to lay it on the ground with one or the other of the side walls 12 or 14 up, to rotate the clips 32 so they are at right angles to the axes of the tent poles underlying that side wall, and then to withdraw those tent poles. The tent can then be laid with the other tensi-oned side up, and then the poles underlying that side wall can be withdrawn. The tent poles can be separated into their sections and placed atop one of the side walls 12 or 14 of the tent, and then the tent can be rolled up to assume the form shown in FIG. 1. Short pieces of cord 52 and 54 can then be used to tie the tent and keep it from rolling out while it is being stored or transported.

Referring to FlGS. 7 and 8, a modified form of tent is shown; and that tent is generally denoted by the numeral 56. That tent has side walls 58 and 60 which are comparable to the side walls 12 and 14 of the tent 10. Also, the tent 56 has a rear wall 62 which is comparable to the rear wall 16 of the tent 10. While they are not shown in the drawing, left-hand and right-hand flaps will be provided in the front wall of the tent 56. A floor 64 is provided for the tent 56, and an upstanding fiange 66 is provided for that floor. The floor 64 and the flange 66 are very similar to the floor 22 and to the fiange 24 of the tent but the flange 66 will be sewn all the way along the lower edges of the side walls 58 and 60 of the tent 56, and all the way along the lower edge of the rear wall 62 of that tent. As a result, there will not be the open corners in the tent 56 that are provided in the tent 10.

Reinforcements 68, in the form of hollow tn'hedrons, are provided at the front and rear ends of the top of the tent 56. While those reinforcements have the same general configuration as the reinforcements 26 and 28 for the tent 10, they are located on the outside rather than on the inside of the tent 56. The trihedrons 68 are secured to the side walls 53 and 69 of the tent 56 in such a way that the central portion of each of the large sides of those reinforcements is free and can be moved outwardly a short distance from the outer surface of the adjacent side wall 58 or 60, as shown particularly by FIG. 8.

The numeral 7!) denotes strips of strong material which are comparable to the strips 30. Those strips are suitably secured to the lower corners of the side walls 58 and 6t and those strips perform the same functions that are performed by the strips 30 of the tent 10.

A short strip 72 is secured to eacn of the side walls 58 and so of the tent '56 adjacent the lower corners of those side walls. Those strips are secured to those side walls in such a Way that the centers of those strips can be moved away from those side walls, as shown particularly by KG. 7.

in erecting the tent 56, the upper ends of the tent poles 74, '76, 78 and the fourth tent pole, not shown, are passed through the clips 32 secured to the strips 7 0 and are then passed under the center-portions of the strips 72. The upper ends of those tent poles are then moved until they can be inserted under the raised central portions of the large sides of the reinforcements 68. Thereafter, the clips 32 are moved as far down toward the bottoms of those tent poles as can be done conveniently without unduly stressing'the side walls 58 and 60 or the strips 70. The strips 72 will coact with the strips 70 to hold the side walls 58 and 69 of the tent tightly against the inner faces of the four tent poles along thelengths of those poles.

The principal difference between the tents 10 and 56 is that the tent poles are at the inner surfaces of the side walls 12 and 14 of the tent 10, whereas the tent poles are at the outer surfaces of the side walls 58 and 60 of the tent 56. The positioning of the tent poles at the outer faces of the side walls of the tent leaves a little more room inside the tent, but the appearance of the tent 56 is not as attractive as is that of the tent 10.

If desired, the tent 10 or 56 could be provided with reinforcements at the four corners of the floor 22 or 64, respectively; and those reinforcements would have the form of trihedrons. Tent poles, which have small diameter sections that readily telescope within large diameter sections and which have internal springs to urge those Sections apart, could then be placed with their upper ends engaging and held by the reinforcements at the top front and rear of the tent and with their lower ends engaging and held by the reinforcements at the four corners of the floor. The springs within those tent poles would tension the side walls of the tent, and thereby perform the job that is performed by the clips 32 of the tents 10 and 56.

-Such spring-equipped, telescoping tent poles would work very well, but they would be a little more difficuflt to assemble with the tent, particularly where those tent poles were used to underlie the side walls of the tent.

