A SELF-SUPPORTED FOLDABLE TENT UNIT AND A METHOD OF MOUNTING SUCH IN A TRAILER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a self-supported foldable tent unit which may be mounted on a standard utility trailer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many different types of tents and camping trailers exist.

A tent is a shelter, consisting of sheets of fabric, canvas or other material which typically is stretch-mounted over or attached to a frame of poles. Some tent styles are free-standing, while others are attached to the ground using guy ropes tied to pegs. Tents were first used as portable homes by nomadic people, but today, their main application is for recreational camping.

It may often be desirable for the persons camping to utilize a camping trailer which is a trailer for towing by a vehicle e.g. a car which may be used for shelter and storage. Camping trailers typically consist of a trailer with an attached collapsible tent unit. It may provide kitchen, dining,- sleeping, and often toilet facilities for several people. Camping trailers are known in many different forms and with many different collapsible techniques.

UK Patent application GB 2084943 discloses a folding tent caravan comprising a trailer, two collapsible frame assemblies, a roof assembly and a canvas covering. This apparatus is an example of a dedicated camping trailer that is not convertible into a standard utility trailer.

Many camping trailers are suitable only for camping and no other purpose. Thus, much of the time they are not in use. It is therefore desirable to have a camping

trailer which may be converted into a standard utility trailer for transportation of goods when the camping components are removed.

Such a kind of trailer is shown in U.S. Patent 1,568,895. This patent shows a trailer which may be used for camping, but which morepver may be used for other purposes when the camping components are removed. This trailer has a pair of folding box bays which fold out to form a bed. Adjustable legs support the box bays. The tailgate may include a step. This apparatus requires the use of a plurality of legs to support a top portion. The erection of this apparatus is relatively complex.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a self-supported foldable tent unit comprising

a foundation frame unit,

a foldable tent comprising a stanchion arrangement attached to said foundation frame unit and a tent canvas,

said foundation frame unit comprising a ground support.

A self-supported foldable tent unit is understood as a foldable tent unit which is rigidly ground supported. In particular this means that vibrations or transients induced via the stanchion or poles are absorbed by the ground directly via the foundation frame and a ground support of the foundation frame. Moreover, a further feature of such self-supported foldable tent unit is that vibrations or transients induced by the underlying surface into the foundation frame unit is restricted merely to include the vibrations of the ground on which the foundation frame is positioned.

One of several advantages of the invention is thus that the foldable tent unit is stabilized e.g. when compared to e.g. tents mounted or founded directly on a trailer.

A further advantage of the invention is that the self-supported foldable tent unit may be adapted not to necessarily include a support by a trailer.

A further advantage of an embodiment of the invention is that the self-supported foldable tent unit may comprise an easy plug-and play solution which may easily be used on the same way as conventional camping trailers with foldable tents and at the same be able to use conventional multipurpose trailers as carriage during transport.

A foldable tent is according to the provisions of the invention understood to be a tent which may be unfolded at least partly by means of pivoting movement. The pivoting

movement avails a user to expand and unfold in one movement when compared to conventional erection of tents where all poles are positioned individually and where the tent canvas is positioned in a separate step.

The foundation frame unit and the associated ground support must be able to absorb vibrations or at least be able form an effective coupling of vibrations to the underlying ground.

The tent canvas may be of fabric, canvas, nylon any or other flexible material.

The self-supported foldable tent unit may advantageously be applied in connection with a standard trailer without compromising the general use of the trailer when the tent unit is not carried or mounted to the trailer.

In an embodiment of the invention, at least two main tent poles (MTP) are attached to said stanchion arrangement (SA) by a pivoting arrangement (PA).

The pivoting arrangement may e.g. comprise a hinge enabling the poles to be lowered or raised. The pivoting arrangement may typically define the main folding and unfolding of the tent canvas.

In an embodiment of the invention, said foldable tent unit (FTU) comprises further tent poles (TP).

