TENTS AND SUPPORT FRAMES FOR TENTS

Abstract

A support frame for a tent comprising a pair of spaced-apart gables each gable comprising a pair of rafters hingedly connected relative to one another at their upper ends via an apex connector to form an apex, and a ridge beam connected at its opposite ends to the apexes and pivotally moveable relative to each apex about a substantially fixed axis, the fixed axis lying in a plane that is substantially parallel to a plane containing the longitudinal axis of a rafter.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to tents, support frames for tents and in particular, but without limitation, to tents having external support frames.

Tents are particularly suitable for use as temporary structures in a variety of situations because they can be collapsed for ease of transport, positioned and erected on-site, and collapsed and taken away when no longer required. A drawback of known tents is the time and often knowledge/skill they take to erect correctly, which drawback is particularly relevant to large tents and marquees.

Many known tents exist that attempt to address the above problems, including:

Published European Patent Application No: EP0777022 describes a tent structure having a frame that can be folded-down when not in use. This document discloses a tent frame having hingedly interconnected beams arranged such that the rafters making up the gables of the tent frame can be inverted to lower the ridge beam, whereupon the ridge and eaves beams can be hingedly folded to collapse the gables towards one another. This system requires a user to be able to access the elevated ridge to effect collapsing, which can be cumbersome and awkward in a real-life situation, and which can increase the erection/striking time of the tent frame.

Published European Patent Application No: EP1914364 and Published Chinese Patent Application No: CN101463671 both teach tent frame structures having an apex connector enabling a pair of rafters to connect to a ridge beam. The ridge beams are pivotally connected to the apex by a generally vertical, in use, pintle hinge and are constrained to pivot horizontally with respect to the apex. The ridge beams pivot horizontally at an elevated position, making the frames cumbersome to collapse or erect.

Published international patent application No: WO2009/092227 describes a folding tent frame in which the ridge and eaves beams are connected to apex and eaves blocks by pintle hinges and in which the ridge beam comprises a pair of hingedly interconnected and telescopically extendible portions. The rafters are also hinged to be collapsible. Collapsing of the elevated ridge beam can be difficult, and the addition of hinges in the rafters can lead to undesirable play in the structure, making it less rigid.

Published Japanese Utility Model No: JP6216856U describes a collapsible tent frame in which the poles of the frame are interconnected using plug-and-socket type connectors.

A need therefore arises for a tent that is quicker and simpler to erect and strike than is known from the prior art, and which can be collapsed so that it occupies a relatively small volume for ease of transportation. In particular, a rugged, and easily and/or rapidly deployable tent and tent frame is required for use in emergency situations, for example for use as a decontamination facility, a rapid-deploy medical centre or a temporary workspace, which may be useful in a military situation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a support frame for a tent comprising a pair of spaced-apart gables each gable comprising a pair of rafters hingedly connected relative to one another at their upper ends to form an apex, and a ridge beam connected at its opposite ends to the apexes and pivotally moveable relative to each apex about a substantially fixed axis, the fixed axis lying in a plane that is substantially parallel to a plane containing the longitudinal axis of a rafter.

By constraining the ridge beam portions to pivot about a fixed axis, the amount of play in the tent frame, once erected, can be considerably reduced compared to a system in which the ridge beam portions can pivot in more than one sense.

Preferably, the ridge beam may be constrained to pivot such that a point on it moves along a locus lying in a plane that bisects the planes containing the rafters. In other words, when the support frame is in an upright orientation in use, the ridge beam may be constrained to pivot in a substantially vertical plane.

Preferably, the ridge beam comprises at least two ridge beam portions that are releasably interconnectable end-to-end.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a support frame for a tent comprising a pair of rafters hingedly connected to one another at their upper ends to form an apex, a ridge beam extending from, and being hingedly connected to, the apex and moveable between a first position in which its longitudinal axis lies in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a plane containing the longitudinal axis of a rafter and a second position in which its longitudinal axis lies in a plane that is substantially parallel to a plane containing a longitudinal axis of a rafter, wherein the ridge beam is constrained to pivot about an axis that is substantially fixed relative to the apex.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a support frame for a tent comprising: a pair of substantially co-planar rafters connected to one another at, or towards, their upper ends to form an apex; a pivoting connector means for pivotally connecting a ridge beam to the rafters or apex; the ridge beam being pivotable between a first position in which its longitudinal axis lies substantially parallel to the plane of the rafters and a second position in which its longitudinal axis lies in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the rafters, wherein the pivoting connector means constrains the ridge beam to pivot about an axis that is substantially parallel to the plane of the rafters.

