Tent pole fixer of connecting pole and fly

A tent pole fixer is provided that is mounted on the edge of a tent so as to connect an end portion of a pole. The tent pole fixer has one end portion coupled to an edge of a tent, a longitudinally middle portion to which the pole supporting the tent is coupled, and the other end portion coupled to the fly covering the tent, wherein the both end portions are able to relatively move up and down about the middle portion. The tent pole fixer has a benefit of improving air permeability of the tent with the securing of sufficient space between the tent and the fly.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tent pole fixer that is mounted on the edge of a tent so as to connect an end portion of a pole, and more particularly to a tent pole fixer to which a pole and then a fly are installed so that a tent is unfolded at its edge portion by resilient restoring force to contact the ground, thereby improving air permeability through securing a space between the fly and the tent, and facilitating to install the tent and the fly using the pole as well.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a state where a pole is connected to a webbing of a tent according to the prior art, FIG. 2 is a detailed view illustrating a section A shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a state where the webbings of a tent and a fly are connected together to the pole shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a tent 10 is put out tensely in all directions by a pole 20 with flexibility and rigidity, thereby unfolding in the form of dugout in certain volume. As is not shown in detail in the drawings, the pole 20 is composed of a plurality of unit poles connected to each other, each having a short length. The pole 20 is fitted into a plurality of clips formed at regular intervals along the ridgeline of the tent 10, or otherwise inserted into a sleeve 11 longitudinally extending along the ridgeline of the tent 10. Both ends of the pole 20 are then fixed to the lower edges of the tent 10. The pole 20 is then curved in the form of arch along the ridgeline of the tent 10, forming in the tent 10 a space where a person can reside.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the tent 10 has at the respective edges webbings 13, each being provided with at least one eyelet 15.

Into the eyelet 15 of the webbing 13 as constructed above, an end of the pole 20 extending along the ridgeline of the tent 10 is inserted. With the insertion of the other end of the pole 20 into an eyelet of another webbing, the pole 20 is fixed at its both ends while being curved. Accordingly, resilient restoring force is created on the pole to strain at its end straightly, rendering the edge of the tent 10 pushed out to unfold the tent 10.

In the meantime, as shown in FIG. 3, a fly 30 is put out over the tent 10 that is in unfolded state, using the pole 20. The fly 30 is textile fabrics in waterproof, which covers the tent 10 to prevent it from getting wet. Such fly 30 is also provided at its edges with webbings 33 to which eyelets 35 are respectively provided. Upon installation, the fly 30 is put out over the tent 10, and the end of the pole 20 is then inserted into the eyelet 35 of the webbing 33 of the fly 30 in a state that the webbing 33 of the fly 30 being pulled out.

However, since in the state where the webbing 13 of the tent 10 and that 33 of the fly 30 are connected to the end of the pole 20, resilient restoring force of the pole 20 exerts to unfold the fly 30 and the tent 10, as shown in FIG. 3, the edge of the tent 10 comes apart from the ground through rising upward along the pole 20. When the edge of the tent 10 comes apart from the ground as the above, a distance between the tent 10 and the fly 30 covering it becomes narrower.

When the distance between the tent 10 and the fly 30 becomes narrower, a passage of air flowing between the tent 10 and the fly 30 becomes narrower, which causes a problem in that air permeability is degraded.

In addition, in case where one end of the pole is connected to the webbing of the tent and the other end of the pole is connected to other webbing of the tent, since the end of the pole is merely inserted into the eyelet without being coupled to the eyelet of the webbing, there caused a problem in that the end of the pole is easily detached from the eyelet. In this case, it is inconvenient in that the end of the pole is inserted again into the eyelet to install. Furthermore, when the webbing of the fly is connected to the end of the pole to which the webbing of the tent has been connected, the end of the pole connected to the webbing of the tent is easily detached from the eyelet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tent pole fixer of connecting a pole and a fly which, when a tent is connected to an end of the pole and the fly is put out over the tent, diverts a direction of resilient restoring force of the pole exerting to spread out the fly to that exerting to advance an edge of the tent toward the ground thereby to improve air permeability through securing a sufficient space between the tent and the fly.

The tent pole fixer of the present invention has a construction for coupling one end of the pole so that while one end of the pole is coupled to the tent pole fixer and then the other end thereof is coupled to another tent pole fixer, the one end of the pole and the tent pole fixer coupled with each other are not decoupled to thereby easily install the tent and the fly.