The further tent poles may preferably be hinged to the foundation frame unit thereby obtaining an all in one unit, thereby avoiding several items to be mounted and kept separately.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the further tent poles are attached to the end of the foundation frame opposite to the end where the main tent poles are attached.

In an embodiment of the invention, said ground support (SUP) comprises a supporting spacer (SS) for supporting the foundation frame unit (FFU).

When the foldable tent unit is erected the supporting spacer ensures that the foundation frame unit does not have contact with the ground to avoid water and damp from the ground to penetrate into the foundation frame unit and destroy the material. The supporting spacer furthermore braces the foundation frame unit to provide a robust foundation for the foldable tent unit. Furthermore, the supporting spacer provides means for positioning the foundation frame into a desirable height and angle when erecting the foldable tent unit.

The supporting spacer is moreover fixed to the foundation frame unit which entails that the foundation frame unit is ground supported via the supporting spacer.

In an embodiment of the invention, said stanchion arrangement (SA) is fastened fixedly to said foundation frame unit (FFU).

The stanchion arrangement is formed of a suitably mechanically formed coupling to the foundation frame unit, thereby ensuring that the tent is stable when erected.

Evidently, further support structures may be attached to the foundation frame adding further mechanical stability in particular to the fitted pole structure if so desired.

In an embodiment of the invention, said tent poles (MTP ₅ TP) are telescopic.

Some or all the tent poles may be formed of telescopic poles. These poles must typically be formed with a lock ensuring that the poles are stable when telescoped.

In an embodiment of the invention, the tent comprises tent pole fittings by means of which the tent canvas may be attached to the tent poles.

The tent pole fittings of the tent may e.g. comprise straps, pockets, locks, tiers or anything suitable for the purpose of attaching the tent to the poles of the pole structure.

In an embodiment of the invention, the tent is permanently attached to the main tent poles.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the tent may be permanently fitted to some of the tent poles, also referred to as main tent poles, thereby designing these main tent poles to define the folding and unfolding of the tent unit. Evidently, further poles may be added for the purpose of supplementing the stability of the erected tent or for the purpose of defining the above-mentioned folding and unfolding.

In an embodiment of the invention, said stanchion arrangement (SA) is ground supported via said foundation frame unit (FFU).

In an embodiment of the invention, said foldable tent unit (FTU) is carried by a trailer.

In one preferred aspect of the invention, it is possible to transport and erect the foldable tent unit in relation to a trailer which together constitutes a camping trailer. This feature makes it possible to transport and erect the foldable tent unit in a very advantageous way. The foldable tent unit may be attached to the hinged tail gate or hinged side gate of the trailer in that it eases the mounting and erection of the foldable tent unit significantly. The mounting of the foldable tent unit may be done simply by attaching the stanchion arrangement to the tail gate or side gate of the trailer. This way the existing hinges of the trailer is utilized as an active part of the camping trailer and provides an easy closing mechanism which makes it possible for one person to easily attach the foldable tent unit to the trailer and close the tail gate or side gate of the trailer with the attached foldable tent unit in order to place the foldable tent unit in the trailer for reasons of transportation.

In an embodiment of the invention, the foldable tent unit (FTU) is ground supported when erected via said stanchion arrangement (SA).

It is a very advantageous that the stanchion arrangement and thereby the whole tent is ground supported. This means that the load-carrying structure of the tent is supported or sustained by the ground and is thereby ground supported. If the foldable tent is unfolded in relation to a trailer the tent is thus not necessarily supported by the trailer which is the case in conventional camping trailers. This is a very advantageous fact in accordance with the present invention because it makes it possible to remove the trailer while the foldable tent unit is erected and it is obviously possible to erect the foldable tent unit alone with no relation to a trailer. Another very advantageous feature according to an embodiment of the invention is that the unfolded or erected foldable tent is completely stable due to the fact that it is totally ground supported compared to the traditional foldable tent units which are fixed to a point of the trailer which typically involves vibrations from the shock absorbers or springs of the trailer. According to an embodiment of the present invention, it thus is possible to achieve an independence of the stability of the trailer due to the advantageous ground support of the foldable tent unit.

