Tensioned tent structure and erection method therefor

A tent structure adapted to be erected on a support surface to provide a sheltered space, comprising:

• a flexible covering including a vertex portion and a plurality of corner portions spaced from the vertex portion, said covering congigured in a selected geometrical shape having a peripheral edge and constructed of a plurality of generally triangular panel sections, each said panel section having a pair of side edges and a base edge and adjacent ones of said panel sections being connected at adjacent side edges to define primary attachment seams extending from the vertex portion to a respective corner portion, each said panel section formed by a plurality of triangular panel pieces constructed of a woven fabric material having a set of wrap threads and a set of weft threads, adjacent ones of said panel pieces being connected along secondary attachment seams such that each panel section has side edge forming panel pieces oriented so that one of the sets of warp and weft threads is parallel to each respective primary attachment seams, the base edge of each said panel section being bias-cut whereby each said panel section may stretch in a direction transverse to its respective primary attachment seams;
• an anchor means for securing each corner portion to said support surface to cover a surface area thereof;
• and
• a pole assembly positionable in an upright position between said support surface and said vertex portion and having an effective length which supports said covering in an erect state with said vertex portion spaced above said support surface, said pole assembly including extension and contraction means for adjustably varying the effective length thereof in order to move the vertex portion further from and closer to said support surface when said pole assembly is in the upright position to resepectively increase and decrease tension forces between the vertex portion and the corner portions when the corner portions are anchored to the support surface whereby the covering is held taut along primary radial lines corresponding to said primary attachment seams when tension is applied to the vertex portion by the pole assembly so that the tent structure is thereby erected with the secondary attachment seams and the bias-cut base edges applying tension forces along said peripheral edge whereby said panel pieces are held taut when said pole assembly applies tension to said vertex portion.

A tent structure adapted to be erected on a support surface to provide a sheltered space, comprising:

• a flexible covering including a vertex portion and a plurality of corner portions spaced from the vertex portion, said covering configured in a selected geometrical shape;
• an anchor means for securing each corner portion to said support surface to cover a surface area thereof;
• a pole assembly positionable in an upright position between said support surface and said vertex portion and having an effective length which supports said covering in an erect state with said vertex portion spaced above said support surface said pole assembly constructed of a plurality of pole sections mountable together, at least one of said pole sections formed by an outer tubular member and an inner telescoping member which telescopes into and out of said outer tubular member;
• and
• extension and contraction means mounted internally of said outer tubular member and enclosed thereby for driveably engaging said inner telescoping member to adjustably vary the effective length of said pole assembly in order to move the vertex position of said covering further from and closer to said support surface when said pole assembly is in the upright position to respectively increase and decrease tension forces between the vertex portion and the corner portions when the corner portions are anchored to the support surface whereby the covering is held taut when tension is applied to the vertex portion by the pole assembly so that the tent structure is thereby erected.