Swivel Tent Fitting

Abstract

A tent frame including at least one pivotal coupling for connecting a plurality of structural members is provided. The tent frame includes a plurality of structural members connected together to form a frame for supporting a fabric shell. The tent frame includes at least one coupling for connecting four of the structural members to one another. The coupling includes a plurality of connector portions adapted to engage corresponding connector portions of the structural members. The coupling permits pivotal movement of at least one of the structural members relative to other structural members connected to that coupling to facilitate assembly and erection of the tent frame.

1 . A coupling for connecting a plurality of tent frame structural members, comprising:
 first, second, third and fourth connector portions, each connector portion including a mating portion adapted to mate with a corresponding mating portion of a tent frame structural member;   a hinge pivotally connecting the fourth connector portion to the first, second and third connector portions, the hinge being independent of any of the tent frame structural members and further including a pivot axis, the fourth connector portion pivoting within a first plane perpendicular to the pivot axis.   
     
     
         2 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third connectors are fixed to one another such that the first, second and third connectors are prevented from moving relative to one another forming a rigid body. 
     
     
         3 . The coupling of  claim 2 , wherein the first, second and third connectors are permanently fixed to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the mating portions of the first and second connector portions extend perpendicularly to one another, the mating portions of the second and third connector portions extend perpendicular to one another. 
     
     
         5 . The coupling of  claim 4 , wherein the mating portions of the first and third connector portions extend within a second plane, the second plane being perpendicular to the first plane. 
     
     
         6 . The coupling of  claim 4 , wherein the mating portions of the first and third connector portions extend within one of the first plane or a second plane that is parallel to the first plane. 
     
     
         7 . The coupling of  claim 4 , wherein the mating portions of the first and third connector portions extend substantially coaxial. 
     
     
         8 . The coupling of  claim 4 , wherein the mating portions of the first and third portions extend at an angle relative to each other of between about 90 and 150 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The coupling of  claim 4 , wherein the mating portions of the first, second, third and fourth connector portions are male mating portions. 
     
     
         10 . The coupling of  claim 9 , wherein each male mating portion includes a pair of spaced apart parallel extending cylindrical portions. 
     
     
         11 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the mating portions of the first, second, third and fourth connector portions are female mating portions. 
     
     
         12 . A tent frame assembly comprising:
 a plurality of structural members including first, second, third and fourth structural members, at least one end of each structural member including a mating portion;   at least one coupling connecting the first, second, third and fourth structural members comprising:
 first, second, third and fourth connector portions, each connector portion including a mating portion adapted to mate with a corresponding mating portion of the first, second, third and fourth frame member, respectively; 
 a hinge pivotally connecting the fourth connector portion to the first, second and third connector portions, the hinge being independent of the plurality of elongated frame members and further including a pivot axis, the fourth connector portion pivoting relative to the first, second and third connector portions within a first plane perpendicular to the pivot axis. 
   
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second connector portions are positioned in a substantially back-to-back relation such that in an assembled state the first and second structural members are positioned within a second plane and generally extend away from each other. 
     
     
         14 . The frame of  claim 13 , wherein the first plane is orthogonal to the second plane, the first plane being at least one of inclusive of or parallel to the third structural member that is connected to the third connector portion. 
     
     
         15 . The frame of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second structural members extend away from one another at an angle between about 90 and 150 degrees within the second plane. 
     
     
         16 . The frame of  claim 14 , wherein the fourth structural member is pivotable via the hinge between a first position wherein a surface of the fourth structural member is positioned substantially within the second plane and a second position wherein the fourth structural member extends at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees to the second plane. 
     
     
         17 . The frame of  claim 12 , wherein the first, second and third connector portions are fixed to one another such that the first, second and third connectors are prevented from moving relative to one another forming a rigid body. 
     
     
         18 . The frame of  claim 12 , wherein the mating portions of the connector portions are male and the mating portions of the structural members are female, each female portion slidingly receiving a male portion of a structural member in an assembled state. 
     
     
         19 . The frame of  claim 18 , wherein each female portion is formed by a pair of cylindrical pockets separated by a common wall, and each male portion includes a pair of spaced apart parallel-extending cylindrical portions sized to be slidingly received in the female portions. 
     
     
         20 . The frame of  claim 12 , wherein the fourth structural member further includes a boot coupled to an end opposite an end that couples to the fourth connector portion. 
     
     
         21 . The frame of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of couplings, each coupling connecting one end of four structural members proximate one another. 
     
     
         22 . The frame of  claim 12 , wherein the first, second, and fourth connector portions are aligned such that in an assembled and erect state a surface of the first, second and fourth structural members is co-planar. 
     
     
         23 . The frame of  claim 22 , wherein the co-planar surfaces of the first, second and fourth structural members are co-planar in the first plane. 
     
     
         24 . The frame of  claim 22 , wherein the co-planar surfaces of the first, second and fourth structural members are co-planar in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method of assembling a tent frame comprising:
 connecting first, second, third and fourth structural members to a coupling;   pivoting the fourth structural member through a hinge of the coupling to a vertical position; and   wherein the first, second and third structural members are lifted from a first position proximate the ground to a second position above the ground as the fourth structural member is pivoted.