Tent structure and suspension means

Claim 2

A tent comprising a plurality of sidewalls, a top and bottom joined together in a continuous surface of flexible material, the sidewalls being formed from a continuous closed loop of flexible material, a plurality of rigid members of sufficient length to span the vertical width of the sidewall, securing means attaching the rigid members to the sidewall material at the corners of the tent, the securing means attaching the rigid members to the sidewall material uniformly over the full vertical widt of the material, anchor means positioned outside each corner, and tensioning means linking both ends of each of the rigid members to a corresponding one of the anchor means, the tension means pulling on each of the corners in an outward direction in relation to the center of the tent, the tension means being resisted substantially only by lateral tension in the closed loop of material forming the sidewalls, the later tension being distributed essentially uniformly over the full vertical width of the sidewall material by virtue of the distribution of the attachment of each rigid member to the sidewall material uniformly over the vertical width of the sidewall material.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for supporting the top independently of the anchoring and tensioning means, the top being joined around its periphery to the top edge of the sidewalls, the top hanging freely between the periphery and the supporting means with the tension in the top being small compared to the tension in the tension means.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the top is formed with an apex, said supporting means including a rigid pole extending between the apex and the supporting surface for the tent, the top being of flexible material hanging freely between the apex and the periphery.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the apex of the top is made of open mesh material, and further including a cover secured to the apex of the top and overlapping the mesh material and a small portion of the top below the margin of the mesh material on the outside of the apex to prevent rain from entering while permitting air to move freely through the open mesh, means drawing the top at the lower margin of the mesh into a convoluted shape to provide ventilation space between the top and the overlapping cover, and means for fastening the cover and top together to close off the ventilation space.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the bottom flexible material has an area greater than the area enclosed by the sidewalls, the bottom resting on the supporting surface on which the tent is erected and hanging freely with substantially no horizontal tension in the bottom material from the lower margin of the sidewalls.

Claim 7

Apparatus of claim 2 wherein the tension means at each corner of the sidewalls includes a tubular fold extending the full vertiCal width of the sidewall, the rigid member extending through the tubular fold.

Claim 8

An enclosure structure for a tent or the like extending above and anchored to a supporting surface, comprising a band of flexible material formed in a closed loop, a plurality of rigid upright members, means attaching the rigid members to the material uniformly over the full width of the band at spaced points around the loop, the members being longer than the full width of the band and adjustable longitudinally relative to the band, the lower ends of the rigid members resting on but movable across the supporting surface, a plurality of anchor means secured to the supporting surface at spaced points outside the perimeter of the band, adjustable tension means connecting both ends of each of the rigid members to respective ones of the anchor means, the tension means being opposed by horizontal tension in the closed loop band which tension is substantially uniformly distributed over the full width of the band, the band being adjustable vertically relative to the rigid upright members to vary height of the band above the supporting surface, a flexible top member attached at its outer perimeter to the top edge of the band, and means supporting the center of the top member from the supporting surface, with the tension in the top member between the supporting means and the closed loop band being substantially less than the tension in said tension means.

Claim 9

An enclosure structure for a tent or the like extending above and anchored to a supporting surface, comprising a band of flexible material formed in a closed loop, a plurality of rigid upright members, means attaching the rigid members to the material uniformly over the full width of the band at spaced points around the loop, the members being longer than the full width of the band and adjustable longitudinally relative to the band, the lower ends of the rigid members resting on but movable across the supporting surface, a plurality of anchor means secured to the supporting surface at spaced points outside the perimeter of the band, adjustable tension means connecting both ends of each of the rigid members to respective ones of the anchor means, the tension means being opposed by horizontal tension in the closed loop band which tension is substantially uniformly distributed over the full width of the band, the band being adjustable vertically relative to the rigid upright members to vary height of the band above the supporting surface, a flexible top member attached at its outer perimeter to the top edge of the band, and means supporting the center of the top member from the supporting surface, with the tension in the top member between the supporting means and the closed loop band being substantially less than the tension in said tension means.