US4877044A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tent, tent ribs, and method of erecting tents
Assignee: American Recreation Products Inc
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Filing: 1988-08-26
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Granted: 1989-10-31
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Expires: 2008-08-26
Abstract
Abstract A tent of the type comprising a fabric shell suppoprted on a skeleton frame having at least two criss-crossing ribs, the ribs having patches of mating halves of a hook-and-loop type fastening material on the portions of the ribs that criss-cross, to releasably attach the ribs at the point where they criss-cross and stabilize the frame.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert R. Cantwell
- 👤 Raymond F. Hallemann
- 👤 Deborah M. Zumsteg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:43
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H15/00; E04H15/32; E04H15/34; E04H15/42; E04H15/425; E04H15/60; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S52/00; Y10S52/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
An improved tent of the type comprising a fabric shell supported on a skeleton frame having at least two criss-crossing ribs, the improvement comprising: patches of mating halves of hook-and-loop type fastening material on portions of the ribs that criss-cross, one half of the hook-and-loop material being attached to one of said two criss-crossing ribs and the other half of the hook-and-loop material being attached to the other of said criss-crossing ribs, to releasably attach the ribs together at the point where they criss-cross and stabilize the frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
An improved tent of the type comprising a fabric shell supported on a skeleton frame having at least two criss-crossing ribs, the improvement comprising: patches of mating halves of hook-and-loop type fastening material on portions of the ribs that criss-cross, one half of the hook-and-loop material being attached to one of said two criss-crossing ribs and the other half of the hook-and-loop material being attached to the other of said criss-crossing ribs, to releasably attach the ribs together at the point where they criss-cross and stabilize the frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improved tent according to claim 1 wherein the mating patches of the hook-and-loop type fastening material extend substantially around the circumference of the ribs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improved tent according to claim 2 wherein the ribs comprise a plurality of tubular sections and a plurality of socket members joining the tubular sections, and wherein the patches of the hook-and-loop type fastening material extend around the circumference of the socket members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The improved tent according to claim 1 wherein there are two flexibly resilient ribs adapted to be bent into two inverted U-shaped bows and erected in substantially perpendicular planes, and wherein the mating patches of hook-and-loop type fastening material are located at the apices of the bows.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
92 words
Improved tent ribs for assembly in criss-crossing fashion to form a skeleton frame for supporting a fabric shell to form a tent, the improvement comprising: mating patches of a hook-and-loop type fastening material on portions of the ribs that criss-cross, one half of the hook-and-loop material being attached to one of said two criss-crossing ribs and the other half of the hook-and-loop material being attached to the other of said criss-crossing ribs, to allow the ribs to be releasably attached at the point where they criss-cross to form a stable self-supporting frame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
Improved tent ribs for assembly in criss-crossing fashion to form a skeleton frame for supporting a fabric shell to form a tent, the improvement comprising: mating patches of a hook-and-loop type fastening material on portions of the ribs that criss-cross, one half of the hook-and-loop material being attached to one of said two criss-crossing ribs and the other half of the hook-and-loop material being attached to the other of said criss-crossing ribs, to allow the ribs to be releasably attached at the point where they criss-cross to form a stable self-supporting frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improved tent ribs according to claim 5 wherein the mating patches of the hook-and-loop type fastening material extend substantially around the circumference of ribs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The improved tent ribs according to claim 6 wherein the ribs comprise a plurality of tubular sections and a plurality of socket members for joining the tubular sections, and wherein the mating patches of the hook-and-loop type fastening material extend around the circumference of the socket members.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of erecting a tent of the type comprising a fabric shell supported on a skeleton frame having at least two criss-crossing ribs, the method comprising the steps of: providing ribs having patches of mating halves of hook-and-loop type fastening material on the sections of the ribs adapted to criss-cross, one half of the hook-and-loop material being attached to one of said two criss-crossing ribs and the other half of the hook-and-loop material being attached to the other of said criss-crossing ribs; erecting the ribs to form the skeleton frame; releasably attaching the ribs at the points where they criss-cross by joining the mating patches of the hook-and-loop type fastening material to form a free standing skeleton frame; and suspending the fabric shell on the free-standing skeleton frame to form the tent.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of erecting a tent of the type comprising a fabric shell supported on a skeleton frame having at least two criss-crossing ribs, the method comprising the steps of: providing ribs having patches of mating halves of hook-and-loop type fastening material on the sections of the ribs adapted to criss-cross, one half of the hook-and-loop material being attached to one of said two criss-crossing ribs and the other half of the hook-and-loop material being attached to the other of said criss-crossing ribs; erecting the ribs to form the skeleton frame; releasably attaching the ribs at the points where they criss-cross by joining the mating patches of the hook-and-loop type fastening material to form a free standing skeleton frame; and suspending the fabric shell on the free-standing skeleton frame to form the tent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein the mating patches of the hook-and-loop type fastening material extend substantially around the circumference of ribs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 9 wherein each rib comprises a plurality of tubular sections and a plurality of socket members for joining the tubular sections, and wherein the mating patches of the hook-and-loop type fastening material extend around the circumference of at least one of the socket members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein there are two flexibly resilient ribs adapted to be bent inverted into U-shaped bows and erected in substantially perpendicular planes, and wherein the mating patches of hook-and-loop type fastening material are located at the apices of the bows.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-10-30 | 1993-05-01 | 1993-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-30 | 1997-05-01 | 1997-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-30 | 2001-05-01 | 2001-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |