TELESCOPIC TENT POLE

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a telescopic tent pole extendable between an extended and collapsed state, in particular for a vehicle roof top tent. The tent pole includes a first pole element and a second pole element connected to each other and moveable relative to each other in an axial direction to extend or collapse the tent pole. The tent pole further includes a fixation device configured to be adjustable between a blocking state and a release state, with the fixation device biased towards its blocking state. The fixation device, in its blocking state, is configured to prevent collapsing of the tent pole in the extended state or at least one intermediate state of the tent pole. Alternatively, the fixation device, in its blocking state, is configured to permit further extending of the tent pole towards its extended state in the intermediate state of the tent pole.

Claims

1.-19. (canceled)

20. A telescopic tent pole extendable between an extended state and collapsed state, comprising: a first pole element and a second pole element connected to each other, wherein the first pole element and second pole element are moveable relative to each other in an axial direction to extend or collapse the telescopic tent pole; and a fixation device, configured to be adjustable between a blocking state and a release state; wherein the fixation device is biased towards the blocking state, wherein the fixation device, in the blocking state, is configured to prevent collapsing of the telescopic tent pole in the extended state, wherein the fixation device, in the blocking state, is configured to prevent collapsing of the tent pole in at least one intermediate state of the telescopic tent pole between the collapsed state and the extended state, and wherein the fixation device, in the blocking state, is configured to permit further extending of the telescopic tent pole towards the extended state in the at least one intermediate state of the tent pole.

21. The telescopic tent pole according to claim 20, wherein at least one of the first and second pole elements comprises an engagement section, wherein the at least one intermediate state is predetermined by the engagement section, and wherein the fixation device in the blocking state engages the engagement section prevent collapsing of the telescopic tent pole.

22. The telescopic tent pole according to claim 20, wherein the fixation device comprises a blocking element, configured for engaging one of the first and second pole elements, and a biasing element, configured to force the blocking element into engagement with one of the first and second pole elements.

23. The telescopic tent pole according to claim 22, wherein the blocking element has a first engagement surface on a side of the blocking element facing in a direction permitting movement of the first and second pole elements relative to each other in the blocking state, wherein the first engagement surface is inclined relative to the direction permitting movement of the first and second pole elements relative to each other, or wherein the blocking element has a second engagement surface on a side of the blocking element facing in a direction preventing movement of the first and second pole elements relative to each other in the blocking state, wherein the second engagement surface is facing towards the direction preventing movement of the first and second pole elements relative to each other.

24. The telescopic tent pole according to claim 20, wherein at least one of the first and second pole elements has a non-circular cross section.

25. The telescopic tent pole according to claim 20, wherein the fixation device comprises a release actuation element for adjusting the fixation device from the blocking state into the release state.

26. The telescopic tent pole according to claim 25, wherein the blocking element is molded into the actuation element.

27. The telescopic tent pole according to claim 20, further comprising: a third pole element connected to the second pole element; and a second fixation device connected to the second pole element and the third pole element; wherein the first and third pole elements are each moveable relative to the second pole element in a respective axial direction of the first and third pole elements to extend or collapse the telescopic tent pole.

28. The telescopic tent pole according to claim 20, wherein at least one of the first and second pole elements is hollow with a side wall having a substantially trapezoidal cross section with two substantially parallel wall sections and two wall sections inclined to each other.

29. A tent pole element of a telescopic tent pole, the tent pole element comprising: a side wall having a substantially trapezoidal cross section with two substantially parallel wall sections and two wall sections inclined to each other, wherein the tent pole element is hollow, and wherein the tent pole element is configured to be connected to a second tent pole element through a fixation device and moveable relative to the second tent pole element in an axial direction.

30. The tent pole element according to claim 29, further comprising a section of the side wall with a contact surface configured for contacting a canopy of a tent having a convex shape.

31. The tent pole element according to claim 29, wherein an outer side of a larger one of the two substantially parallel wall sections has a convex shape.

32. The tent pole element according to claim 29, wherein an outer side of a shorter one of the two substantially parallel wall sections has a concave shape.