In an embodiment of the invention, said foundation frame unit (FFU) comprising a plate (P).

According to an embodiment of the invention, a the plate may be fabricated in a solid material, e.g. wood, metal, glass fiber, plywood, plastic material, etc.

In an embodiment of the invention, said stanchion arrangement (SA) comprises means for holding tent poles (TP) for stretch-mounting of tent canvas (TC).

In an embodiment of the invention, said foldable tent unit (FTU) further comprising an adaptive floor portion (AFP) for sealing the tent from dirt and water.

According to an embodiment of the invention, it is a very advantageous feature of the invention that the adaptive floor portion is adaptive. This feature makes sure that the foldable tent unit is adaptable for application to use directly on the ground if desired. If the foldable tent unit is mounted in a trailer that is dirty or wet possibly due to earlier use of the trailer for transportation of goods, the adaptive floor portion will keep the tent from being dirty or wet. If the foldable tent unit is erected directly on the ground the adaptive floor portion makes sure that no water, moisture or dirt may enter into the tent.

In an embodiment of the invention, said adaptive floor portion (AFP) is formed of a covering flexible material.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a flexible material may be e.g. plastic material, rubber, cloth; material; fabric, PVC etc. The adaptive floor portion may typically be applied in connection with either a support made of a bottom surface of a trailer or the underlying ground

In an embodiment of the invention, said adaptive floor portion (AFP) is formed of a rigid material.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a rigid material may be e.g. be wood, metal, glass fiber, plywood, plastic material, etc.

In an embodiment of the invention, the foldable tent of said foldable tent unit (FTU) comprises a door (TD).

The door may typically be formed of the same material as the remaining tent canvas and the door may form a part of the tent or e.g. be fitted to the tent by fastening means such as buttons, a zipper, etc.

In an embodiment of the invention, said foldable tent unit (FTU) is attached to a trailer.

The attachment of the foldable tent unit is typically non-permanent, i.e. established by means of an attachment means facilitating a reliable attachment and de- attachment. The attachment of the foldable tent unit may alternatively be performed by removing the tail gate or side gate of the trailer by means of easy attachable and detachable hinges on the trailer, e.g. click fittings. Subsequently, the demounted tail or side gate may be mounted on the foldable tent unit which is easily done when the tail gate or side gate is demounted from the trailer. The mounting of the foldable tent unit may hence be attached to the trailer by remounting the tail gate or side gate on the trailer which may be done by e.g. backing the trailer up to the packet foldable tent unit and thereby make the easy attachable hinges automatically attach to the tail gate.

In an embodiment of the invention, said foldable tent unit (FTU) is hinged to a trailer.

An attachment hinged to a trailer facilitates easy mounting to the trailer and moreover unfolding and folding may be performed as a pivoting movement supported by the hinge fitted to the trailer.

In an embodiment of the invention, said foldable tent unit (FTU) is hinged to a hinged tail gate and/or hinged side gate of a trailer.

In an embodiment of the invention, said foldable tent unit comprises a bed extension

(BE) for attachment to the stanchion arrangement or to a trailer platform.

In accordance with the present invention it may be advantageous to place mattresses in the trailer platform to establish sleeping facilities. One problem is however that the sleeping area of a standard utility trailer may be too small for an adult person to lie down. Thus, it is a very advantageous feature of the invention that it may be possible

to expand the sleeping area of the trailer according to an embodiment of the invention. This is very advantageous when applying the foldable tent unit to a small sized trailer in which the area of the trailer platform is smaller than the height of the person who wants to sleep in the trailer platform.

Moreover, the invention relates to use of a trailer for transportation of a self- supported foldable tent unit (FTU) according to an embodiment of the invention.

