Car tent

Abstract

The present invention relates to a car tent for arranging of a rear side extension at a car with a people compartment and a tail gate, wherein rigid elements of the car are applicable as frame of the tent, wherein the extension provides a space at the rear side of the car, the car tent comprising : - a tent cloth assembly comprising a predetermined number of tent cloth segments, comprising a car covering and a tent space covering, wherein : - the car covering during use covers a part of the rigid elements, of which at least a part of the rear gate of the car, - the tent space covering during use extends beyond the rigid elements of the car, thereby forming the tent space covering, - a fastening assembly for fastening of the tent cloth assembly to the car, the fastening assembly comprising : - rear fastening means for fastening of the tent cloth assembly to the rear side of the car, such as to the wheel arch or rear wheel, and front fastening means for fastening of the tent cloth assembly beyond the people compartment to the front side of the car, such as to a wheel, wheel arch or bumper, and - a people compartment covering for covering of at least a part of the side windows and the windshield.

Description

[0001] Car tent

[0002] The present invention relates to a car tent for arranging of a rear side extension at a car with a people compartment and a tail gate , wherein rigid elements of the car are applicable as frame of the tent , wherein the extension provides a space to the rear side of the car .

[0003] It is known to camp with tents or to sleep in a car . Furthermore , it is known to camp with a roof tent that is arranged on the roof of a car . Sleeping in the car is an experience with very limited space for motion . For many people , camping with a roof tent is overly straining acrobatic experience .

[0004] In order to obviate such disadvantages , the present invention provides a car tent for arranging of a rear side extension at a car with a people compartment and a tail gate , wherein rigid elements of the car are applicable as frame of the tent , wherein the extension provides a space at the rear side of the car, the car tent comprising :

[0005] - a tent cloth assembly comprising a predetermined number of tent cloth segments , comprising a car covering and a tent space covering, wherein :

[0006] - the car covering during use covers a part of the rigid elements , of which at least a part of the rear gate of the car,

[0007] - the tent space covering during use extends beyond the rigid elements of the car, thereby forming the tent space covering,

[0008] - a fastening assembly for fastening of the tent cloth assembly to the car, the fastening assembly comprising :

[0009] - rear fastening means for fastening of the tent cloth assembly to the rear side of the car, such as to the wheel arch or rear wheel , and

[0010] - front fastening means for fastening of the tent cloth assembly beyond the people compartment to the front side of the car, such as to a wheel , wheel arch or bumper, and

[0011] - a people compartment covering for covering of at least a part of the side windows and the windshield .

[0012] Such a car tent , according to the present invention or according to preferred embodiments thereof , provides many advantages relative to the prior art . A first advantage thereof is that the rear side of the car provides considerably more space because the tailgate is arranged upwardly during use of the car tent . This provides substantial comfort relative to the use of the car with the car tent for the purpose of sleeping or changing clothes as well as during further household operations .

[0013] An important advantage is furthermore that use may be made of air treatment comprising air conditioning and heating of the car . It is furthermore provided that use may be made of ventilation provisions of the car tent , such as by means of the ventilation openings and / or an insect screen such that the inner space is prevented from fogging up even when the ventilation of the car is switched of f , for the purpose of saving energy of the car, such as fuel or electricity . It is furthermore advantageous that a tent may be provided with a limited number of quick operations without the assembly of a frame . A further advantage of the invention or preferred embodiments thereof is that a car tent may be put up by applying the tent cloth assembly over the car and the people compartment thereof while for example the tail gate is still closed . Furthermore , it is advantageous that the tent cloth assembly may be put up and / or brought under bias by opening of the tailgate . A further advantage of such a preferred embodiment is that during actually sleeping, the tailgate may be closed while the tent cloth assembly stays present for providing of amongst others the privacy that covering of the windows of the vehicle provides . Furthermore , the further advantages of the tent are provided by opening or reopening of the tailgate .

[0014] An advantage as tent provides that it is possible to put it up in a simple manner as rigid elements of the car are applicable as frame of the tent . This is in general terms easier and more stable than a tent frame that needs to be put up from loose tent poles . The access to the tent and / or the car is very comfortable and easy because the tailgate is continuously in the same position and / or continuously stable . With that , it is provided as an advantage of the tent that elements of the weather are substantially kept outside with an opened tailgate for easy access . Advantageously, a sound burden by flapping part of the tent cloth is prevented for the purpose of quietness in and around the car tent .