The tents 10 and 56 can be made in different sizes. They can be made small enough to serve as toys for children, they can be made large enough to serve as tents for large men, and they can be made in several different intermediate sizes. Where desired, the strips 30 and 70 and the clips "32 can be replaced by strings or ties; and those strings and ties can be passed through openings in, or through eyes adjacent, the lower ends of the tent poles and pulled tight. Those strings or ties will then hold the side walls of the tent taut in the same way in which the strips 30 and 70 and the clips 32 hold these side walls taut. Also, if desired, pins or hools can be suitably secured to the four .corners of the tent. and can be set in openings spaced along the lengths of the lower ends of the tent poles. Further, if desired, one-piece tent poles could be used, or three-piece tent poles could be used. Moreover, if desired, the side walls of the tents could be made trapezoidal rather than rectangular in configuration.

Usually the tent will be made with a rear wall and with a floor, but neither a rear wall nor a floor is essential. Where a rear wall is provided but a floor is not provided, the tent poles that extend forwardly and downwardly from the top rear of the tent should be set inside of the tent poles that extend rearwardly and downwardly from the top front of the tent. where this is done, the rear wall of the tent will hold the lower ends of the outermost tent poles against spreading apart, and those outermost tent poles will hold the innermost tent poles against spreading apart. In this way, the rear wall of the tent can keep the sides of the tent from spreading apart. Where neither a rear wall nor a floor is provided for the tent, the lower ends of the tent poles can be pressed into the ground to keep the sides of the tent from spreading apart.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown and described two preferred embodiments of the present invention it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

l; A tent that can be folded'into a compact space and that can be erected to occupy a much larger space and that comprises a side wall, a tent pole that extends diagonally of said side wall and that is releasably securable to said side wall, a second tent pole that extends diagonally of said side wall and that is releasably securable to said side wall, said tent poles crossing each other to assume a generally X-shaped configuration but being free to move laterally and longitudinally of each other, said tent able to said second side wall, a fourth tent pole that extends diagonally of said second side wall and that is releasably securable to said second side wall, said third and fourth tent poles crossing each other to assume a second generally X-shaped configuration but being free to move laterally and longitudinally of each other, said third and 'fourth tent poles tensioning said second side wall and thereby maintaining the ends and the bottom and the top of said side wall taut, a floor, extending between the lower edges of said side walls, said side walls and said floor coacting to define and bound a chamber of generally triangular configuration, reinforcements that have the configuration of hollow trihedrons and that are secured to the top front and rear of said tent, strips that are secured to the lower corners of said tent, and clips that are secured to said strips intermediate the ends of said strips, said reinforcements receiving and holding the upper ends of said tent poles and said clips receiving and holding the lower ends of said tent poles, said clips having openings therethrough that are larger than the diameters of said tent poles but that can cla'mp said tent poles when said clips are til-ted relative to the axes of said tent poles, sm'd reinforcements being inside said tent and said strips and said clips being outside said tent and the lower corners of 'said tent having openings that can accommodate said tent poles, whereby said tent poles underlie said side walls of said tent and bear against the interior of said tent adjacent the top of said tent and also project outwardly beyond said sidewalls of said tent adjacent the bottoms of said side walls to facilitate the adjustment of said clips on said lower ends of said tent poles.

2. A tent that can be folded into a compact space and that can be erected to occupy a much larger space and that comprises a side wall, a tent pole that extends diagonally of said side wall and that is releasably securable to said side wall, a second tent pole that extends diagonally of said side wall andthatis releasably securable to said side wall, said tent poles crossing each other to assume a generally X-shaped configuration but being free to move laterally and longitudinally of each other, said tent poles tensioning said side wall and thereby maintaining the ends and the bottom and the top of said side wall taut, a second side wall, the tops of said side walls being coni tiguous and the bottoms of said side walls being adapted to be spaced apart, a third tent pole that extends diagonally of said second side wall and that is releasably securable to said second side wall, a fourth tent pole that extends diagonally of said second side wall and that is releasably securable to said second side wall, said third and fourth tent poles crossing each other 'to assume a second generally X-shaped configuration but being free to move laterally and longitudinally of each other, said third and fourth tent poles tensioning said second side wall and thereby maintaining the ends and the bottom and the top of said side wall taut, a floor extending between the lower edges of said side walls, said side walls and said floor coacting to define and bound a chamber of generally triangular configuration, reinforcements that have the configuration of hollow trihedrons and that are secured to the top front and rear of said tent, strips that are secured to the lower corners of said side walls of said tent, and clips that are secured to said strips, said reinforcements receiving and holding the upper ends of said tent poles and said clips receivingand holding the lower ends of said tent poles, said clips having openings therethrough that are larger than the diameters of said tent poles but that can clamp said tent poles when said clips are tilted relative to the axes of said tent poles.

