An integrated automatic storage box and replaceable tent module system

Abstract

This invention discloses an integrated automatic storage box and a replaceable tent module system, belonging to the technical field of car camping equipment. The system includes a main unit module and a tent module, with the tent module detachably connected to the main unit module. The main unit module includes a housing, an air pump, and a connector. The air pump is fixedly installed inside the housing, and the connector is sealed to the air pump's outlet. The tent module includes a mounting base, an inflatable tent, and a connector. The mounting base is detachably installed inside the housing, the inflatable tent is connected to the mounting base and includes a foldable air column, and the connector is sealed to the air column. The connector is plugged into and plugged into the connector to quickly connect or disconnect the air path between the air pump and the air column. This invention adopts a separate main unit and tent module architecture, combined with a pluggable quick-connect structure, allowing for quick replacement of the tent module without tools. This solves the problems of existing technologies where the air pump and tent are inseparable and the tent cannot be replaced as a whole, improving the system's maintainability and scene adaptability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of car camping equipment, and in particular to an integrated automatic storage box and a replaceable tent module system. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, users of vehicle-mounted inflatable tents in this technology cannot change to tents of different sizes or functions according to camping scenarios, and the entire tent must be scrapped when damaged. The connection between the air pump and the tent lacks a standardized quick interface that combines airtightness, mechanical locking, and ease of operation, making connection inconvenient and prone to air leakage. In addition, rooftop tents in this technology are isolated from the vehicle's interior space, making it impossible to reuse the vehicle's air conditioning, lighting, audio, and other functions; while rear tents can connect to the vehicle interior, installation is complex and compatibility is poor. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide an integrated automatic storage box and replaceable tent module system, including a main unit module and a tent module, wherein the tent module is detachably connected to the main unit module, wherein:

[0004] The main unit module includes a housing, an air pump, and a connector. The air pump is fixedly installed inside the housing. The connector is sealed to the air outlet of the air pump.

[0005] The tent module includes a mounting base, an inflatable tent, and a connector. The mounting base is detachably installed inside the housing. The inflatable tent is connected to the mounting base, and the mounting base includes a foldable air column. The connector is sealed to the air column.

[0006] The connector is plugged into and unplugged from the connector base to allow the air passage between the air pump and the air column to be connected or disconnected.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the integrated automatic storage box and replaceable tent module system adopt a separate architecture for the main unit module and the tent module. The air pump is fixed inside the box, and the connecting seat is permanently sealed to the air pump outlet. The tent module is plugged and unplugged into the connecting seat via a connector, realizing rapid connection or disconnection of the air circuit. This has the following advantages:

[0008] 1) The air pump is fixed inside the box and does not fold or move with the tent module, avoiding the risk of damage caused by repeated bending of the air column and extending the service life of the air pump; at the same time, the tent module can be disassembled and replaced as a whole. When the tent is damaged or a different size tent is needed, there is no need to replace the main module containing the air pump, which reduces maintenance costs and the threshold for use.

[0009] 2) By plugging and unplugging the connector and the connector base, users can quickly connect or disconnect the air circuit between the tent module and the main unit module without tools. The installation and disassembly process is simple and time-saving, reducing the risk of air leakage caused by improper connection and ensuring airtightness.

[0010] 3) The mounting base can be detached and installed inside the box. The inflatable tent is connected to the mounting base. The tent module as a whole can be quickly removed and replaced with other models or functions of tent modules. The same main unit module can be adapted to a variety of camping scenarios, improving the product's versatility and user flexibility.

