Description of the Prior Art As well known, tents are used for outdoor camping to shield campers from the wind and rain. Referring to Fig. 6, a typical construction of such tents is illustrated. The tent shown in Fig. 6 includes a fabric enclosure 100 having a fabric bottom and a plurality of fabric walls sewn together along sewing lines 101. A plurality of spaced pole holders 110 are attached to the outer surface of the fabric enclosure 100 along each sewing line 101. Each pole holder 110 has a pole passage through which a pole 120 extends. The pole 120 may include a plurality of independent pole sections connected together so that it has a foldable construction while having a desired elasticity. End fixing rings 102 are provided at desired

portions of the fabric bottom of the fabric enclosure 100, for example, respective corners of the fabric bottom, in order to fix respective ends of the poles 120 to the fabric enclosure 100. As each pole 120 is held at the both ends thereof on the fabric enclosure 100 by associated ones of the end fixing rings 102 while extending through associate ones of the pole holders 110, the fabric enclosure 100 is maintained in the form of a tent.

However, such a typical tent having the above mentioned configuration is not equipped with any lighting facility or device for lighting the interior of the tent at night. For such a tent, a candle or lantern is mainly used. However, candles involve a high possibility of fire whereas lanterns involve a low lighting effect in that they have a narrow lighting extent due to a concentrated illumination. Furthermore, in the interior of the tent, there is no hanger means for hanging a lantern in the tent. For this reason, it is inconvenient and troublesome to hang a lantern on the ceiling of the tent in the interior of the tent. Moreover, the ceiling of the tent may be pulled down due to the weight of the lantern hung on the tent ceiling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of

the above mentioned problems involved in the prior art, and an object of the invention is to provide a tent which is provided with a lighting facility capable of lighting the entire portion of the interior of the tent without using a candle involving a high possibility of fire or a lantern having a narrow lighting extent due to a concentrated illumination.

In accordance with the present invention, this object is accomplished by providing a tent comprising a fabric enclosure having a fabric bottom and a plurality of fabric walls sewn together along sewing lines, a plurality of spaced pole holders attached to the outer surface of the fabric enclosure along each of the sewing lines, and a plurality of poles each extending along an associated one of the sewing lines through the pole holders associated with the associated sewing line, further comprising: an electric cable held on the fabric enclosure while extending along a selected one of the sewing lines in such a fashion that an upper end thereof is disposed at a ceiling defined by upper portions of the fabric walls whereas a lower end thereof is disposed near the fabric bottom, the electric cable being provided at the upper and lower ends thereof with a bulb socket and a connection jack, respectively; a battery case provided with a jack coupled to the connection jack of the electric cable, the battery case also having a power switch; and cable holding means adapted to hold the electric cable on the fabric enclosure.

The cable holding means may comprise adjacent edge portions of respective fabrics of the fabric walls, associated with the selected sewing line, sewn along an inside sewing line parallel to the selected sewing line in such a fashion that they define a cable passage therebetween.

Each of the poles may comprise a plurality of independent pole sections connected together to have a foldable construction. In this case, the cable holding means may comprise a selected one of the poles through which the electric cable extends in such a fashion that the bulb socket and connection jack are exposed at respective ends of the selected pole, respectively. In this case, the electric cable has extendable portions at positions corresponding to respective connection positions of the selected pole. Cable holes are formed at respective ends of the selected pole to allow respective ends of the electric cable to be exposed from the selected pole. Also, cable holes are perforated through the fabric enclosure at positions corresponding to respective ends of the selected pole held on the fabric enclosure to allow the electric socket and the connection jack to be accessible to the interior of the fabric enclosure.

Alternatively, the cable holding means may comprise a plurality of spaced holders attached to an inner surface of the fabric enclosure along the selected sewing line, each of the holders having a hook shape to hold the electric cable in a

hooking fashion.