[0015] According to a first preferred embodiment , the car tent comprises at least one hook member for hooking of the tent cloth to a bottom side edge of the tailgate . With this , it is advantageously reali zable that the tailgate is kept open by means of a bias of the tent cloth assembly, further preferably by means of a co-action with the fastening assembly . It is for example reali zable in a simple manner that a bias may be provided therewith between the underside edge of the tailgate and the front fastening means in order to provide tension between for example this underside edge and for example a front wheel , front wheel arch and / or bumper of the vehicle . Further preferably, the tent cloth assembly is brought under tension by means of opening of the tailgate , such as after it is loosely arranged at the tailgate . The hook member is for example provided as a part of the cloth that is wrapped around the tailgate only . In an alternative manner, it is provided that the car tent has a people compartment cover, such as comprising a covering of the side windows and / or the windshield . Advantageously, the car covering is further preferably arranged for covering of the whole of the side windows and the windscreen .

[0016] Further preferably, the car tent comprises a strengthening member extending from such a hook member to the front fastening means . Such a strengthening member thereto strengthens the tent cloth assembly and / or the fastening assembly .

[0017] According to a further preferred embodiment , the car tent comprises at least one window segment for covering of a respective window of the car, such as for covering of at least a side window and / or the windshield . It is intended that by means of such a segment , a car window of the car may be covered during use of the car tent . Further preferably, by means of a covering of the people compartment and the windows thereof , the whole thereof may be covered such that by means of such a covering, privacy is provided in the car and / or the car tent .

[0018] Further preferably, of the car tent , the fastening assembly is arranged for providing of a biasing force to the tent cloth assembly, further preferably wherein the biasing force extends beyond the people compartment .

[0019] According to a further preferred embodiment , the car tent comprises a spacer for spacing a respective part of the tent at the spacer at a distance from the car, and / or wherein, during use , a side mirror of the car is used as spacer . An advantage thereof is that this provides a ventilation option by ventilating the inside of the car by opening a window wholly or partially . Therewith, it is advantageously provided that the opening of the window and the opening created by means of the spacer provides ventilation to the car .

[0020] According to a further preferred embodiment , the car tent comprises at least one tent cloth segment comprising a stretchable material . With this , a tight finishing of the car tent after placement thereof is reali zable with application of the biasing means .

[0021] According to a further preferred embodiment , the car tent comprises a transverse biasing member for guiding of the tent cloth assembly under bias along a transition between the open tailgate and the people compartment , and / or comprising a transverse biasing member for guiding of the tent cloth assembly under bias along a transition between substantially the windshield and a hood . As an advantage , this provides for example that water drainage along the tent is reali zable . The advantageous shape of the car is thereto followed when the respective transverse biasing member biases the tent cloth assembly along the shape of the car .

[0022] According to a further preferred embodiment , the car tent comprises a car door zipper for providing an opening at the location of a car door . With this , it is advantageously provided that the car door may be opened when the car tent is arranged over the people compartment .

[0023] According to a further preferred embodiment , the car tent comprises a tent entrance , such as preferably a rear entrance , for providing access to the tent and the tailgate axis of the car for a person . With this , it is advantageously provided that the large opening of the opened tailgate is applicable as entrance for a person to the car tent and / or the people compartment of the car . It is advantageously enabled to provide such a tent entrance with a height of the bottom to substantially the underside of the opened tailgate . Also , the width of the tent entrance is advantageously provided for easy access by a person and / or luggage . Furthermore , such a tent entrance provides as an advantage that it may be left open for communication and / or for performing household operations . Therewith, even cooking is provided as a possibility .

[0024] According to a further preferred embodiment , the car tent comprises a surface contact element for extending of the car tent with a real tent or read tent space with at substantially the underside thereof the surface contact element . With this , a car tent is advantageously reali zable with a bottom shaped by the surface contact element . With this , a real tent is reali zable with a bottom that is substantially as wide as the width of the car and with a length that may be configured as long as is practical within the understanding of the present invention . The stability is advantageously provided by the base stability of the car tent and the arrangement and fastening thereof to the car . With this , it is provided that for instance tent pegs at corners and / or along the edge of the surface contact element are applicable for providing of a further stability of the rear tent .

