US3924364A

US3924364A - Wind-inflatable tent

Info

Publication number: US3924364A
Application number: US259294A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cornelis Eerkens
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-07-15
Filing date: 1972-06-02
Publication date: 1975-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-09
Also published as: NL7109798A

Abstract

This invention relates to wind-inflatable tents. The tent is provided with walls forming the sides and top thereof, with a wind-catch opening as part of a wind-catch member for receiving the wind pressure and for directing same to the interior of the tent through an opening in the wall of the tent, and means are provided for supporting said wind-catch member in a fixed orientation with respect to the wind direction and the ground.

Description

nlted States Patent 11 1 1111 3,

Eerkens Dec. 9, 1975 WIND-mFLATABLE TENT 3,335,529 8/1967 Gedney 52/2 3,501,917 3197 D 61 IR [76] Inventor 5 5T; g g g Lawck van 3,589,183 4197 1 Lgtiii rd 73/ 188 a s raa rn em, Netherlands Primary ExaminerErnest R. Purser [22] Filed: June 2, 1972 Assistant ExaminerCarl D. Friedman [21] Appl NOJ 259,294 Attorney, Agent, or FirmJoel Halpem [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABS Jul I5 1971 Netherlands 7109798 This invention relates to wind-inflatable tents. The y tent is provided with walls forming the sides and top [52] U S Cl thereof, with a wind-catch opening as part of a wind- [51] In.t..CL.2::: catch member for receiving the w pressure and for [58] Field 6: Search 73/188; 52/2, 157 direciinfisame the interim the hmugh an opening in the wall of the tent, and means are pro- 'ded for supporting said wind-catch member in a [5 6] References Cited v1 fixed orientation with respect to the wind direction UNITED STATES PATENTS and the ground. 3,254,457 6/1966 Gedney 52/2 3,318,560 5/1967 Garrette, Jr. 61 al. 52/157 x 5 Claims, 4 Drawmg Flgllres US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 Fig.3

WIND-INFLATABLE TENT The present invention relates to wind-inflatable tents and more particularly to tents whichare inflatable by wind pressure, and are maintained in an erected state by means of air pressure therewithin which is built up by the introduction of the said wind pressure.

Bubbles tents, i.e. enclosures formed of flexible, relatively light, strong material such as sheets of a plastic film, inflatable by air pressue and maintained by internal air pressure, have been known heretofore. Such enclosures, as is well known, have been used as storage rooms, greenhouses, enclosures for tennis courts, etc. However, such enclosures or tents require mechanical means to generate sufficient internal pressure to inflate same and to maintain the tent in an erected, inflated state. It has been customary to utilize one or more air blowers, mounted in a corner within the enclosure, to maintain the tent in its inflated state.

It has long been recognized that sun bathing is a world-wide form of recreation having also a degree of therapeutic value. Sun bathing along beaches is especially popular, partly because of the invigorating effect of the sea breezes. However, this avocation becomes unpleasant when the wind turns cold, as during the spring and autumn seasons. Nevertheless, many persons desire to participate in sun bathing throughout the year albeit there has heretofore been no satisfactory means for providing relief from the cold wind other than the resort to permanent structures when such are available.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide an enclosure which may be inflated and maintained in its inflated state without resort to mechanical blowers.

It is another object of this invention to provide a wind-inflatable tent which may be readily transported from one location to another.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a wind-inflatable tent which requires no mechanical blower to maintain same in its inflated state, which may be erected at any desired location, and which may serve as a sun bathing enclosure.

According to the present invention there is provided a wind-inflatable tent, comprising flexible walls forming the sides and top thereof, a wind-catch member adapted to receive wind pressure and direct same to the interior of said tent through an opening in said walls, and means adapted to be secured to the ground and to support said wind-catch member in substantially fixed relation thereto.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tent in its inflated state having a star-shaped form;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the tent depicted in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tent according to a modified embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tent in the configuration of an animal.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, and FIGS. 1 and 2 particularly, the tent is shown as comprising sidewalls 1 which are secured at the base to a ground cloth 2. The space within the tent, as defined by the sidewalls, is in communication with the air outside by means of wind-catch channel 3. This channel is open at one end to the outside air by virtue of wind-catch opening 4, the other end of the channel being in communication with the interior of the tent by means of an opening in the roof of the tent. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 windcatch channel 3 may take the shape of a tube or sleeve, and may be constructed of a suitable lightweight material such as a plastic or canvas sheet. A wind-catch ring 5 defines the wind-catch opening. When the tent is erected it isdesirable to orient the ring such that its geometric plane is perpendicular to the wind direction. In the drawing reference letter W designates the wind direction. Once so positioned, the orientation of the ring is maintained by being affixed to support member or pole 6. The support member is provided with handle means 8, and may be formed with a bit or screw at one end so that it can be screwed into the ground to the desired depth.