3. A tent that can be folded into a compact space and that can be erected to occupy a much larger space and thatcomprises a side wall, a tent pole that extends diagonally of said side wall and that is releasably securable to said side wall, a second tent pole' that extends diagonally of said side wall and that is releasably securable to said side Wall, said tent poles crossing each other to assume a generally X-shaped configuration but being free to move laterally and longitudinally of each other, said tent poles tensioning said side wall and thereby maintaining the ends and the bottom and the top of said side wall taut and the tension in said side wall holding said tent poles against movement relative to each other in the plane of said side wall, said tent poles and said side wall coacting to constitute a structural supporting member, a second side wall, the tops of said side walls being contiguous and the bottoms of said side walls being adapted to be spaced apart, a third tent pole that extends diagonally of said second side wall and that is releasably securable to said second side wall, a fourth tent pole that extends diagonally of said second side wall and that is releasably securable to said second side wall, said third and fourth tent poles crossing each other to assume a second generally X-shaped configuration but being free to move laterally and longitudinally of each other, said third and fourth tent poles tensioning said second side wall and thereby maintaining the ends and the bottom and the top of said side wall taut and the tension in said second side wall holding said third and fourth tent poles fixed against movement relative to each other in the plane of said second side wall, said third and fourth tent poles and said second side wall coacting to'constitute a second structural supporting member, a floor extending between said side walls, said side walls and said floor coacting to define and bound a chamber, reinforcements that are secured to the top front and rear of said tent, and clips that are secured to the four corners of the tent, said reinforcements receiving and holding the upper ends of said tent poles and said clips receiving and holding the lower ends of said tent poles and being adjustable relative to said tent poles to enable said tent poles to tension said side walls even though the dimensions and shapes of said side walls change due. to stretching or shrinking, said reinforcements being inside said tent and the corners of said tent having openings that can accommodate said tent poles, whereby said tent poles underlie said side walls of said tent and bear against the interior of said tent adjacent the top of said tent and also project outwardly beyond said side walls of said tent adjacent the bottoms of said side walls to facilitate the adjustment of said clips on said lower ends of said tent poles.

4. A tent that can be folded into a compact space and that can be erected to occupy a much larger space and that comprises a side wall, a tent pole that extends diagonally of said side wall and that isreleasably securable to said side Wall, a second tent pole that extends diagonally of said side wall and that is releasably securable to said side wall, said tent poles crossing each other to assume a generally X-shaped configuration but being free to move laterally and longitudinally of each other, said tent poles tensioning said side wall and thereby maintaining the ends and the bottom and the top of said side wall taut and the tension in said side wall holding said tent poles against movement relative to each other in the plane of said side wall, said tent poles and said side wall coacting to constitute a structural supporting memher, a second side Wall, the tops of said side walls being contiguous and the bottoms of said side walls being adapted to be spaced apart, a third tent pole that extends diagonally of said second side wall and that is releasably securable to said second side wall, a fourth tent pole that extends diagonally of said second side wall and that is releasably securable to said second side wall, said third and fourth tent poles crossing each other to assume a second generally X-shaped configuration but being free to move laterally and longitudinally of each other, said third and fourth tent poles tensioning said second side wall and thereby maintaining the ends and the bottom and the top of said side wall taut and the tension in said second side wall holding said third and fourth tent poles fixed against movement relative to each other in the plane of said second side wall, said third and fourth tent poles and said second side wall coacting to constitute a second structural supporting member, a floor extending between said side walls, said side walls and said floor coacting to define and bound a chamber, reinforcements that are secured to the top front and rear of said tent, and clips that are secured to the four corners of the tent, said reinforcernents receiving and holding the upper ends of said tent poles and said clips receiving and holding the lower ends of said tent poles and being adjustable relative to said tent poles to enable said tent poles to tension said side Walls even though the dimensions and shapes of said side walls change due to stretching or shrinking.

