NIGHT SKY VIEWING TENT

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 63/683,427, filed Aug. 15, 2024, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE SUBJECT DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates to camping tents and, more particularly, to a night sky viewing tent.

A typical tent utilizes a removable rainfly that protects against precipitation; unfortunately, when engaged the rainfly obstructs the view of the outdoors including the nighttime sky. Moreover, to add or remove the rainfly it is currently necessary to leave the tent to engage or disengage the rainfly, which is a disincentive to make such changes late at night. And since people often do not want to sleep without the rainfly just in case the weather changes overnight, even on clear nights, the rainfly is typically deployed, blocking what would otherwise be a majestic view. Moreover, campers also do not want to sleep without the rainfly as it affords privacy in the morning when it is light out. Therefore, it is hard to sleep in a tent and witness the night or early morning sky since the rainfly is typically engaged as a default condition.

As can be seen, there is a need for a tent to have a rainfly that can be moved between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition by an occupant of the tent without the occupant having to leave the tent.

SUMMARY OF THE SUBJECT DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure provides a tent having a base structure and an operatively associated rainfly that resides between the base component and an outer mesh layer so that the rainfly is movable between a closed position and an open position, allowing tent occupants to view the external environment through the external mesh layer. The base component provides one or more openings/windows that allow a tent occupant to view the external environment outside the tent through the mesh layer and openings in the base structure when the rainfly is in its open condition. When the rainfly is in its closed condition, the rainfly provides privacy to the tent occupants as well as shields the occupants from precipitation as the rainfly acts as a barrier between the mesh layer and openings.

The mesh layer is part of a mesh assembly that may be removably joined to and over the base structure, while the rainfly resides between this mesh assembly and the base structure of the tent. The rainfly may be attached to the base structure by way of a slidable track to enable the forementioned movability. In the open position, the rainfly may be bunched up (or in a furled condition) at the head or foot of the tent. In the furled condition, the rainfly can be attached to a side panel of its associate base structure opening. Critically, the rainfly is movable from inside the tent as the occupant reaches through the base structure opening to grab and move the rainfly along the track, much like a shower curtain. When extended to the closed position the tent affords the tent occupants privacy and protection from precipitation coming through the opening. When bunched at an end the tent in the open position the tent provides a portal tent occupants can gaze through.

As a result, a tent user need not leave the tent to put up the rainfly, regardless of whether the rainfly is needed to keep the inside of tent warm, to secure privacy, or to stop precipitation from entering tent. The subject disclosure also provides a transparent bug mesh along a mesh portion of the mesh assembly.

The subject disclosure embodies a tent with an internally accessible rainfly for allowing an occupant to choose between night sky viewing and rain protection and privacy without having to leave the tent. This privacy rainfly is deployable from the inside of the tent (through the associated opening defined by a material sheet of the base structure). To go from sky viewing mode to private/waterproof mode a user of the tent does not need to leave the tent. The privacy rainfly runs along a track provided by the material sheet or base structure of the tent so the rainfly can be selectively slid from an extended (closed) position to a retracted (open) position. When the privacy rainfly is closed the tent is completely private, and rain goes through the mesh portion of the mesh assembly but is stopped from entering through the opening as it is wicked away by the rainfly, which overlaps the material sheet below the associated opening. When the privacy rainfly is in an open position it can be bunched up at the foot or head end of the tent providing a clear view through the openings of the material sheet. The subject disclosure embodies tents of different sizes, different designs, and can serve many non-camping purposes.

In one aspect of the present subject disclosure, a temporary, collapsible structure includes the following: a material sheet defining an occupant space; at least one sidewall opening defined by the material sheet, wherein each sidewall opening affords visibility between the occupant space and an external environment; a rainfly dimensioned and shaped so that the least one sidewall opening is mutually inclusive of the privacy rainfly when the privacy rainfly is deployed on the structure in a closed position; a mesh assembly attached to the material sheet, wherein the mesh assembly provides a transparent mesh portion aligned with each sidewall opening, and wherein the rainfly is disposed between the material sheet and the mesh assembly in the closed position; and wherein the privacy rainfly is configured to be movable along a track, by an occupant occupying the occupant space, between the closed position and an open position affording the occupant visibility through each sidewall opening and the mesh portion.

In another aspect of the present subject disclosure, the temporary, collapsible structure further includes wherein the track is connected to an external surface of the material sheet and the track is disposed downward of a bottom perimetral edge of each sidewall opening, wherein the mutual inclusivity includes a bottom edge of the rainfly being downward of said bottom perimetral edge, forming a first overlap, wherein a bottom edge of the mesh assembly is downward of said perimetral edge of each sidewall opening, forming a second overlap, wherein a bottom perimetral edge of each sidewall opening is upward of a bottom of the material sheet, wherein each sidewall opening is bookended by two side panels provided by the material sheet, wherein the mesh portion is bookended by two waterproof panels provided by the mesh assembly, wherein in the closed position, the rainfly is bunched up and entirely disposed between lateral edges of both one of the two side panels and one of the two waterproof panels, wherein the rainfly provides rainfly connection points that removably connect to side panel connection points of the one side panel of the two side panels, and wherein the rainfly provides track holes to engage the track.

