Roof tent, roof system, and method for folding and unfolding roof tent

Abstract

The invention relates to a roof tent comprising a bottom and a tent mechanism connected to the bottom, the tent mechanism being folded and unfolded and comprising at least one piece of canvas. The invention also relates to a roof system provided with the roof tent as described herein. The invention also relates to a method for folding and unfolding a roof tent as described herein.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle roof tent, which comprises a bottom and a tent mechanism connected with the bottom, and the tent mechanism is folded up and unfolded by at least one canvas.

[0002] The invention also relates to a vehicle roof system provided with a roof tent as disclosed herein.

[0003] The invention also relates to a method for folding and unfolding a roof tent as disclosed herein.

[0004] A roof tent is an accessory that can be mounted on the roof of a motor vehicle so that the user of the roof tent can sleep relatively safely and comfortably above the vehicle and the interior space of the vehicle remains free, i.e. the roof tent does not require any luggage space in the vehicle. These roof tents usually comprise a base and a tent mechanism connected to the base, which can be folded up and unfolded and is provided with a canvas. Disadvantages of known roof tents are that the canvas may be relatively difficult to stretch and / or that age and / or the influence of weather may gradually change the properties of the canvas (e.g. expand or contract), which may have an impact on stretching the canvas or keeping it taut.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved roof tent and / or a roof tent which can be erected relatively quickly and / or in a user-friendly manner with a relatively easy to stretch canvas.

[0006] At least one of these objects is achieved by means of a roof tent as defined in claim 1 .

[0007] The roof tent comprises a base and a tent mechanism connected to the base, the tent mechanism being folded up and unfolded by means of at least one canvas which can be stretched by means of a stretching unit. The stretching unit of the roof tent is provided with at least one tent pole which is connected or to be connected to the canvas, one end of the tent pole being provided with a connecting piece by means of which the tent pole is connected or to be connected to the base in a freely rotatable manner. In the state when connected to the canvas and the base, the tent pole can be rotated in more than one plane. In this way, the canvas can be stretched relatively easily by means of the freely rotatable connection between the tent pole and the base. That is, the stretching unit enables the canvas to be stretched in a user-friendly manner by means of the tent pole and / or enables the roof tent to be mounted relatively quickly despite a relatively large height relative to the ground on which the vehicle on top of which the roof tent is located is parked. Furthermore, by making the tent pole freely rotatable, changes in the properties of the canvas due to weather influences or age can be compensated relatively easily, so that the canvas can be stretched in a desired manner by means of the tent pole. The tent pole may be configured as a telescopic tent pole, so that the length of the tent pole can be changed by sliding the telescopic tent pole in or out in a user-friendly manner, wherein the tent pole is automatically oriented relative to the base without further manipulation by the freely rotatable connection between the tent pole and the base. The sliding-in and sliding-out portion of the tent pole may be closer to the end of the tent pole connected to the canvas than the opposite end of the tent pole connected to the base. The connecting piece may be manually connected to the base in a detachable manner without the need for tools or the like. The connecting piece may also be connected to the base in a non-detachable manner. The connecting piece of the tent pole may be provided with a head-shaped element, which is connected or to be connected to a fastening element of the base. For example, the head-shaped element is configured as part of a ball joint in which the head-shaped element is spherical, as part of a condyle joint comprising a cup-shaped and an elliptical joint surface, or as part of a saddle joint in which the head-shaped element is saddle-shaped. Thus, the base comprises a fastening element configured accordingly, i.e. a bowl-shaped one for a ball joint or a condylar joint, and a saddle-shaped one for a saddle joint. The fastening element may be applied on or near the peripheral edge of the base. The head-shaped element may need to be at least partially pressed in to provide a connection with the fastening element, for example, the head-shaped element is made of a more elastic material than the fastening element of the base. The head-shaped element may be manually fastened by minimal temporary deformation in the fastening element and removed therefrom in a relatively quick, user-friendly manner.

