Recreational Collapsible Tent

Abstract

A tent comprises a fabric portion, a hub, pole assemblies, and slip members. The pole assemblies can be adjusted between fully extended and collapsed configurations. The upper end of each pole assembly is connected to the hub and the lower end is configured and adapted to releasably connect to a respective one of the corners of the fabric portion. Each of the slip members is connected to the fabric portion and slideably connected to a respective one of the pole assemblies. Each of the pole assemblies is configured and adapted such that the slip member can slide only along a portion of the pole assembly. The slip members and the pole assemblies are configured and adapted to spread the corners of the fabric portion apart from each other as the pole assemblies are being adjusted from the collapsed configuration to the fully extended configuration.

1 . A tent comprising:
 a pliable fabric portion, the fabric portion comprising a base having corners;   an upper pole hub;   a plurality of adjustable tent pole assemblies that can be adjusted between fully extended and collapsed configurations, each of the pole assemblies having an upper end connected to the pole hub and a lower end that is configured and adapted to releasably connect to a respective one of the corners of the fabric portion, the pole assemblies and the pole hub collectively being configured and adapted to suspend the fabric portion therefrom when the lower ends of the pole assemblies are connected to the corners of the fabric portion; and   a plurality of slip members, each of the slip members being connected to the fabric portion and slideably connected to a respective one of the pole assemblies, each of the pole assemblies being configured and adapted such that the slip member can slide only along a portion of the pole assembly, the slip members and the pole assemblies being configured and adapted to spread the corners of the fabric portion apart from each other as the pole assemblies are being adjusted from the collapsed configuration to the fully extended configuration.   
     
     
         2 . A tent in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the tent comprises a plurality of connection mechanisms, each of the connection mechanisms comprises a pole end cap and a capture member, the capture member comprises a keyhole opening having a large portion and a slotted portion that collectively form the keyhole opening, the pole end cap is configured to be adapted to pass at least partially into the keyhole opening through the large portion of the keyhole opening and to thereafter pass into the slotted portion of the keyhole opening in a manner such that the pole cap cannot be removed from the capture member without first passing the pole cap from the slotted portion of the keyhole opening and back into the large portion of the keyhole opening, each of the pole caps is fixed to the lower end of a respective one of the pole assemblies, each of the capture members is fixed to a respective one of the corners of the fabric portion, and each of the pole assemblies is releasably connected to a respective one of the corners of the fabric portion by a respective one of the pole caps and a respective one of the capture members. 
     
     
         3 . A tent in accordance with  claim 1  wherein each of the pole assemblies comprises multiple pole segments that are foldable relative to each other, a lowermost one of the pole segments of each pole assembly forms the lower end of the respective pole assembly, and the tent is configured such that each of the slip members can slide only along the lower pole segment of a respective one of the pole assemblies. 
     
     
         4 . A tent in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the pole segments of each of the pole assemblies are connected to each other and foldable relative to each other via a shock cord. 
     
     
         5 . A tent in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the pole segments of each of the pole assemblies are connected to each other and foldable relative to each other via a fixed-plane hinge between each adjacent pair of the pole segments. 
     
     
         6 . A tent in accordance with  claim 5  wherein each of the fixed-plane hinges is oriented to fold in a direction away from the fabric portion of the tent. 
     
     
         7 . A tent comprising:
 a pliable fabric portion, the fabric portion comprising a base having corners;   an upper pole hub;   a plurality of adjustable tent pole assemblies that can be adjusted between fully extended and collapsed configurations, each of the pole assemblies having an upper end connected to the pole hub and a lower end that is configured and adapted to releasably connect to a respective one of the corners of the fabric portion, the pole assemblies and the pole hub collectively being configured and adapted to suspend the fabric portion therefrom when the lower ends of the pole assemblies are connected to the corners of the fabric portion; and   a plurality of connection mechanisms, each of the connection mechanisms comprising a pole end cap and a capture member, the capture member comprising a keyhole opening having a large portion and a slotted portion that collectively form the keyhole opening, the pole end cap being configured to be adapted to pass at least partially into the keyhole opening through the large portion of the keyhole opening and to thereafter pass into the slotted portion of the keyhole opening in a manner such that the pole cap cannot be removed from the capture member without first passing the pole cap from the slotted portion of the keyhole opening and back into the large portion of the keyhole opening, each of the pole caps being fixed to the lower end of a respective one of the pole assemblies, each of the capture members being fixed to a respective one of the corners of the fabric portion, each of the pole assemblies being releasably connectable to a respective one of the corners of the fabric portion by a respective one of the pole caps and a respective one of the capture members.   
     
     
         8 . A tent in accordance with  claim 7  wherein the each of the pole assemblies comprises multiple pole segments that are foldable relative to each other, a lowermost one of the pole segments of each pole assembly forms the lower end of the respective pole assembly, the tent comprises a plurality of slip members, each of the slip members is connected to the fabric portion and slideably connected to a respective one of the pole assemblies, each of the pole assemblies is configured and adapted such that the slip member can slide only along the lower pole segment of a respective one of the pole assemblies, and the slip members and the pole assemblies are configured and adapted to spread the corners of the fabric portion apart from each other as the pole assemblies are being adjusted from the collapsed configuration to the fully extended configuration. 
     
     
         9 . A tent in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the pole segments of each of the pole assemblies are connected to each other and foldable relative to each other via a shock cord. 
     
     
         10 . A tent in accordance with  claim 9  wherein the pole segments of each of the pole assemblies are connected to each other and foldable relative to each other via a fixed-plane hinge between each adjacent pair of the pole segments. 
     
     
         11 . A tent in accordance with  claim 10  wherein each of the fixed-plane hinges is oriented to fold in a direction away from the fabric portion of the tent.