Foldable tent

Abstract

A foldable self-erecting tent ( 10 ) has an elongate shell ( 1 ) of fabric sheet material and frame ribs ( 16 ). The tent ( 10 ) has an erect configuration in which the frame ribs ( 16 ) of the shell ( 11 ) define an interior space the of tent ( 10 ), and a collapsed and folded configuration in which the shell ( 11 ) is compacted and the frame is manipulated such that the tent ( 10 ) is stored in carry bag ( 25 ). The shell ( 11 ) includes a floor panel ( 12 ) and at least one upper panel ( 13 ) joined thereto, the floor panel ( 12 ) being adapted to be fixed to the ground. The upper panel ( 13 ) has sleeves ( 17 ) associated therewith, the sleeves ( 17 ) extending from a plurality of positions adjacent adjoining sides of the upper panel ( 13 ) and the floor panel ( 12 ) on one side of the floor panel ( 12 ) to a position on the opposite side of the floor panel ( 12 ). The frame ribs ( 16 ) are adapted to be fitted into the sleeves ( 17 ) and are secured at their ends such that ribs ( 16 ) are bowed in arcuate configurations, the ribs ( 16 ) being made from a resilient spring like material urging against the shell ( 11 ) of fabric sheet material to form the interior space. The frame ribs ( 16 ) are moveable from the erect configuration where they are spaced apart to the collapsed configuration where they adjacent to each other into a substantially flat arrangement with a diameter of the transverse cross section being substantially identical to that of the erect configuration, the ribs ( 16 ) being adapted to be manipulated into a loop arrangement ( 23 ) thereby reducing the diameter in the collapsed and folded configuration, the tent in flat collapsed and folded configuration being adapted to be stored in the storage carry bag ( 25 ).

1 . A foldable self-erecting tent having an elongate shell of fabric sheet material and a plurality of frame ribs, said tent having an erect configuration in which said frame ribs of said shell define an interior space of said tent, and a collapsed and folded configuration in which the shell is compacted and the frame is manipulated such that said tent is stored in a carry bag, wherein said shell includes a floor panel and at least one upper panel joined thereto, said floor panel having fixing means being adapted to be fixed to the ground, said at least one upper panel having sleeves associated therewith, said sleeves extending from a plurality of positions adjacent adjoining sides of said upper panel and said floor panel on one side of said floor panel to a position on opposite side of said floor panel, said frame ribs being adapted to be fitted into said sleeves and being secured at their ends such that said ribs are bowed in all arcuate configuration, said ribs being made from a resilient spring like material urging against the shell of fabric sheet material to form said interior space, wherein said frame ribs are moveable from the erect configuration where they are spaced apart to said collapsed configuration where they are adjacent to each other into a substantially flat arrangement with a diameter of the transverse cross section being substantially identical to that of the erect configuration, said ribs being adapted to be manipulated into a loop arrangement thereby reducing the diameter in the collapsed and folded configuration, and said tent in flat said collapsed and folded configuration being adapted to be stored in the storage carry bag.  
     
     
         2 . The foldable tent according to  claim 1 , wherein the floor panel and the upper panel are formed by an integral construction of the shell with a portion of the shell being relatively flat and being adapted to be fixed to the ground.  
     
     
         3 . The foldable tent according to  claim 2 , wherein the sleeves extend from ground level to ground level over the upper portion of the shell.  
     
     
         4 . The foldable tent according to  claim 1 , wherein in the collapsed and folded configuration, the ribs are looped once with the ends of the ribs facing the same general direction, the ribs being held against the bias of the ribs by a strap means.  
     
     
         5 . The foldable tent according to  claim 4 , wherein the ends of the ribs are tucked under the fabric sheet material when in the collapsed and folded configuration.  
     
     
         6 . The foldable tent according to  claim 5 , wherein the ribs are looped at least one and a half times.  
     
     
         7 . The foldable tent according to  claim 4 , wherein securing means are used to secure the ribs together in the collapsed and folded configuration.  
     
     
         8 . The foldable tent according to  claim 1 , wherein the ribs are removable from the sleeves in order that they can be replaced when necessary, and are secured to tags located adjacent adjoining sides of said upper panel and said floor panel.  
     
     
         9 . The foldable tent according to  claim 8 , wherein the ribs are secured by means of being received through an eyelet.  
     
     
         10 . The foldable tent according to  claim 9 , wherein the tags are use to fix the tent to the ground by pegging to the ground.  
     
     
         11 . The foldable tent according to  claim 10 , wherein the pegs are used through different eyelets to those used by the ribs.  
     
     
         12 . The foldable tent according to  claim 1 , wherein the tent is elongate with a central upper panel and two oppositely located end upper panels.  
     
     
         13 . The foldable tent according to  claim 12 , wherein openings are provided in the end panels.  
     
     
         14 . The foldable tent according to  claim 1 , wherein the ribs are formed into pairs, wherein a pair of ribs and hence the sleeves have two cross over points about half the height of the tent with the upper portion of each rib being located substantially above the ends of the other rib in the pair whereby adjacent pairs of ribs and sleeves pull apart from each other when in the erected configuration to give a taut surface to the fabric sheet material, due to the bias or spring action of the ribs within the sleeves.  
     
     
         15 . The foldable tent according to  claim 14 , wherein the crossover points of the ribs are located at the apex of the tent.  
     
     
         16 . The foldable tent according to  claim 14 , wherein there is no crossover points of each pair of ribs.  
     
     
         17 . The foldable tent according to  claim 14 , wherein the ribs are not joined in pairs but are adjacent each other but directed in opposing directions.  
     
     
         18 . The foldable tent according to  claim 1 , wherein the carry bag is a substantially flat oval shaped bag.