Tent Frame Hub with Segmented Poles and Ferrule
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tent constructions make it easy to erect but difficult to fold and store, and they often have high initial and replacement costs due to complex mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A frame structure system for portable structures, such as tents, featuring a hub with removably interconnected tent poles, shock cords, and a flexible material attached to the frame, allowing easy assembly and disassembly by using interchangeable pole sections and a funnel ferrule for quick connection and separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If complex mechanisms are used to make tent erection easy, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tent poles are divided into multiple sections that can be easily assembled and disassembled. Each pole section connects to others through simple coupling mechanisms, allowing the tent to be erected in segments without requiring complex single-piece structures. This segmentation enables easy setup while maintaining simplicity of individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The tent employs dynamic poles that can flex and bend rather than rigid fixed structures. The poles are designed to be flexible yet maintain structural integrity when erected, allowing them to adapt to ground conditions and wind forces without requiring complex stabilization mechanisms. This dynamic design simplifies the overall structure while improving ease of erection.
2Ease of operation
If complex mechanisms are used for tent construction, then ease of operation is improved, but initial cost and replacement cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the tent into modular sections (pole sections, hub assemblies, canopy segments), each component can be manufactured independently using standardized processes. This segmentation allows for economies of scale in production and simplifies inventory management, reducing both initial and replacement costs while maintaining ease of assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub structure serves multiple functions: it connects multiple pole sections, provides attachment points for the canopy, and acts as a central stabilization point. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed, simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If non-interchangeable pole sections are used, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The pole system is segmented into standardized sections with uniform connection interfaces. Each section maintains structural integrity through consistent design features, ensuring stability regardless of which specific sections are assembled. The standardized segmentation allows different combinations of sections to achieve the same structural performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The pole sections are designed with universal connection features that allow them to be interchanged and reconfigured for different tent sizes and configurations. The hub structure also provides universal attachment points that accommodate various pole arrangements, enabling the same basic components to adapt to multiple tent designs while maintaining structural stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A frame structure for a portable structure, preferably a tent, has a hub capable of a plurality of configurations, each configuration adapted for receiving an associated end of a tent pole. Preferably, the tent pole is formed from a plurality of tent pole sections. Each tent pole section has a first end and a second end. At least one end of each of said plurality of tent pole sections has a ferrule associated with it. The ferrule is sized to receive an adjacent end of an associated tent pole section. Preferably the ferrule has a frustoconical shape. The structure also includes feet for receiving an end of each tent pole. The hub, tent poles and feet all are attached to the material used to define the tent.