Foldable tent with a central locking mechanism

Abstract

A foldable tent with a central locking mechanism is provided. 【Solution means】 The central locking structure includes a central upper cover 601A to which the inner ends of a plurality of inner peripheral side upper tubes are pivotally connected, a locking rod 800 that extends downward from the central upper cover and has a locking hole, a central lower cover 602A that can be inserted into and removed from the locking rod vertically, a link rod 693 that is pivotally connected corresponding to the plurality of inner peripheral side upper tubes and is pivotally connected to the central lower cover, and the locking rod can be inserted into and removed from the central lower cover by the lifting and lowering of the central lower cover and the plurality of link rods, and an operating member 902 that is rotatably supported by the central lower cover and has a locking pin 906 that can be fitted into and removed from the locking hole of the locking rod. The biasing member is provided such that the locking pin is fitted into the locking hole of the locking rod by rotation in the locking direction to lock, and the fitting is disengaged by rotation in the unlocking direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to outdoor products, and more particularly to a foldable tent having a central locking mechanism.

Background Art

[0002] One type of tent is a foldable tent with a self-locking central lock. An example of a conventional foldable tent with a self-locking central lock is shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. In FIG. 1, for the foldable tent 750, the central upper lid 601 is pivotally connected to four inner peripheral first inclined upper tubes 692. The central lower lid 602 is pivotally connected to four lower lid link rods 693. Each of the four outer peripheral second inclined upper tubes 694 is pivotally connected to the first inclined upper tube 692 at one end and pivotally connected to a support pot 695 at the other end. As shown in the figure, a pot link rod 684 is pivotally connected between the support pot 695 and the second inclined upper tube 694. The pivotal connection between the central upper lid 601 and the support pots 695 of the inclined upper tubes 692, 694 forms an inner telescopic unit 615.

[0003] As shown in the figure, the first edge tube 671 and the second edge tube 672 are pivotally connected to the support pot 695, and these edge tubes are pivotally connected to each other. As shown in the figure, the intermediate edge tubes 673, 674 are pivotally connected between the first edge tube 671 and the second edge tube 672. The pivotally connected edge tubes 671 to 674 form an outer telescopic unit 614, and they are pivotally connected between the support pots 695.

[0004] The stop rod 700 is fixed to the central upper lid 601 by bolts and is rigidly connected. As shown in the figure, the stop rod 700 extends downward from the central upper lid 601.

[0005] Based on FIG. 5, the operation of the locking rod 700 of the tent 750 described above will be explained. Similar to what is shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 shows the foldable tent 750 in an intermediate position between deployment and folding. In FIG. 3, the first inclined upper tube 692 is pushed downward by gravity. The central lower cover 602 has not yet been pushed upward by the user.

[0006] FIG. 5(1) shows a state where the central lower cover 602 has started to be pushed upward by the user. The inclined upper tube 692 is pivoting outward from the center. The lower cover link rod 693 is pivotally connected to the lower cover 602 at the lower cover pivot 603, and the lower cover link rod 693 is pivotally connected to the inclined upper tube 692 at the upper tube pivot 604. In FIG. 5(1), the pivot 603 is lower in position than the pivot 604. Therefore, in order to overcome the weight of the inclined upper tube 692, the user needs to continue to push the lower cover 602 upward.

[0007] FIG. 5(2) shows a state where the lower cover 602 has been further pushed upward by the user. The inclined upper tube 692 is pivoting further outward. In FIG. 5(2), still the pivot 603 is lower in position than the pivot 604. Therefore, in order to overcome the weight of the inclined upper tube 692, the user still needs to continue to push the lower cover 602 upward.

[0008] FIG. 6(1) shows a state where the lower cover 602 has been further pushed upward by the user. Here, the pivot 603 is higher in position than the pivot 604. When the pivot 603 becomes higher than the pivot 604, the weight of the inclined upper tube 692 moves the lower cover 602 upward, and there is no need for the user to push the lower cover 602 upward. In FIG. 8, the inclined upper tube 692 has started to pivot inward, and the lower cover 602 is facing upward and being directed towards the locking rod 700. Here, the user can stop pushing the central lower cover 602 upward. The downward force of the inclined upper tube 692 moves the lower cover 602 upward until it is stopped by the locking rod 700.

[0009] In Fig. 6(2), in a state where the lower lid 602 is moved upward by the downward force of the inclined upper tube 692, the lower end of the stop rod 700 is in contact and stopped. The pivot 603 is higher in position than the pivot 604. The central locking means 720 is located at the self-locking position here. It should be noted that the self-locking position is reached after the lower lid pivot 603 becomes higher than the upper tube pivot 604. Then the user can stop applying an upward force to the lower lid 602. Due to the gravity acting on the inclined upper tube 692, the lower lid 602 is raised until it is stopped by the stop device (for example, the stop rod 700). When this upward movement stops, the foldable tent 750 comes to be located at a safe locked position as shown in Figs. 4 and 6(2).

