Search

EP-4741608-A2 - TENT FRAME

EP4741608A2EP 4741608 A2EP4741608 A2EP 4741608A2EP-4741608-A2

Abstract

A tent frame comprising a hub from which a plurality of limbs are configured to extend is disclosed herein. The limbs are rotatable between a stowed configuration and an erect configuration. The limbs comprise: a first set of limbs having a first set of pivots, the first set of limbs configured to rotate about a first set of parallel pivot axes; and a second set of limbs having a second set of pivots, the second set of limbs configured to rotate about a second set of pivot axes generally transverse to the first set of pivot axes. The hub comprises a first retaining means configured to retain at least one of the limbs of the second set of limbs in the erect configuration, and a second retaining means configured to retain at least one of the limbs of the second set of limbs in the erect configuration.

Inventors

  • TAYLOR, ADAM

Assignees

  • Fox International Group Limited

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251103

Claims (15)

  1. A tent frame comprising a hub from which a plurality of limbs are configured to extend; wherein the limbs are rotatable between a stowed configuration and an erect configuration; wherein the limbs comprise: a first set of limbs having a first set of pivots, the first set of limbs configured to rotate about a first set of parallel pivot axes; and a second set of limbs having a second set of pivots, the second set of limbs configured to rotate about a second set of pivot axes generally transverse to the first set of pivot axes; and wherein the hub comprises a first retaining means configured to retain at least one of the limbs of the second set of limbs in the erect configuration, and a second retaining means configured to retain at least one of the limbs of the second set of limbs in the erect configuration.
  2. The tent frame of claim 1 further comprising an operating means to control operation of both the first retaining means and the second retaining means, and wherein the operating means are configured to be operated in a first direction to control operation of the first retaining means, and operated in a second direction to control operation of the second retaining means.
  3. The tent frame of any of the previous claims, wherein the first retaining means is a stop configured to prevent rotation of at least one of the limbs of the first set of limbs about its respective pivot axis, and wherein the second retaining means is configured to provide a latch to prevent rotation of at least one of the limbs of the second set of limbs about its respective pivot axis.
  4. The tent frame of any of the previous claims wherein the pivots of the first set of pivot axes are arranged such that the first set of limbs are configured to be splayed laterally when the tent frame is erected.
  5. The tent frame of claim 4 wherein the first retaining means is configured to retain at least one of the limbs of the first set of limbs in position once it has travelled through more than 90 degrees from the stowed configuration to the erect configuration, and wherein the first set of limbs are arranged to make contact with the ground, and wherein the second set of limbs are arranged to support tent fabric off the ground.
  6. The tent frame of any of the previous claims, wherein in the stowed configuration all of the limbs are parallel to each other when viewed from above, and wherein all of the limbs are secured to the hub.
  7. The tent frame of any of the previous claims wherein the first set of pivot axes and the second set of pivot axes are fixed in position relative to one another, and wherein the second set of pivot axes are located together on one side of the hub.
  8. The tent frame of any of the previous claims wherein the second set of limbs are provided with respective cams for at least two limbs attached to the hub by way of universal pivots being included in the second set of pivots, and wherein the cams are arranged such that when the frame is unfolded from the stowed configuration to the erect configuration, the at least two limbs splay away from one another as the latter are rotated about their respective pivots.
  9. The tent frame of claim 8 wherein the cams are such as to generate a movement of the respective limbs when the frame is unfolded from the stowed configuration to the erect configuration, which movement is such that the limbs splay away from one another as the latter are rotated about their respective pivots through a first part of such movement at a greater rate than in a second part of that movement.
  10. A tent frame comprising a hub from which a plurality of limbs are configured to extend; wherein the limbs are rotatable between a stowed configuration and an erect configuration; wherein the limbs comprise: a first set of limbs configured to splay outwards as they are rotated from the stowed configuration to the erect configuration; and a second set of limbs configured to turn through an angle when they are rotated from the stowed configuration to the erect configuration such that in the stowed configuration the second set of limbs generally extend in a first direction, and in the erect configuration the second set of limbs generally extend in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction; and wherein the hub comprises a first retaining means configured to retain at least one of the limbs of the second set of limbs in the erect configuration, and a second retaining means configured to retain at least one of the limbs of the second set of limbs in the erect configuration.
  11. The tent frame of claim 10 further comprising an operating means to control operation of both the first retaining means and the second retaining means, and wherein the operating means are configured to be operated in a first direction to control operation of the first retaining means, and operated in a second direction to control operation of the second retaining means.
  12. The tent frame of claim 10 or 11, wherein the first retaining means is a stop configured to prevent rotation of at least one of the limbs of the first set of limbs, and wherein the second retaining means is configured to provide a latch to prevent rotation of at least one of the limbs of the second set of limbs, and wherein the first retaining means is configured to retain at least one of the limbs of the first set of limbs in position once it has travelled through more than 90 degrees from the stowed configuration to the erect configuration.
  13. The tent frame of any of claims 10 to 12, wherein in the stowed configuration all of the limbs are parallel to each other when viewed from above, and wherein all of the limbs are secured to the hub, andw herein the first set of limbs have a first set of pivots and are configured to rotate about a first set of parallel pivot axes, wherein the second set of limbs have a second set of pivots and are configured to rotate about a second set of pivot axes generally transverse to the first set of pivot axes, and wherein the second set of limbs are located together on one side of the hub in the erect configuration.
  14. The tent frame of any of the previous claims wherein the second set of limbs are provided with respective cams for at least two limbs attached to the hub by way of universal pivots being included in the second set of pivots, wherein the cams are arranged such that when the frame is unfolded from the stowed configuration to the erect configuration, the at least two limbs splay away from one another as the latter are rotated about their respective pivots.
  15. A portable shelter comprising the tent frame of any of the previous claims, the portable shelter having sheet material supported by the tent frame.