[0011] 4) The air pump and connector are integrated inside the box. The fixing base of the tent module and the inflatable tent are integrated into one design. The overall structure is compact and occupies little space, which is in line with the trend of lightweight and modular development of vehicle camping equipment.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the connector has a plug-in interface at its front end, a sealing groove on the inner wall of the plug-in interface, and an O-ring is installed in the sealing groove; the connector has a tube at its front end for inserting into the plug-in interface; the connector has an elastic buckle on its side wall, and the tube of the connector has an annular locking groove on its outer wall, so that when the tube is inserted into place, the claw of the elastic buckle automatically falls into the annular locking groove to form a lock.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the front end of the insertion interface is provided with a tapered guide port, and the front end of the insertion tube is provided with a tapered guide head that mates with the tapered guide port; the inner wall of the insertion interface is provided with two sealing grooves, and an O-ring is installed in each sealing groove to form a double radial seal.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the box body has a bottom shell and a lid that can be opened relative to the bottom shell; the main unit module further includes a control unit, which is used to control the opening or closing of the lid and to control the start and stop of the air pump.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the lid is a side-opening structure and is connected to the bottom shell by an electric hinge; the box body is provided with an electric latch for locking or releasing the lid; the control unit controls the operation of the electric hinge and the electric latch.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the box body is provided with a guide groove inside, and the bottom of the fixing seat is provided with a guide rib that slides with the guide groove to guide the tent module to be installed in place.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the present invention, an electronic identification system is further included, the electronic identification system including an electronic identification tag disposed on the tent module, the electronic identification tag storing identification information of the tent module; and a reading module disposed on the host module, the reading module being electrically connected to the control unit for reading the identification information; the control unit automatically matches the inflation parameters of the inflatable tent according to the read identification information.

[0018] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the main unit module further includes an auxiliary storage mechanism, which is configured as an elastic pull rope, one end of which is fixed inside the box and the other end is connected to the tent fabric of the inflatable tent.

[0019] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the air pump is configured as a reversible DC brushless air pump; the system further includes a control unit, which controls the air pump to operate in the forward direction to inflate the inflatable tent, or controls the air pump to operate in the reverse direction to evacuate air from the inflatable tent.

[0020] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the entrance edge of the inflatable tent is provided with a sealing curtain, and the edge of the sealing curtain is provided with a connector. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the usage state of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Diagrams showing the device after it has been stored and unfolded.

[0023] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagrams of the connecting seat and the fixed seat after disconnection and connection;

[0024] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A detailed schematic diagram of the connection between the intermediate connecting seat and the fixed seat;

[0025] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the flexible locking mechanism;

[0026] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 Signal transmission flowchart of the system;

[0027] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 Logical operation diagram of the system.

[0028] Figure label:

[0029] 10. Box body; 11. Box lid; 12. Electric hinge; 13. Electric lock;

[0030] 20. Air pump; 21. Battery; 22. Control unit;

[0031] 30. Connecting seat; 31. O-ring seal; 32. Elastic latch; 33. Guide groove;

[0032] 40. Fixing base; 41. Guide rib; 42. Connector; 43. Inflatable tent; 44. Air column; 45. Canopy; 46. Sealing curtain. Detailed Implementation

[0033] To make the content of this invention easier to understand, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Identical components are represented by the same reference numerals. It should be noted that the terms "front," "rear," "left," "right," "up," and "down" used in the following description refer to directions in the accompanying drawings, while the terms "inner" and "outer" refer to directions toward or away from the geometric center of a specific component, respectively.

[0034] Reference Appendix Figure 1-7 This embodiment provides an integrated automatic storage box and a replaceable tent module system. The system includes a main unit module and a tent module, with the tent module detachably connected to the main unit module.

[0035] The main unit module includes a housing 10, an air pump 20, and a connector 30. The housing 10 has a bottom shell and a cover 11 that can be opened relative to the bottom shell. The air pump 20 is fixedly installed inside the housing 10 and does not move or fold with the tent module, thus avoiding damage to the air pump 20 due to repeated bending and extending its service life. The connector 30 is sealed to the air outlet of the air pump 20.

[0036] Reference Appendix Figure 1-7 The tent module includes a mounting base 40, an inflatable tent 43, and a connector 42. The mounting base 40 is detachably installed within the housing 10. The inflatable tent 43 is connected to the mounting base 40 and includes a foldable air column 44 and a tent fabric 45. The connector 42 is sealed to the air column 44.

