Tent Hub Assembly
A hub assembly for opening and closing a tent between an open configuration and a closed configuration having a base and a plurality of pairs of radial walls peripherally positioned around an outer portion of the base, each pair of radial walls forming a slot. Each radial wall has a first engageable surface and upper ends of each radial wall have a second engageable surface. A plurality of outer walls are positioned around the outer periphery of the base at an outer end of a respective slot and forms a third engageable surface on an upper end thereof. A plurality of poles each have a pair of inner engagement members and a pair of outer engagement members. Each inner engagement member is engaged with a respective first engageable surface and each outer engagement member is engaged with a respective second engageable surface.
This application claims foreign priority to China Application No. 201420083902.1, filed on Feb. 26, 2014, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUNDThe present application relates to a hub assembly for a tent, and in particular to a hub assembly which facilitates folding and unfolding of a foldable tent.
For novice campers, foldable tents are a popular alternative to conventional assemble-to-use tents. Foldable tents, which are commonly referred to as “instant tents,” “one-touch tents” or “pop-up tents,” are sold preassembled, making opening and folding the tent easy and less time consuming.
Instant tents include hub assemblies in which poles are pivotally connected to a hub. In a typical hub assembly each pole is connected directly to the hub. In such a configuration, each pivotal connection bears all of the stress from each pole. This stress could become overwhelming and cause failure. Also, in most hub assemblies the pivotal connection is exposed and the tent fabric is susceptible to damage especially when the tent is folded.
Hub assemblies in the prior art are also costly to manufacture due to the extensive labor and materials involved. For example, poles are typically coupled to the hub with metal pins or screws. This requires hardware and time consuming manual labor. In addition, the poles are often supported by the base of the hub for which plastic material is required. Thus, substantial manufacturing costs are incurred.
Another disadvantage of existing hub assemblies of foldable tents is that because the location of the pivoting axis of the poles are fixed at a radially inner portion of the hub it is difficult to store the folded poles and tent fabric above the hub because not enough room is provided above or below the inner portion of the hub.
SUMMARYThe preferred embodiments are intended to overcome at least the disadvantages described above. The preferred embodiments are also intended to provide additional advantages which are described in detail below. The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview and is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of the embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The hub assembly of the present invention provides a stable support frame for a foldable tent when in the open configuration. In the prior art, the pivoting mechanism is the most stressed portion of the tent and tent failure is often due to breakage of the pivoting mechanism. In the present invention, the multiple engagement points between the pole and hub alleviates stress from the pivoting mechanism and ensures that the tent remains erected even in not so favorable conditions. The hub assembly is further advantageous in that manufacturing cost is reduced. Additional hardware and tools are not required to assemble the poles to the hub because assembly is accomplished in clip-on fashion. Also, given the location of the multiple engagement points on the hub, the hub is manufactured with openings thus requiring less plastic. Moreover, because the position of the pivoting axis of the poles are displaced to a radially outer end of the hub when the tent is folded, more storage room is provided above the hub for the folded poles and tent fabric.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a hub assembly for opening and closing a tent between an open configuration and a closed configuration comprising: a base; a plurality of pairs of radial walls peripherally positioned around an outer portion of the base, each pair of radial walls forming a slot, each radial wall having a first engageable surface, upper ends of each radial wall having a second engageable surface; a plurality of outer walls positioned around the outer periphery of the base, each outer wall positioned at an outer end of a respective slot and forming a third engageable surface on an upper end thereof; and a plurality of poles having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate section therebetween, said first end having a pair of inner engagement members extending therefrom, said intermediate portion having a pair of outer engagement members extending therefrom; wherein each inner engagement member is engaged with a respective first engageable surface and each outer engagement member is engaged with a respective second engageable surface.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a hub assembly for opening and closing a tent between an open configuration and a closed configuration comprising: a hub, the hub having a plurality of pairs of radial walls, each pair of radial walls forming a slot, each radial wall having a first engageable surface, upper ends of each radial wall having a second engageable surface; and a plurality of poles having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate section therebetween, said first end having a pair of inner engagement members extending therefrom, said intermediate portion having a pair of outer engagement members extending therefrom; wherein each inner engagement member is pivotally coupled to a respective radial wall.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method for folding a tent between an open configuration and a closed configuration, with the tent in the open configuration having: a hub, the hub having a plurality of pairs of radial walls, each pair of radial walls forming a slot, each radial wall having a first engageable surface, upper ends of each radial wall having a second engageable surface; and a plurality of poles having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate section therebetween, said first end having a pair of inner engagement members extending therefrom, said intermediate portion having a pair of outer engagement members extending therefrom; wherein each inner engagement member is pivotally coupled to a respective radial wall on the first engageable surface and each outer engagement member engages the second engageable surface, comprising: pivoting each pole to move from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the embodiments, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the embodiments are not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
In the drawings:
To facilitate an understanding of the embodiments, identical reference numerals have been used, when appropriate, to designate the same or similar elements that are common to the figures. Further, unless stated otherwise, the features shown in the figures are not drawn to scale, but are shown for illustrative purposes only.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSCertain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The article “a” is intended to include one or more items, and where only one item is intended the term “one” or similar language is used. Additionally, to assist in the description of the present embodiments, words such as top, bottom, upper, lower, front, rear, inner, outer, right and left are used to describe the accompanying figures. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
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Referring to the figures, the hub 10 also includes a plurality of outer walls 20 positioned around the outer periphery of the base 102. Each outer wall 20 extends upwardly from the base 102 and is positioned at a radially outer end of each respective slot 12. A third engageable surface 22 is formed on an upper end (or upper surface) of the outer wall 20. In the open configuration, a bottom surface of the intermediate section of the pole 33 engages the third engageable surface 22 for further supporting the pole 30 and tent.
