DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A TENT

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a device for supporting a portable shelter, and to a portable shelter including the device.

[0002] Numerous designs exist for frames of bivvies (bivouacs) as used by anglers when angling. It is common to provide a hub at a central point in the roof of such a shelter, from which a plurality of legs radiates, to support a fabric cover. The legs may be curved, to form a dome-shaped shelter, or angled, if the shelter is to have discernible walls and a roof. In the known arrangements, it is generally possible to move the legs, or at least portions thereof which cannot be removed from the hub, from their radial position to a mutually parallel position for storage.

[0003] US 5 046 882 A and US 2019 / 338553 A1 describe such arrangements. The innermost ends of the legs pivot about horizontal axes and can be retained in a generally horizontal support position, and released to pivot downwardly.

[0004] GB 2535221 A describes a hub in which some of the legs pivot about axes that are vertical in the erected condition of the shelter.

[0005] The present invention provides a device for supporting a portable shelter, the device comprising: a hub, a plurality of leg portions each pivoted to the hub about mutually parallel axes between: a support position, and a storage position in which an angle between the leg portions is reduced or eliminated compared to the support position, characterised by a jaw, pivoted to the hub, to clamp the leg portions in the support position.

[0006] As compared with known shelters, the shelter of the invention can be provided with fewer legs, without compromising its stability, even in strong winds.

[0007] In various embodiments of the invention, the device includes one or more of: at least one magnet, a resilient biassing member, such as a helical spring, and / or a locking engagement, to provide a clamping action of the jaw and thus retain the leg portions in the support position.

[0008] The clampable leg portions may be arranged with mirror symmetry about a diameter of the hub, at least in the support position. "Diameter" includes an approximation of a diameter when the hub is not round. The number of leg portions that can be clamped by the jaw may be two. The leg portions and / or the hub may be provided with latching surfaces arranged to displace the jaw to allow rotation of the leg portions from the storage position to the support position.

[0009] Embodiments of the invention include additional leg portions that are not clampable by the jaw. The additional leg portions may also be arranged with mirror symmetry about a diameter, or the diameter, of the hub, at least in the support position, and there may be two of them. The additional leg portions may be pivotable about axes parallel to the pivot axes of the clampable leg portions, from a support position, to a storage position in which an angle between the additional leg portions and / or angles between each of the additional leg portions and the clampable leg portions is reduced or eliminated compared to the support position.

[0010] The additional leg portions can be located rearwardly of the clampable legs in the support position. In the support position, the additional legs can be at an angle of 70-120°, optionally 85-105°, and optionally about 95°. This avoids the requirement for a central leg at the back of the shelter.

[0011] Legs depending from the leg portions can be attached to a fabric cover of the shelter.

[0012] Arms may extend from the hub to support an awning of the shelter.

[0013] The invention also provides a portable shelter comprising a support device as described above, legs extending from the clampable leg portions, and a flexible cover attached to the legs.

[0014] The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a shelter according to an embodiment of the invention, in an erected condition; Figure 2 is a rear view of the shelter of Figure 1, in the erected condition; Figure 3 is a plan view of the shelter in the erected condition; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a device for supporting the shelter of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a further perspective view of the device, with a shroud or cover member thereof removed; Figure 6 is a plan view of the device, with the shroud removed; Figure 7 is a rear view of the device, with the shroud removed; Figure 8 is an exploded view of the device; Figures 9, 10 and 11 show stages in the folding and dismantling of the shelter, not showing the flexible cover.

[0015] Figures 1-3 show a portable shelter, here a bivvy for an angler. The shelter has a central support device 2 at its apex. Four legs extend from the support device 2, namely two side legs 4 and two rear legs 6. The legs 4, 6 are attached to a flexible waterproof cover 8.

[0016] The cover 8 includes a doorway or opening 12. An awning 14 is located above the opening 12, supported by two arms 10 extending generally horizontally from the support device 2.

[0017] Figures 4-8 show how the support device 2 comprises a hub 18 and side leg portions 20 and rear leg portions 22 pivoted thereto about axes that are vertical when the shelter is erected. In use, the legs 4, 6 are attached to the respective leg portions 20, 22.

[0018] With reference to Figure 8, the support device comprises a base plate 24 which in this example is generally hexagonal. The base plate as embodied here has channels 26 for housing arm protrusions 28 for mounting the arms 10. The protrusions 28 are fixed to a T-shaped member 30 which is mounted on a lower sub-plate 32 attached to a rear half of the base plate 24.

[0019] The leg portions 20, 22 are pivotally mounted at peripheral locations between the lower sub-plate 32 and an upper sub-plate 34, and are best viewed in Figure 7. A mounting end of the leg portion includes a generally cylindrical mounting part 36 that slidingly rotates relative to the plates 32, 34. A latching member 38 extends from an upper surface of the mounting part 36, with a vertical face 42 directed forwardly and a sloping face 44 directed rearwardly. An upper part 46 is located centrally with respect to the mounting part 40. A vertical bore 48 for mounting the leg portion extends through the upper part 46 and the mounting part 40, and receives a suitable fastener.

