US2811164A - Automatic spring tensioner for tents - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 29, 1957 E. E. AMES 2,311,154

AUTOMATIC SPRING TENSIONER F OR TENTS Filed Nov. 16, 1955 I INVENTOR. flown/2o E. AMEs Unite A Harris Neville Co., San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of California 7 Application November 16, 1953, Serial No. 392,174

1 Claim. (Cl. 135-3) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in automatic spring tensioner for tents and has particular application in connection with umbrella-type tents wherein a center pole is provided from which radially project substantially horizontal spreaders which engage the corners of the tent to apply tension thereto.

It is well known that adjustment or compensation of tension is required as the canvas of a tent expands and contracts with changes in weather conditions and stretching of the fabric after use. The present invention is concerned with an automatic means for maintaining the canvas at a proper degree of tension despite changes in conditions which would otherwise affect the same.

One of the features of the present invention is the provision of a spring associated with a tensioner arm so positioned that the force of the spring is applied to the tent canvas to maintain the canvas tight at all times. The provision of such a spring requires no manual adjustment as the conditions affecting the tension of the tent vary.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading thefollowing specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical mid-section through a tent in which the present invention is installed.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the tensioner which is the subject of this invention.

A conventional umbrella-type tent employs a vertical center pole 11 which is suitably imbedded in the ground. Four downwardly slanted roof sections 12 made of canvas come together at the center of the tent and are maintained in elevated position by reason of a point 13 on the top of the center pole 11 passing through a hole 14 in the center, or other convenient means. The roof sections 12 are joined to four wall panels 16 which depend generally vertically from the outer edges of the roof sections 12. In the accompanying drawings the tent is shown as having four roof sections 12 and four wall sections 16 but it will be understood tha the number of such sections is subject to considerable variation depending upon the design of the tent.

In order to support the roof and Wails under tension and in proper position and to give the tent a trim appearance, tensioners 21 are employed. Generally, such tensioners are mounted on a sliding ferrule 22 on the tent pole 11 and project radially outwardly from the tent pole to the four corners at which the roof and side sections coincide. By adjusting the elevation of the ferrule 22 relative to the tent pole, the horizontal component of the tensioner may be regulated and accordingly, the ferrule is initially placed in proper position to supply the required tension on the corners of the tent which 2 V is required. When the ferrule 22 is once so positioned a thumb-screw 23 or other locking device may be em ployed to holdthe ferrule in position and prevent it from sliding up or down on the tent pole. Adjustment of the position of the ferrule is somewhat diflicult and it is undesirable that frequent adjustment be made. Therefore, the present invention has for one of its objects an auto matic adjustment of the tension applied to the canvas by the tensioner 21 as the conditions affecting the expansion and contraction of the canvas change. Accordingly, a radially projecting rigid rod 26 of metal is provided and is hinged to the ferrule 22. Various means may be ensployed to hinge the tensioner to the ferrule; as shown in the accompanying drawings, the inner end of the tensioner rod 26 is flattened as indicated by reference numeral 27 and apertured with hole 28. A pair of radially projecting cars 29 is formed on the ferrule 22 in association with each of the tensioners 21. Thus, four pairs of ears 29 are employed as shown in Fig. 2 for a four-sided tent. A rivet 31 passes through apertures in the ears 29 and also through the aperture 28. This arrangement provides for swinging movement of the rod 26 in a vertical plane about rivet 31.

The outer end of the rod 26 engages the tent wall at the intersection of the wall and the roof sections 16 and 12. For such purpose, a hole is formed in the canvas of the wall 16 and preferably a reinforcement 32 such as a metal grommet or other conventional reinforcing means is installed around the edges of the hole. The outer end of the rod 26 projects through the reinforcement 32. In order to provide tension against the tent wall 16 a coil spring 36 is installed around the outer end of the rod 26. First and second washers 37 and 38 are placed at the inner and outer ends of the spring 36, respectively, the outer washer 38 bearing against the side 16 and transmitting the pressure exerted by the spring 36 against the tent wall. The inner washer 37 is held in position by means of lugs 39 formed in the rod or any other suitable means for restricting inward movement of the spring 36. To prevent dislodgement of the spring 36 and washers 37 and 38 when the tensioncr is not in use, another pair of lugs 41 is formed adjacent the extreme outer end of the rod 26, the outer lugs preventing the washers and spring from coming off the end of the rod. However, the outer lugs 41 are small enough so that they will fit through the grommet 32 or other reinforcement in the tent wall but at the same time are large enough so as to prevent the washer 38 from being dislodged.

In use, the tent pole 11 is inserted through the hole in the top of the tent and the pole is then placed in vertical position. At this stage of the operation the ferrule 22 is lowered and the rods 26 are not positioned in engagement with the tent wall. After the center pole 11 is erect, the ferrule 22 is raised into a position below its final position and at this time the ends of the rods 26 are inserted through the reinforcements 32 in the corners of the tent. The ferrule 22 is then raised into proper position so that proper initial tension is imparted to the canvas and when this position is found, the wing nut 23 or other locking means is tightened to hold the ferrule at that position. When the ferrule is properly located, the springs 36 impart a desired amount of tension to the tent walls. As climatic conditions and other conditions affecting the canvas result in expansion or contraction of the canvas the expansion and contraction is compensated by expansion and contraction of springs 36 without the necessity of adjusting the position of the ferrule 22 or making any other manual adjustment of the tensioning arms 21.

Although I have described my invention in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changesand modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is: I 1 Means for automatically adjustingpthe tension of a tent ateave-line corners formed with grommet apertures comprisinga ferrule arranged forsliding movement on a tent pole, means for locking saidf errule in position relative to said pole, a plurality of rods, said rods being of'substantially uniform thickness throughout from adjacent their inner ends to their outer ends, a corresponding plurality of means for articulately connecting said rods and said ferrule for vertical swinging movement of said rods, a plurality of helical springs, each said spring being carried by its corresponding rod adjacent the outer end thereof, said outer ends of said ro ds being oi saiduniform 15 1,583,831

thickness, a first washer around each said rod at the inner end of said spring, means for restraining inward movement of said first washer, a second washer around each said rod at the outer end of said spring and biased outwardly thereby, and lug means mounted on said rods restraining outward movement of said second washer, said lug means and said rods being smaller than the grommet apertures of said tent and said second washer being larger than the grommet apertures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Dunn -i Apr. 10, 1923 Hoigaard May 11, 1926

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