[0008] On the other hand, the stretching unit is provided with at least one further tent pole, which is configured identically to the above-mentioned tent pole, wherein the two tent poles at a distance from each other are connected or coupled to the base in a freely rotatable manner. With the aid of such a stretching unit, a canvas can be stretched relatively easily, for example for forming a tent (pavilion) roof and / or a tent awning of the roof-top tent. Keeping the tent roof and / or the tent awning of the roof-top tent under appropriate tension is particularly important for correct drainage, in order to prevent the canvas from sagging due to precipitation and thus risking leakage.

[0009] The stretching unit may also be provided with two supporting tent poles, each of which comprises a first end, which is connected or to be connected to one of the two tent poles near its end, via which end the canvas is connected or to be connected to the tent pole. Thus, in its unfolded use state, the roof tent may define an acute angle between each supporting tent pole and the tent pole, which acute angle is in the angular range of 50 to 85 degrees. By means of such a stretching unit, the tent roof and / or the tent awning of the roof tent may be stretched in a user-friendly manner. The roof tent may be provided with an access opening, which in the unfolded use state of the roof tent remains unaffected by the stretching unit. In this way, a user may access the interior space of the roof tent via the access opening without being hindered by the stretching unit.

[0010] On the other hand, in the unfolded use state, the tent poles of the roof tent form an adjustable obtuse angle with the bottom, which is greater than 90 degrees and less than or equal to 150 degrees, and preferably less than or equal to 135 degrees. By means of these tent poles of the stretching unit, the tent roof and / or the tent awning of the roof tent can be stretched in such a way that the tent roof and / or the tent awning can protrude relative to the bottom of the roof tent, which can provide shade and form additional protection against precipitation.

[0011] The invention also relates to a roof system provided with a roof tent as disclosed herein. The roof system may be provided with a roof system opening mechanism, such as a gas spring, by which the roof system can be automatically folded open and components of a tent mechanism connected to the roof system can be at least partially folded and unfolded.

[0012] The invention also relates to a method for folding and unfolding a roof tent between a transport state and a use state of the roof tent. By means of this method, a user can relatively easily set up a roof tent as described above. For example, the tent mechanism of the roof tent can be partially unfolded automatically by the opening mechanism of the roof system, wherein the canvas can be stretched manually in a user-friendly manner by the stretching unit for obtaining the use state of the roof tent.

[0013] The aspects described in this document will be explained below based on embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. On the contrary, many variations and modifications are possible, which utilize the ideas of the invention and therefore fall within the scope of protection. In particular, it is mentioned that features / aspects that are only mentioned in the description and / or shown in the drawings can be combined with features in the claims or features shown in other drawings, as long as they are compatible.

[0014] Please refer to the following attached figure, where:

[0015] Figure 1 A top view of a roof tent is shown;

[0016] Figure 2 Shown along Figure 1 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of the roof tent along line AA shown in FIG. 1 , wherein certain parts of the roof tent are also shown enlarged;

[0017] Figure 3 A perspective view of a roof-top tent and an enlarged portion of the roof-top tent are shown.

[0018] In the drawings, the same components are given the same reference numerals.

[0019] The roof system 3 shown in the drawings comprises: a roof tent 1, a foldable and unfoldable upper cover part 4 and a bottom part 5. The roof tent can be unfolded or folded and unfolded from a transport state (not shown) to a use state of the roof tent 1 as shown in the drawings, and vice versa. In the transport state, only the relatively compact folded roof system 3 is visible. In the transport state, a motor vehicle (not shown) with the roof system 3 fastened thereto can be driven along a public road, the roof system 3 being loaded with the roof tent 1. The roof system 3 is provided with at least one gas spring 8, by means of which the roof system 3 can be automatically folded and opened, and components of the tent mechanism connected to the roof system 3 can be at least partially folded and unfolded.

[0020] In the use state of the roof tent 1, the bottom part 5 of the roof system 3 also forms the bottom 5 of the roof tent. The bottom 5 is provided with a first bottom section 5a and a second bottom section 5b, wherein the bottom sections 5a, 5b are joined together in a movable manner, in particular hinged together, so as to be moved between a transport position (not shown) and a roof tent position, in which the bottom sections 5a, 5b form an enlarged bottom of the roof tent 1.