[0025] Further preferably, the rear tent is fastenable to the car tent , such as by means of a zipper or hook and loop connection . With this , it is advantageously reali zed that the rear tent during use is optional relative to the remainder of the car tent . The usage of only the car tent is thereby advantageous for quick use , and the usage of additionally the rear tent is thereby advantageous for an extended utility .

[0026] According to a further preferred embodiment , the car tent comprises a rear tent frame for providing a predetermined shape to the rear tent or rear tent space . Such a rear tent frame in a relatively simple form that is congruent with the surface contact element provides a reinforcement to the surface contact element . Further preferably, the rear tent frame substantially determines the shape of a bottom surface thereof . By means of such a frame , it is further providable that for example a real tent advantageously extends beyond the tailgate with a dome-shape or a roof that extends beyond the tailgate . The stability of the car is also used for the stability of the rear tent in both variants in an advantageous manner .

[0027] According to a further preferred embodiment , the car tent comprises curtain means for opening of a window segment at the location of a respective car window . With this , the car tent is advantageously providable with both the privacy of nontransparent windows as with physical contact with the outside world with opened curtain means or window segment .

[0028] According to a further preferred embodiment , the car tent comprises at least one tension spreader for spreading of fastening tension over the tent cloth assembly . With this , it is advantageously provided that tension on the tent cloth is spread out over a length of substantially the tension spreader . It is for example advantageously provided that the tension spreader follows a part of the shape of the car or the body works or a real arch thereof such that the tent cloth assembly at the location also follows this shape . With this , it is provided that this shape may be followed while spreading of the tension over a part of the cloth that is substantially as big as the tension spreader .

[0029] According to a further preferred embodiment , the car tent comprises an insect access limiting door, preferably arranged at the location of the curtain means , the tent entrance and / or the car door zipper . By means of such an insect access limiting door, such as a door comprising insect screen material , it is advantageously providable that a surface area of the door may remain open for ventilation and contact with the outside world from the inside of the car tent and / or the car while insects are repelled .

[0030] According to a further preferred embodiment , the car tent comprises at least a tent cloth segment that is transparent or embodied as such . With this , the function of a window may be advantageously provided to the car tent .

[0031] According to a further preferred embodiment , all elements all elements of the frame of the tent are shapeable by the rigid elements of the car . With this , it is advantageously provided that a car tent is provided wherein use of a tent frame that is to be assembled from loose tent poles may be omitted . Furthermore , it is advantageously provided that the rigidity of the car, the people compartment , the tailgate and / or the body works thereof provides rigidity to the car tent .

[0032] According to a further preferred embodiment , the car tent comprises a stabili zer for stabili zing of the tailgate in an open position during use of the car tent . With this , it is advantageously provided that the tailgate may be kept upwardly while the car tent is in use . Further preferably, such a stabili zer comprises a simple comprises a stabili zer and that keeps the tailgate upwardly under bias . Furthermore , a telescopic stabili zer is provided with for example in inner spring construction .

[0033] According to a further preferred embodiment , the car tent comprises elastic biasing means for keeping under bias of a surplus of tent cloth of the tent cloth assembly when the car tent is in a semi-position of use . With this , it is advantageously achieved that , such as for the purpose of sleeping or for the purpose of a temporary absence , the car may be locked while the car tent or the tent cloth assembly thereof remains arranged about the car .

[0034] Further advantages , features and details of the present invention will be further elucidated on the basis of a description of one or more preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures . Similar yet not necessarily identical parts of di f ferent preferred embodiments may be indicated with the same reference numerals .

[0035] Fig . 1 relates to a schematic representation of a car with a car tent according to a first preferred embodiment according to the present invention .

[0036] Fig . 2 relates to a schematic representation of a further preferred embodiment of a car tent according to the present invention .

[0037] Fig . 3 relates to a schematic representation of a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention in a partially assembled state .

[0038] Fig . 4 relates to a schematic representation of a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention in a further partially assembled state .

[0039] Fig . 5 relates to a schematic representation of a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention in an assembled state .

[0040] Fig . 6 relates to a schematic representation of a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention in an assembled state .