In order to accomplish the above object, there is provided a tent pole fixer comprising one end portion coupled to an edge of a tent, a longitudinally middle portion to which a pole supporting the tent is coupled, and the other end portion coupled to a fly covering the tent, wherein both end portions are able to relatively move up and down about the middle portion.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the one end portion of the tent pole fixer is provided with a slot through which a band extending from the tent edge passes to be fixed thereto.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the middle portion is provided with a ball-receiving hole into which an end of the pole is inserted to be coupled thereto.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the end of the pole is shaped like a ball, and the ball-receiving hole is provided at its inlet portion with an engaging portion whose diameter is smaller than that of the ball such that the ball is detachably fixed in force to the ball-receiving hole.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the other end portion of the tent pole fixer is provided with a hook, to which a clamp member extending from the fly is coupled.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the other end portion of the tent pole fixer is provided with a through-hole in a width direction, through which a ring is inserted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a state where a pole is connected to a webbing of a tent according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view illustrating a section A shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a state where the webbings of the tent and a fly are connected together to the pole shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a tent pole fixer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the tent pole fixer shown in FIG. 4 is attached to an edge of the tent;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the pole is coupled to the tent pole fixer shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a ladder-lock extending from the fly is coupled to the tent pole fixer shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a side view of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating a balance mechanism of the tent pole fixer to which the pole shown in FIG. 4 is coupled.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a detailed construction and embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a tent pole fixer according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the tent pole fixer shown in FIG. 4 is attached to an edge of the tent, FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the pole is coupled to the tent pole fixer shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a ladder-lock extending from the fly is coupled to the tent pole fixer shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is a side view of FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating a balance mechanism of the tent pole fixer to which the pole shown in FIG. 4 is coupled.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a tent pole fixer 200 is hinged to an edge of a tent 110 to which an end of a pole 120 is coupled at its longitudinally middle portion. In addition, a ladder-lock 131 of a clamp extending from a fly 130 is coupled to an end portion of the tent pole fixer 200.

The bottom surface of the tent pole fixer 200 is shaped convex so that both end portions thereof, i.e., one end portion hinged to an edge of the tent 110 and the other end portion to which the ladder-lock 131 extending from the fly 130, are relatively moved up and down about the portion to which the end of the pole is coupled, like a seesaw.

Thus, the edge of the tent 110 is tensely spread evenly as to come close to the ground while the other end portion of the tent pole fixer 200 connected with the ladder-lock 131 is pulled upward by the fly 130.

A construction of the tent pole fixer as constructed above will now be described in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tent pole fixer 200 has at its one end portion a slot 210 in a width direction thereof. The tent pole fixer 200 is fixed to the edge of the tent 110 in such a way that a band 113 fixed to the edge of the tent 110 is wound around the end portion of the fixer through the slot, and then fixed to the edge of the tent by sewing. Herein, the tent pole fixer 200 can be pivoted in a state where it is attached to the band 113 of the edge of the tent 110. The end portion around which the band 113 winds serves as a hinge axis 213 so that it becomes a pivot axis on which the tent pole fixer 200 pivots from the edge of the tent 110. It is preferable that such hinge axis 213 be other oval shape than angular shape in cross section.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, an end of the pole 120 is coupled to the longitudinally middle portion of the tent pole fixer 200. The end of the pole 120 is shaped like a ball 121, which is inserted into and coupled to a ball-receiving hole 220 formed in the longitudinally middle portion of the tent pole fixer 200. Herein, the end of the pole 120, i.e., the ball 121 is ball jointed in the ball-receiving hole 220 in relation of a spherical pair with the ball 121. Meanwhile, the ball-receiving hole 220 is provided at its inlet with at least one engaging projections 223 so that the inlet has a diameter smaller than the ball 121. The tent pole fixer 200 can thus be moved up and down at its both end portions about the portion where the pole is coupled while the ball 121 is inserted into and ball-jointed in the ball-receiving hole 220.

In the meantime, in order to couple the ball 121 to the ball-receiving hole while passing through the engaging projections 223 of the ball-receiving hole 220, it should press the end of the pole 120 toward the ball-receiving hole 220 to the extent as to resiliently deform and expand the inlet of the hole 220. As a result, in a state where the ball 121 has been inserted into the hole 220 through resilient deformation of the inlet of the hole 220, the ball 121 can be detached from the hole 220 only by applying a force greater than the pressing force for detaching the pole 120 and the tent pole fixer 200 from each other.

Like above, the tent pole fixer 200 is installed at its one end portion on the edge of the tent 110, and to which the end of the pole 120 is coupled at its middle portion of the fixer. Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the pole 120 is provided at the other end thereof with a hook 230, to which the ladder-lock 131 extending from the fly 130 is coupled.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 10, the bottom surface of the tent pole fixer 200 as constructed above is shaped convex such that a position of the bottom surface of the tent pole fixer 200 corresponding to the portion to which the end of the pole 120 is coupled becomes a lowest point 240 of the convex bottom surface. Accordingly, the tent pole fixer 200 is relatively moved up and down at its both end portions about the lowest point 240 like a seesaw.

The relationship of installing the pole and the fly on the tent pole fixer will be explained below.