A tent that can be folded into a compact space and that can be erected to occupy a much larger space and that comprises a side Wall, a tent pole that extends diagonally of said side wall and that is releasably and adjustably securable to said side wall to provide a diagonally-directed tension in said side wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said side wall due to stretching or shrinking, a second tent pole that extends diagonally of said side wall and that is releasably and adjustably securable to said side wall to provide a diagonally-directed tension in said side wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said side wall due to stretching or shrinking, said tent poles crossing each other to assume a generally X-shaped configuration but being free to move laterally and longitudinally of each other, said tent poles tensioning said side wall and thereby maintaining the ends and the bottom and the top of said side wall taut and the tension in said wall holding said tent poles against movement relative to each other in the plane of said side wall, said tent poles and said side wall coacting to constitute a structural supporting memher, a second side wall, a third tent pole that extends diagonally of said second side wall and that is releasably and adjustably securable to said second side wall to provide a diagonally-directed tension in said second side wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said second side wall due to stretching or shrinking, a fourth tent pole that extends diagonally of said second side wall and that is releasably and adjustably securable to said second side wall to provide a diagonally-directed tension in said second side wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said second side wall due to stretching or shrinking, said third and fourth tent poles crossing each other to assume a second generally X-shaped configuration but being free to move laterally and longitudinally of each other, said third and fourth tent poles tensioning said second side wall and thereby maintaining the ends and the bottom and the top of said side wall taut and the tension in said second side wall holding said third and fourth tent poles fixed against movement relative to each other in the plane of said second side wall, said third and fourth tent poles and said second side wall coacting to constitute a second structural supporting member, and a floor extending between said side walls, said side walls and said floor coacting to define a chamber.

6. A tent that comprises a side wall, a tent pole that is releasably and adjustably securable to said side wall to provide a diagonally-directed tension in said side wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said side wall due to stretching or shrinking, a second tent pole that is releasably and adjustably securable to said side Wall to provide a diagonally-directed tension in said side wall despite changes inthe shape and dimensions of said side wall due to stretching or shrinking, said tent poles crossing each other to assume a generally X-shaped configuration but being free to move laterally and longitudinally of each other, said tent poles tensioning said side Wall to provide diagonally-directed tensions in said side wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said side wall due to stretching or shrinking, a second side wall, a third tent pole that is releasably and adjustably securable to said second side wall to provide a diagonallydirected tension in said second side wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said second side wall due to stretching or shrinking, a fourth tent pole that is releasably and adjustably securable to said second side wall to provide a diagonally-directed tension in said second side wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said second side Wall due to stretching or shrinking, said third and fourth tent poles crossing each other to assume a second generally X-shaped configuration but being free to move laterally and longitudinally of each other, said third and fourth tent poles tensioning said second side wall to provide diagonally-directed tensions in said second side wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said second side wall due to stretching or shrinking and a floor extending between said side walls, said side walls and said floor coacting to define a chamber.

7. A tent that comprises a side wall, a tent pole that extends diagonally of said side wall, a second tent pole that extends diagonally of said side wall, said tent poles crossing each other to assume a generally X-shaped configuration but being free to move laterally and longitudinally of each other, said tent poles tensioning said side wall to provide diagonally-directed tensions in said side Wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said side wall due to stretching or shrinking, a second side wall, a third tent pole that extends diagonally of said second side wall, a fourth tent pole that extends diagonally of said second side wall, said third and fourth tent poles crossing each other to assume a second generally X- shaped configuration but being free to move laterally and longitudinally of each other, said third and fourth tent poles tensioning said second side wall to provide diagonally-directed tensions in said second side wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said second side wall due to stretching or shrinking, and a fioor extending between said side Walls, said side walls and said floor coacting to define a chamber.

