Background of the Invention

This invention relates generally to tents, specifically to a locking fastener for locking a pair of tent poles at their intersection, and suspending a tent membrane thereunder.

Camping or backpacking tents are small, portable shelters that generally include a dome shaped membrane. The membrane (made of canvas, nylon, etc.) is supported at its outer surface from a set of overhead, flexible, intersecting poles bent into arches. A series of rings or fasteners are distributed along the pole paths. The poles extend through the rings, which hold the membrane to the poles. When properly assembled, the membrane is stretched taut throughout its entire surface, the fasteners are positioned as far apart from each other as possible, and the poles intersect each other at predetermined points. However, the intersecting poles often shift position relative to each other, especially when the tent is assembled and positioned on uneven ground, so that some poles will move the fasteners closer together. This causes the membrane between those rings to slacken, and the tent to become deformed. When the tent is deformed, its structural integrity is reduced, and it may flap about in the wind, or even partially collapse.

Several different devices have been proposed for joining tent poles at their intersections to prevent them from shifting position, so as to maintain the shape of the tent. U.S. patent 4,265,259 to Gillis (1981) shows a device with a pair of pivoting sleeves 15, 17 attached to predetermined points on a tent membrane with discs . The pivoting sleeves hold two poles together at their intersection at any angle. However, the sleeves are free to slide along the poles if disturbed, so that the intersection points may shift and deform the tent.

German patent publication DE 3213-781 to Kramer (1983) shows a hook 26 closed with a flexible tab 30 for holding a pair of tent poles 12 at their intersection. A strip of webbing 36 connected to a tent membrane 14 is looped through a slot 34 on a lower part of the clip. The Kramer device is also free to slide along the poles, so that the intersection points between them may shift and deform the tent.

U.S. patent 2,650,401 to La Mond (1951) shows a clip similar to the Kramer device, but made for a different purpose. It is mounted to a sheet of canvas 12 by passing a strip of webbing 50 through a slot 20 thereon. A flap of canvas that includes a grommet 38 is folded over the clip, so that the clip is passed through the grommet. A rope 40 is pushed sideways into the clip to retain the grommet and the flap of canvas thereon. The La Mond device can be used for holding intersecting tent poles in the same manner as the Kramer device, and it suffers the same drawback.

Su-α-mary of the Invention

Accordingly several objects of the present invention are to provide a tent with more structural integrity, to provide a tent with poles that are more resistant to shifting, to provide a tent that can be assembled and positioned on uneven ground with greater stability, and to provide a tent with membrane holders that resist shifting.

Other objects are to provide a locking fastener that can hold two intersecting tent poles securely enough to prevent their intersection point from shifting, so as to maintain the shape and structural integrity of the tent; to provide a locking fastener that can hold poles having a predetermined range of diameters together; to provide a locking fastener that can hold the poles at any intersection angle; to provide a locking fastener that

can also hold a single pole; and to provide a locking fastener that is simple to manufacture. Further objects of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. These objects are achieved with a locking fastener having a C-shaped body with a slot on a bottom portion, an elastic cord extending from one end of the "C" , and an anchoring notch on the vertical portion of the "C." The hook is attached to a tent membrane by passing a loop of webbing extending therefrom through the slot. The hook can be snapped around the intersection of two poles, and securely locked thereon by tightly wrapping the elastic cord around the poles one or more times, then anchoring the cord in the notch. The poles are thus held securely together, and their intersection point will not shift.

Brief Description Of The Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a locking fastener in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of the locking fastener when first attached to two intersecting poles.

Fig. 3 is a front perspective view of the locking fastener locked around the poles.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the front perspective view of Fig. 1, a locking fastener includes a generally C-shaped body 10 with an internal opening 11, a gap 12 between the ends of the "C" , a hole 13 through the upper end of the "C" near gap 12, an elastic cord 14 positioned through hole 13, an anchoring notch 15 on the outside edge of the vertical portion of the "C" , and a slot 16 on the bottom

portion of the "C." The locking fastener is made of a flexible plastic, such as ABS or nylon. Cord 14 is made of high-friction neoprene tubing, and includes knotted ends to prevent it from coming out of hole 13. The installation of the locking fastener is illustrated in Fig. 2. The locking fastener is permanently attached to a conventional tent canvas or membrane 17 as follows. A loop of conventional webbing 18 extends from membrane 17 and passes through slot 16. This is done when webbing 18 is sewn onto membrane 17 during the manufacturing process. Additional locking fasteners (not shown) are attached to membrane 17 along the projections of the poles thereon.

A set of tent poles 19 (two shown) are assembled with membrane 17 in the conventional manner: poles 19 are positioned along the intersecting paths defined by the locking fasteners, and their ends are inserted into conventional sockets (not shown) distributed around the edge of membrane 17. Each locking fastener is positioned at the intersection of two poles 19, which are snapped, one at a time, into internal opening 11 of flexible plastic body 10 through gap 12.

In this example, internal opening 11 is about 25 mm across at its maximum, and gap 12 is about 8 mm across, so that body 10 can hold two poles 19 with diameters of about 10 mm or less. Internal opening 11 is sized to leave enough free space around poles 19 to allow them to be positioned at any angle. The dimensions of body 10 can be adapted to accommodate other size poles, but in any embodiment, internal opening 11 should be greater than twice the diameter of a pole it is intended for, and gap 12 should be slightly smaller than the pole's diameter.

When tent membrane 17 and poles 19 are erected, the intersection points of poles 19 are adjusted by sliding the locking fasteners (one shown) therealong and

pulling membrane 17 with them, until membrane 17 is evenly stretched all around. When the locking fasteners are all properly positioned, elastic cord 14 is tightly wrapped around both poles 19 one or more times, and then wedged into anchoring notch 15 to maintain its tension, as shown in Fig. 3. For the part sizes given, cord 14 preferably is 15 cm long and 4 mm in diameter. Because cord 14 is made of a high-friction material, it positively locks poles 19 together and prevents their intersection point from shifting. The shape and structural integrity of the erected tent (partially shown) is thus maintained, even in strong wind and uneven ground. In any embodiment, cord 14 should be long enough to wrap around poles 19 up to about three times. In addition to locking two intersecting poles, the fastener can also be used for holding and locking onto a single pole (not shown) , such as between pole intersections. Cord 14 would be wrapped around the single pole and wedged in notch 15 in the same manner already described.

Accordingly, the reader will see that I have provided a locking fastener that can securely hold two intersecting poles together, and prevent their intersection point from shifting, so as to maintain and increase the shape and structural integrity of the tent, especially on uneven ground. It can hold poles within a range of diameters at any intersection angle. It can be used for holding and locking onto a single pole. It is also very simple, so that it is very economical to manufacture.

Although the above descriptions are specific, they should not be considered as limitations on the scope of the invention, but only as examples of the embodiments. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the invention. For example, the dimensions of the fastener can be easily

adapted for fitting poles of other diameters. Instead of having a slot holding a loop of webbing, the fastener can be attached to the tent membrane in other ways, such as with rivets. Instead of a permanent attachment, the slot can open to the edge of the fastener by a narrow slit, and the webbing can be slipped in and out of the slit. Instead of neoprene, the elastic cord can be made of other materials, or it can be a conventional shock cord covered with rubber. The cord can be made of non-elastic material. The cord can be attached to the hook in other ways, such as by cementing, crimping, etc. The free end of the cord can be anchored in other ways, such as with a clip, or by tucking it under itself or knotting it. The gap can be eliminated, so that the poles are threaded through the internal opening, instead of being snapped in. Therefore, the reader is requested to determine the scope of the invention by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.