Furthermore, the invention relates to use of a trailer for floor support of an adaptive floor portion of a self-supported foldable tent unit (FTU) according to an embodiment of the invention.

Moreover, the invention relates to a camping trailer assembly comprising a foldable tent unit (FTU) according to an embodiment of the invention and a standard utility trailer (T).

In accordance with the invention, it is very advantageous that the camping trailer comprises a standard utility trailer. This means that the foldable tent unit may be applied to any existing utility trailer which is understood as a trailer which may be applied for transportation of goods.

In an embodiment of the invention, the attachment of said foldable tent unit (FTU) to said trailer (F) is performed manually by means of an easy detachable fastening mechanism (DFM).

According to the invention the easy fastening means may be a simple bolt, screw, click-fittings, thumb screws or similar easy applicable fastening means.

In an embodiment of the invention, said stanchion arrangement (SA) is attached to the hinged tail gate (TG) of the trailer T.

In an embodiment of the invention, said stanchion arrangement (SA) is attached to the hinged side gate (SG) of the trailer T.

It is a very advantageous feature of the invention that the stanchion arrangement is attached to the tail gate or side gate of the trailer in that is eases the mounting and erection of the foldable tent unit significantly. The mounting of the foldable tent unit may be done simply by attaching the stanchion arrangement to the tail gate or side gate of the trailer. This way the existing hinges of the trailer is utilized as an active part of the camping trailer and provides an easy closing mechanism which makes it possible for one man to easily attach the foldable tent unit to the trailer and close the tail gate or side gate of the trailer with the attached foldable tent unit in order to place the foldable tent unit in the trailer for reasons of transportation.

Moreover, the invention relates to a method of mounting a tent unit according to any of the claims 1-21 where said mounting comprises the steps of

- attaching the tent unit to a hinged tail gate or a hinged side gate of a trailer and

- pivoting the tent unit unto the platform of the trailer.

THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in the following with reference to the figures in which

fig. 1 illustrates a side view of a foldable tent unit according to an embodiment of the invention,

fig, 2a illustrates a side view of the foldable tent unit of fig. 1 when unfolded,

fig. 2b illustrates a perspective view of the unfolded tent unit of fig. 1 ,

fig. 3a and 3b illustrate a perspective view of an unfolded tent unit according to an embodiment of the invention,

fig. 4-7 illustrate a tent unit within the scope of the invention when mounted to a trailer,

fig. 8 and 9 illustrate further embodiments of the invention,

fig. 1 Oa - 1 Of illustrate an optional handling of a foldable tent unit within the scope of the invention and where

fig. 11 illustrates an alternative tent pole system according to an embodiment of the invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 illustrates a foldable tent unit FTU in a packed condition. The foldable tent unit FTU comprises a foundation frame unit FFU ₅ at least one main tent pole MTP ₅ at least one tent pole TP ₅ a stanchion arrangement SA ₅ a supporting spacer SS and a tent canvas TC. The tent canvas is illustrated with dotted lines.

The foundation frame unit FFU is a frame or chassis which may comprise a frame or a plate. According to an embodiment of the invention, the foundation frame unit FFU may be fabricated in a solid material, e.g. wood, metal, glass fiber, plywood, plastic material, etc.

The stanchion arrangement SA is an arrangement attached to the foundation frame unit which supports the main tent poles. The stanchion arrangement SA may in an embodiment of the invention be positioned perpendicular or at least within an angle of 30° relative to the foundation frame unit FFU. The illustrated stanchion arrangement comprises pivot means PV which enables a pivoting movement when the poles are raised or lowered. The main tent poles MTP are attached to the stanchion arrangement SA by means of tent pole fittings TPF. These fittings make the tent poles fixed to the foundation frame unit FFU. The tent pole fittings TPF may preferably comprise hinging fittings facilitating a pivoting unfolding of the tent poles when the tent unit is unfolded or folded. The main tent poles MTP and tent poles TP may in an embodiment of the invention be telescopic extractable tent poles. The extractable tent poles comprise suitable locking means ensuring a reliable and robust extraction capable of carrying the weight of the tent. This entails time efficiency of the tent erection and may be an attractive design-choice when applying a foundation frame unit with a relatively small dimension.