[0037] The air circuit between the air pump 20 and the air column 44 is connected or disconnected by plugging and unplugging the connector 42 and the connector 30. When the mounting base 40 is installed in place, the air circuit is connected; when the mounting base 40 is removed from the housing 10, the air circuit is disconnected. This structure realizes a separate design for the main unit module and the tent module. The tent module can be replaced as a whole. Users can replace different models and functions of tent modules according to camping scenarios. When the tent is damaged, there is no need to replace the entire system, which reduces maintenance costs and extends the service life of the main unit.

[0038] Reference Appendix Figure 1-7 The connector 30 and connector 42 form a plug-in quick-connect structure. The connector 30 has a plug-in interface at its front end. The inner wall of the plug-in interface has a sealing groove, within which an O-ring 31 is installed. The side wall of the connector 30 has a spring-loaded latch 32, which includes a claw, a release button, and a torsion spring. The front end of the plug-in interface has a tapered guide opening to guide the connector 42 into place, achieving blind insertion and alignment. The inner wall of the plug-in interface has two sealing grooves, each containing an O-ring 31, forming a double radial seal. Even if the first seal fails, the second seal still ensures airtightness.

[0039] The connector 42 has a tube at its front end for inserting into the connector interface. The tube's front end has a tapered guide head that mates with a tapered guide port. The outer wall of the tube has an annular locking groove. When the tube is inserted into place, the claw of the elastic lock 32 automatically falls into the annular locking groove, forming a lock. To unlock, the user presses the release button, the claw disengages from the locking groove, and the tent module can be pulled out. This plug-and-play quick-connect structure allows for rapid installation or removal of the tent module without tools. The tapered guide enables blind insertion and alignment, double sealing ensures air circuit reliability, and the elastic lock automatically locks to prevent loosening. This solves the problems of inconvenience and easy air leakage associated with existing threaded connections or ordinary plug-in connections.

[0040] To ensure centering accuracy and positional precision during tent module installation, the bottom surface of the housing 10 is provided with a guide groove 33, and the bottom of the fixing base 40 is provided with a guide rib 41 that slides in conjunction with the guide groove 33. In this embodiment, the guide groove 33 consists of two parallel trapezoidal grooves, with a flared guide angle at the front end and a limiting block at the rear end. The guide rib 41 has a trapezoidal cross-section.

[0041] When the user pushes the mounting bracket 40 into the housing 10, the guide rib 41 slides along the guide groove 33, guiding the tent module into place and ensuring that the connector 42 and the mounting bracket 30 are accurately aligned. Simultaneously, a limit stop controls the insertion depth. To assist in the tent's return to its original position during storage and reduce manual folding operations, the main unit module also includes an auxiliary storage mechanism. This auxiliary storage mechanism is an elastic drawstring.

[0042] The elastic pull cord is made of latex-woven elastic rope, with one end fixed inside the box 10 and the other end connected to the tent fabric 45 of the inflatable tent 43. Specifically, the bottom of the box 10 is provided with a pull cord fixing seat, and the elastic pull cord passes through the fixing seat and is knotted for fixation; the edge of the tent fabric 45 is sewn with a pull cord connecting ring, and the end of the elastic pull cord is connected to the connecting ring through a plastic hook.

[0043] When the air pump 20 reverses the air flow and the air column 44 collapses, the elastic pull rope retracts, pulling the tent fabric 45 back to the bottom of the box 10, assisting the tent in returning to its original position and achieving semi-automatic storage.

[0044] In addition, this system also includes an electronic identification system for tent modules, which is used to automatically identify tent modules and match inflation parameters.

[0045] An electronic identification tag is installed on the tent module. In this embodiment, an RFID tag is encapsulated inside the mounting base 40. The RFID tag stores the identification information of the tent module, including: tent model, tent size, recommended inflation pressure, recommended inflation time, etc. A reading module is installed on the main unit module, and the reading module is connected to the control unit 22. In this embodiment, an RFID read / write module is installed in a corresponding position inside the housing 10, and is connected to the control unit 22 via a UART interface.

