# US 5,343,887 A · Self-erecting portable fabric structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,343,887 A - Document ID: US5343887A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/002,588 - Filed: 1993-01-11 - Granted: 1994-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 1993-01-11 - Inventors: Thomas C. Danaher - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5343887A ## CPC - E04H 15/40: flexible - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) ## Abstract An elongated portable structure for the use as a tent or the like, having an end panel at each end. Each end panel comprises an annular hoop of flexible, resilient, strip material which can be reduced to a much smaller dimension by twisting. A sheet of substantially non-stretchable, flexible fabric in the space within each hoop is secured to the hoop so that the sheet is maintained taut and will resist collapse or distortion of the hoop. The end panels are maintained in generally upright position by at least one spreader rod extending between the end panels, and struts connected to the ends of the rod and attached to the respective end panels. A rigid force distributor may be attached to each strut to engage the sheet within each hoop. A flexible fabric cover with an opening extends between the end panels to provide shelter for a person or persons occupying the structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An elongated portable structure for use as a tent or the like, said structure having an end panel at each end thereof, each said end panel comprising an annular hoop of flexible, resilient, strip material, a sheet of substantially non-stretchable, flexible fabric in the space within each hoop and marginally secured to said hoop to maintain said sheet of fabric taut and to resist collapse or distortion of said hoop, means for holding said end panels in longitudinally spaced, generally upright positions, a flexible fabric cover extending between and cooperating with said end panels to provide shelter for a person or persons occupying the structure, and means providing an entry to said structure, at least one of said hoops being capable of being twisted into a flat coil of reduced diameter for storage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Structure as defined in claim 1, further including means to prevent said structure from rolling. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) Structure as defined in claims 1 or 2, wherein said holding means includes at least one elongated spreader rod extending between said end panels and connected to said cover. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2) Structure as defined in claims 1 or 2, wherein said holding means includes at least one elongated spreader rod extending between said end panels, and support means operatively connected said rod to said end panels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 2) Structure as defined in claims 1 or 2, wherein said holding means comprises an elongated spreader rod extending generally lengthwise of said structure, and said rod comprises a plurality of separable rod segments connected together end-to-end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) Structure as defined in claim 5, wherein at least two of said rod segments are connected end-to-end by a releasable coupling. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Structure as defined in claim 6, further including means for attaching said couplings to said cover. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) Structure as defined in claim 4, wherein said rod comprises a plurality of separable, tubular rod segments interfitted together end-to-end, and an elongated, flexible, stretchable elastic member extending lengthwise of and within said rod segments to hold said rod segments interfitted as aforesaid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) Structure as defined in claim 4, wherein said rod comprises a plurality of rod segments and a coupling, said rod segments are tubular and a group at least two of said rod segments at one end of said coupling are connected together end-to-end and a group at least two of said rod segments at the other end of said coupling are connected together end-to-end, and means for holding said rod segments and coupling together comprising elongated, flexible, stretchable elastic members secured to said coupling and extending lengthwise of and within said respective groups of rod segments. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) Structure as defined in claim 9, wherein said rod segments are capable of being separated from one another and folded for storage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) Structure as defined in claim 10, and further comprising releasable retainer means for holding said rod segments folded against the collapsed hoop. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) Structure as defined in claim 4, wherein said support means includes at least one strut connected to one end of said rod, said strut attached to one of said end panels to hold it upright as aforesaid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) Structure as defined in claim 12, wherein each said strut comprises a plurality of separable strut segments connected together end-to-end. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) Structure as defined in claim 12, wherein each said strut comprises a plurality of strut segments telescoped together to permit movement of said strut segments from an extended, operative position to a collapsed position one within another for storage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) Structure as defined in claim 12, wherein each said strut extends completely across the end panel to which it is attached and is connected to the hoop thereof at opposite points. ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) Structure as defined in claim 4, wherein said support means further includes at least one relatively rigid distributor in supporting engagement with the sheet of one of said end panels, and being relatively flat and disposed parallel to and in surface-to-surface contact with said sheet of said one end panel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) Structure as defined in claim 16, wherein the hoop of said one end panel is the hoop which is capable of being twisted into a flat coil of reduced diameter for storage as aforesaid and said distributor is of a size and shape such that it will not interfere with such twisting of said hoop. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) Structure as defined in claim 16, wherein said distributor is connected to the hoop of said one end panel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) Structure as defined in claim 16, including means connecting said distributor to one end portion of said rod. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) Structure as defined in claim 19, wherein said means connecting said distributor to said one end portion of said rod is an elongated strut. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1, 2) Structure as defined in claims 1 or 2, wherein said cover open at the bottom to provide a substantially floorless structure. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1, 2) Structure as defined in claims 1 or 2, wherein said holding means comprises a pair of laterally spaced, elongated spreader rods extending generally lengthwise of said structure, and wherein at least one end of at least one said rod is connected to said cover. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1, 2) Structure as defined in claims 1 or 2, wherein said holding means comprises a pair of laterally spaced, elongated spreader rods extending generally lengthwise of said structure, and support means operatively connecting said rods to said end panels. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1, 2) Structure as defined in claims 1 or 2, wherein said holding means comprises a pair of laterally spaced, elongated spreader rods extending generally lengthwise of said structure, and each of said rod comprises a plurality of separable rod segments connected together end-to-end. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) Structure as defined in claim 24, wherein each said rod comprises a plurality of separable, tubular rod segments interfitted together end-to-end, and an elongated, flexible, stretchable elastic member extending lengthwise of and within said rod segments to hold said rod segments interfitted as aforesaid. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) Structure as defined in claim 24, wherein at least two rod segments of each rod are separable and connected end-to-end to a releasable coupling. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) Structure as defined in claim 26, further including means for attaching said couplings to said cover. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) Structure as defined in claim 24, wherein said rod segments of each of said rods are tubular, a group of at least two of said rod segments of each rod are at one end of said coupling thereof, a group of at least two of said rod segments of each rod are at the other end of said coupling thereof, and means for holding said rod segments and coupling of each said rod together comprising elongated, flexible, stretchable elastic members secured to the coupling thereof and extending lengthwise of and within said respective groups of rod segments at the ends of said coupling. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1, 2) Structure as defined in claims 1 or 2, wherein said holding means comprises a pair of elongated spreader rods extending generally lengthwise of said structure and wherein said rods are disposed in cross relation to one another. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) Structure as defined in claim 24, wherein at least one end of at least one said rod is connected to one of said hoops. ### Claim 31 (depends on 24) Structure as defined in claim 24, wherein said support means includes at least one strut connected to one end of one of said rods, said strut being attached to one of said end panels to hold it upright as aforesaid. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) Structure as defined in claim 31, wherein said strut comprises a plurality of strut segments connected together end-to-end. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) Structure as defined in claim 31, wherein said strut comprises a plurality of strut segments telescoped together to permit movement of said strut segments from an extended, operative position to a collapsed position one within another for storage. ### Claim 34 (depends on 24) Structure as defined in claim 24, wherein said support means further includes at least one relatively rigid distributor in supporting engagement with the sheet of one of said end panels, said spreader being relatively flat and disposed parallel to and in surface-to-surface contact with said sheet of said one end panel. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) Structure as defined in claim 34, wherein the hoop of said one end panel is the hoop which is capable of being twisted into a flat coil of reduced diameter for storage as aforesaid and said distributor is of a size and shape such that it will not interfere with such twisting of said hoop. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) Structure as defined in claim 34, wherein said distributor is connected to the hoop of said one end panel. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) Structure as defined in claim 34, including means connecting said distributor to one end portion of at least one said rod. ### Claim 38 (depends on 34) Structure as defined in claim 34, wherein said distributor is connected to end portion of at least one said rod by an elongated strut.