Foldable tent

Abstract

A foldable self-erecting tent (10) has an elongate fabric shell (11) and frame ribs (16). Frame ribs (16) define an interior space the of tent (10), and a collapsed and folded configuration in which the shell (11) is compacted and the frame is manipulated such that the tent (10) is stored in carry bag (25). The frame ribs (16) are adapted to be fitted into sleeves (17) and secured at their ends such that ribs (16) are bowed in arcuate configurations, the ribs (16) being made from a resilient spring like material urging against the shell (11) of fabric sheet material to form the interior space. The frame ribs (16) are moveable from the erect configuration where they are spaced apart to the collapsed configuration where they adjacent to each other into a substantially flat arrangement with a diameter of the transverse cross section being substantially identical to that of the erect configuration, the ribs (16) being adapted to be manipulated into a loop arrangement (23) thereby reducing the diameter in the collapsed and folded configuration, the tent in flat collapsed and folded configuration being adapted to be stored in the storage carry bag (25).

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation of, and claims priority of the filing date of, U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 332,755, presently pending, which itself is a U.S. national phase application, under 35 U.S.C. 371, of PCT / AU01 / 00843, having an international filing date of 13 Jul. 2001.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. The Technical Field [0003] The present invention relates to tents and, in particular, to a tent having an integral frame with attached fabric covering, which is self erecting, collapsible and is easily folded such that it is stowable in a carry bag or the like. [0004] 2. The Prior Art [0005] Self-erecting tents are tents which utilize as a frame, a number of wire loops which are sewn into a sleeve in the fabric covering such that when the tent is released form its collapsed state, it springs into the shape of a tent due to the spring action of the wire loops. [0006] However it has been found that prior art tents such as described above are not relatively easy to stow in a b...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a foldable self-erecting tent that can be easily collapsed and stored in a carry bag. The tent has an elongated shell of fabric sheet material with frame ribs that define an interior space. The frame ribs are moveable from an erect configuration to a collapsed configuration, and can be manipulated into a loop arrangement to reduce the diameter of the collapsed and folded configuration. The tent in this configuration is stored in a flat oval shaped carry bag with at least one carry handle. The ribs are removable from the sleeves and secured to tags attached to the shell. The tent has openings in the end panels and can be elongated with a central upper panel and two oppositely located end upper panels. The ribs are formed into pairs with cross-over points, which allow for a taut surface when the ribs are pulled apart. The arrangement of the ribs can be altered to have no cross-over points or adjacent ribs directed in opposing directions."

Problems solved by technology

However it has been found that prior art tents such as described above are not relatively easy to stow in a bag to be carried on one's back or over one's shoulder.

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