In an embodiment of the invention, the tent poles are non-extendable as such poles may easily carry even a heavy tent canvas.

Fig. 2a illustrates a side view of the self-supported foldable tent unit FTU of fig. 1 in an unfolded erected position.

The tent canvas TC of the unit is again illustrated with dotted lines.

The tent unit has now been unfolded and the tent poles TP founded at the left part (rear part) of the foundation frame unit FFU has been pivoted to an upright slightly inclined position. The positioning of the tent poles in the upright position may e.g. be fixated by means of straps AS fixated to the top end of the rear tent pole TP and to the foundation frame in order to prevent the tent pole to pivot to the folded position of the rear tent poles TP.

The main tent poles MTP and tent poles TP may at the upper end be attached to the tent canvas fixedly or the tent canvas may e.g. comprise receptor pockets P or corresponding solid arrangement into which the upper end of the tent poles may be inserted. Furthermore, the tent pole TC may be secured to the foundation frame unit FFU by means of an adjustable strap AS preferably with a clamp. By means of the adjustable strap AS it is possible to tighten the tent poles TP to gain stability in the erected foldable tent unit FTU and/or to secure the desired positioning of the tent canvas over the upper end of the tent poles.

The main tent poles MTP are supported by the stanchion arrangement and thereby ground supported. This is a very advantageous feature according to an embodiment of the invention in that the main tent poles MTP being ground supported entails that the tent is stabilized when erected and during use.

Alternatively the main tent poles MTP and the tent poles TP may be replaced by an umbrella solution which is illustrated with reference in fig. 11.

The tent canvas TC is attached to the foundation support unit FFU by means of a tent fastening means. The tent fastening means may e.g. comprise a tent rail or any suitable means for attaching the tent reliably and durable to the foundation frame unit.

The main tent poles MTP and the tent poles TP may be fabricated in a solid or flexible material, e.g. wood, metal, glass fiber, plywood, plastic material, etc.

The rear tent poles may according to the illustrated embodiment be loose tent poles which may be fixated subsequently to unfolding of the tent unit to the tent canvas and the foundation frame or they may be hinged to the rear part of the foundation frame as illustrated in the present embodiment.

The unfolded tent canvas is made with an incorporated tent door TD. The tent door may comprise different further suitable tent arrangements such as windows (not shown), pockets, etc.

According to an embodiment of the invention, further tent canvas and tent poles may be added to constitute a tent awning.

The top part of the tent may be formed in reinforced tent ceiling.

The main unfolding process of the illustrated embodiment comprises a tent unit which is fixated to the main poles during unfolding thus enabling and controlling the unfolding and folding of the tent canvas of the foldable tent unit by means of the hinged main tent poles.

The illustrated tent unit may thus be unfolded by means of a first step unfolding the tent unit by means of unfolding of the tent defined by the hinged main tent poles MTP. After the initial unfolding the rear tent poles may be pivoted to an upright position or mounted to carry the rear portion of the tent unit.

The illustrated tent unit furthermore comprises an adaptive floor portion AFP. The illustrated floor portion AFP is established at the right hand of the illustration, in the following referred to as the front part of the tent unit. The adaptive floor portion AFP may form an integrated part of the tent unit and form a floor portion in the unfolded

erected position of the foldable tent unit. It is noted, that this particular establishment of an adaptive floor portion represents a very advantageous feature of an embodiment of the invention, as such floor portion may simply comprise a canvas or relative flexible floor portion of the tent which may be founded directly on the ground or be adapted to fit a trailer thereby enabling that a trailer, typically the trailer carrying the foldable tent unit, may support the floor portion and enable that the floor of the trailer may basically define space, e.g. for a sleeping area portion of the tent unit.

