Tepee Rain Diverting Attachment System

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional tepees face issues with rainwater accumulation inside when the entrance is open, leading to a wet ground and potential pool formation, and existing solutions with awnings are heavy and unsuitable for long distances or stormy conditions.

Innovation Solution

A cone-shaped tent with a rain-diverting attachment system using a pocket and additional cloth, such as an awning, that can be easily attached or detached, utilizing hook and loop fasteners like Velcro, to prevent rain from entering through the opening, while maintaining lightweight portability and storm readiness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If an awning is sewn to the tent cloth around the opening to prevent rain from entering, then rain protection is improved, but the tent becomes unnecessarily heavy and unsuitable for long-distance carrying

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverain protectionVSAvoidtent weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The rain protection function is segmented from the main tent structure. The additional cloth that forms the rain diverting attachment is separate from the cone-shaped tent cloth, allowing it to be attached only when needed for rain protection, rather than being permanently integrated into the tent structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rain protection system transitions from a static permanent awning to a dynamic attachable/detachable configuration. The additional cloth can be attached to form a rain diverting attachment when rain is expected, and detached when not needed, allowing the tent to adapt its weight and functionality based on environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If an awning is sewn to the tent cloth around the opening to prevent rain from entering, then rain protection is improved, but the tent is not suited to be pitched on locations where storms are likely to occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverain protectionVSAvoidstorm condition adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The rain protection function is segmented from the main tent structure. The additional cloth that forms the rain diverting attachment is separate from the cone-shaped tent cloth, allowing it to be attached only when needed for rain protection, rather than being permanently integrated into the tent structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rain protection system transitions from a static permanent awning to a dynamic attachable/detachable configuration. The additional cloth can be attached to form a rain diverting attachment when rain is expected, and detached when not needed, allowing the tent to adapt its weight and functionality based on environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the opening is established to pass in and out through the tent, then accessibility is improved, but rain will fall into the interior and form pools of water

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening accessibilityVSAvoidrainwater accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The additional cloth is positioned to extend beyond the seam line of the wedge-like cloth portion, creating an overlapping configuration that preemptively blocks rainwater from flowing along the seam into the tent interior, even when the opening is established for access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The additional cloth acts as an intermediary element between the opening and the tent interior. It creates a rain diverting attachment that intercepts rainwater before it can reach the seam and flow into the tent, while still allowing the opening to function for access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Effectively prevents rain from entering the tent when the opening is used, ensuring a dry interior without adding unnecessary weight or complexity, and allows for easy attachment and detachment of the rain-diverting feature as needed.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing hook and loop fasteners like Velcro

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHook and loop fastening mechanism: Velcro

Data Source

PatentEP2721230B1Tepee provided with means for rain diverting

Publication Date: 2017.10.18 TENTIPI

AI summary

A substantially cone-shaped tent (1) comprises a substantially cone-shaped tent cloth (2) to assume substantially the shape of a cone when the tent is pitched. The tent cloth is separable in at least lower part for forming an opening (10) to pass in an out through. The tent is provided with means configured to enable rain diverting, releasable attachment of an additional cloth (11) with respect to said substantially cone-shaped tent cloth in a region of said tent cloth above said opening for together with said tent cloth when said opening is present forming a cover over the ground (13) substantially covered by the tent cone defined when said opening is closed.