In yet another aspect of the present subject disclosure a tent includes a base structure having a sidewall opening; a mesh assembly connected to an exterior portion of the base structure so that a mesh portion of the mesh assembly aligns with the sidewall opening; and a rainfly disposed between the base structure and the mesh assembly so that the rainfly is movable between an open position outside a perimeter of the sidewall opening and a closed position completely covering the sidewall opening, wherein the rainfly is movable by an occupant occupying the tent that reaches through the sidewall opening.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present subject disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the subject disclosure, illustrating the orientation and arrangement of the three layers: top mesh assembly 30, intermediate rainfly layer 20, and base material sheet 10.

FIG. 2 is an internal (from inside the tent) side view of an exemplary embodiment of the subject disclosure, illustrating an internal view with rainfly 20 in the closed position wherein rainfly connection points 28 engage the connection points 18 of side panels 16 of the material sheet 10. The same side panels 16 may define an opening 14 along the base structure/material sheet 10.

FIG. 3A is a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of material sheet 10 of the subject disclosure, showing the head of the tent 100.

FIG. 3B is a side elevation view of FIG. 3A, illustrating a sidewall opening 14 in material sheet 10 and the associated side panels 16 and their connection points 18.

FIG. 4A is a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of a privacy rainfly 20 of the subject disclosure.

FIG. 4B is a side elevation view of rainfly 20 illustrating the rainfly connection points 28 as well as the grommets 22 that engage a track 40 provided by the material sheet 10; the rainfly 20 engages the track 40 to selectively slide along between the open position and the closed position.

FIG. 5A is a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the subject disclosure shown in a used condition, wherein mesh assembly 30 enables rain to pass through it so that the rain hits the underlying rainfly 20, which directs the rain to the underlying material sheet 10 below the lower perimetral edge 12 of an associated opening 14. The mesh assembly 30, privacy rainfly 20, and material sheet 10 overlaps just like shingles, keeping all water out of the tent; specifically, the lower edge of rainfly 20 is below the perimetral edge 12.

FIG. 5B is an internal side elevation view of the top mesh assembly 30. The mesh assembly 30 has a mesh portion 34 bookended by two waterproof panels 36. One or both waterproof panels 36 may provide connection points 38 where the rainfly 20 may attach to in either the unfurled condition or in its bunched-up, furled condition. In the open position, the rainfly (not shown here) bunches up under one of the waterproof panels 36, out of sight of the opening 14. The rainfly 20, underneath the mesh assembly 30, may be pulled from its bunched-up, furled condition to the extended, unfurled condition across the tent opening, realizing the closed position. In the closed position, a distal edge of rainfly 20 may be secured under the opposing waterproof panel 36 of the mesh assembly 30, preventing water from entering the tent opening 14 by way of side edges of the mesh assembly 30. In an alternative embodiment, the edges of the rainfly 20 (by way of its connection points 28) may be attached to side panels 16 of the material sheet 10.

FIG. 6 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the subject disclosure, illustrating the overlapping configuration of layers as well as showing that the rainfly 20 may run along the top of the base structure/material sheet 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBJECT DISCLOSURE

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the subject disclosure. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the subject disclosure, since the scope of the subject disclosure is best defined by the appended claims.

As used herein, directional terms such as upper, lower, upward, downwardly, top, left, right, interior, exterior and the like are used in relation to the illustrative embodiments as they are depicted in the figures, such that the upward direction (or upper) being toward the top of the corresponding figures and the downward direction being toward the bottom of the corresponding figures, while interior or inward is facing the occupant space defined by the tent and exterior or outward is facing away from said occupant space.

A general overview of the various features of the invention will be provided, with a detailed description following. Broadly, an embodiment of the subject disclosure provides a night sky viewing tent with a novel dual purpose privacy rainfly, wherein the rainfly is movable along a track 40, by a user occupying the tent, between a closed position (affording privacy and water protection) and an open position (for a view through opening 14 in the tent's material sheet 10).

Referring now to the Figures, the subject disclosure provides a base tent structure 100 supportable by way of tent poles of sufficient size, composition (e.g., metallic, plasticized, etc.), and configuration (e.g., telescopic or the like) to define an internal occupant space with viewing openings/windows 14. The tent structure 100 may be an A-frame tent, as shown, though other shaped and configured tents are contemplated herein, such as domes, non-geometrically shaped configurations and the like.

The base tent structure is made of material sheet 10. Material sheet 10 defines one or more sidewall openings 14. In some embodiments, permanently sewn over the top and sides of the base tent structure is a mesh assembly 30, sometimes referred to as a ‘bug mesh covering’. Though in other embodiments, the mesh assembly 30 may be fixed or removably joined to the material sheet 10.