Unit poles are connected together to form the pole 120. The pole 120 then is positioned along the ridgeline of the tent 110. Herein, if the tent is provided with clips, the pole is coupled to the clips, and if the tent is provided with a sleeve 111, the pole 120 is inserted into the sleeve 111 as to be positioned along the ridgeline of the tent 110. After the end of the pole 120 is positioned to the ball-receiving hole 220 of the fixer 200 attached to the edge of the tent 110, a force is applied to the pole 120 such that the ball 121 formed on the end of the pole 120 is coupled in the ball-receiving hole 220 through the engaging projections 223 formed on the inlet of the ball-receiving hole 220. Like this, all of ends of the poles 1120 positioned along the ridgeline of the tent 110 are respectively coupled to the tent pole fixers 200. Herein, the edge of the tent 110, as shown in FIG. 7, comes apart from the ground while being moved up along the pole 120 by resilient restoring force of the pole 120.

In this state, the fly 130 covers the tent 110, and the ladder-lock 131 extending from the edge of the fly 130 is coupled to the hook 230 formed on the other end of the tent pole fixer 200. At this time, the fly 130 is applied with a force to spread out by resilient restoring force of the pole 120 inside the fly 130, and the force is transferred to the ladder-lock 131 to serve to move up the other end portion of the tent pole fixer 200.

Like this, the force tending to move up the other end portion of the fixer 200 serves to move down the one end portion, i.e., the hinged portion, of the fixer 200 by a lever rule of the tent pole fixer 200, so that the edge of the tent 110 is moved down to contact the ground as shown in FIG. 9.

That is, the ladder-lock 131 extending from the fly 130 is coupled to the other end portion of the tent pole fixer 200 so that resilient restoring force of the pole 120 is switched into a force in a direction tending to move the edge of the tent 110 toward the ground by the tent pole fixer 200.

Like this, the tent pole fixer 200 moves the edge of the tent 110 toward the ground using resilient restoring force of the pole to secure a sufficient space between the tent 110 and the fly 130 to thereby improve air permeability through smooth air flowing between the tent 110 and the fly 130.

Meanwhile, a through-hole 250 is formed in a width direction of the tent pole fixer 200 under the hook 230 of the tent pole fixer 200. A ring 251 is fitted into the through-hole 250 and engaged with a pack fixed to the ground to thereby fix the tent 110 to the ground.

As set forth before, the tent pole fixer of connecting the pole and the fly according to the present invention is constructed such that the pole is coupled to its longitudinally middle portion in ball joint type, one end portion thereof is pivotally fixed to the edge of the tent, the other end portion thereof is connected with the fly, and the resilient restoring force of the pole transferred through the fly is turned to a direction tending to move down the edge of the tent to render the edge of the tent close to the ground, thereby securing a sufficient space between the tent and the fly. The present invention thus has a benefit of improving air permeability of the tent with the securing of sufficient space between the tent and the fly.

Further, with the placement of the tent pole fixer on the edge of the tent, it is conveniently performed the installation by coupling the pole in ball joint type to the middle portion of the tent pole fixer and mounting the ladder-lock extending from the fly to the hook of the tent pole fixer.

Furthermore, with the coupling of the end of the pole to the tent pole fixer in ball joint type, there is an advantage in that a problem in the prior art is avoided that the end of the pole is detached from the eyelet when one end thereof is inserted into the eyelet of the webbing and the other end thereof is inserted into other eyelet of another webbing.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A tent pole fixer of connecting a pole and a fly, comprising:

one end portion coupled to an edge of a tent;
a longitudinally middle portion to which the pole supporting the tent is coupled; and
the other end portion coupled to the fly covering the tent,
wherein the both end portions are able to relatively move up and down about the middle portion.

2. The tent pole fixer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one end portion of the tent pole fixer is provided with a slot through which a band extending from the tent edge passes to be fixed thereto.

3. The tent pole fixer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the middle portion is provided with a ball-receiving hole into which an end of the pole is inserted to be coupled thereto.

4. The tent pole fixer as claimed in claim 3, wherein the end of the pole is shaped like a ball, and the ball-receiving hole is provided at its inlet portion with an engaging portion whose diameter is smaller than that of the ball such that the ball is detachably fixed in force to the ball-receiving hole.

5. The tent pole fixer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the other end portion of the tent pole fixer is provided with a hook, to which a clamp member extending from the fly is coupled.

6. The tent pole fixer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the other end portion of the tent pole fixer is provided with a through-hole in a width direction, through which a ring is inserted.

Patent History
Publication number: 20080142063
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 19, 2006
Publication Date: Jun 19, 2008
Inventor: Jeh-kun Lah (Incheon)
Application Number: 11/641,106
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Connector (135/120.3)
International Classification: E04H 15/32 (20060101);