The cable holding means may also comprise a plurality of spaced hook-and-loop fasteners attached to an inner surface of the fabric enclosure along the selected sewing line, each of the hook-and-loop fasteners including a fastener plate and a complementary fastener band.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above objects, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: Figs. la and lb illustrate a tent having a configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. la is an enlarged view illustrating a part of the tent, and Fig. lb is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of Fig. la; Fig. 2 is a partial-broken enlarged perspective view illustrating a configuration for receiving a battery case in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view partially illustrating a tent having a configuration according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view partially

illustrating a tent having a configuration according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view partially illustrating a tent having a configuration according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention can be applied to a variety of tent constructions. For the simplification of description, however, the following description will be made in conjunction with the case in which the present invention is applied to a typical tent construction shown in, for example, Fig. 6. Of course, the present invention should not be construed to be limited to the typical tent construction. As shown in Fig. 6, the tent, to which the present invention is applied, includes a fabric enclosure 100 having a fabric bottom and a plurality of fabric walls sewn together along sewing lines 101. A plurality of spaced pole holders 110 are attached to the outer surface of the fabric enclosure 100 along each sewing line 101. Each pole holder 110 has a pole passage through which a pole 120 extends.

The pole 120 may include a plurality of independent pole sections connected together so that it has a foldable construction. End fixing rings 102 are provided at desired portions of the fabric bottom of the fabric enclosure 100, for

example, respective corners of the fabric bottom, in order to fix respective ends of the poles 120 to the fabric enclosure 100. As each pole 120 is held at the both ends thereof on the fabric enclosure 100 by associated ones of the end fixing rings 102 while extending through associate ones of the pole holders 110, the fabric enclosure 100 is maintained in the form of a tent.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, an electric cable 1 extends along a selected one of the sewing lines 101 on the inner surface of the fabric enclosure 100 in such a fashion that one end thereof is disposed at a ceiling defined by the upper portions of the fabric walls whereas the other end thereof is disposed at or near the fabric bottom, as shown in Fig. la. A bulb socket 11 is coupled to one end of the electric cable 1 and disposed at the ceiling in the interior of the fabric enclosure 100. An electric bulb 3 is coupled to the bulb socket 11. A connection jack 12 is coupled to the other end of the electric cable 1. To the connection jack 12, a jack 41 mounted to a battery case 4 is connected. A storage battery or a plurality of dry batteries are received in the battery case 4. A power switch 42 is provided at a desired portion of the battery case 4 in order to switch on or off the supply of electric power to the electric bulb 3 via the electric cable 1.

In accordance with this embodiment, a cable holding means

20 is provided which serves to hold the electric cable 1 on the fabric enclosure 100. The cable holding means 20 extends along the selected sewing line 101 on the inner surface of the fabric enclosure 100. The cable holding means 20 has a cable passage through which the electric cable 1 extends. As shown in Fig. lb, the cable holding means 20 comprises adjacent edge portions of the fabrics of the fabric walls, associated with the selected sewing line 101, sewn along an inside sewing line parallel to the selected sewing line 101 in such a fashion that they define a hole, serving as the cable passage, therebetween. A battery case receiving pocket 5 is arranged on the inner surface of the fabric enclosure 100 at a position where the connection jack 12 connected to the electric cable 1 is exposed, as shown in Fig.

2. The battery case 4 is received in the battery case receiving pocket 5.

When the power switch 42 of the battery case 4 is switched on in a state in which the electric bulb 3 is coupled to the bulb socket 11 disposed at the ceiling of the tent, electric power from the battery received in the battery case 4 is supplied to the bulb socket 11 via the electric cable 1 electrically connected to the battery case 4 by the jacks 12 and 41. Accordingly, the electric bulb 3 coupled to the bulb socket 11 turns on, thereby lighting the entire portion of the interior of the tent. When the power switch 42 is switched from its ON state to its OFF state, the supply of electric power to the

electric bulb 3 is cut off, thereby causing the electric bulb 3 to be turned off.

Meanwhile, where a vehicle is arranged near the tent, the battery of the vehicle may be used as a power supply for the electric bulb 3. That is, the connection jack 12 may be connected to the cigarette lighter jack (not shown) of the vehicle to supply electric power from the vehicle battery to the electric bulb 3. In this case, it is possible to eliminate the use of the battery case 4.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a part of the tent having a configuration according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 3, respective constituting elements corresponding to those of Fig. la are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Similar to the configuration according to the first embodiment, the tent according to the second embodiment includes an electric cable 1 provided at respective ends thereof with a bulb socket 11 and a connection jack 12. In accordance with this embodiment, a cable holding means 2A is provided which serves to hold the electric cable 1 on the fabric enclosure 100.