[0041] Fig . 7 A and B relate to two further representations of a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention .

[0042] Fig . 8 relates to a further representation of a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention .

[0043] A first preferred embodiment ( Fig . 1 ) according to the present invention relates to a car tent 1 . It comprises a part 4 that extends over a people compartment and a part 2 that extends over the tailgate 6 as well as a tent space covering 7 . The part 4 that extends over the people compartment and the part 2 that extends over the tailgate hereby directly follow the shape of the car with the tailgate in the opened position . The tent space covering 7 relates to a part of the tent cloth assembly that extends beyond the shape of the car and forms the tent and / or provides a closure to the tent . The tent cloth assembly of the car tent according to the preferred embodiment comprises substantially the part 4 extending over the people compartment , the tent space covering 7 and the part 2 extending over the tailgate . For simplicity, a part of the tent cloth assembly that covers the rear side of the body works of the car is considered part of that . Alternatively, it is provided that the tent cloth extends over the hood ( such as tent cloth part 38 , fig . 4 ) .

[0044] The rear side of the car tent one is substantially shaped by the tent cloth segments of the tent cloth assembly forming a rear door . With this , it is advantageously provided that substantially the rear side of the car tent functions as door 12 and / or as open wall 12 . For the purpose of keeping it opened, a fastening 12 ' is provided, such as for example embodied by means of a buckle belt , ribbon, lace or a hook and loop fastening, for the purpose of closing of the rear side , a zipper 17 is provided . Furthermore , an insect screen element 13 is provided to provide that the rear side is insect repellent .

[0045] Furthermore , a transverse biasing member 15 is shown to bias or urge the tent cloth assembly advantageously towards the shape of the car during use . Herewith, a fixation that limits flapping of the tent cloth assembly is advantageously provided . Furthermore , the draining of the tent cloth along the shape of the car that is suitable for such drainage is advantageously achieved .

[0046] In fig . 3 , the preferred embodiment is provided with a wheel arch fastening 32 for the rear wheel arch and a wheel arch fastening 34 for the front wheel arch . The wheel arch fastening 32 is directly fastened or arranged at the tent cloth assembly for fastening thereof to the rear wheel arch . The front wheel arch fastening 34 is fastened to the tent cloth assembly by means of a fastening or tensioning band or front tensioning bands 36 .

[0047] Fig . 4 provides a further alternative for fastening under bias to the front side of the car of the car tent by means of a tent cloth segments 38 that is fastened to the bumper by means of a bumper fastening 39 . Thereby, alternatively, a tensioning band is applied instead of a tent of segment 38 .

[0048] Furthermore , to reinforcement members 37 are shown that are each hookable to an under side edge of the tailgate 6 of the car by means of a hook member 33 . It is provided that these fastening members , during use of the car tent extend from the under edge of the tailgate to the front fastening means of the respective car part to which these are fastenable , preferably under bias . These respective car part relate to for example a wheel arch, wheel and / or bumper of the car or any other part that is suitable for such a fastening, preferably while applying the respective bias . With this , it is advantageously achieved that a suitable bias within the understanding of the present invention or the respective preferred embodiments thereof are provided when fastening the car tent to the car . This provides a suf ficient rigid stability to the car tent when it is in use . Further preferably, thereby means are applied to regulate the bias during use . Such regulate-ability is preferably advantageous when a door zipper 49 is applied in the car tent . Alternatively, it is provided that a bias is applied by means of such a fastening member that extends from a rear wheel to a front wheel or a rear wheel arch to a front wheel arch .

[0049] In fig . 5 , a window segment 16 and curtain means 18 with a fastening 18 ' is shown for providing of a curtain function to the car tent . This is arranged in especially advantageous manner at the location of a window of the car . With this , it is advantageously provided that the window of the car is usable for allowing through of light and for providing privacy to the interior of the car tent and / or the car . Furthermore , for the purpose of ventilation of the inside of the car tent and / or the car, there is provided in a spacer or expander 14 , such as embodied as a foldable bar that when it is expanded keeps the tent cloth at the location at a distance from the body works of the car . Preferably, to this end a magnet action is provided in the end part to removably connect with the body works of the car . Alternatively, a suction cup is for instance provided . In an alternative manner, it is provided that the tent cloth extends around or over at the side mirror . With this , the tent cloth at such location is preferably provided with an opening for extending there through of the mirror or providing of a so-called pocket for covering the mirror .