[0020] The left and right side leg portions 20 are mutually symmetrical. For ease of manufacture, the two rear leg portions 22 can be formed identically to the corresponding side leg portions 20, although the rear leg portions 22 do not require the latching member 36.

[0021] A shroud 50, having the same general footprint as the base plate 24, is attached thereto so as to enclose the mounting ends of the leg portions 20, 22, the sub-plates 32, 24 and the T-shaped member 30.

[0022] A jaw 52 is mounted pivotally near the front of the shroud 50. A horizontal bore 54 extends through a lower part of the jaw 48. This bore is aligned with two holes 56 in the shroud 50 so that an axle 58 (an end of which is visible in Figure 4) can extend through the bore 54 and the shroud 50.

[0023] The jaw 52 has a generally planar handle 60 at an upper, rear location. In this example the jaw has two teeth 62, one on each side, at the back of the jaw and directed downwardly.

[0024] Figure 8 shows a magnet 64, mounted to the right-hand side of the shroud 50 below the jaw 52. A further magnet or ferromagnetic contact (not visible) is fixed to the jaw 52 above this magnet. A similar pair of magnets or magnetic contacts can be provided on the left-hand side of the shroud 50 and the jaw 52.

[0025] In the support position, the magnet(s) retain the jaw 52 against the shroud 50, with the teeth 62 abutting the vertical faces 42 of the side leg portions 20 and preventing the side legs 4 from rotating rearwardly. The rear legs 6 do not require locking in this way, as they are held in place by the tension in the cover 8.

[0026] To collapse the shelter, the arms 14 are removed. The handle 60 is used to raise the jaw 52, pivoting on the axle 58. The teeth 62 disengage from the leg portions 20, and the side legs 4 and rear legs 6 are rotated rearwardly through the position shown in Figure 9 to that of Figure 10, where the four leg portions 20, 22 are essentially parallel, as viewed from above. As shown in Figure 11, lower parts of the legs 4, 6 can be removed.

[0027] To erect the shelter, the legs 4, 6 are assembled and rotated forwardly. The teeth 62 slide up the sloping faces 44 of the side leg portions 20. The magnet(s) is / are detached as the jaw 52 pivots upwardly, and reattached when the teeth 62 once again engage behind the vertical faces 42.

[0028] The shelter shown in the drawings can stand stably with just four legs. However, for even greater stability, struts interconnecting the legs and / or guy ropes can also be used.

[0029] If magnets are not used, the jaw can be retained in its clamped position by a spring, such as a helical expansion spring. Alternatively or additionally, a catch may be provided, which may be releasable by a pushbutton or other mechanism.

[0030] The shelter of the invention is simple to manufacture and can be erected and collapsed simply and quickly.

Claims

1. A device for supporting a portable shelter, the device comprising: a hub (18), a plurality of leg portions (20) each pivoted to the hub about mutually parallel axes between: a support position, and a storage position in which an angle between the leg portions (20) is reduced or eliminated compared to the support position, characterised by a jaw (52), pivoted to the hub (18), to clamp the leg portions (20) in the support position.

2. A device according to claim 1, including one or more of: at least one magnet (64), a resilient biassing member, and / or a locking engagement, to provide a clamping action of the jaw (52) and thus retain the leg portions (20) in the support position.

3. A device according to claim 2, including a resilient biassing member consisting of a helical spring to provide a clamping action of the jaw (52) and thus retain the leg portions (20) in the support position.

4. A device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the clampable leg portions (20) are arranged with mirror symmetry about a diameter of the hub (18), at least in the support position.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the number of leg portions (20) that can be clamped by the jaw (52) is two.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the leg portions (20) and / or the hub (18) is / are provided with latching surfaces (44) arranged to displace the jaw (52) to allow rotation of the leg portions (20) from the storage position to the support position.

7. A device according to any preceding claim, including additional leg portions (22) that are not clampable by the jaw (52).

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the additional leg portions (22) are arranged with mirror symmetry about a diameter, or the diameter, of the hub (18), at least in the support position.

9. A device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein there are two additional leg portions (22) that are not clampable by the jaw (52).

10. A device according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the additional leg portions (22) are pivotable about axes parallel to the pivot axes of the clampable leg portions (20), from a support position, to a storage position in which an angle between the additional leg portions (22) and / or angles between each of the additional leg portions (22) and the clampable leg portions (20) is reduced or eliminated compared to the support position.

11. A device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the additional leg portions (22) are located rearwardly of the clampable leg portions (20) in the support position.

12. A device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein, in the support position, the additional leg portions (22) are at an angle of 70-120°, optionally 85-105°, and optionally about 95° to each other.

13. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein legs (4, 6) depending from the leg portions (20, 22) are attachable to a fabric cover (8) of the shelter.

14. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein arms (10) extend from the hub (18) to support an awning (14) of the shelter.

15. A portable shelter comprising a support device according to any preceding claim, legs (4, 6) extending from the clampable leg portions (20), and a flexible cover (8) attached to the legs.