Referring again to the figures, the hub 10 further includes a top extension 40 extending substantially horizontally above the slot 12. A fourth engageable surface 42 is formed on a bottom surface of the top extension 40. In the open configuration, a top surface of the pole first end 31 engages the fourth engageable surface 42 for further supporting the pole 30 and tent, as shown in
Referring to
The hub assembly 1 is factory assembled as part of a foldable tent. The poles 30 are connected to the hub 10 by inserting the inner engagement members 32 through respective channel outer sections 18 so that the inner engagement members 32 are secured within respective channel inner sections 14. In operation, when in the open configuration, as shown in
The hub assembly 1 of the present invention provides a stable support frame for a foldable tent when in the open configuration. In the prior art, the pivoting mechanism is the most stressed portion of the tent and tent failure is often due to breakage of the pivoting mechanism. In the present invention, the multiple engagement points between the pole 30 and hub 10 alleviates stress from the pivoting mechanism and ensures that the tent remains erected even in not so favorable conditions. The hub assembly 1 is further advantageous in that manufacturing cost is reduced. Additional hardware and tools are not required to assemble the poles to the hub because assembly is accomplished in clip-on fashion. Also, given the location of the multiple engagement points on the hub, the hub is manufactured with openings thus requiring less plastic.
The present embodiment may have other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Claims
1. A hub assembly for opening and closing a tent between an open configuration and a closed configuration comprising:
- a base;
- a plurality of pairs of radial walls peripherally positioned around an outer portion of the base, each pair of radial walls forming a slot, each radial wall having a first engageable surface, upper ends of each radial wall having a second engageable surface;
- a plurality of outer walls positioned around the outer periphery of the base, each outer wall positioned at an outer end of a respective slot and forming a third engageable surface on an upper end thereof; and
- a plurality of poles having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate section therebetween, said first end having a pair of inner engagement members extending therefrom, said intermediate portion having a pair of outer engagement members extending therefrom;
- wherein each inner engagement member is engaged with a respective first engageable surface and each outer engagement member is engaged with a respective second engageable surface.
2. The hub assembly of claim 1, wherein a bottom portion of the pole intermediate section engages the third engageable surface in the open configuration.
3. The hub assembly of claim 1, wherein a bottom portion of each slot includes an opening.
4. The hub assembly of claim 1, wherein the radial wall includes a channel having at least one channel wall, wherein the at least one channel wall is the first engageable surface.
5. The hub assembly of claim 4, wherein the channel includes an inner section connected to an outer section, the inner section having a width greater than a width of the inner engagement member, a lower end of the outer section having a width less than the width of the inner engagement member.
6. The hub assembly of claim 1, wherein respective inner engagement members and outer engagement members of each pole is substantially aligned.
7. A hub assembly for opening and closing a tent between an open configuration and a closed configuration comprising:
- a hub, the hub having a plurality of pairs of radial walls, each pair of radial walls forming a slot, each radial wall having a first engageable surface, upper ends of each radial wall having a second engageable surface; and
- a plurality of poles having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate section therebetween, said first end having a pair of inner engagement members extending therefrom, said intermediate portion having a pair of outer engagement members extending therefrom;
- wherein each inner engagement member is pivotally coupled to a respective radial wall.
8. The hub assembly of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of outer walls positioned around the outer periphery of the hub, each outer wall positioned at an outer end of a respective slot and forming a third engageable surface on an upper end thereof.
9. The hub assembly of claim 8, wherein a bottom portion of the pole intermediate section engages the third engageable surface in the open configuration.
10. The hub assembly of claim 7, wherein each inner engagement member is engaged with a respective first engageable surface and each outer engagement member is engaged with a respective second engageable surface.
11. The hub assembly of claim 10, wherein the radial wall includes a channel having at least one channel wall, wherein the at least one channel wall is the first engageable surface.
12. The hub assembly of claim 11, wherein the channel includes an inner section connected to an outer section, the inner section having a width greater than a width of the inner engagement member, a lower end of the outer section having a width less than the width of the inner engagement member.
13. The hub assembly of claim 7, wherein respective inner engagement members and outer engagement members of each pole is substantially aligned.
14. The hub assembly of claim 13, wherein a bottom portion of each slot includes an opening.
15. A method for folding a tent between an open configuration and a closed configuration, with the tent in the open configuration having: a hub, the hub having a plurality of pairs of radial walls, each pair of radial walls forming a slot, each radial wall having a first engageable surface, upper ends of each radial wall having a second engageable surface; and a plurality of poles having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate section therebetween, said first end having a pair of inner engagement members extending therefrom, said intermediate portion having a pair of outer engagement members extending therefrom; wherein each inner engagement member is pivotally coupled to a respective radial wall on the first engageable surface and each outer engagement member engages the second engageable surface, comprising:
- pivoting each pole to move from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the inner engagement member is moved from an upper portion to a lower portion of the first engageable surface and the outer engagement member is moved from a lower portion to an upper portion of the second engageable surface.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the tent further comprises a plurality of outer walls positioned around the outer periphery of the hub, each outer wall positioned at an outer end of a respective slot and forming a third engageable surface on an upper end thereof, a bottom portion of the pole intermediate section engaging the third engageable surface in the open configuration and disengaging said surface in the closed configuration.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the radial wall includes a channel having at least one channel wall, wherein the at least one channel wall is the first engageable surface.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the channel includes an inner section connected to an outer section, the inner section having a width greater than a width of the inner engagement member, a lower end of the outer section having a width less than the width of the inner engagement member.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 29, 2015
Publication Date: Aug 27, 2015
Inventor: Ki Ho Jin (Xiamen)
Application Number: 14/608,301