A tent and a method for heat insulating a tent

Abstract

A tent ( 1 ) comprises a flysheet ( 4 ) supported on a plurality of ground engaging tent poles ( 7 ), each of which terminate in respective opposite ground engaging ends ( 8 ). A heat insulated enclosure ( 2 ) is suspended within the flysheet ( 4 ) from the ground engaging tent poles ( 7 ) by suspension straps ( 24 ). The heat insulated enclosure ( 2 ) comprises a heat insulated groundsheet ( 17 ), a heat insulated peripheral side wall ( 19 ) extending upwardly from the heat insulated groundsheet ( 17 ) to a heat insulated ridge element ( 20 ), all of which include spaced apart inner and outer sheets ( 25,26 ) of fabric material with a heat insulating material ( 27 ) such as cellucotton material of thickness typically in the range of 15 mm to 40 mm sandwiched between the inner and outer sheets ( 25,26 ). The heat insulated enclosure defines an open mouth ( 21 ) which is closed by a heat insulated closure sheet ( 22 ), and the heat insulated enclosure ( 2 ) communicates with a day compartment ( 10 ) located forwardly of the heat insulated enclosure ( 2 ) within the flysheet ( 4 ).

1 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . A tent comprising a heat insulated enclosure having a heat insulated groundsheet, and a heat insulated peripheral side wall adapted to extend upwardly from the heat insulated groundsheet, and substantially around the heat insulated groundsheet, the heat insulated side wall being adapted to converge upwardly and to join adjacent a top ridge of the tent or to join a top heat insulated ridge element to close the top of the heat insulated enclosure, the peripheral side wall defining an open mouth to the enclosure. 
     
     
         52 . A tent as claimed in  claim 51  in which the heat insulated enclosure is adapted for suspending from at least one ground engaging tent pole, and preferably, the heat insulated enclosure is adapted for suspending from a plurality of ground engaging tent poles. 
     
     
         53 . A tent as claimed in  claim 51  in which a closure element is provided to close the open mouth to the heat insulated enclosure, and preferably, the closure element comprises a heat insulated closure element, and advantageously, the closure element is releasably securable to the heat insulated enclosure, and preferably, the closure element comprises an inner sheet and an outer sheet spaced apart from the inner sheet, with a heat insulating material sandwiched therebetween. 
     
     
         54 . A tent as claimed in  claim 51  in which the heat insulated groundsheet comprises an inner sheet and an outer sheet spaced apart from the inner sheet with a heat insulating material sandwiched therebetween, and advantageously, the heat insulated peripheral wall comprises an inner sheet and an outer sheet spaced apart from the inner sheet with a heat insulating material sandwiched therebetween, and preferably, the heat insulated ridge element comprises an inner sheet and an outer sheet spaced apart from the inner sheet with heat insulating material sandwiched therebetween, and advantageously, at least the inner sheet of each of the heat insulated closure element, the heat insulated groundsheet and the heat insulated peripheral wall and the heat insulated ridge element comprises a fabric material selected from any one or more of the following materials: polycotton, polyester and other such plastics based materials. 
     
     
         55 . A tent as claimed in  claim 53  in which the outer sheet of each of the heat insulated closure element, the heat insulated groundsheet, the heat insulated peripheral wall and the heat insulated ridge element comprises one of a moisture-proofed or water-proofed material, and preferably, the outer sheet of the heat insulated closure element, the heat insulated groundsheet, the heat insulated peripheral wall and the heat insulated ridge element comprises a fabric material selected from one or more of the following materials: polycotton, polyester and other such plastics based materials. 
     
     
         56 . A tent as claimed in  claim 53  in which the heat insulating material of each of the heat insulated closure element, the heat insulated groundsheet, the heat insulated peripheral wall and the heat insulated ridge element is selected from any one or more of suitable plastics based heat insulating materials, and preferably, the heat insulating material of each of the heat insulated closure element, the heat insulated groundsheet, the heat insulated peripheral wall and the heat insulated ridge element comprises a breathable material, and advantageously, the heat insulating material of each of the heat insulated closure element, the heat insulated groundsheet, the heat insulated peripheral wall and the heat insulated ridge element comprises any one or more of a cellucotton heat insulating material, a polyester based heat insulating material, hollow fibre material, goose down, duck down and cotton, and preferably, the heat insulating material comprises a breathable heat insulating material. 
     