33. The tent pole element according to claim 29, wherein the two substantially parallel wall sections are connected at each end with a radius to a respective one of the two wall sections inclined to each other.

34. A tent, comprising: a canopy; and a telescopic tent pole extendable between an extended state and collapsed state, comprising: a first pole element and a second pole element connected to each other, wherein the first pole element and the second pole element are moveable relative to each other in an axial direction to extend or collapse the telescopic tent pole, and a fixation device, configured to be adjustable between a blocking state and a release state, wherein the fixation device is biased towards the blocking state, wherein the fixation device, in the blocking state, is configured to prevent collapsing of the telescopic tent pole in the extended state, wherein the fixation device, in the blocking state, is configured to prevent collapsing of the telescopic tent pole in at least one intermediate state of the telescopic tent pole between the collapsed state and the extended state, and wherein the fixation device, in the blocking state, is configured to permit further extending of the telescopic tent pole towards the extended state in the at least one intermediate state.

35. The tent according to claim 34, wherein the tent is configured for attachment to a roof top of a vehicle, or wherein the tent is configured to be folded between a storage state and an erected state.

36. The tent according to claim 35, wherein the tent in the folded state is configured to extend less than over the full width of the roof top of the vehicle, allowing attachment of further equipment to the roof top of the vehicle.

37. A method of erecting a foldable roof top tent with at least one telescopic tent pole, comprising the steps of: attaching the foldable roof top tent in a folded storage state to a roof top of a vehicle; unfolding the foldable roof top tent from the folded storage state; attaching a canopy to the at least one telescopic tent pole; and extending the at least one telescopic tent pole from a collapsed state towards an extended state after unfolding the foldable roof top tent.

38. The method of erecting a foldable roof top tent according to claim 37, further comprising the step of, when reaching an intermediate state of the at least one telescopic tent pole wherein collapsing of the at least one telescopic tent pole is prevented by a fixation device, extending the at least one telescopic tent pole further towards the extended state.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0033] FIG. 1 shows, in a perspective view, a foldable tent for a roof top of a motor vehicle.

[0034] FIG. 2a shows, in a perspective view, tent poles of the tent according to FIG. 1 in a collapsed and folded storage state, corresponding to a storage state of the tent.

[0035] FIG. 2b shows, in a perspective view, tent poles according to FIG. 2a in a collapsed and unfolded state.

[0036] FIG. 2c shows, in a perspective view, tent poles of the tent according to FIG. 2a in an extended and unfolded state, corresponding to an erected state of the tent.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows, in a side view, a section of the tent poles according to FIG. 2a, illustrating a fixation device.

[0038] FIG. 4a shows, in a sectional side view, the fixation device in its release state.

[0039] FIG. 4b shows, in a sectional side view, the fixation device in its blocking state.

[0040] FIG. 5 shows, in a perspective view, a pole element of the tent poles according to FIG. 2a.

[0041] FIG. 6 shows, in a sectional view, a cross-section of the tent poles according to FIG. 2a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a foldable roof top tent 10 in its erected state, which is intended to be mounted with its base to a motor vehicle. When mounted to the vehicle, a short side of the tent 10 extends in the width direction of the vehicle and a long side in the forward-backward direction. The tent 10 comprises a canopy 12 and limits an interior living space. The tent 10 has several windows, an entrance that may be reached by a ladder of the tent 10 and air openings. The tent 10 is kept erected by three U-shaped tent poles 14, as shown in FIGS. 2a-2c, which stretch the canopy 12 along its three upper edges 16 extending along a longitudinal length of the tent 10.

[0043] In its folded storage state, the three edges 16 of the tent 10 are essentially arranged adjacent to each other. The tent 10 may be folded along its longitudinal extension in the middle like a book. In its folded storage state, the tent 10 is arranged at one side of the vehicle does not extend beyond the half-width of the vehicle, allowing the transport of other cargo on the roof top, such as sport equipment, right next to the tent 10.

[0044] The three tent poles 14 can be seen in a folded state in FIG. 2a. Each tent pole 14 is U-shaped and comprises a straight first pole element 18, a U-shaped second pole element 20 and a straight third pole element 22. The second pole element 20 is inserted into the hollow first and third pole elements 18, 22 with a respective end. The three pole elements 18, 20, 22 of each tent pole 14 are thus connected pairwise. The second pole element 20 may also be hollow. The first and third pole elements 18, 22 are each pivotably connected to a floor of the tent, which may be formed by an open roof top carrier box. FIG. 2b illustrates the tent poles 14 pivoted into an unfolded state, wherein at least the second pole elements 20 are spaced apart to each other, similar to the top edges 16 of the erected tent 10.

[0045] The tent poles 14 are configured as telescopic tent poles each having a length which may be adjusted by moving the second pole element 20 relative to the first and third pole element 18, 22. FIGS. 2a and 2b each show the tent poles 14 in a collapsed state. Said collapsed state allows space-efficient storage of the tent 10. However, an interior height of the tent would be limited by such a length. FIG. 2c shows an extended state of the tent poles 14. As can be taken from a comparison of FIGS. 2b and 2c, a height of an interior space of the tent 10 is larger in the extended state. For example, an interior height of the tent 10 may be larger than half the width of the vehicle roof top while still allowing a corresponding storage dimension of the tent 10 to be smaller than such a width. For extending the tent poles 14, the second pole element 20 may be pulled or pushed out of the first and third pole element 18, 22, thus telescopically extending a length of the tent poles 14 and therefore also height of the tent 10.

[0046] FIG. 3 illustrates a fixation device 24, which is provided at each respective connection of the first pole element 18 and the third pole element 22 to the second pole element 20. The fixation device 24 is configured to be adjustable between a blocking state and a release state. In the blocking state, the fixation device 24 is configured to prevent collapsing of the tent pole 14 in the extended state by preventing the second pole element 20 to be pushed into the first or respectively third pole element 18, 22. The fixation device 24 is biased towards its blocking state and thus automatically enters the blocking state once the extended position of the respective pair of pole elements relative to each other is reached. Hence, by extending the tent pole 14, the pole elements 18, 20, 22 are automatically fixed in their extended position and thus the tent pole 14 in its extended state. By pushing a release actuation element 26 of the fixation device 24, which is configured as a button 26, the fixation device 24 may be adjusted into its release state, allowing collapsing of the tent poles 14 by pushing the second pole element 20 into the first and third pole element 18, 22, respectively.

[0047] To comfortably allow a user to erect the large tent 10 with a potentially heavy canopy 12, each tent pole 14 also has an intermediate state between the collapsed and extended state. In its blocking state, the fixation device 24 is configured to prevent collapsing of the respective tent pole 14 in the intermediate state. A user may therefore, for example, only extend the tent poles 14 sequentially partially to their respective intermediate state and then sequentially fully extend the tent poles 14 to their respective extended state. Like the extended state, the fixation device 24 may automatically fix the respective pair of pole elements to each other, thus preventing collapsing once their relative position corresponding to the intermediate position is reached. To facilitate further extension of the tent poles 14 from the intermediate state, the fixation device 24 is configured to permit further extending of the respective tent pole 14 towards its extended state even in its blocking state. I.e. the respective pair of pole elements may still be moved relatively to each other in a direction causing further extension of the tent pole 14 without needing to press the release actuation element 26. By comparison, a movement of the respective pair of pole elements relative to each other in a direction causing collapsing of the tent pole 14 in the intermediate state is prevented by the fixation device 24 due to the fixation device 24 in the blocking state.

