Vent control system for tent

Abstract

A tent or shelter includes a fabric forming a structure for the tent or shelter. The tent or shelter can include a vent assembly having a port, a flap, and member. The port can be disposed through the fabric and permeable to airflow. The flap can be attached to the fabric and adjacent the port. The member can move in response to a force from within the structure so as to move the flap toward and/or away from a closed position in which the flap blocks airflow through the port.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tent or shelter, comprising:
 fabric forming a structure for the tent or shelter; and   a vent assembly comprising:
 a port configured to allow airflow between an inside of the structure and an outside of the structure; 
 a flap attached to the fabric and overlying the port on an exterior of the structure, the flap adjustable between an (i) open configuration permitting airflow through the port and between the inside of the structure and the outside of the structure, and (ii) a closed configuration blocking airflow through the port between the inside of the structure and the outside of the structure; and 
 a vent control system comprising:
 a conduit providing access from the inside of the structure to the flap; and 
 a member configured for movement through the conduit by a pushing or pulling force from the inside the structure, the flap coupled with the member so as to move between the open and closed configurations in response to movement of the member through the conduit by the pushing or pulling force from the inside of the structure. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The tent or shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the flap is attached to the fabric along a top of the flap and along lateral sides of the flap, and at least a portion of a bottom of the flap is not attached to the fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The tent or shelter of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one fastener at least partially positioned on an interior of the structure and configured to releasably secure the member in a position that maintains the flap in the open configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The tent or shelter of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one fastener at least partially positioned on an interior of the structure and configured to releasably secure the member in a position that maintains the flap in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The tent or shelter of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one fastener that is:
 at least partially positioned on the exterior of the structure;   configured to releasably secure the flap to the exterior of the structure in the closed configuration; and   configured to release the flap from the exterior of the structure in response to movement of the member through the conduit by the pushing or pulling force from the inside of the structure.   
     
     
         6 . The tent or shelter of  claim 5 , wherein the member comprises or is coupled with a handle configured for gripping by a person from within the structure for application of the pushing or pulling force. 
     
     
         7 . The tent or shelter of  claim 5 , wherein the member comprises a plurality of members and the conduit comprises a plurality of conduits such that each of the plurality of members is configured for movement through a respective conduit of the plurality of conduits by the pushing or pulling force from the inside the structure, and wherein the flap is coupled with all of the members of the plurality of members so as to move between the open and closed configurations in response to movement of the plurality of members through the plurality of conduits by the pushing or pulling force from the inside of the structure. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 providing a tent or shelter having fabric that defines a structure of the tent or shelter when the tent or shelter is set up or erected;   providing a vent comprising a flap covering an opening in the fabric; and   providing a member coupled with the flap and extendible from within the structure for moving the flap toward and/or away from a closed position over the opening.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising providing a conduit distinct from the opening of the vent, the conduit providing access for the member from the inside of the structure through the fabric to the flap. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising providing a handle for the member, the handle arranged within the structure to prevent the handle from being removed from within the structure through the conduit. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the member is retractable from within the structure for moving the flap toward the closed position over the opening. 
     
     
         12 . A tent or shelter, comprising:
 fabric forming a structure for the tent or shelter; and   a vent assembly comprising:
 a port disposed through the fabric and permeable to airflow; 
 a flap attached to the fabric and adjacent the port; and 
 a member movable in response to a force from within the structure so as to reconfigure the flap toward and/or away from a closed configuration in which the flap blocks airflow through the port. 
   
     
     
         13 . The tent or shelter of  claim 12 , further comprising a conduit distinct from the port, the conduit comprising a path through the fabric and through which the member is movable to reconfigure the flap. 
     
     
         14 . The tent or shelter of  claim 12 , further comprising a fastener configured to releasably secure the member in a position that maintains the flap in an open configuration away from the closed configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The tent or shelter of  claim 12 , further comprising a fastener configured to releasably secure the member in a position that maintains the flap in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The tent or shelter of  claim 12 , wherein the member comprises or is coupled with a handle configured for gripping by a person from within the structure for application of the force from within the structure. 
     
     
         17 . The tent or shelter of  claim 16 , wherein the handle comprises a loop sized for a hand of a person. 
     
     
         18 . The tent or shelter of  claim 16 , wherein the handle is oriented transversely to the member. 
     
     
         19 . The tent or shelter of  claim 19 , wherein the member corresponds to a plurality of parallel members and the handle is oriented transversely among the plurality of parallel members. 
     
     
         20 . The tent or shelter of  claim 12 , wherein the member comprises or is coupled with a handle configured for securing to an interior of the tent or shelter at different locations to secure the member in different positions corresponding to different amounts that the flap is from the closed configuration.