The rafters are preferably pivotally moveable relative to one another and are preferably pivotally moveable relative to one another in a common plane.

Advantageously, such a support frame according to any of the aforementioned aspects of the invention may comprise a plurality of permanently interconnected beams, which avoids the need for users to correctly identify and connect the various beams at the correct locations. Furthermore, since the beams are pivotally interconnected, the support frame can be folded in on itself to occupy a vastly reduced volume when in a folded state as compared to an erected state.

An apex connector means may be provided to which the rafters and/or the ridge beam may be connected. The pivoting connector means may be affixed to the apex connector means.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ridge beam may comprise a pair, or other plurality, of hingedly interconnected ridge beam portions. The ridge beam portions are preferably constrained to pivot relative to one another about an axis lying in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of the rafters.

to The support frame may further comprise one, or a plurality of eaves beams located at, or near to, a lower end of the or each rafter. The eaves beam is preferably pivotable between a first position in which its longitudinal axis lies substantially parallel to the plane of the rafters and a second position in which its longitudinal axis lies in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the is rafters. The or each eaves beam may comprise a pair of hingedly interconnected eaves beam portions.

The length of each ridge beam portion and/or the length of each eaves beam portion is preferably substantially the same as the length of the rafters. One advantage of such a configuration is that fact that when the support frame is in a folded state, no eaves beam portion or ridge beam portion protrudes significantly past the ends of the rafters.

Releasable locking means is preferably provided for locking the ridge and/or eaves beam portions such that their longitudinal axes are substantially coplanar and/or coaxial. The ridge of eaves beam portions may overlap one another or may be hinged so that their longitudinal axes are substantially coaxial when the eaves and/or ridge beams are in an extended state. The releasable locking means may comprise a locking pin insertable into an aperture of each beam portion, the apertures being arranged to align when the longitudinal axes of the beam portions are substantially coplanar. Additionally or alternatively, the releasable locking means s may comprise a locking sleeve selectively slideable around or within the beam portions into a position whereby it overlaps both beam portions thereby preventing or inhibiting relative pivotal movement of the beam portions.

The support frame may further comprise a plurality of legs for supporting the rafters above ground level. The upper ends of the legs are preferably pivotally connected at or near to the lower ends of the rafters, and/or to the eaves beams.

The legs are preferably telescopically extendible and may comprise a plurality of relatively slideable leg portions, which leg portions may be substantially the same length as the length of the rafters.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a tent comprising a support frame and means for suspending a tent liner from the support frame, the means for suspending comprising at least one rope being: affixable at a first point to the tent liner; guided by guide means affixable to the support frame; and affixable at a second point to a locking means, wherein a portion of the tent liner to which the rope is affixed may be raised or lowered by pulling on, or by releasing, a rope.

Advantageously, such an arrangement enables the tent liner to be laid on the floor below the erected support frame, affixed to the support frame using one, or a plurality of, ropes and hoisted into position by pulling on the one or more ropes.

The guide means is/are provided to ensure that the rope or ropes slide relative to the support frame at fixed, or substantially fixed points thereon. The guide means may comprise any one or more of a block, a ring or a channel. Most preferably, the guide means comprises a pulley block to reduce friction, which reduces rope wear and the amount of effort needed to hoist the tent liner into position. The locking means may comprise a cleat or an eyelet to which a rope can be tied.

The tent liner preferably comprises a roof and sidewalls and may additionally further comprise a floor. The roof, sidewalls and floor may be permanently affixed to one another, or releasably affixed to one another using releasable fastenings, e.g. hook and loop fasteners, zip fasteners, buttons, hooks & eyes etc. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the roof comprises a portion that is manufactured of translucent or transparent material. A major proportion of the roof, i.e. greater than 50%, 60%, 70% or 80% of the roof area is preferably manufactured of a transparent or translucent material to enable the interior of the tent liner to be illuminated using natural daylight.

At least one of the rope or ropes may be affixable to the tent liner at a plurality of spaced-apart locations. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the rope or ropes may be affixable to the support frame at a plurality of spaced-apart locations. The ropes, guide means and locking means are preferably colour-coded, or patterned in a coordinated manner, so that a user can readily ascertain, by visual inspection, which ropes connect to which parts of the tent liner and support frame, and to which locking means.