[0010] Incidentally, when the user wants to unlock the foldable tent 750, the user needs to pull the lower lid 602 downward until the pivot 603 becomes lower than the pivot 604. When it becomes this low, gravity takes over and acts, and the foldable tent 750 comes to be located at the unlocked position shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

[0011] By the way, in the above-described self-locking type central lock, when a downward force acts on the upper lid 601 due to an external force such as a gust of wind, as shown in Fig. 5(1) or (2), the lower end of the stop rod 700 has the problem that the pivot 603 becomes lower in position than the pivot 604, the lower end of the stop rod 700 comes off from the lower lid 602, and the center of the tent drops downward.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0012]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0013] This invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional drawbacks, and an object thereof is to provide a foldable tent having a central lock structure that maintains the locked state at the center of the tent even when a downward force acts on the upper lid 601 due to an external force such as a gust of wind.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0014] In the invention according to claim 1, a foldable tent, wherein the tent includes at least three support pots, a plurality of outer telescopic units, each of which is connected between two adjacent support pots, a plurality of inner telescopic units including inner ends, each of which is connected to each support pot, and the inner telescopic units form an upper frame of the foldable tent together with the outer telescopic units and the inner telescopic units, a central lock structure, which is used to lock the foldable tent in an unfolded state when the central lock structure is locked, and is used to enable the foldable tent to be folded in a folded state when the central lock structure is unlocked, and the inner ends of the inner telescopic units are connected to the central lock structure. and the plurality of inner telescopic units are each pivoted with an upper tube on the inner peripheral side and an upper tube on the outer peripheral side extending from the center toward each support pot, the central lock structure includes a central upper lid to which the inner ends of the plurality of inner peripheral side upper tubes are pivotally connected, a locking rod extending downward from the central upper lid and having a locking hole, a central lower lid into which the locking rod can be inserted and removed in the vertical direction, A plurality of link rods provided corresponding to the plurality of inner peripheral upper tubes individually, each link rod having an upper end pivotally connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of inner peripheral upper tubes, and the link rod being pivotally connected to the central lower cover, and the link rod being capable of inserting and removing the locking rod to and from the central lower cover by the lifting of the central lower cover and the plurality of link rods, An operating member pivotally supported by the central lower cover and having a locking pin that can be fitted into and removed from a locking hole of the locking rod, the locking pin being fitted into the locking hole of the locking rod in the locked position by rotation in the locking direction to lock, and the fitting being disengaged by rotation in the unlocking direction, A biasing member that biases the operating member in the locking direction at all times, characterized by comprising the above.

Advantages of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, when the central locking structure is locked, the locking pin of the operating member fitted into the locking hole of the locking rod is biased in the locking direction by the biasing member. Therefore, even if a downward force acts on the central upper cover due to an external force such as a gust of wind, the fitting of the locking pin does not come off from the locking hole of the locking rod, and the positional relationship between the central lower cover and the central upper cover is maintained, and the locked state at the center of the tent is maintained. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the center of the tent from sagging downward.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Next, the mode for carrying out the invention will be described with reference to examples.

Example

[0018] A foldable tent having a central lock structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 7(1) is a partially omitted structural diagram showing the periphery of the central lock structure of a foldable tent according to an embodiment of the present invention, (2) is an operation explanatory diagram of the central lock structure, and Figs. 8(1) and (2) are operation explanatory diagrams of the central lock structure. In addition, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as those in Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 7(1) shows a part of the upper frame of the foldable tent 750A. Among them, 601A is the central upper cover, and the inner ends of four inner peripheral upper tubes 692 arranged in the radial direction are pivotally connected. A rectangular plate-shaped metal lock rod 800 extends downward from the center of the lower surface of the central upper cover 601A. A lock hole 801 into which a lock pin (see reference numeral 906 in Fig. 7) to be described later can be detachably fitted is provided at the lower part of the lock rod 800.

[0019] The 602A is a central lower cover provided below the central upper cover 601A and is capable of inserting and removing the locking rod 801 in the vertical direction. The 693 is four link rods provided corresponding to the four upper tubes 692 individually. Each link rod 693 has its upper end pivotally connected to a corresponding upper tube 69, and the lower end of the link rod 693 is pivotally connected to the central lower cover 602A. By raising and lowering the central lower cover 602A and the plurality of link rods 693, the locking rod 801 can be inserted into and removed from the central lower cover 602A.