[0046] Once the tent module is installed, the reading module reads the electronic identification tag information. The control unit 22 automatically matches the inflation parameters (such as inflation pressure threshold and inflation time limit) of the inflatable tent 43 based on the read identification information. If the identification information does not match the preset parameters, or if no tent module is identified, the control unit 22 issues an alarm and prevents inflation from starting. This function avoids tent damage or safety accidents caused by mismatched inflation parameters.

[0047] Reference Appendix Figure 1-7 The housing 10 has a bottom shell and a lid 11 that can be opened relative to the bottom shell. The main unit module also includes a control unit 22 for controlling the opening and closing of the lid 11 and controlling the start and stop of the air pump 20. The lid 11 has a side-opening structure and is connected to the bottom shell via an electric hinge 12. The electric hinge 12 has a built-in DC geared motor. The housing 10 is equipped with an electric latch 13 for locking or releasing the lid 11. The electric latch 13 is driven by an electromagnet. The control unit 22 controls the movement of the electric hinge 12 and the electric latch 13 to realize the automatic opening and closing of the lid 11.

[0048] The air pump 20 is a miniature DC brushless air pump that can rotate in both directions. The control unit 22 controls the air pump 20 to operate in the forward direction to inflate the inflatable tent 43, or controls the air pump 20 to operate in the reverse direction to evacuate air from the inflatable tent 43.

[0049] Tent Deployment Process: The user issues a "deploy" command via remote control, mobile app, or vehicle-mounted system. Upon receiving the command, control unit 22 unlocks the electric latch 13, and electric hinge 12 drives the cover 11 to open. The end of the tent module naturally droops due to gravity. Control unit 22 starts air pump 20 to operate in the forward direction, and gas enters air column 44 through connector 30 and connector 42. Air column 44 expands sequentially from the beginning to the end until the tent is fully deployed. This process achieves one-button automatic deployment without manual operation.

[0050] Tent packing process: The user issues a "pack" command. Control unit 22 controls air pump 20 to reverse, expelling gas from the end of air column 44 towards the head, causing the air column 44 to collapse sequentially. Simultaneously, the elastic cord retracts, pulling the tent fabric 45 back to the bottom of the box 10. After the gas is expelled, control unit 22 controls electric hinge 12 to close the box lid 11, and electric latch 13 locks it. This process achieves one-button automatic packing, and with the elastic cord assisting in return, it significantly reduces manual operation.

[0051] To achieve a sealed and continuous space between the tent's interior and the vehicle's interior, allowing functions such as air conditioning, lighting, and audio to extend to the tent area, the inflatable tent 43 has a sealing curtain 46 at its entrance edge. The sealing curtain 46 is a flexible fabric curtain with connectors (such as zippers or Velcro) along its edges for connection to corresponding structures around the vehicle door openings. When the tent is deployed, connecting the sealing curtain 46 to the vehicle door openings creates a closed space that connects the tent's interior to the vehicle's interior.

[0052] In this embodiment, the housing 10 also includes a battery 21 to provide power to various electrical components such as the air pump 20, electric hinge 12, electric latch 13, and control unit 22. The battery 21 is a rechargeable lithium battery and uses a 12V power supply system. The control unit 22 includes an MCU, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a Bluetooth / WiFi module, and can receive commands from a remote control, mobile app, or vehicle infotainment system.

[0053] The box body 10 is injection molded from ABS or PC+ABS engineering plastic, with a wall thickness of 3mm to 5mm. It has a dovetail groove mounting interface at the bottom (40mm wide, 15mm deep, 5° taper) for fixed connection with the vehicle's roof bracket. The box body 10 has a length of 1600mm to 2000mm, a height of 200mm to 400mm, and a width of 700mm to 900mm.