The tent may comprise a support frame according to the first aspect of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention shall now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support frame according to the present invention;

FIG. 2a is a close-up perspective view (not to scale) of an alternate embodiment of the support frame;

FIG. 2b shows a preferred ridge beam for the support frame;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from above of a variant of the support frame of FIG. 1 in a collapsed state;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tent according to the present invention, shown in a collapsed state, in combination with the support frame of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tent of FIG. 4 in an erected state;

FIG. 6 is a schematic partial end of an first alternative arrangement of ropes for hoisting a tent liner; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic partial side view of a second alternative arrangement of ropes for hoisting a tent liner; and FIG. 8 is a perspective view from below of a variant of the support frame of FIG. 1 in a collapsed state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, a support frame 10 for a tent comprises a roof 12 supported off the ground by four splayed legs 14. The roof 12 and legs 14 are manufactured from various lengths of generally rectangular-section aluminium tubing which are connected to one another at their ends using hinges or connectors, which shall be described in detail below.

The roof 12 comprises a pair of spaced-apart and parallel gables each gable comprising a pair of inclined rafters 16 which are hingedly connected to one another at their upper ends by an apex connector 18. The apex connector 18 and rafters 16 all lie substantially in a common piano, or parallel planes, hereinafter the plane of the gable. The gables are connected to one another by: a ridge beam 20, which extends perpendicularly outwardly from, and which spans the distance between the apex connectors 18; and by a pair of parallel eaves beams 22 which extend perpendicularly outwardly from, and which span the distance between two leg connectors 24. In addition to providing a connection for the eaves beams 22, the leg connectors 24 also each provide a hinged connection between the upper end of a respective one of the legs 14 and the lower end of the adjacent rafter 16.

The support frame 10 can be collapsed in on itself by virtue of releasable connections between the various elements thereof

The ridge beam 20 comprises a pair of ridge beam portions 26 whose inner ends 28 overlap and whose inner ends 28 abut end-to-end and are connected to one another using an insert as described in FIG. 2b below. The outer ends 32 of the ridge beam portions 26 are hingedly connected to the apex connectors 18 so that the inner ends 28 of the ridge beam portions 26 can drop or be raised vertically relative to the roof 12 during erection and folding of the support frame 10.

The eaves beams 22 also comprise a pair of hingedly connected eaves beam portions 34 which are also hinged 36 at their midpoints and hingedly connected to the leg connectors 24 so that they too can be folded parallel to the rafters 16 during erection and folding of the support frame 10.

FIG. 2a is a close up view (not to scale) of a variation of part of the support frame 10 of FIG. 1 and shows how the various components of the support frame are connected to one another.

In FIG. 2a it can be seen that the apex connector 18 comprises a pair of hingedly connected apex connector portions 36 that are arranged to pivot relative to one another in the plane of the gable. An internal abutment (not shown) is provided to prevent the apex connector portions 36 from pivoting beyond a desired angle, s which angle defines the pitch of the roof 12. Each apex connector portion 36 is manufactured from a machined block of aluminium alloy, or from a durable plastics material, and comprises a generally cuboid recess or socket for receiving an upper end of a rafter 16. The rafters 16 are permanently or semi-permanently retained in the recesses using adhesive or screws (not shown), respectively.

A pair of spaced-apart, parallel flanges 38 extend perpendicularly outwardly from one of the apex connector portions 36 and from a clevis which receives the outer end 32 of a respective one of the ridge beam portions 26. A pin 40, whose longitudinal axis lies in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of the roof gable, and which passes through apertures in the flanges 38 and ridge beam portion is 26, serves to provide a pivotal connection between the flanges 38 and the ridge beam portion 26. The flanges 38 and pin 40 together form the pivoting connection of the invention.

In a less preferred embodiment of the invention, the inner ends of the ridge beam portions overlap and are lockably interconnected by a hollow rectangular cross-section locking sleeve 42. The width of the interior aperture of the sleeve 42 is very slightly larger than the sum of the width of the two ridge beam portions and the height of the interior aperture is very slightly larger than the height of the two ridge beam portions. The sleeve 42 is therefore able to slide over the ridge beam portions 26. When the longitudinal axes of the ridge beam portions 26 are substantially parallel, the locking sleeve 42 can be slid into a position whereby it overlies both inner ends 28 of the ridge beam portions 26 thereby preventing relative pivotal movement thereof. The locking sleeve 42 thereby maintains the ridge beam portions 26 in a relatively rigid and parallel relationship to one another. A strap or clip (not shown) is provided to prevent the locking sleeve 42 from sliding out of position during use.