Description

Field of the invention The present disclosure relates to a tent frame, and a portable shelter including such a tent frame. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a hub from which extends a plurality of limbs for providing a portable shelter. Background An example of a tent frame for use with a portable shelter is described in EP 3 064 676. Such a tent frame may be used with portable shelters, such as the Fox™ Frontier™ bivvy. Such a tent frame has a hub that comprises a first set of limbs having a first set of pivots, the first set of limbs configured to rotate about a first set of parallel pivot axes; and a second set of limbs having a second set of pivots, the second set of limbs configured to rotate about a second set of pivot axes generally transverse to the first set of pivot axes. However, it has been found that when erecting such shelters, unless the first set of limbs are rotated to the erect configuration before the second set of limbs are rotated to the erect configuration, damage of the portable shelter, such as to the fabric and/or the limbs, may sometimes occur. Aspects of the disclosure seek to resolve such problems. Other portable shelters are described, for example, in EP 3 943 692, EP 1 445 400 and EP 4 148 208. Summary of the invention Aspects of the invention are as set out in the independent claims and optional features are set out in the dependent claims. Aspects of the invention may be provided in conjunction with each other and features of one aspect may be applied to other aspects. In a first aspect there is provided a tent frame comprising a hub from which a plurality of limbs are configured to extend. The limbs are rotatable between a stowed configuration and an erect configuration. The limbs comprise a first set of limbs having a first set of pivots, the first set of limbs configured to rotate about a first set of parallel pivot axes; and a second set of limbs having a second set of pivots, the second set of limbs configured to rotate about a second set of pivot axes generally transverse to the first set of pivot axes. The hub comprises a first retaining means configured to retain at least one of the limbs of the second set of limbs in the erect configuration, and a second retaining means configured to retain at least one of the limbs of the second set of limbs in the erect configuration. The tent frame may further comprise an operating means to control operation of both the first retaining means and the second retaining means. The operating means may be a lever on top of the hub. The operating means may be configured to be operated in a first direction to control operation of the first retaining means, and operated in a second direction to control operation of the second retaining means. The first retaining means may be a stop configured to prevent rotation of at least one of the limbs of the first set of limbs about its respective pivot axis, and wherein the second retaining means is configured to provide a latch prevent rotation of at least one of the limbs of the second set of limbs about its respective pivot axis. For example, the second retaining means may be a hook. The pivots of the first set of pivot axes may be arranged such that the first set of limbs are configured to be splayed laterally when the tent frame is erected. The first retaining means may be configured to retain at least one of the limbs of the first set of limbs in position once it has travelled through more than 90 degrees from the stowed configuration to the erect configuration. The second retaining means may be configured to retain at least one of the limbs of the second set of limbs in position once it has travelled through approximately 180 degrees from the stowed configuration to the erect configuration. The first set of limbs may be arranged to make contact with the ground, and wherein the second set of limbs are arranged to support tent fabric off the ground. In the stowed configuration all of the limbs may be parallel to each other. All of the limbs may be secured to the hub. The first set of pivot axes and the second set of pivot axes may be fixed in position relative to one another. The second set of pivot axes may be located together on one side of the hub. The second set of limbs may be provided with respective cams for at least two limbs attached to the hub by way of universal pivots being included in the second set of pivots. The cams may be arranged such that when the frame is unfolded from the stowed configuration to the erect configuration, the at least two limbs splay away from one another as the latter are rotated about their respective pivots. The cams may be such as to generate a movement of the respective limbs when the frame is unfolded from the stowed configuration to the erect configuration, which movement is such that the limbs splay away from one another as the latter are rotated about their respective pivots through a first part of such movement at a greater rate than