[0020] The 900 is a cylindrical body protruding from the lower surface of the central lower cover 602A, and an internal space for inserting and removing the lower part of the locking rod 801 is provided inside. The 902 is a toggle-type operating member, which is pivotally supported on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 900 by a shaft portion 903. The operating member 902 is formed in a Z-shaped bent shape by the shaft portion 903 and is constantly urged in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 7(1) by a biasing member (not shown). The lower part of the operating member 902 serves as an operating portion 904, and a locking pin 906 protrudes into the inside of the cylindrical body 900 through an opening 901 on the side of the cylindrical body 900 of the upper part 905. The locking pin 906 can be detachably fitted with the locking hole 801 of the locking rod 800 inserted into the cylindrical body 900. The locking pin 906 is locked by fitting with the locking hole 801 of the locking rod 800 in the locked position by rotating in the locking direction (counterclockwise), and the fitting is disengaged by rotating in the unlocking direction (clockwise). A central locking structure is constituted by the central upper cover 601A, the locking rod 800, the central lower cover 602A, the link rod 693, the cylindrical body 900, the operating member 902, and a biasing member (not shown). Other constituent parts of the foldable tent 750A are the same as those of the foldable tent shown in FIG. 1, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0021] Next, with reference to FIGS. 7(2) and 8(1), (2), the operation of the central locking structure in the above-described embodiment will be described. When the user releases the operating member 900, the locking pin 906 is biased by the biasing member and protrudes into the cylinder 900. In Fig. 7(1), the inclined upper tube 692 is pushed downward by gravity. The central lower lid 602A has not yet been pushed upward by the user. When it is desired to lock the central locking structure, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 7(2) and Fig. 8(1), the user pushes the central lower lid 602A upward. When the lower part of the locking rod 800 starts to enter the central lower lid 602A, the operating portion 904 of the operating member 902 is pushed in the direction of the cylinder 900 against the biasing member, and the locking pin 906 is retracted in the unlocking direction (clockwise) from the inside of the cylinder 900. Then, the central lower lid 602A is pushed upward, and when the lower part of the locking rod 801 enters the locking position inside the cylinder 900, the pressing of the operating portion 904 is released, and the locking pin 906 is rotated in the locking direction (counterclockwise) by the biasing force of the biasing member to be in a state of fitting into the locking hole 801. As a result, the central upper lid 601A, the locking rod 800, and the central lower lid 602A are in a locked state.

[0022] Even if a downward force acts on the central upper lid 601A due to an external force such as a gust of wind, the fitting of the locking pin 906 does not come out of the locking hole 801 of the locking rod 800, and the positional relationship between the central lower lid 602A and the central upper lid 601A is maintained, and the locked state at the center of the tent is maintained. Therefore, the center of the tent is prevented from sagging downward. When it is desired to unlock in order to fold the foldable tent 750A, the user pushes the operating portion 904 of the operating member 902 in the direction of the cylinder 900 against the biasing member, retracts the locking pin 906 in the unlocking direction (clockwise) from the inside of the cylinder 900, pulls the central lower lid 602A downward, and removes the locking rod 800 from the central lower lid 602A.

[0023] According to this embodiment, when the central lock structure is locked, the locking pin 906 of the operating member 9020 fitted into the locking hole 801 of the locking rod 800 is biased in the locking direction by the biasing member. Therefore, even if a downward force acts on the central upper cover 601A due to an external force such as a gust of wind, the fitting of the locking pin 906 does not come off from the locking hole 801 of the locking rod 800, and the positional relationship between the central lower cover 602A and the central upper cover 601A is maintained, and the locked state at the center of the tent is maintained. For this reason, the center of the tent is prevented from sagging downward.

[0024] In the above-described embodiment, the case where there are four support poles has been described as an example, but it may be three or five or more.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0025] 601A Central upper cover 602A Central lower cover 750A Foldable tent 692 Upper tube 693 Link rod 800 Locking rod 801 Locking hole 900 Cylindrical body 902 Operating member 906 Locking pin

Claims

【Claim 1】 A foldable tent, wherein the tent comprises: At least three support pots; A plurality of outer expandable units, each of which is connected between two adjacent support pots; A plurality of inner expandable units including inner ends, each of which is connected to a respective support pot, and the inner expandable units cooperate with the outer expandable units to form an upper frame of the foldable tent; A central locking structure which is used to lock the foldable tent in a deployed state when locked and to allow the foldable tent to be folded into a folded state when unlocked, and the inner ends of the inner expandable units are connected to the central locking structure; Comprising; Each of the plurality of inner expandable units has an inner upper tube and an outer upper tube that pivot from the center towards each support pot; The central locking structure comprises: A central upper cover to which the inner ends of the plurality of inner upper tubes are pivotally connected; A locking rod extending downward from the central upper cover and having a locking hole; A central lower cover that is vertically insertable and removable with respect to the locking rod; A plurality of link rods provided corresponding to the plurality of inner upper tubes individually, each link rod having an upper end pivotally connected to a respective one of the plurality of inner upper tubes and a lower end pivotally connected to the central lower cover, and the link rods and the central lower cover are configured such that the locking rod can be inserted into and removed from the central lower cover by raising and lowering the central lower cover and the plurality of link rods; An operating member pivotally supported on the central lower cover and having a locking pin that can be fitted into and removed from the locking hole of the locking rod, the locking pin being fitted into the locking hole of the locking rod in the locking position by rotation in the locking direction to lock the locking rod, and the fitting being disengaged by rotation in the unlocking direction; A biasing member that biases the operating member in the locking direction at all times; A foldable tent having a central locking structure, characterized in that it comprises the above components.

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