One of the apex connector portions 36 is shown to comprise a pulley block 44 which s serves as a guide means for one or more ropes used to hoist a tent liner (not shown) into position below the support frame 10. The pulley block is optional, however, and could equally be replaced by a guide groove, an eyelet, etc.

The leg connectors 24 each comprise an aluminium alloy, or injection moulded plastics, component comprising generally cuboid recess or socket 47 (not shown) for receiving the lower end of a respective one of the rafters 16. The rafters 16 are permanently or semi-permanently retained in the recesses using adhesive or screws (not shown), respectively.

Projecting upwardly from the corner of each leg connector 24 are a pair of spaced apart guide wails 46 which serve as a rope guide in a similar manner to the pulley block 44 described above. The upper surface 48 of the leg connector 24 between the guide walls 46 has a smooth and convexly rounded profile to reduce friction as ropes slide thereover. A split pin 50, which extends through apertures in the guide walls 46 is also provided to prevent, in use, a rope (not shown) from jumping out of the rope guide.

The legs 14 are each pivotally connected to the associated leg connector 24 by a pin 52 that extends through a three-sided housing which is open towards the interior of the tent and a through aperture (not shown) in the upper end of the leg 14.

The leg 14 can therefore pivot relative to the leg connector 24 in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of the roof gable. The leg 14 is prevented from pivoting beyond a desired angle by a stop wall 54 of the leg connector, which angle defines the splay of the legs 14. it will also be noted from FIG. 2, that each leg 14 comprises a pair of telescopically slideable leg portions 56, which can be locked relative to one another using a spring-loaded locking pin 58. The lower end of each leg 14 additionally comprises a plastics foot 60, which serves to distribute the load transmitted to the floor and which enables the foot to be optionally secured to the floor using pegs or other means (not shown).

FIG. 2b shows the most preferred configuration for the ridge beam 20 in which the ridge beam portions 26 are hollow and are releasably connectable end-to-end using an end insert 27 and in which each ridge beam portion 26 comprises a pair of hingedly connected sub-portions 29. During striking of the support frame, the two ridge beam portions 26 can be separated from one another by depressing a spring-loaded catch button 31 so that the end insert 27 can be slid out of the end of one of the ridge beam portions 26. Once separated, each ridge beam portion 26 can be folded in half by unlocking a lockable hinge 33 and by folding the sub-portions 29 so that they meet.

In a yet further possible alternative embodiment of the invention, the end insert 27 could be replaced by a further hinge.

Conveniently, the length of the sub-portions 29 is less that the height of the apex connector 18 above the ground (with or without the legs 14 attached) so that the ridge beam portions 26 can pivot downwardly about pin 40 without the lockable hinge 33 hitting the floor. In addition, since the pintle of the lockable hinge 33 is substantially perpendicular to the pin 40 which pivotably connects the ridge beam portion to the apex connector 18, the ridge beam portions 26 can be folded away without them protruding forward from the apex connector significantly more that do the apex connector portions 36. Furthermore, this particular orientation of the lockable hinges 33 reduces the likelihood of the ridge beam 20 sagging in use.

FIG. 3 shows the support frame 10 in a compact, folded state. Because the apex connector 18, the rafters 16, leg connectors 24 and legs 14 are configured to pivot in a common plane, the roof gables and legs can be collapsed by the steps of, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1: telescopically shortening 62 the legs 14; S folding 64 the shortened legs 14 to lie parallel to the rafters 16; and folding 66 the rafters 16 towards one another. Thereafter, the ridge beam portions 26 can be slid out of engagement to enable the ridge beam portions 26 to pivot relative to one another 68, and folding 70 the eaves beam portions 34 relative to one another to and pushing 72 the (folded) gables towards one another to form the collapsed structure as shown in FIG. 3. Erection of the support frame can be carried out by following the above steps in reverse.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show how the support frame 10 described above can be used in conjunction with a flexible liner 74 to form a tent or marquee.

In FIG. 4, the support frame 10 has been erected and a foldable tent liner 74 has been unfolded beneath it. The corners 76 of the tent liner 74 are secured to the lower ends of the support frame's legs 14 using a bungee cord and karabiner arrangement 78. A series of ropes (to be explained below) have been attached to the tent liner 74 and are used to hoist it into position beneath the support frame 10.

