Connector Device for a Telescoping Tent Pole

Abstract

A connector device connects tent poles and includes a tubular member having an interior with an interior surface having a detent and a lower aperture for receiving a lower tent pole into the interior. A top member on the tubular member has an upper aperture for receiving an upper tent pole into the interior of the tubular member. The detent secures the lower tent pole to the tubular member in a snap-fit engagement and the upper pole is releasably lockable with the lower pole. Another connector device includes a tubular member having a longitudinal axis, and an outer surface having a tent fly fastener for fastening a tent fly, a slit extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a fastener receptacle to receive a fastener oriented perpendicular to the slit.

1 . A connector device for connecting tent poles comprising:
 a tubular member having:
 an interior with an interior surface having a detent; and 
 a lower aperture for receiving a lower tent pole into the interior; and 
   a top member on the tubular member having an upper aperture for receiving an upper tent pole into the interior of the tubular member;   wherein the detent secures the lower tent pole to the tubular member in a snap-fit engagement.   
     
     
         2 . The connector device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower tent pole includes a locking aperture which engages the detent in the snap-fit engagement. 
     
     
         3 . The connector device of  claim 1 , wherein the interior surface includes a shaped protrusion; and
 wherein an end of the lower tent pole has a corresponding complementary shaped slot to match the shaped protrusion when the lower tent pole is inserted into the interior of the tubular member.   
     
     
         4 . The connector device of  claim 3 , wherein the shaped protrusion is rectangular. 
     
     
         5 . The connector device of  claim 1 , wherein the detent protrudes into the interior. 
     
     
         6 . The connector device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper tent pole is locked into position with the lower tent pole by a push-button engagement. 
     
     
         7 . A connector device for connecting tent poles comprising:
 a tubular member having:
 an interior with an interior surface having a pair of resilient detents; and 
 a lower aperture for receiving a lower tent pole into the interior; and 
   a top member on the tubular member having an upper aperture for receiving an upper tent pole into the interior of the tubular member;   wherein the pair of resilient detents secure the lower tent pole to the tubular member in a snap-fit engagement.   
     
     
         8 . The connector device of  claim 7 , wherein the lower tent pole includes locking apertures which engage the resilient detents in the snap-fit engagement. 
     
     
         9 . The connector device of  claim 7 , wherein the interior surface includes a shaped protrusion; and
 wherein an end of the lower tent pole has a corresponding complementary shaped slot to match the shaped protrusion when the lower tent pole is inserted into the interior of the tubular member.   
     
     
         10 . The connector device of  claim 9 , wherein the shaped protrusion is rectangular. 
     
     
         11 . The connector device of  claim 10 , wherein the upper tent pole is locked into position with the lower tent pole by a push-button engagement. 
     
     
         12 . A connector device for connecting tent poles of a tent comprising:
 a tubular member having a longitudinal axis; and
 an outer surface having:
 a tent fly fastener for fastening a tent fly; 
 a slit extending parallel to the longitudinal axis; and 
 a fastener receptacle to receive a fastener oriented perpendicular to the slit; 
 an interior with an interior surface having a pair of detents; 
 a lower aperture for receiving a lower tent pole into the interior; and 
 
   a top member on the tubular member having an upper aperture for receiving an upper tent pole into the interior of the tubular member;   wherein the pair of detents secure the lower tent pole to the tubular member in a snap-fit engagement.   
     
     
         13 . The connector device of  claim 12 , wherein the lower tent pole includes a pair of locking apertures which engage the pair of detents in the snap-fit engagement. 
     
     
         14 . The connector device of  claim 12 , wherein when the lower pole is inserted into the lower aperture, the slit expands until the pair of detents secure the lower tent pole to the tubular member in a snap-fit engagement, and the fastener is inserted and secured in the fastener receptacle to secure the lower pole in the tubular member. 
     
     
         15 . The connector device of  claim 12 , wherein the tent fly fastener is a hook-shaped member extending from the outer surface of the tubular member. 
     
     
         16 . The connector device of  claim 12 , wherein the interior surface includes a shaped protrusion; and
 wherein an end of the lower tent pole has a corresponding complementary shaped slot to match the shaped protrusion when the lower tent pole is inserted into the interior of the tubular member.   
     
     
         17 . The connector device of  claim 16 , wherein the shaped protrusion is rectangular. 
     
     
         18 . The connector device of  claim 12 , wherein the pair of detents are rigid. 
     
     
         19 . The connector device of  claim 12 , wherein the upper tent pole is locked into position with the lower tent pole by a push-button engagement. 
     
     
         20 . The connector device of  claim 12 , wherein when the lower and upper poles form a part of a tent and are moved to fold or unfold the tent, the fastened tent fly is held in place on the tent fly fastener.