The adaptive floor portion AFP may also form an exchangeable part of the foldable tent unit FTU which e.g. may be zipped to the main tent, thereby facilitating that the foldable tent unit FTU fits perfectly to the desired purpose, e.g. the measure of a specific trailer or e.g. fit to the foldable tent unit when applied without trailer in the unfolded position. An adaptive floor portion AFP applied for tent erection without a trailer may aside from being larger comprise an extension in the tent canvas to make the tent fit to the ground.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the adaptive floor portion AFP may comprise a rigid adaptive floor portion, preferably in a light weight material.

Fig. 2b illustrates a front view cross section of the foldable tent unit of fig. 1 in an upright position according to the dotted line A-A in figure 2a. The basic intension of the figure is to illustrate the structure of the main tent poles MTP when the main tent poles are unfolded and the tent poles are hinged and mounted to the tent canvas loosely illustrated by dotted lines TC. The rear tent poles are hidden behind the main tent poles MTP.

The mail tent poles MTP and tent poles TP are interconnected by a transverse pole TRP to form an opposite U-shape, thereby forming a reliable and secure support to the tent poles. In another embodiment of the invention, the tent poles TP are

interconnected via a transverse pole attached perpendicular to the main tent poles MTP or tent poles TP.

The front view furthermore illustrates the supporting spacers SS fitted to the foundation frame unit FFU. In the specific embodiment the supporting spacers are formed by bended profiles both facilitating a solid foundation to the ground and enabling spacing between the foundation frame, here illustrated as a complete rigid floor structure, and the ground below.

Fig. 3 a illustrates a perspective view of the unfolded tent poles of the tent unit of fig.1. The unfolded tent canvas is illustrated by dotted lines.

Fig. 3b illustrates a perspective view of the unfolded tent unit of fig. 1 now fitted with suitable fastening means in the form of tent straps TS. Further strapping may be applied for the purpose of securing of the unit and/or the canvas to the ground e.g. by means of conventional guy ropes or rubber bands. The tent straps TS are in this figure illustrated as attached to the adaptive floor portion AFP or to the tent canvas TC and may evidently, when applied to a trailer, be attached to the tent canvas of the main tent for fastening of the tent canvas TC onto the trailer, typically the gates.

Fig. 4 illustrates a foldable tent unit e.g. as the one illustrated in fig. 1 when attached to a tail gate TGA of a trailer T by means of de-attachable fastening means.

Fig. 4 illustrates a foldable tent unit' FTU attached to a trailer T according to an embodiment of the invention by means of a detachable fastening mechanism DFM such as a simple bolt, screw, click-fittings, thumb screws or similar easy applicable fastening means. The detachable fastening means may in an embodiment of the invention, be attached to the foldable tent unit FTU via the hinged tail gate TGA of the trailer.

The figure furthermore illustrates a trailer platform TPL which is the bottom horizontal plate of the trailer normally applied for supporting goods to transport. The trailer T may be any existing trailer according to an embodiment of the invention.

The tent unit may now be pivoted onto a platform of the trailer.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the trailer is fitted with one, two, three or any number of stabilizing or supporting legs SL required for the purpose of stabilizing the trailer when dismounted from the carrier, e.g. a car.

Fig. 5 illustrates when the tent unit has been pivoted onto the platform of the trailer T.

Fig. 6 illustrates when the mounted tent unit, e.g. on a camping site, has been unfolded. It is clear from the drawings that the main poles of the tent unit are supported by the foundation frame unit and furthermore the trailer platform TPL forms a basis for the adaptive floor portion. This adaptive floor may e.g. form a bed- section of the unit. The bed section may be expanded by means of a bed extension BE, which may be attached to the stanchion arrangement SA or to the trailer platform TPL according to an embodiment of the invention. The bed extension BE may be mounted as a foldable arrangement in relation to the stanchion arrangement which entails an increase of the total sleeping area. A bed extension may in accordance with the invention be an arrangement which may comprise a plate fabricated in a solid material, e.g. wood, metal, glass fiber, plywood, plastic material, etc.