[0050] In a further preferred embodiment according to fig . 6 , an example of a tensioning spreader 24 is shown . Based on the insight that it is advantageous to have the tent cloth assembly following the shape of the wheel arch, the tension spreader 24 is arranged at the tent cloth assembly . From the tension spreader 24 , two fastening means such as tension bands or chords 26 are arranged that extend towards the wheel onto which these are hooked or fastened . At the front side of the car tent , a tension band or chords 22 is arranged at that is fastened to the front wheel . With this , an alternative manner of fastening the car tent to the front side of the car is provided . In an alternative manner, the tension band or chords 22 are fastened to a reinforcement member of similar nature to reinforcement member 37 as described in the above .

[0051] A further preferred embodiment according to fig . 7 is additionally provided with a rear tent 5 . The rear tent 5 , shaped at the underside by means of a surface contact element 9 , is preferably embodied as a substantially rectangular frame and that may be embodied in an alternative manner as a bottom sheet . Furthermore , through holes 11 are provided for the purpose of tent pegs . The car tent provides an extension of the car tent by means of a bottom surface substantially formed by the surface contact element 9 . From the surface contact element 9 , tent cloth segments extend upwardly that are fastened to the car tent along the line 27 . This fastening is optionally advantageously provided as a zipper or a hook and loop fastening means in order to apply the rear tent . In such case , it is provided to utili ze the car tent with or without the rear tent .

[0052] The rear tent has a similar door or open rear wall as described for the car tent in relation to fig . 1 . An insect screen function is applicable as well as a foldable or rollable door 12 with a fastening bands 12 ' . An advantage of such a rear tent to the car tent is that a stable tent is provided with a stable bottom in addition to the user space that is formed by the rear side of the people compartment with loading space . A further preferred embodiment according to fig . 8 provides a variant to the car tent according to and di f ferent from fig . 4 . Preferably, the tent cloth assembly extends toward the front wheel arch wherein the tent cloth assembly is fastenable to the wheel arch and or wheel directly by means of a respective part of the fastening assembly . Alternatively, it is provided, such as shown in fig . 8 , that the cloth extends toward the front bumper of the car by means of a tent cloth segment 38 ' wherein the cloth is attached to the front bumper . With such a preferred embodiment , it is provided that preferably the tailgate is instrumental for bringing the tent cloth assembly under bias . To this end, it is preferably provided that the tent of assembly is arranged over the car and the people compartment thereof with fastening of the front fastening means 39 ' doing the wheel arch or the wheel thereof or alternatively unlocked in fig . 4 to the bumper for the purpose of putting up the tent .

[0053] Putting up the tent further, is then preferably performed by opening of the tailgate . Preferably, the tent cloth assembly is there with brought under bias between the tailgate or a bottom edge thereof and the front fastening means . With this , it is provided that by means of closing the tailgate the tent can clearly be brought in a semi-position of use wherein for example sleeping may be done with the application of a closed tailgate , such as for example for the purpose of an awareness of safety . By means of reopening of the tailgate , the tent is subsequently brought in the complete position of use . To this end, an elastic functionality is furthermore provided by means of tension bands 33 ' . Such tension bands may separately or combined the embodied with for example tension bands 33 of the preferred embodiments according to fig . 4 . The purpose of the elastic functionality is that during the semi-position of use , the tent cloth assembly is urged against the tailgate such that flapping of tent cloth is prevented .

[0054] A tailgate used in conj unction with the present invention preferably relates to a hori zontally arranged gate or door, wherein further preferably the change substantially has a hori zontal axis . With this it is usable that the age is substantially arranged at the height of the roof of the people compartment , such as substantially at the rear side thereof . In the Dutch language context this is commonly indicated as a ' third door' in case the car has two side doors or as a ' fi fth door' in case the car has four side doors . Other used examples relate to the rear door of a so-called hatchback or a station wagon that is also substantially hinged at the location of the end of the roof line of the people compartment . English translations for this comprise li ftgate for an upwardly opening tailgate . The English language also uses the word backdoor in case the car is a SUV, 3 door, hatchback or coupe . For such cases and for further cases that fall within the understanding of the present invention, that have a backdoor, the word tailgate has been used in the present text .

[0055] The present invention is described in the foregoing on the basis of preferred embodiments . Di f ferent aspects of di f ferent embodiments are expressly considered disclosed in combination with each other and in all combinations that on the basis of this document , when read by a skilled person of the area of skill , fall within the scope of the invention or are deemed to be read with the disclosure of this document . These preferred embodiments are not limitative for the scope of protection of this document . The rights sought are defined in the appended claims .

Claims

CLAIMS1 . Car tent for arranging of a rear side extension at a car with a people compartment and a tail gate , wherein rigid elements of the car are applicable as frame of the tent , wherein the extension provides a space at the rear side of the car, the car tent comprising :- a tent cloth assembly comprising a predetermined number of tent cloth segments , comprising a car covering and a tent space covering, wherein :- the car covering during use covers a part of the rigid elements , of which at least a part of the rear gate of the car,- the tent space covering during use extends beyond the rigid elements of the car, thereby forming the tent space covering,- a fastening assembly for fastening of the tent cloth assembly to the car, the fastening assembly comprising :- rear fastening means for fastening of the tent cloth assembly to the rear side of the car, such as to the wheel arch or rear wheel , and- front fastening means for fastening of the tent cloth assembly beyond the people compartment to the front side of the car, such as to a wheel , wheel arch or bumper, and- a people compartment covering for covering of at least a part of the side windows and the windshield .2 . Car tent according to claim 1 comprising at least one hook member for hooking of the tent cloth to a bottom side edge of the tailgate and / or comprising at least a strengthening member from such hook member towards thefront fastening means .3 . Car tent according to any of the preceding claims comprising at least a window segment for covering of a respective window of the car, such as for covering of at least a side window and / or the front window .4 . Car tent according to one or more of the preceding claims wherein the fastening assembly is arranged for providing of a biasing force to the tent class assembly, further preferably wherein the biasing force extends beyond the people compartment .5 . Car tent according to any of the preceding claims comprising a spacer for spacing a respective part of the tent at the spacer at a distance from the car, and / or wherein, during use , a side mirror of the car is used as spacer .6 . Car tent according to one or more of the preceding claims wherein at least one vent cloth segment comprises a stretchable material .7 . Car tent according to one or more of the preceding claims comprising a transverse biasing member for guiding of the tent cloth assembly under bias along a transition between the open tailgate and the people compartment , and / or comprising a transverse biasing member for guiding of the tent cloth assembly under bias along a transition between substantially the windshield and a hood .8 . Car tent according to one or more of the preceding claims comprising a car door zipper for providing of anopening at the location of a car door .9 . Car tent according to any of the preceding claims comprising a tent entrance , such as preferably a rear entrance , for providing of access to the tent and the tailgate axis of the car for a person .10 . Car tent according to one or more of the preceding claims comprising a surface contact element for extension of the car tent with a rear tent or the tent space with the surface contact element at substantially the underside thereof , preferably wherein the rear tent is fastenable to the car tent , such as by means of a zipper or hook and loop connection .11 . Car tent according to claim 10 comprising a rear tent frame for providing of a predetermined shape to the rear tent or rear tent space .12 . Car tent according to claim 11 wherein the rear tent frame substantially determines a shape of a bottom surface thereof .13 . Car tent according to claim 1 or 2 comprising curtain means for opening of a window segment at the location of a respective car window .14 . Car tent according to one or more of the preceding claims comprising at least one tension spreader for spreading of fastening tension over the tent cloth assembly .15 . Car tent according to one or more of thepreceding claims comprising an insect access limiting door, preferably arranged at the location of the curtain means , the tent entrance and / or the car door zipper .16 . Car tent according to one or more of the preceding claims comprising at least a tent cloth segment that is transparently embodied .17 . Car tent according to one or more of the preceding claims wherein all elements of the frame of the tent are shapeable by the rigid elements of the car .18 . Car tent according to one or more of the preceding claims comprising a stabili zer for stabili zing of the tailgate in an open position during use of the car tent .19 . Car tent according to one or more of the preceding claims comprising elastic biasing means for keeping under bias of a surplus of tent cloth of the tent cloth assembly when the car tent is in a semi-position of use .

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