8. A tent that comprises a side wall, a tent pole, a second tent pole, said tent poles crossing each other to assume a generally X-shaped configuration but being free to move laterally and longitudinally of each other, said tent poles tensioning said side wall to provide diagonallydirected tensions in said side wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said side wall due to stretching or shrinking, a second side wall, a third tent pole, and a fourth tent pole, said third and fourth tent poles crossing each other to assume a second generally X-shaped configuration but being free to move laterally and longitudinally of each other, said third and fourth tent poles tensioning said second side wall to provide diagonally directed tensions in said second side wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said second side wall due to stretching or shrinking, said side walls bounding a chamber.

9. A tent that can be folded into a compact space and that can be erected to occupy a much larger space and that comprises a side wall, a tent pole that extends diagonally of said side wall and that is releasably and adjustably securable to said side wall to provide a diagonallydireoted tension in said side wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said side wall due to stretching or shrinking, a second tent pole that extends diagonally of said side wall and that is releasably and adjustably securable to said side Wall to provide a diagonallydirected tension in said side Wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said side wall due to stretching or shrinking, a second side wall, the tops of said side walls being contiguous and the bottoms of said side walls being adapted to be spaced apart, a third tent pole that extends diagonally of said second side wall and that is releasably and adjustably securable to said second side wall to provide a diagonally-directed tension in said second side wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said second side wall due to stretching or shrinking, a fourth tent pole that extends diagonally of said second sidewall and that is releasably and adjustably securable to said second side wall to provide a diagonallydirected tension in said second side wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said second side wall due to stretching or shrinking, reinforcements at the top front and rear of said tent, and elements that are secured to said tent at the corners thereof and that are adjustably secur able to the lower ends of said tent poles to facilitate tensioning of said side Walls.

'10. A tent that can be folded into a compact space and that can be erected to occupy a much larger space and that comprises a side wall, a tent pole that extends diagonally of said side wall and that is releasably and adjustably securable to said side wall to provide a diagonally-directed tension in said side wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said side wall due to stretching or shrinking, a second tent pole that extends diagonally of said sidewall and that is releasably and adjustably securable to said side Wall, a second side wall to provide a diagonally-directed tension in said side wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said side wall due to stretching or shrinking, the tops of said side walls being contiguous and the bottoms of said side walls being adapted to be spaced apart, a third tent pole that extends diagonally of said second side wall and that is releasably and adjustably securable to said second side wall to provide a diagonally-directed tension in said second side wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said second side wall due to stretching or shrinking, a fourth tent pole that extends diagonally of said second side wall and that is releasably and adjustably 1 7 l2 seourable to said second side wall to provide a diagonallydirected tension in said second side wall despite changes in the shape and dimensions of said second side wall due to stretching or shrinking, reinforcements at the top front and rear of said tent, and elements that are secured to said tent at the corners thereof and that are securable to the lower ends of said tent poles to facilitate tensioning of said side walls, said reinforcements being at the exterior of said tent, said side Walls of said tent having pole-holding strips thereon intermediate said reinforcements and said elements that are securahle to the lower ends of said tent poles. f

11. A tent that can be folded into a compact space and that can be erected to occupy a much larger space and that comprises a side wall, a tent pole, a second tent pole, said tent poles crossing each other to assume a generally X-shaped configuration but being free to move laterally and longitudinally of each other, a second side wall, a third tent pole, and a fourth tent pole, said third and fourth tent poles crossing each other to assume a generally X-shaped configuration but being free to move laterally and longitudinally of each other, said poles tensioning said side walls of said tent to provide'diagonallydirected tensions in said side Walls despite changes in the shapes and dimensions of said side walls due to stretching or shrinking, said side walls bounding a chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 607,933 Laird July 26, 1898 1,728,356 Morgan Sept. 17, 1929 1,843,312 Ames Feb. 2, 1932 2,540,529 1 Johnson Feb. 6, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 7 507,634 an Dec. 31, 1954

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