The tent liner 74 is manufactured of durable and flexible plastics sheet and comprises a pair of pitched roof portions 80, a flat ridge portion 82, generally planar sidewalls 84, a floor 86 and end walls 88. The pitched roof portions 80 each comprise a translucent panel 90 that allows the interior of the tent liner to be illuminated using natural daylight light and the end walls 86 each comprise an entry 92 to permit persons to enter and exit the tent liner 74. Removable or roll-up door panels (not shown) can be used to close one or both entries 92.

A first rope 94 comprises a bifurcated end which attaches to adjacent corners of the flat ridge portion 82 of the roof and which passes over the pulley block 44 of the apex connector 18, over the guide means 46, 48 of the Leg connector 24 and is cleated off using a first cleat 96 affixed to one of the legs. A first rope 94 is provided s at both ends of the tent liner and pulling on these ropes 94 raises the flat roof portion 82 of the tent liner 74 to a level slightly below the ridge beam 20.

Second ropes 98 are attached at one end to the eaves of the tent liner 74, i.e. to a point where a sidewall 84, pitched roof portion 80 and end wall 88 meet. The second ropes 98 pass through the guide means 46, 48 of the leg connectors 24 and are cleated off using a second cleat 100 affixed to each leg 14 of the support frame 10. Pulling on the second ropes 98 causes the eaves of the tent liner 74 to be pulled taut towards the leg connectors 24.

A third rope 102 is affixed at one end to the centre of the flat ridge portion 82 of the tent liner 74 and passes over the midpoint of the ridge beam 20, through a rope guide 46, 48 of a leg connector and cleats off on a third cleat 104 affixed to a leg 14 of the support frame 10.

All of the ropes are semi-permanently affixable to the tent liner 74 using karabiners and eyelets.

The eyelets, first rope 94, pulley block 44, rope guide 48 and first cleat 96 are all of substantially the same colour to make it readily apparent how to affix and route the first rope 94 on the support frame. The eyelets, second rope 98, guide means 46 and second cleat 100 are all of substantially the same colour to make it readily apparent how to affix and route the second rope 98 on the support frame. Similarly, the eyelets, third rope 102, the locking sleeve 42, guide means 46 and third cleat 104 are all of substantially the same colour to make it readily apparent how to affix and route the third rope 102 on the support frame.

By colour-coding the various parts of the support frame 10, ropes 94, 98, 102 and tent liner 74, it is immediately apparent by visual inspection which ropes go where and how to properly assemble the tent. Moreover, it is possible for the ropes 94, 98, 102 to be affixed to the tent liner 74 and threaded relative to the support frame 10; the ropes 94, 98, 102 to be threaded relative to the support frame and clipped onto the tent liner 74; or completely detached and re-affixed to the support frame 10 and tent liner 74 as and when necessary.

It will also be noted that FIG. 5 shows the entry 92 to the tent liner 74 having a raised threshold 106 which is useful to inhibit articles, liquids and debris from being transferred into and out of the tent liner 74. The threshold can be folded out to lie fiat on the floor (as shown in FIG. 4) by detaching it from the end walls 88 by unfastening reclosable fasters 108. In addition, transparent pockets 110 are provided on the sidewalls 84 and end walls 88 of the tent liner for receiving and displaying information posters, documents and other indicia.

Finally, FIG. 8 shows a variant of the support frame 10, but without integral legs, in a compact, folded state. This embodiment of the invention is similar to that described in relation to FIG. 3, except that the legs are detachable from the leg connectors 24. As can be seen, each leg connector 24 comprises a rectangular cross-section boss 25 that is slidingly receivable into the upper end of a leg. The weight of the tent and the tension in the ropes prevents, in use, the legs from becoming detached from the leg connectors 24. The legs are removed prior to folding the tent, and because the apex connector 18 and the rafters 16 are configured to pivot in a common plane, the roof gables can be collapsed by the steps of: removing the legs and then folding the rafters 16 towards one another.

Thereafter, the ridge and eaves beam hinges can be unlocked to enable the ridge 26 and eaves 34 beam portions to pivot relative to one another, and pushing The (folded) gables towards one another to form the collapsed structure as shown in FIG. 8. Erection of the support frame can be carried out by following the above steps in reverse.

The invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing embodiments, for example, the materials of manufacture and the dimensions may be changed to suit particular applications. In particular, the arrangement of ropes may be varied depending on the configuration of the tent. Two such variations are illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 in which a common rope is used to hoist more than one portion of the tent liner 74.