The figure illustrates furthermore an optional supporting leg SL (typically two) which may be applied to support the trailer when the tent is erected to obtain further stability in the tent especially if the trailer is placed on a bumpy surface. The supporting leg SL may be a permanent part of the trailer or it may be an add-on kit that may be mounted on the trailer when utilizing the trailer T with the foldable tent unit FTU. It should be noted that supporting legs SL are only optional in that a trailer

T with no supporting legs may work in the desired way. Futhermore, the trailer may futher comprise a front support FS which may be a nose wheel, a supporting leg or another supporting arrangement.

Fig. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the tent unit when the unit is mounted on a trailer according to the dotted line A-A in figure 6.

The foldable tent unit FTU may easily be attached to the trailer by means of attaching the stanchion arrangement SA to the hinged tail-gate or side-gate of the trailer. This may be done by means of a detachable fastening mechanism DFM which may be a simple bolt, screw, click-fittings, thumb screws or similar easy applicable fastening means.

The attachment and mounting of the foldable tent unit FTU in a trailer T may be done very easy and simple by means of

- attaching the stanchion arrangement SA of a foldable tent unit FTU to the trailer T by means of fastening the detachable fastening mechanism and thereby attaching the stanchion arrangement to the hinged tail-gate or side-gate of the trailer T.

- closing the hinged tail-gate or side-gate with the attached foldable tent unit FTU and thereby pivoting the tent unit onto the platform TPL of the trailer. This is done very easy as the foldable tent unit FTU is supported by the trailer and therefore providing a hinged anchoring point when turning the foldable tent unit FTU onto the trailer platform. The existing hinges of the tail-gate or a side-gate of the trailer T is hereby utilized as an active part of the camping trailer and furthermore actively using the gates of the trailer for support. Evidently, the mounting of the foldable tent unit FTU may be performed be simply placing the foldable tent unit FTU on the trailer platform TPL and fastening the detachable fastening mechanism.

Furthermore, it is noted that as a result of the use of the trailer gates for mounting of the tent unit the access to the trailer is improved compared to the gates being in their

upright position. This is especially advantageous when only one person is mounting the foldable tent unit FTU in a trailer.

Fig. 8 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention where a self-supported tent unit has been mounted to the hinged side gate of a trailer T.

Fig. 9 illustrates a further embodiment within the scope of the invention, where two foldable tent units FTU according to the provisions of the invention has been attached to the hinged side gates of a trailer T.

Fig. 10a-f illustrate one of several general uses of a self-supported tent unit within the scope of the invention.

A foldable tent unit FTU is provided in fig. 1Oa ₃ attached to a trailer by detachable fastening means DFM in fig. 10b and the foldable tent unit has been coupled to a car C in fig. 10c and the foldable tent unit rests on the gates of the trailer and/or the trailer platform.

In fig. 1Od, the foldable tent unit is positioned on the ground in a hinged movement. In fig. 1Oe the foldable tent has been unfolded and erected and in fig. 9f, which is optional, the trailer has been detached and removed. This is very advantageous in that the users of the camping trailer may use the trailer T for transportation usage as the foldable tent unit is erected e.g. at a campsite. It should be noted that no supporting legs SL are illustrated in this general use example but if supporting legs are utilized, these must evidently be lifted or demounted when moving the trailer T.

Fig. 11 illustrates an alternative tent pole system according to an another embodiment of the invention. As illustrated the main tent poles MTP and the tent poles TP may be replaced by an umbrella solution wherein the stanchion arrangement SA supports one upright tent pole UTP having several other tent poles

TP attached to central device for erecting the tent in a gliding movement. All other elements are unchanged.