[0021] The roof tent 1 shown, in its shown use state, consists of an upper cover part 4 of a roof system 3, a base 5 and a tent mechanism connected to the base, which folds up and unfolds and comprises a canvas for forming the roof tent 1. The roof tent 1 comprises at least one (tent) canvas (sunshade or roof fabric, denoted by reference numeral 7 in the figures), which can be stretched by means of a stretching unit 9.

[0022] The stretching unit 9 of the roof tent 1 is provided with at least one tent pole 11 which is connected or to be connected to the canvas 7, one end of which is provided with a connection piece 15, by means of which the tent pole 11 is connected or to be connected in a freely rotatable manner to the base 5. The other end of the tent pole 11 is provided with a fastening device 17, by means of which the tent pole is to be connected to the canvas 7. In the embodiment shown, this end of the tent pole 11 comprises a pin 17, which can be manually pushed through an opening near the peripheral edge of the canvas 7 to form a detachable connection between the canvas 7 and the tent pole 11. Other fastening devices (not shown) can be used for establishing a connection between the canvas 7 and the tent pole 11.

[0023] The connecting piece 15 is provided with a head-shaped element 16 (see Figure 2 ), in particular the spherical part of the ball joint 18, which is connected or to be connected to the fastening element 20 of the base 5, in particular the bowl-shaped fastening element 20 of the ball joint 18 into which the spherical head-shaped element 16 is to be fitted. In the connected state of the ball joint 18 shown, the tent pole 11, which is also connected to the canvas 7, can be rotated in more than one plane, in other words in at least two planes. It should be noted that in addition to the ball joint 18, other configurations of the joints described above can also be used to provide said rotation of the tent pole 11 in more than one plane.

[0024] It may be necessary to at least partially press the head-shaped element 16 in order to provide a connection with the fastening element 20, for example the head-shaped element 16 is made of a more elastic material than the fastening element 20 of the bottom 5. As shown, the fastening element 20 is applied at or near the peripheral edge 25 of the bottom 5, more specifically at the peripheral edge 25 of the second bottom section 5b. It is also possible that the tent pole 11 is permanently (not manually removable) connected to the fastening element 20 of the bottom by means of a ball joint 18, wherein the canvas 7 will be stretched after it has been fastened to the tent pole 11.

[0025] The base 5 is or will be connected to a centrally mounted telescopic ladder 29, with which the base 5 will be supported and the roof tent can be used by the user. The ladder 29 is hinged to the peripheral edge 25 of the second base section 5b. The ladder 29 is permanently connected to the base, but it is also possible to connect the ladder to the base 5 in a detachable manner. The ladder 29 is configured to slide in and out in a telescopic manner, wherein in the extended state of the ladder 29, the ladder comprises both the ladder function and the support function of the base 5.

[0026] When the roof tent 1 is in the unfolded state, the tent pole 11 of the roof tent 1 forms an adjustable obtuse angle α with the bottom 5 (see Figure 2 ), which is greater than 90 degrees and less than or equal to 150 degrees, and preferably less than or equal to 135 degrees. The adjustable obtuse angle α forms a first rotational freedom of the ball joint 18 of the stretching unit 9 for stretching the canvas 7 by means of the tent pole. The second rotational freedom of the ball joint 18 is, for example, Figure 2 Rotation within the plane of the drawing.

[0027] The tent pole 11 is configured as a telescopic tent pole 11, so that the length of the tent pole can be changed relatively easily and the canvas 7 can be stretched in a fast and user-friendly manner by means of a freely rotatable connection 18 which allows rotation in more than one plane of the tent pole 11 connected to the canvas. The mechanism for operating (releasing and tightening) the telescopic part of the tent pole is in Figure 2 In the figure, it is indicated by the reference numeral 30.

[0028] The shown stretching unit 9 is provided with at least one further tent pole 11 ′ which is configured identically to the tent pole 11 , wherein both tent poles 11 , 11 ′ are to be connected to the base 5 in the same manner or at a distance from one another via ball joints 18 , 18 ′.

