Offset pole tent

Abstract

A single-pole tent has an upper panel supported by a pole. The upper end of the pole supports the upper panel at a point spaced apart from the perimeter thereof. The lower end of the pole is horizontally fixed at a point offset from the upper end and may be spaced apart horizontally from the upper panel. A first line secures the upper panel and extends to a tie down point beyond the perimeter of the upper panel. The lower end of the pole may be positioned between the first tie down point and the upper end of the pole. A second line secures to the upper panel and extends to a second tie down point beyond the perimeter of the upper panel. Third and fourth lines secure to the upper panel and extend to tie down points laterally on either side of the pole.

1 . A tent comprising: 
 an upper panel having a perimeter;    a pole having an upper terminal end substantially adapted to engage the upper panel spaced inward from the perimeter and having a lower end substantially horizontally offset from the upper end, the lower end being substantially horizontally fixed;    a first line secured to at least one of the upper panel and the pole upper end, the first line adapted to extend to a first tie down point beyond the perimeter, the lower end of the pole positioned between the first tie down point and the upper end of the pole;    
   
   
       2 . The tent of  claim 1 , further comprising a second line secured to the upper panel and extending to a second tie down point beyond the perimeter, the lower end of the pole being located between the first and second tie down points.  
   
   
       3 . The tent of  claim 1 , wherein the pole is bent.  
   
   
       4 . The tent of  claim 2 , wherein the pole is flexible and resilient.  
   
   
       5 . The tent of  claim 1 , wherein the first line secures to the upper panel proximate the upper end of the pole.  
   
   
       6 . The tent of  claim 1 , further comprising a stake securing to the lower end of the pole.  
   
   
       7 . The tent of  claim 6 , wherein the pole is hollow and the stake comprises an upward projection positioned within the pole.  
   
   
       8 . The tent of  claim 7 , wherein the stake comprises a downwardly extending projection laterally offset from the upward projection.  
   
   
       9 . The tent of  claim 7 , wherein the stake comprises an eyelet.  
   
   
       10 . The tent of  claim 9 , wherein the stake is formed of a continuous rod and wherein the eyelet comprises a coil formed in the rod.  
   
   
       11 . The tent of  claim 2 , further comprising third and fourth lines, the third and fourth tie lines extending to third and fourth tie down points, respectively, the third and fourth tie down points located on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through the first and second tie down points.  
   
   
       12 . The tent of  claim 1 , wherein the upper panel is a continuous sheet of material.  
   
   
       13 . The tent of  claim 12 , wherein the upper panel comprises a first seam joining first and second edges of regions thereof and extending inwardly from the perimeter.  
   
   
       14 . The tent of  claim 13 , wherein the first seam is substantially coplanar with the pole.  
   
   
       15 . The tent of  claim 14 , wherein the first seam comprises two stitching lines, the pole inserting between the first and second stitching lines and between the first and second edge regions  
   
   
       16 . The tent of  claim 15 , comprising one or more lower panels extending downwardly from the perimeter of the upper panel.  
   
   
       17 . The tent of  claim 16 , further comprising a floor securing to lower edges of the lower panels and extending horizontally beneath the upper panel.  
   
   
       18 . The tent of  claim 17 , wherein the pole is a main pole, the tent further comprising foot poles supporting the upper panel, the main pole being positioned between the foot poles and the first tie down point.  
   
   
       19 . The tent of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower panel and a second line secured to both the upper panel and to the lower panel, the second line extending continuously from the upper panel to a tie down point and to the lower panel.  
   
   
       20 . A method for pitching a tent, the method comprising: 
 providing an upper panel having a perimeter;    providing a pole having an upper end and a lower end;    engaging the upper end with the upper panel spaced apart from the perimeter thereof    resting the lower end on a support surface horizontally offset from the upper end;    fixing a free end of a first line secured to the upper panel at a first tie down point, the lower end of the pole being positioned between the first tie down point and the upper end of the pole;    fixing a free end of a second line secured to the upper panel at a second tie down point beyond the perimeter, having the upper and lower end of the pole being located between the first and second tide down points.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 providing third and fourth lines secured to the upper panel;    fixing a free end of the third line at a third tie down point horizontally and fixing a free end of the fourth line at a fourth tie down, the third and fourth tie down points located on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through the first and second tie down points.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising, bending the pole.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 providing a sleeve secured to the upper panel, the sleeve extending inwardly from the perimeter;    inserting the pole within the sleeve.    
   
   
       24 . A tent comprising: 
 an upper panel having a perimeter;    a pole having an upper terminal end substantially adapted to engage the upper panel spaced inward from the perimeter and having a lower end substantially horizontally offset from the upper end and from the upper panel, the lower end being substantially horizontally fixed, the pole being resiliently bent;    a first line secured to at least one of the upper panel and the pole upper end, the first line adapted to extend to a first tie down point beyond the perimeter, the lower end of the pole positioned between the first tie down point and the upper end of the pole;    a second line secured to the upper panel and extending to a second tie down point beyond the perimeter, the lower end of the pole being located between the first and second tie down points;    third and fourth lines secured to the upper panel and extending to third and fourth tie down points, respectively, located on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through the first and second tie down points.    
   
   
       25 . A tent comprising: 
 an upper panel;    a lower panel attached to the upper panel; and    a line secured to both the upper panel and to the lower panel, the line extending continuously from the upper panel to a tie down point beyond the lower panel, and to the lower panel.    
   
   
       26 . The tent of  claim 25 , further comprising a stake disposed at the tie down point, a mid-portion of the line being held by the stake to support the bottom of the lower panel and the upper panel.