[0054] The air column 44 is made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) coated Oxford cloth with a circular cross-section. It is formed by high-frequency heat sealing and adopts a sequential folding air column system, including a head connecting section, 1 to 6 arched air column sections, and an end sealing section. The air passages between each air column section are interconnected. The tarpaulin 45 is made of polyester or nylon fabric, which has waterproof and UV protection functions, and is fixed to the outside of the air column 44 by sewing. The connection between the connector 30 and the air outlet of the air pump 20, and the connection between the connector 42 and the air column 44, are all threaded and coated with thread sealant and cured to form a permanent, non-removable connection to ensure airtightness.

[0055] This system also features a foolproof design: different guide ribs 41 are positioned and numbered for the mounting bases 40 of different tent module models, and the guide grooves 33 of the housing 10 are correspondingly set to prevent incorrect installation. Different colored marking strips are set on the outer surface of the mounting bases 40 for easy user identification. The control unit 22 connects to a mobile APP via Bluetooth, displaying information such as the currently installed tent module model, inflation status, and air pressure value on the APP interface.

Claims

1. An integrated automatic storage box and replaceable tent module system, characterized in that, It includes a main unit module and a tent module, wherein the tent module is detachably connected to the main unit module, wherein: The main unit module includes a housing, an air pump, and a connector. The air pump is fixedly installed inside the housing. The connector is sealed to the air outlet of the air pump. The tent module includes a mounting base, an inflatable tent, and a connector. The mounting base is detachably installed inside the housing. The inflatable tent is connected to the mounting base, and the mounting base includes a foldable air column. The connector is sealed to the air column. The connector is plugged into and unplugged from the connector base to allow the air passage between the air pump and the air column to be connected or disconnected.

2. The integrated automatic storage box and replaceable tent module system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connector has a plug-in interface at its front end, and a sealing groove is provided on the inner wall of the plug-in interface. An O-ring is installed in the sealing groove. The connector has a tube at its front end for inserting into the plug-in interface. The connector has an elastic buckle on its side wall, and the tube of the connector has an annular locking groove on its outer wall. When the tube is inserted into place, the claw of the elastic buckle automatically falls into the annular locking groove to form a lock.

3. The integrated automatic storage box and replaceable tent module system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The front end of the insertion interface is provided with a tapered guide opening, and the front end of the insertion tube is provided with a tapered guide head that mates with the tapered guide opening; the inner wall of the insertion interface is provided with two sealing grooves, and an O-ring is installed in each sealing groove to form a double radial seal.

4. The integrated automatic storage box and replaceable tent module system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The box body has a bottom shell and a lid that can be opened relative to the bottom shell; the main unit module also includes a control unit, which is used to control the opening or closing of the lid and to control the start and stop of the air pump.

5. The integrated automatic storage box and replaceable tent module system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The lid is a side-opening structure and is connected to the bottom shell via an electric hinge; the box body is equipped with an electric latch for locking or releasing the lid; the control unit controls the operation of the electric hinge and the electric latch.

6. The integrated automatic storage box and replaceable tent module system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The box body has a guide groove inside, and the bottom of the fixing seat has a guide rib that slides with the guide groove to guide the tent module to be installed in place.

7. The integrated automatic storage box and replaceable tent module system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an electronic identification system, which includes an electronic identification tag disposed on the tent module and storing identification information of the tent module; it also includes a reading module disposed on the host module, which is electrically connected to the control unit and is used to read the identification information; the control unit automatically matches the inflation parameters of the inflatable tent according to the read identification information.

8. The integrated automatic storage box and replaceable tent module system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main unit module also includes an auxiliary storage mechanism, which is an elastic pull rope. One end of the elastic pull rope is fixed inside the box, and the other end is connected to the tent fabric of the inflatable tent.

9. The integrated automatic storage box and replaceable tent module system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air pump is configured as a reversible DC brushless air pump; the system also includes a control unit, which controls the air pump to operate in the forward direction to inflate the inflatable tent, or controls the air pump to operate in the reverse direction to evacuate air from the inflatable tent.

10. The integrated automatic storage box and replaceable tent module system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inflatable tent has a sealing curtain at the entrance edge, and the edge of the sealing curtain has a connector.

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