US4966178A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tent movable between a collapsed position and a latched erect position
Assignee: Fisher Price Inc
•
Filing: 1989-09-14
•
Granted: 1990-10-30
•
Expires: 2009-09-14
Abstract
Abstract A tent is disclosed having movable tent poles for supporting a flexible tent body. An apex junction member is provided for pivotally supporting one of the ends of each of the tent poles, the opposite ends of which are held in a fixed position. A tensioning member is provided movable between a normal position in which the tent is collapsed with the tent poles parallel and adjacent to each other, and a tensioned position for tensioning the tent poles in a splayed apart configuration for placing the tent body in an erect position. A latch member is provided for releasably latching the tensioning member in its tensioned position and the tent in its erect position.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony E. Eichhorn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 19:40
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H15/00; E04H15/32; E04H15/34; E04H15/36; E04H15/40; E04H15/28; E04H15/322; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A tent movable between a collapsed position and a latched erect condition, comprising: a flexible tent body; tent poles for supporting the tent body; holding means for releasably attaching one end of the tent poles to the tent body; apex junction means for supporting the opposite ends of the tent poles, the apex junction means including; a base member; a plurality of adapters mounted on one of the ends of the tent poles; a cap member movably mounted on the base member and adapted when pressed downwardly to engage the adapters and to bend and tension the tent poles for placing the tent body in an erect position; and latch means movable between a normal unlatched position to a latched position for latching the tent poles in a tensioned position and the tent body in its erect position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A tent movable between a collapsed position and a latched erect condition, comprising: a flexible tent body; tent poles for supporting the tent body; holding means for releasably attaching one end of the tent poles to the tent body; apex junction means for supporting the opposite ends of the tent poles, the apex junction means including; a base member; a plurality of adapters mounted on one of the ends of the tent poles; a cap member movably mounted on the base member and adapted when pressed downwardly to engage the adapters and to bend and tension the tent poles for placing the tent body in an erect position; and latch means movable between a normal unlatched position to a latched position for latching the tent poles in a tensioned position and the tent body in its erect position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A tent according to claim 1 wherein the apex junction means comprises a base member having a plurality of slots and the plurality of adapters is pivotally received in said slots.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tent according to claim 2 wherein the tent body has a bottom panel, and wherein the holding means comprises a grommet in the bottom panel for receiving the one end of the tent poles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A tent according to claim 2 wherein the cap member is slidably mounted on the base member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tent according to claim 4 wherein the latch means comprises a fixed latch lug on the base member, engageable by a latch ear on a slidable spring biased latch ear on the cap member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
113 words
A tent according to claim 5 wherein the cap member is cup-shaped and has a plate secured thereto, wherein the latch bar is slidably mounted between the cap member and plate with the latch ear extending through the plate, and wherein the latch ear and latch lug have slidably engageable cam surfaces terminating in a latch ear shoulder, and a latch lug shoulder, which cam surfaces are adapted when the cap member is pressed, to retract the latch bar until the cam surfaces are moved out of engagement, causing the spring biased latch ear shoulder to move in front of the latch lug shoulder for placing the latch means in its latched position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
A tent according to claim 6, wherein latch ear depends from the latch bar, and wherein an end of the latch bar extends outwardly from the cap member forming a button adapted when pressed to retract the latch ear from the latch lug, to release the latch means for movement by the tensioned poles to its normal unlatched position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR453190A
Cited
CH159905A
Cited
US2953145A
Cited
US3181542A
Cited
US3929146A
Cited
US4033366A
Cited
US4193413A
Cited
US4566245A
Cited
US4637748A
Cited
US4627210A
Cited
US4750509A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-10-29 | 1994-04-30 | 1994-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-29 | 1998-04-30 | 1998-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-29 | 2002-04-30 | 2002-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |