Diagonal A-Frame Tent Sidewalls for Interior Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional A-frame tent shelters have limited interior usable space due to their slope design, which compromises stability and weight when attempting to increase height, and available trekking poles restrict maximum height to 145 cm, limiting space for occupants and gear.
Innovation Solution
A modified A-frame tent design featuring a fabric canopy with peaks supported by upright poles and short struts at the corners, creating a diagonal ridgeline and orthogonal corner struts to increase vertical sidewalls, enhancing usable space without compromising stability or weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the pole height and canopy slope angle are increased for a given footprint, then the useable space is increased, but the shelter's stability in wind is reduced and its weight is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy is divided into multiple fabric panels (front panel, rear panel, and side panels) that are interconnected to form a faceted hexagonal structure. This segmentation allows each panel to be optimized independently while collectively providing enhanced stability through the distributed geometric framework
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a traditional A-frame structure to a faceted hexagonal configuration by adding vertical dimensionality through the side panels. This creates a three-dimensional geometric framework that provides structural stability while maintaining or increasing useable space
2Volume of moving object
If the pole height and canopy slope angle are increased for a given footprint, then the useable space is increased, but the shelter's weight is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses fabric panels as flexible shells to create the canopy structure. These thin film materials provide the necessary coverage and structural definition while minimizing weight, allowing increased useable space without proportional weight increase
Solution Approach 2:
By creating vertical sidewalls through the faceted hexagonal configuration, the invention increases useable volume without requiring proportional increases in pole height or canopy slope angle, thereby avoiding the weight penalty associated with taller traditional A-frame structures
3Volume of moving object
If the canopy walls are made steeper to increase useable space, then the interior volume is increased, but the available trekking pole length is exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The faceted hexagonal configuration introduces vertical sidewalls that extend the effective height of the canopy without requiring longer poles. The geometric arrangement of multiple panels creates additional vertical space through angular relationships rather than through increased pole length
Solution Approach 2:
The canopy is segmented into multiple fabric panels that can be arranged at different angles and heights. This allows the creation of vertical sidewalls using standard-length poles positioned at strategic locations, achieving increased interior volume without exceeding pole length limitations
Data Source
AI summary
A modified A-frame tent or tarp shelter in which the fly or outer canopy is supported by two upright poles spaced apart on either side of a rectangular footprint. The poles are oppositely offset from the midpoint of the footprint on their respective sides, such that the canopy ridgeline between the poles crosses the footprint diagonally. Two corners of the canopy corresponding to corners of the footprint farthest from their respective (same-side) poles are raised and tensioned by short struts that, in cooperation with the offset poles, create a sidewall effect across the ends of the canopy over the head and foot ends of the footprint. The canopy may further include vestibule portions extending to the sides of the footprint, and the struts may also engage the vestibule portions at their respective corners.