The cable holding means 2A comprises one of poles 21 to be held on the outer surface of the fabric enclosure 100. That is, the electric cable 1 extends throughout the pole 21 selected as the cable holding means 2A in such a fashion that the bulb socket 11 and connection jack 12 are exposed at both ends of the selected

pole 21, respectively. As mentioned above, each pole 21 may include a plurality of independent pole sections connected together so that it has a foldable construction, as shown in Fig. 3. In this case, the pole sections of each pole 21 are maintained without being completely separated from one another by an elastic connecting strip 22 inserted into the pole 21 and connected at both ends thereof to both ends of the pole 21.

Adjacent pole sections of each pole 21 are coupled to each other in such a fashion that one pole section is tightly fitted in the other pole section at facing ends thereof, as best shown by the circle of Fig. 3. Where the poles 21 have the above mentioned foldable construction, it is preferred that the electric cable 1 has an elasticity in order to prevent it from interfering with the folding operation of the selected pole 21 though which it extends. To this end, the electric cable 1 has extendable portions at positions corresponding to respective foldable positions of the selected pole 21. Each extendable portion of the electric cable 1 has a coil shape so that it is freely extendable and retractable. By virtue of these extendable portions, the electric cable 1 can be freely extendable and retractable, so that it does not interfere with the folding or developing operation of the selected pole 21. Cable holes (not shown) are formed at both ends of the selected pole 21 in order to allow both ends of the electric cable 1 to be exposed from the selected pole 21. Also, cable holes are perforated through

the fabric enclosure 100 at positions corresponding to respective ends of the selected pole 21 held on the fabric enclosure 100 in order to allow the electric socket 11 and connection jack 12 to be accessible to the interior of the fabric enclosure 100. As in the first embodiment, an electric bulb 3 and a jack 41 coupled to a battery case 4 are connected to the electric socket 11 and connection jack 12, respectively.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a part of the tent having a configuration according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 4, respective constituting elements corresponding to those of Fig. la are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Similar to the configuration according to the first embodiment, the tent according to the third embodiment includes an electric cable 1 provided at respective ends thereof with a bulb socket 11 and a connection jack 12. In accordance with this embodiment, a cable holding means 2B is provided which serves to hold the electric cable 1 on the inner surface of the fabric enclosure 100. The cable holding means 2B comprises a plurality of spaced holders 24 attached to the inner surface of the fabric enclosure 100 along a selected one of the sewing lines 101. Each holder 24 has a hook shape to hold the electric cable 1 in a hooking fashion.

On the other hand, Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a part of the tent having a configuration according

to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 5, respective constituting elements corresponding to those of Fig. la are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Similar to the configuration according to the first embodiment, the tent according to the fourth embodiment includes an electric cable 1 provided at respective ends thereof with a bulb socket 11 and a connection jack 12. In accordance with this embodiment, a cable holding means 2C is provided which serves to hold the electric cable 1 on the inner surface of the fabric enclosure 100. The cable holding means 2C comprises a plurality of spaced hook-and-loop fasteners 25, so called "Velcro tapes", attached to the inner surface of the fabric enclosure 100 along a selected one of the sewing lines 101.

Each hook-and-loop fastener 25 includes a fastener plate 25A and a complementary fastener band 25B. The electric cable 1 is held in the interior of the fabric enclosure 100 by the cable holding means 2C by positioning between the fastener plate 25A and fastener band 25B of each hook-and-loop fastener 25, and then attaching the fastener band 25B to the fastener plate 25A.

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a tent which is provided with a lighting facility capable of lighting the entire portion of the interior of the tent without using a candle involving a high possibility of fire or a lantern having a narrow lighting extent due to a concentrated illumination, while preventing an inconvenience and

troublesomeness involved in the installation of the lantern and a pull-down phenomenon of the ceiling of the tent.

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.