[0029] The stretching unit 9 is also provided with two tent support poles 31. Figure 2Only one of them is shown in the figure. Each supporting tent pole 31 comprises a first end 31 which is connected or to be connected to one of the two tent poles 11, 11' near its end, and the canvas 7 is connected or to be connected to the tent pole 11, 11' through this end. The roof tent 1 defines an acute angle β between each supporting tent pole 31 and the tent pole 11, 11' in its unfolded use state for stretching the canvas 7, the angle ranging from 50 to 85 degrees.

[0030] In addition to the canvas 7 , the roof tent is provided with a canvas or canvases 33 forming a closable interior of the roof tent 1 , which is provided with an access opening 35 which remains unaffected by the stretching unit 9 in the unfolded use state of the roof tent 1 .

Claims

1. A roof tent, comprising: A bottom and a tent mechanism connected to the bottom, the tent mechanism being folded up and unfolded by means of at least one canvas, the at least one canvas being stretchable by means of a stretching unit, wherein the stretching unit of the roof tent is provided with at least one tent pole, the at least one tent pole being connected or to be connected to the canvas, one end of the tent pole being provided with a connecting piece, the tent pole being connected or to be connected to the bottom in a freely rotatable manner by means of the connecting piece.

2. The roof tent according to claim 1, wherein: The tent poles are telescopic tent poles.

3. The roof tent according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The connecting piece is to be connected to the base in a manually detachable manner or in a manually non-detachable manner.

4. A roof tent according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The connection piece is provided with a head-shaped element, such as a ball-shaped part of a ball joint, which is or is to be connected to a fastening element of the base, such as a bowl-shaped fastening element of a ball joint.

5. The roof tent according to claim 4, wherein: The head-shaped element will be at least partially pressed in to provide a connection with the fastening element, for example the head-shaped element is made of a more elastic material than the fastening element of the base.

6. A roof tent according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The tent roof and / or the tent awning of the roof-top tent will be provided by the canvas.

7. A roof tent according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The bottom is provided with a first bottom section and a second bottom section, wherein the bottom sections are joined together in a movably manner, preferably the bottom sections are hinged together, for movement between a transport position and a roof tent position, in which the bottom sections form the bottom of the roof tent.

8. The roof tent according to claim 4 or 5, wherein: The fastening elements are applied at or near the peripheral edge of the base.

9. A roof tent according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The stretching unit is provided with at least one further tent pole which is configured identically to the tent pole, wherein the two tent poles at a distance from one another are to be connected or are connected in a freely rotatable manner to the base.

10. The roof tent according to claim 9, wherein: The stretching unit is provided with two supporting tent poles, each of which comprises a first end, which is connected or to be connected near its end to one of the two tent poles, via which end the canvas is connected or to be connected.

11. The roof tent according to claim 10, wherein: The roof tent defines an acute angle between each supporting tent pole and the tent pole in its unfolded use state, and the acute angle is within an angle range of 50 degrees to 85 degrees.

12. A roof tent according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The tent pole of the roof tent forms an adjustable obtuse angle with the bottom in the unfolded use state, the obtuse angle is greater than 90 degrees and less than or equal to 150 degrees, and preferably, the obtuse angle is less than or equal to 135 degrees.

13. A roof tent according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The base will be connected or attached to a centrally mounted telescopic ladder by which the base is supported and the roof tent is ready for use by a user.

14. A roof tent according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The roof tent is provided with an access opening which, in the unfolded use state of the roof tent, remains unaffected by the stretching unit.

15. A vehicle roof system provided with a roof tent according to any one of the preceding claims.

16. The roof system of claim 15, wherein: By means of a roof system opening mechanism, such as a gas spring, the roof system can be automatically folded open, and the components of the tent mechanism connected to the roof system can be at least partially folded and unfolded.

17. A method for folding and unfolding a roof tent according to any one of the preceding claims between a transport position and a use position of the roof tent.

Images