Between the base tent structure's material sheet 10 and the mesh assembly 30 is a waterproof rainfly 20, which can be made of any material sufficient to enable the disclosure described herein. The rainfly 20 is disposed over (external to) the exterior portion of the base tent structure/material sheet 10 and underneath the mesh assembly 30. Rainfly 20 may engage the top portion (e.g., the ‘peak’ in an A-frame tent) of the tent structure, in some embodiments via an upper track (not shown), when rainfly 20 slides along lower track 40.

The interior surfaces of the privacy rainfly 20 drapes over the exterior surface of material sheet 10 to divert any rain to the external environment, as shown in FIG. 5A. Lengthwise adjacent to but downward of a perimetral edge 12 of sidewall opening 14 there may be a track 40 spanning approximately the entire length of the tent structure 100. Track 40 sits below edge 12 to ensure rainfly 20 cannot be blown inside of opening 14. Rainfly 20 has holes 22 along its bottom edge so track 40 (in some embodiments a paracord) weaves through rainfly holes 22 and keeps it pulled down, so it is always overlapping with edge 12 and on the exterior of the material sheet 10.

Track 40 may be a paracord track, though it is understood that other types of sliding tracks are contemplated herein. The paracord weaves through the bottom of the privacy rainfly 20 via, in some embodiments, built-in holes 22 which may have grommets. Grab point 44 along the material sheet 10 secures track 40 from rising above the perimetral edge 12 inside of the tent 100 (when rainfly 20 is in the closed position). This keeps the track 40 from being able to lift in high winds. Privacy rainfly 20 can be pushed to one end of the tent or pulled to cover the entire opening 14 of the tent and make it waterproof with its overlapping design, which is illustrated in FIG. 6.

The privacy rainfly 20 may be sewn to one end of the tent (though other joining methods, such as but not limited to adhesion may be used) or be removably connected adjacent to vertices of the base structure. In either permutation, the rainfly 20 can be moved by an occupant of the tent, by way of the associated opening 14, between the closed position/unfurled condition to that furled condition/open condition to enable night viewing.

The material sheet 10 may provide a side panel 16 adjacent to each lateral edge of the opening 14. In some embodiments, side panels 16 define the lateral edges of the opening. Each side panel 16 may provide side connection points 18, such as grommets with opposing hooks, that are designed to form a removable connection with connection points 28 of the rainfly 20 in either the unfurled condition or the furled condition. Connection points 18, 28, or 38 can be any fastener, e.g., hooks, grommets, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, etc., sufficient to provide removable fastening as contemplated herein.

The difference between the subject disclosure and prior art tents is that on a prior art tent the privacy rainfly is either affixed or not affixed to the outside of the tent. It is optional but it requires the tent user to exit the tent and walk around it to add or remove the rainfly, which generally takes a couple of minutes for even seasoned pros and a lot longer for those who camp infrequently.

In contrast, on the sky view tent 100 embodied in the subject disclosure the privacy rainfly 20 is inside the tent and runs along track 40. It can be extended or retracted much like a shower curtain. It can then be locked into the extended or bunched up retracted positions by way of the connection points 28. When the rainfly 20 is extended it is dark, private, and waterproof inside the tent. When it is bunched up and retracted the tent has a large opening 14 covered by a clear, transparent, or translucent bug mesh that offers an incredibly clear view of the night sky.

In the bunched-up/furled condition, rainfly 20 may be deposed between a side panel 16 of the material sheet 10 and the waterproof panel 36 of the mesh assembly 30 and connected to either depending on the embodiment.

The rainfly 20 and mesh assembly 30 both overlap the outside of the bottom perimetral edge 12 of sidewall opening 14—as seen in FIG. 6—by at least one inch; in other words, a bottom edge of the both the rainfly 20 and the mesh assembly 30 are further downward of the perimetral edge 12 of the sidewall opening 14.

The term “material” may include woven fabrics (canvas, nylon, polyester), non-woven materials (felt, synthetic, plasticized, rubber, etc.), films and membranes, coated materials, composite or laminated materials and the like. The “material sheet” is flexible emphasizing its bendable nature needed for tent construction, deployment, and use.

By “mutually inclusive” it is understood so that a perimeter of the, say, sidewall opening, is entirely within a periphery of the, say, privacy rainfly.

As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number. And the term “substantially” refers to up to 80% or more of an entirety. Recitation of ranges of values herein are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to any and all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “aligned” means parallel, substantially parallel, or forming an angle of less than 35.0 degrees. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “transverse” means perpendicular, substantially perpendicular, or forming an angle between 55.0 and 125.0 degrees. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “length” means the longest dimension of an object. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “width” means the dimension of an object from side to side. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “above” generally means superjacent, substantially superjacent, or higher than another object although not directly overlying the object. Further, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “mechanical communication” generally refers to components being in direct physical contact with each other or being in indirect physical contact with each other where movement of one component affect the position of the other.

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the embodiments or the claims. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosed embodiments.

In the following description, it is understood that terms such as “first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “down,” and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms unless specifically stated to the contrary.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the subject disclosure and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject disclosure as set forth in the following claims.