In FIG. 6, a hoisting rope 112 passes through three pairs of pulley blocks, a first 114 and second pair 116 of pulley blocks being connected to the rafters 16 towards their lower ends and a third pair of pulley blocks 118 being connected to the rafters 16 towards their upper ends. A further set of pulley blocks 120 are releasably connected to the tent liner 74 using karabiners or hooks 122 The rope 112 is secured at one end to a rafter 16 and is threaded around the pulley blocks. The free end 124 of the rope 112 can be pulled to hoist a plurality of points of the tent liner 74 towards the support frame 10 simultaneously.

Advantageously, each pair of pulley blocks 114, 116, 118 provides a 2:1 mechanical advantage thereby facilitating manual hoisting of the tent liner 74. Such a configuration is particularly advantageous for large and/or heavy tent liners 74 or marquees as the karabiners/hooks 122 permit the rope 112 to be attached to the tent liner 74 whilst it is lying on the floor and then hoisted, with a mechanical advantage, from a position located away from the tent.

FIG. 7 shows a variation on the setup shown in FIG. 6, except in this case, the pulley blocks 114. 116, 118 are attached to different points of the ridge 20 or eaves beam 22. Identical reference signs are used to identify identical features in both drawings.

Claims

1. A support frame for a tent positioned on a ground or support surface, comprising:

a pair of spaced-apart gables, each gable comprising a pair of rafters hingedly connected relative to one another at their upper ends via an apex connector to form an apex, and a ridge beam connected at its opposite ends to the apexes and pivotally moveable relative to each apex about a substantially fixed axis, the fixed axis lying in a plane that is substantially parallel to a plane containing the longitudinal axis of a rafter, wherein the ridge beam comprises a pair of ridge beam portions, the ridge beam portions being connectable to one another end-to-end by an end connector, and wherein the length of each ridge beam portion is less than a height of the apex connector from the ground or support surface, whereby the ridge beam portions pivot downwardly about the said fixed without the end connector hitting the ground or support surface.

2. The support frame of claim 1, wherein when the support frame is in an upright orientation in use, the ridge beam is constrained to pivot, in use, about a substantially horizontal axis.

3. The support frame of claim 1, wherein the ridge beam extends from, and is hingedly connected to, each gable and is moveable between a first position in which its longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to a plane of a gable and a second position in which its longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to a plane of a gable.

4. (canceled)

5. The support frame of claim 1, wherein the end connector comprises a locking pin insertable into an aperture of each beam portion, the apertures being arranged to align when longitudinal axes of the beam portions are substantially coaxial.

6. The support frame of claim 1, wherein the end connector comprises a locking sleeve selectively slideable around or within the beam portions into a position whereby it overlaps both beam portions thereby preventing or inhibiting relative pivotal movement of the beam portions.

7. The support frame of claim 1, wherein each ridge beam portion comprises a plurality of hingedly interconnected sub-portions, the sub-portions being hingedly interconnected using lockable hinges.

8. The support frame of claim 1, further comprising an eaves beam located at, or near to, a lower end of the said rafter.

9. The support frame of claim 8, wherein the eaves beam is pivotable between a first position in which its longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to a plane of gable and a second position in which its longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the said plane of a gable.

10. The support frame of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of legs for supporting the rafters above ground level.

11. The support frame of claim 10, wherein, in use, the upper ends of the legs are pivotally connected at or near to the lower ends of the rafters, and/or to the eaves beams.

12. The support frame of claim 10, wherein the legs are telescopically extendible.

13. The support frame of claim 1, further comprising a tent liner, the tent liner being suspendable from the support frame by a rope, the rope being: affixable at a first point to the tent liner; guided by a guide of the support frame; and affixable at a second point to a clamp, cleat or eyelet, wherein a portion of the tent liner to which the rope is affixable can be raised or lowered by pulling on, or by releasing, the rope.

14. The support frame of claim 13, wherein the tent liner comprises any one or more of the group comprising: a roof; a sidewall; and a floor.

15. The support frame of claim 14, wherein at a major proportion of the roof is manufactured of translucent or transparent material.

16. The support frame of claim 14, wherein at least 50% of the area of the roof is manufactured of translucent or transparent material.

17. The support frame of claim 13, wherein at least one of the rope or ropes is affixable to the tent liner at a plurality of spaced-apart locations and wherein at least one of the rope or ropes is affixable to the support frame at a plurality of spaced-apart locations.

18. The support frame of claim 13, wherein a rope is detachably affixable to the tent liner and/or support frame using a releasable coupling.