[0048] FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate the two different states of the fixation device 24 and its components in a partially sectional view. The fixation device 24 comprises an attachment sleeve 28, which is shown in a sectional view. The sleeve 28 is mounted to the lower first pole element 18 a snap coupling at an inwardly protruding lip 60 of the first pole element 18. The release actuation element 26 is pivotably mounted to the sleeve 28 with a rivet 30. For illustration of the fixation device 24 mechanics, the actuation element 26 is shown transparent. The fixation device 24 further comprises a spring 32 mounted to the rivet 30, which biases the fixation device towards its blocking state shown in FIG. 4b. The fixation device 24 also comprises a blocking element 34 in form of a pin 34 that is configured to engage an engagement section on the upper second pole element 20 in the blocking state. The second pole element 20 is also shown in a sectional view. As can be seen in FIG. 4a, the fixation device 24 is in the release state, allowing the second pole element 20 to freely move relatively to the first pole element 18 along a common longitudinal axis in both directions.

[0049] In FIG. 4b, the second pole element 20 has been pulled out of the first pole element 18 far enough to reach the intermediate position. The blocking element 34 has been pushed by the spring 32 into the hole 36, which forms the engagement section on the second pole element 20. The second pole element 20 is therefore blocked from moving towards the collapsed state of the tent pole 14, which is the downward direction in the image plane of FIG. 4b. Here, a straight engagement surface 38 faces in such a direction by being orthogonally arranged thereto in the blocking state of the fixation device 24. A movement towards collapsing is only allowed once the actuation element 26 is pressed, disengaging the blocking element 34 from the hole 36. As can be seen in FIG. 4b, a straight side forming the engagement surface 38 engages a corresponding section of the side wall 40 of the second pole element 20.

[0050] However, if the second pole element 20 is moved further towards an extended state, which is the upward direction in the image plane of FIG. 4b, an inclined engagement surface 42 will cause the blocking element 34 to be pushed out of the hole 36, causing disengagement and adjustment of the fixation device 24 into the release state, as shown in FIG. 4a. Hence, an adjustment of the tent pole 14 towards the extended state is not blocked in the intermediate state despite the blocking element 34 engaging the hole 36. The inclined engagement surface 42 is tilted to the extension direction, i.e. not being arranged orthogonally thereto. An end of the blocking element 34 configured for engaging holes on the second pole element 20 is wedge-shaped.

[0051] Above the hole 36, there is a second hole 44 formed in the side wall of the second pole element 20, as can be seen in the enlarged detail in FIG. 5. The second hole 44 corresponds to the extended state of the tent pole 14. Like the hole 36, the blocking element 34 will also automatically engage the hole 44, preventing collapsing of the tent pole 14 from the extended state. A side wall section limiting the hole 44 may be formed in such a way that the inclined engagement surface 42 may not automatically disengage the blocking element 34 when extending the tent pole 14 further, thus preventing overextension. Alternatively or additionally, there may be an end stop provided on at least one of the first and second pole element 18, 20.

[0052] FIG. 6 illustrates in a cross-section taken along the longitudinal extension of the pole elements 18, 20, 22 their cross-sectional shape. The cross sections of the different pole elements 18, 20, 22 correspond to each other, although the dimensions of the second pole element 20 will be smaller than those of the first and third pole element 18, 22 to allow insertion. As can be seen, the cross section is substantially trapezoidal. The cross section is formed by two inclined wall sections 46, 48, which are of equal length and tilted towards an axis of symmetry with one end. The two inclined wall sections are connected to each other via a longer wall section 50 and a shorter wall section 52. The two wall sections are substantially parallel to each other, although not perfectly due to a curvature with different radii. The two inclined wall sections 46, 48 may also be slightly curved, for example, outward, or straight. Each wall section 46, 48, 50, 52 is connected to an adjacent wall section at each end with a curved corner.

[0053] An outer side 54 of the longer parallel wall section 50 is shaped convex. The outer side 54 is configured for contacting the canopy 12. Due to the convex shape, a smooth canopy 12 and fabric protection is achieved. The outer side 56 of the shorter parallel wall section 52 is concavely shaped. This may reduce a risk of fold lines in the material of the side wall 40 when bending a pole element, such as for manufacturing the corner section 58 of the U-shaped second pole element 20 indicated in FIG. 5. Further, this may protect the engagement section of a pole element, such as the holes 36, 44. For example, even sharp edges cannot be reached by a user or the canopy 12 fabric due to the holes 36, 44 being recessed in the concavely shaped wall section 52.