Segmented Tent Support Structure for Compact Folding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tents with crossing poles are heavy and cumbersome, making them difficult to set up and take down, and thus inconvenient for outdoor activities.
Innovation Solution
A tent design featuring a tent cloth coupled with upper and side supports through coupling pieces, allowing for easy folding and unfolding, with exposed fasteners facilitating compact storage and portability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional tents use crossing poles for support, then structural stability is improved, but weight increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tent support structure is segmented into multiple independent support rods that can be individually assembled and disconnected. Each support rod can be independently inserted into coupling pieces on the tent cloth, allowing for modular assembly and disassembly without requiring complex crossing pole configurations. This segmentation enables quick setup and takedown while maintaining structural stability through multiple distributed support points.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional tents use crossing poles for support, then structural stability is improved, but portability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into separate, lightweight support rods that can be individually packed. Each rod is thin and can be inserted into coupling pieces, eliminating the need for heavy crossing pole configurations. The segmented design allows the support elements to be compressed and stored in a compact manner, significantly improving portability while maintaining adequate structural support when deployed.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the tent cloth is coupled with supports internally, then structural stability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Coupling pieces are introduced as intermediary elements that connect the tent cloth to the support rods. These coupling pieces include fasteners that extend through the tent cloth, providing external access points for assembly and disassembly. The intermediaries facilitate easy connection and detachment of support rods while maintaining internal coupling for structural stability, enabling simple folding and unfolding operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design enables tents to be easily and simply folded and unfolded, resulting in a compact and convenient form for carrying, addressing the weight and setup challenges of traditional tents.
Implementation Method 1
The first connector of the upper support is fixed at an interior side of the tent cloth by a first fastener, and at least a portion of the first fastener is exposed to an exterior side of the tent cloth to facilitate easy folding and unfolding of the tent
Implementation Method 2
Each upper pole in the plurality of upper poles has a first end portion pivotally connected with the first connector and a second end portion coupled with a corresponding first coupling piece in the plurality of first coupling pieces
Data Source
AI summary
A tent includes a tent cloth, first coupling pieces disposed spatially around a middle portion of the tent cloth, and second coupling pieces disposed spatially around a lower portion of the tent cloth. The tent also includes an upper support and side supports. The upper support includes a first connector disposed at the upper portion of the tent cloth, and upper poles coupled with the first connector and the first coupling pieces. Each side support includes a second connector disposed at the lower portion of the tent cloth between two adjacent second coupling pieces, and three side poles each coupled with the second connector at one end portion and with a corresponding first coupling piece or one of the two adjacent second coupling pieces at the other end portion.