Tent Frame Structural Member With Utility Channel and Tent Made Therewith

Abstract

A tent and tent frame structural members are provided. The structural members include utility channel to which devices such as hooks, carabineers and wire trays can be mounted to the structural member. More particularly, mounting structures of the devices insert into the utility channel and secure the devices to the structural members. The utility channel can include at least one undercut to prevent removal of the mounting structure, and ultimately the devices, from the structural member.

1 . A tent frame structural member comprising:
 an elongated body extending between a first end and a second end; and   a channel formed in the elongated body, the channel including a retaining portion and a mouth portion, the retaining portion being positioned relative to the mouth portion to form at least one undercut region in the channel.   
     
     
         2 . The tent frame structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining portion is generally round in cross-section. 
     
     
         3 . The tent frame structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining portion is generally rectangular in cross-section. 
     
     
         4 . The tent frame structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining portion is generally trapezoidal in cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The tent frame structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the structural member has an arcuate section between a first end and a second end, the first and second end defining the length, and wherein the structural member is adapted to connect two other structural members with one another, such that the two other structural members extend at an angle relative to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The tent frame structural member of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the structural member generally has a rectangular periphery when viewed perpendicular to the channel, the rectangular periphery including first, second, third and fourth sides, the channel being formed in the fourth side, the structural member having a hollow interior bounded by first, second, third and fourth sidewalls, the first, second, third and fourth sides defined by the first, second, third and fourth sidewalls, respectively;   the first and third sides extend generally perpendicular to and between the third and fourth sides, forming a first corner between the first and second sides, a second corner between the second and third sides, a third corner between the third and fourth sides and a fourth corner between the fourth and first sides.   
     
     
         7 . The tent frame structural member of  claim 6 , wherein the fourth sidewall has first and second peripheral sidewall portions substantially defining the outer surface of the fourth sidewall that faces away from the second sidewall, the first and second peripheral sidewall portions forming a gap therebetween forming at least part of the mouth, first and second mouth wall portions extend inward from distal ends of the first and second peripheral sidewall portions that face one another, the first and second mouth wall portions defining in part the mouth therebetween, first and second undercut wall portions extending laterally outward from ends of the first and second mouth wall portions, respectively, the first and second undercut wall portions extending generally parallel to the first and second peripheral sidewall portions and being generally co-planar, first and second retaining wall portions extending inward from ends of the first and second undercut wall portions, respectively, the first and second retaining wall portions being generally parallel to the first and third sidewalls, and a channel bottom wall portion extending between and connecting distal ends of the first and second retaining wall portions, the bottom wall portion being generally parallel to the undercut wall portions, the first and second mouth wall portions being spaced apart a first distance, the first and second retaining wall portions being spaced apart a second distance, the first distance being less than the second distance, the first and second undercut wall portions, first and second retaining wall portions and the bottom wall portion substantially bounding and defining the retaining portion. 
     
     
         8 . The tent frame structural member of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second corners define C-channels, each of the C-channels having a narrowed mouth portion leading to an enlarged retaining portion. 
     
     
         9 . The tent frame structural member of  claim 8 , further including a pair of spaced apart locating ribs extending outward from an outer surface one of the second sidewall or the fourth sidewall, further including a pair of spaced apart locating channels having an opposite profile as the spaced apart locating ribs formed in an outer surface of the other one of the second sidewall or the fourth sidewall, the pair of locating ribs being spaced apart a same distance as the locating channels. 
     
     
         10 . A tent comprising:
 a plurality of structural members interconnected to form a tent frame;   a utility channel formed in and running along a length of at least one of the plurality of structural members, the utility channel including a retaining portion and a mouth portion; and   at least one device secured to the at least one structural member, the at least one device including mounting structure including a mounting head inserted into the retaining portion and a neck portion extending from the mounting head through the mouth portion, the mounting head having a width in at least one dimension when in a mounted condition being larger than a width of the mouth portion creating an interference engagement between the mounting head and the utility channel.   
     
     
         11 . The tent assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least on structural member having the utility channel includes at least one sidewall defining a side of the retaining portion, the mounting head further including at least one flat in engagement with the at least one sidewall to prevent rotation of the mounting head within the retaining portion. 
     
     
         12 . The tent assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the retaining portion has a generally rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         13 . The tent assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the retaining portion is positioned relative to the mouth portion such that the utility channel has a pair of undercut regions on adjacent sides thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The tent assembly of  claim 10 , further including a connector member for connecting at least two of the structural members, the at least two structural members having substantially identical utility channels, the connector member further including a utility channel identical to the utility channel of the at least two structural member, the utility channel of the connector member merging into the utility channels of the at least two structural members to form a continuous utility channel formed by the connector member and the at least two structural members. 
     
     
         15 . A tent assembly comprising:
 a plurality of interconnected structural members forming a frame of the tent;   a utility channel formed in and running along a length of at least one of the plurality of structural members, the utility channel including a retaining portion and a mouth portion, the retaining portion being positioned relative to the mouth portion to define a pair of undercuts on opposed sides of the mouth portion;   the at least one of the plurality of structural members including the utility channel generally having a rectangular periphery when viewed perpendicular to the utility channel, the rectangular periphery including first, second, third and fourth sides, the structural member having a hollow interior bounded by first, second, third and fourth sidewalls, the first, second, third and fourth sides defined by the first, second, third and fourth sidewalls, respectively, the utility channel being formed by the fourth sidewall,   the first and third sides extend generally perpendicular to and between the third and fourth sides, forming a first corner between the first and second sides, a second corner between the second and third sides, a third corner between the third and fourth sides and a fourth corner between the fourth and first sides;   the fourth sidewall having first and second peripheral sidewall portions substantially defining the outer surface of the fourth sidewall that faces away from the second sidewall, the first and second peripheral sidewall portions forming a gap therebetween forming at least part of the mouth, first and second mouth wall portions extend inward from distal ends of the first and second peripheral sidewall portions that face one another, the first and second mouth wall portions defining in part the mouth therebetween, first and second undercut wall portions extending laterally outward from ends of the first and second mouth wall portions, respectively, the first and second undercut wall portions extending generally parallel to the first and second peripheral sidewall portions and being generally co-planar, first and second retaining wall portions extending inward from ends of the first and second undercut wall portions, respectively, the first and second retaining wall portions being generally parallel to the first and third sidewalls, and a channel bottom wall portion extending between and connecting distal ends of the first and second retaining wall portions, the bottom wall portion being generally parallel to the undercut wall portions, the first and second mouth wall portions being spaced apart a first distance, the first and second retaining wall portions being spaced apart a second distance, the first distance being less than the second distance, the first and second undercut wall portions, first and second retaining wall portions and the bottom wall portion substantially bounding and defining the retaining portion;   the first and second corners defining C-channels, each of the C-channels having a narrowed mouth portion leading to an enlarged retaining portion;   a fabric panel having an enlarged edge portion mounted within one of the C-channels preventing communication between the inside of the tent and the outside of the tent;   a pair of spaced apart locating ribs extending outward from an outer surface one of the second sidewall or the fourth sidewall, further including a pair of spaced apart locating channels having an opposite profile as the spaced apart locating ribs formed in an outer surface of the other one of the second sidewall or the fourth sidewall, the pair of locating ribs being spaced apart a same distance as the locating channels;   at least one device secured to the at least one structural member, the at least one device including mounting structure including a pair of laterally projecting portions inserted into the retaining portion and at least one neck portion extending from the laterally extending portions and extending through the mouth portion, the laterally extending portions inserted into the undercuts when the at least one device is mounted to the at least one structural member creating an interference engagement between the utility channel and the mounting structure.