The wind-catch ring 5 is preferably formed with an integral extension 9. The upper portion of support member 6 is so constructed as to permit the formation of a rigid joint with the lower portion of the extension of ring 5. A convenient construction is simply the provision of a socket or blind bore in member 6 into which the end of the extension may be inserted. However, it is to be understood that the socket may just as effectively be provided at the end of the extension. Further, although not specifically illustrated, a set screw may be provided to assist increating a rigid connection between the extension of the ring and the support member. The particular manner of joining the ring and its support member is not of critical importance, it being sufficient to insure that no bending is permitted at the juncture and that the extension is separable from the support member.

As will be seen in FIG. 2, air entering the tent via the wind-catch opening 4 and wind-catch channel 3 generates an air pressure therewithin as shown by reference letter p. Such pressure tends to act outwardly in the direction shown by the arrows. It is this generation of air pressure within the tent which maintains same in its inflated state.

The tent is desirably provided with a zippered entrance (not shown) in the sidewall. In order to minimize any disturbance of the air pressure within the tent it should be erected so that the entrance opening is located on the lee side. Since the wind-catch opening is intended to face the wind it is preferred that the opening be provided on the opposite side of the tent.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the windcatch channel 3 may be an integral part of the sidewall of the tent and need not take the form of a distinct channel which is separate from the sidewall. The support pole 6, in this embodiment, serves as a tent pole as well as a support for the wind-catch ring 5.

As will be appreciated, the tent may be formed in various shapes. In FIG. 4 the tent has the configuration of an animal. One of the advantages of this invention is the almost limitless number of forms which may be utilized. Such flexibility of shape, as well as of color, tends to enhance the attractiveness of the tent for recreational purposes by enabling the provision of a pleasant appearance. It is also within the scope of the invention to employ a transparent material in the construction of the tent. This makes possible the use of the tent as a sun bathing enclosure during cold weather. Where the tent is intended as a place within which one may change clothes the sidewall will desirably be made of a non- 3 transparent material.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the invention provides a tent or enclosure which is readily transportable and is easily inflated and maintained in an erected state utilizing only the natural wind force. In this regard, experiment has demonstrated that comparatively little wind force is needed for inflation and maintenance. Further, although FIGS. 1-3 show the use of a ground cloth, and it is presently preferred that one be employed, such cloth is not essential to the operativeness of the tent. For example, the tent can be erected by first setting the lower edges of the sidewall close to the ground, so as to substantially eliminate any possibility of air leakage, and then positioning the wind-catch opening and ring so as to permit the introduction of wind pressure into the tent.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the disclosure has been made only by way of example, and that variations in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A habitable wind-inflatable tent, comprising flexible walls forming the sides and top thereof, a windcatch member integral with said walls and adapted to receive wind pressure and direct same to the interior of said tent through an opening in said walls, means for providing access and egress to and from said tent, and means integral and cooperable with said wind-catch member adapted to be secured to the ground and to support said wind-catch member in spaced substantially fixed relation thereto, said wind-catch member support means also serving to maintain said tent in an erected state, said tent being sufficiently light-weight so as to be manually transportable as a unitary assembly from one location to another.

2. A wind-inflatable tent according to claim 1, wherein said wind-catch member is a wind-catch ring which defines a wind-catch opening through which the wind passes en route to the interior of said tent, and said ring is provided with an integral extension adapted to be detachably connected to said support member.

3. A wind-inflatable tent according to claim 2, wherein said ring is connected to one end of a tubular channel member, the other end of said channel member being connected to the upper portion of the wall of the tent about said opening therein.

4. A wind-inflatable tent according to claim 2, wherein said wind-catch member support means is a pole-like element adapted adjacent one end thereof to engage telescopically with the extension of said ring to provide a substantially rigid juncture therewith, the other end of said support means being provided with a screw to facilitate attachment to the ground.

5. A wind-inflatable tent according to claim 3, wherein said wind-catch member support means is a pole-like element adapted adjacent one end thereof to engage telescopically with the extension of said ring to provide a substantially rigid juncture therewith, the other end of said support means being provided with a screw to facilitate attachment to the ground.

Claims

1. A habitable wind-inflatable tent, comprising flexible walls forming the sides and top thereof, a wind-catch member integral with said walls and adapted to receive wind pressure and direct same to the interior of said tent through an opening in said walls, means for providing access and egress to and from said tent, and means integral and cooperable with said wind-catch member adapted to be secured to the ground and to support said wind-catch member in spaced substantially fixed relation thereto, said wind-catch member support means also serving to maintain said tent in an erected state, said tent being sufficiently light-weight so as to be manually transportable as a unitary assembly from one location to another.