Convertible tent

Abstract

This invention presently discloses a tent that can be rapidly converted from a fully enclosed structure to a partial windscreen and back again, in one smooth movement. The tent is comprised of a fixed pole structure assembly and a moveable pole structure that work in concert to retract the majority of the tent rain-fly, tent body and bug mesh partially or all the way, one at a time or all at once. The moveable pole structure rotates radially over the fixed pole structure. This system allows for the tent to be substantially opened to the sky providing an 180 degree field of view in either a sifting or prone position from within the tent enclosure.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A collapsible pole and fabric shelter that rapidly converts from a fully enclosed structure to a partial windscreen and back again, comprising: 
 a) a moveable pole structure,    b) a rigid pole structure assembly comprising a plurality of erectable support arches,    c) a outer fabric membrane,    d) a fabric ground membrane continuously coupled to an inner fabric membrane with a partial separate inner lining of mosquito mesh,    e) means for removably associating said rigid pole structure assembly and said moveable pole structure with said outer fabric membrane and said inner fabric membrane,    f) means for removably associating said outer fabric membrane to said fabric ground membrane,    g) means for removably associating a structural pole end with said fabric ground membrane.    
     
     
         2 . A shelter as in  claim 1  wherein the outer fabric membrane and the inner fabric membrane are spaced at a distance from each other to allow free airflow between.  
     
     
         3 . A shelter as in  claim 1 , where in a zippered doorway with a matching separate zippered mosquito mesh is the primary access and is not part of the moveable pole structure or its operation.  
     
     
         4 . A shelter as in  claim 1 , wherein the inner fabric membrane is partially mated to the fabric ground membrane by a continuous horizontal zipper spaced at a constant distance from the ground, that runs from one end of said moveable pole structure's pole end to its other pole end, freeing the plane, described by said moveable pole structure, to rotate radially about an axis described by a line connecting said pole ends.  
     
     
         5 . A shelter as in  claim 4  that when unzipped and open is converted to a wind screen shelter.  
     
     
         6 . A wind screen shelter as in  claim 5 , that when shut is converted to a fully enclosed weather tight tent, whereby the improvement over other tents is the provision of two distinct types of shelter that can quickly convert back and forth with one smooth movement, in one structural system, from a partial wind screen shelter to a fully enclosed weather tight shelter.  
     
     
         7 . A wind screen shelter as in  claim 5  that when open may simultaneously be a zipped tight, mosquito mesh enclosure separate from the outer fabric membrane, the inner fabric membrane and the moveable pole structure while suspended and defined by the rigid pole structure assembly, whereby the improvement over other tents is the ability to remove all obstructions to viewing the sky from horizon to horizon by retracting the movable pole structure, outer fabric membrane, the inner fabric membrane, and the mosquito mesh leaving only the rigid pole structure for 180 degrees of unobstructed viewing in either a prone or sitting position from inside the tent.  
     
     
         8 . A collapsible pole and fabric shelter comprising: 
 a) a moveable pole structure in combination with a rigid pole structure assembly,    b) said moveable pole structure is comprised of a pole flexed into an arch with each pole end held fixed at a spaced distance from the other, defining a plane that rotates radially about an axis described by a line connecting the pole ends and is perpendicular to a center line axis of symmetry about which is assembled, said rigid pole structure assembly comprising two or more static poles each flexed into an arch with each pole end held fixed at a spaced distance from the other defining a plurality of planes,    c) a outer fabric membrane and a inner fabric membrane with a separate inner lining of mosquito mesh, Said inner fabric membrane is continuously coupled to a fabric ground membrane whose perimeter is described by said pole ends.    
     
     
         9 . A shelter as in  claim 8 , wherein the moveable pole structure and the rigid pole structure assembly are removably associated with the outer fabric membrane the inner fabric membrane and the fabric ground membrane.  
     
     
         10 . A shelter as in  claim 2 , wherein the outer fabric membrane is removably associated with the fabric ground membrane in a plurality of locations defined by the juncture of the pole ends of the moveable pole structure and the rigid pole structure assembly with the fabric ground membrane.  
     
     
         11 . A shelter where tensile forces provided by the flexure of the moveable pole structure and the rigid pole structure assembly are applied to the fabric ground membrane through said fixed pole ends to maintain static equilibrium of the structure for support of said outer fabric membrane and inner fabric membrane.  
     
     
         12 . A shelter as in  claim 10 , wherein the structural support provided by said moveable pole structure and said rigid pole structure assembly are independent of each other.