     
         57 . A tent as claimed in  claim 53  in which the thickness of the heat insulating material of each of the heat insulated closure element, the heat insulated groundsheet, the heat insulated peripheral wall and the heat insulated ridge element lies in the range of 15 mm to 40 mm, and preferably, 15 mm to 30 mm. 
     
     
         58 . A tent as claimed in  claim 51  in which a flysheet is provided, and the heat insulated enclosure is suspended within the flysheet, and preferably, the flysheet comprises a waterproof material. 
     
     
         59 . A tent as claimed in  claim 51  in which a waterproof groundsheet is provided, and preferably, the waterproof groundsheet is secured to the flysheet, and advantageously, the heat insulated groundsheet of the heat insulated enclosure is supported on the waterproof groundsheet. 
     
     
         60 . A tent as claimed in  claim 51  in which the heat insulated enclosure is suspended from the ground engaging tent poles by a plurality of suspension elements, and preferably, each suspension element comprises a suspension strap, and advantageously, the suspension straps extend between the heat insulated enclosure and one of the flysheet and the ground engaging tent poles, and preferably, the suspension straps are secured to the heat insulated enclosure, and are releasably secured to the one of the flysheet and the ground engaging tent poles, and advantageously, the suspension elements are secured to the peripheral wall of the heat insulated enclosure, or alternatively, the suspension elements are secured to the heat insulated ridge element. 
     
     
         61 . A tent as claimed in  claim 51  in which the tent comprises a non-heat insulated day compartment, and the heat insulated enclosure is configured to communicate with the day compartment through the open mouth of the heat insulated enclosure. 
     
     
         62 . A tent as claimed in  claim 61  in which the day compartment comprises a closable communicating opening adapted to provide access to the open mouth of the heat insulated enclosure, and preferably, the closable communicating opening is releasably closable by a closure flap. 
     
     
         63 . A tent as claimed in  claim 61  in which a coupling means is provided for coupling the heat insulated enclosure to the day compartment with the communicating opening communicating with the open mouth of the heat insulated enclosure, and preferably, the coupling means comprises a releasable coupling means, and advantageously, the coupling means sealably couples the heat insulated enclosure to the day compartment. 
     
     
         64 . A tent as claimed in  claim 61  in which the day compartment is adapted to receive a plurality of heat insulated enclosures, and preferably, the day compartment comprises a plurality of communicating openings configured to communicate with the respective heat insulated enclosures through the open mouths of the respective heat insulated enclosures. 
     
     
         65 . A tent as claimed in  claim 61  in which the day compartment comprises a dome-shaped day compartment, and preferably, the day compartment comprises a flysheet, and advantageously, the day compartment comprises a groundsheet. 
     
     
         66 . A tent as claimed in  claim 51  in which the heat insulating material comprises acoustic insulating properties. 
     
     
         67 . A tent comprising a day compartment having a flysheet, and at least one sleeping compartment releasably secured to the day compartment, the at least one sleeping compartment comprising a heat insulated enclosure, at least one closable communicating opening located in the flysheet of the day compartment for communicating the day compartment with the corresponding at least one sleeping compartment, and a coupling means for releasably coupling the at least one sleeping compartment to the day compartment with the at least one sleeping compartment communicating with the day compartment through the communicating opening of the day compartment. 
     
     
         68 . A tent as claimed in  claim 67  in which the coupling means comprises a waterproof or at least a weatherproof sealing means for sealing the joint between the at least one sleeping compartment and the day compartment, and preferably, the flysheet of the day compartment comprises a plurality of closable communicating openings for communicating the day compartment with respective ones of the sleeping compartments, and advantageously, the day compartment comprises a groundsheet, and preferably, the heat insulated enclosure of each sleeping compartment is suspended within the sleeping compartment. 
     
     
         69 . A method for heat insulating a tent, the method comprising providing a heat insulated enclosure having a heat insulated groundsheet, and a heat insulated peripheral side wall adapted to extend upwardly from the heat insulated groundsheet, and substantially around the heat insulated groundsheet, adapting the heat insulated peripheral side wall to converge upwardly, and joining the peripheral side wall to form a top ridge or joining a top heat insulated ridge element to close the top of the heat insulated enclosure, providing the peripheral side wall to define an open mouth to the enclosure. 
     
     
         70 . A method as claimed in  claim 69  in which the heat insulated enclosure is suspended from at least one ground engaging tent pole, and preferably, from a plurality of ground engaging tent poles, and advantageously, a closure element is provided to close the open mouth to the heat insulated enclosure, and preferably, the closure element comprises a heat insulated closure element.