Patents by Inventor Gary Schaefer

Gary Schaefer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9181723
    Abstract: A self-supporting tent support framework. The framework includes a number of support poles that interconnect at hinge, clevis/saddle and T/collar couplers to adjustably support the poles. The couplers retain the poles at user established angular orientations in multiple planes to support an overlying fabric cover. Each hinge coupler includes a pair of hinge pieces having a tubular sleeve body, an end collar that receives a transecting pivot pole and projecting wing arms overlap and fasten to support body mounted poles at an adjustable splay angle. Each clevis/saddle coupler includes a tubular sleeve body having depending parallel clevis arms that pivotally secure a pole to the clevis arms relative to a pole fitted to the sleeve body. Each T/collar coupler includes a tubular sleeve body and a pair of displaced, parallel coaxially projecting end collars having enclosed transverse coaxial through bores to adjustably support a T-aligned pole section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventor: Gary Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20150252586
    Abstract: A collapsible, modularly constructed, self-supporting tent support framework. The framework includes a number of support poles that interconnect at hinge, clevis/saddle and T/collar couplers. The couplers retain the pole sections at preferred angular orientations in multiple planes to support an overlying fabric cove. Each hinged coupler includes a pair of hinge pieces having a tubular sleeve body, an end collar that interleaves with the other hinge piece at a transecting pivot pole and a serrated, arcuately projecting wing arm having transverse bores that overlap and fasten together to define a desired splay angle. Each clevis/saddle coupler includes a tubular sleeve body and a depending clevis or saddle to pivotally secure a pole section. Each T/collar coupler includes a tubular sleeve body and end collars to pivotally mount to a transecting pole section. The pole pieces couple to the sleeve bodies, collared ends, and clevis/saddles of the framework couplers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventor: Gary Schaefer
  • Patent number: 6273114
    Abstract: A modular tent system that supports a number of detachable, weatherproof, self-supporting living quarter or storage pods. In a wall tent configuration, a primary tent is supported from a tubular framework. Each pod mounts to a covered access port of the primary tent. Each pod includes a separate support framework, side walls, floor and roof. Fasteners bordering the peripheral edges of the pod door flap and access port flap interconnect and secure the pod to the walls of the primary tent. Separate fasteners at the pod door flap and access port flap independently control access to the living space of the primary tent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: Gary Schaefer
  • Patent number: 5584311
    Abstract: An internal, self-supporting, tent suppot framework. The collapsible framework includes a number of side and ridge support poles which mount to radially adjustable pole couplers. The couplers retain the support poles at preferred angular orientations in multiple wall planes as a support skeleton for an overlying fabric cover. Each coupler includes a pair of cast sleeves wherein a body piece includes a longitudinal bore, a projecting wing arm and a pair of hinge arms having transverse bores. A horizontal pole couples the hinge arms together in one plane, as a pair of other poles are supported to the longitudinal bores in a second plane at a splay angle established by the wing arms. The wing arms overlap and are retained with a fastener fitted between the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Inventor: Gary Schaefer