Collapsible Tent with Improved Crown Hub Assembly

Abstract

A portable shelter having an improved crown hub assembly for extending and collapsing the shelter. The crown hub assembly has a mounting disc, wherein a plurality of pole receptacles are pivotably connected to the mounting disc. A slotted plate is positioned under the mounted disc. The slotted plate has slots that align with the pole receptacles when properly rotated. The alignment between the slots and the pole receptacles enables the pole receptacles to rotate from a horizontal orientation into a vertical orientation. Support poles are received into each of the pole receptacles. The support poles support the canopy of the shelter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable shelter comprising:
 a mounting disc having a plurality of pole receptacles pivotably connected thereto, wherein each of said plurality of pole receptacles can pivot between a first orientation and a second orientation;   a slotted plate positioned adjacent said mounting disc, said slotted plate having slots formed therein, wherein said slotted plate is rotatable, relative said mounting disc, between a first position and a second position, and wherein said slots align with said plurality of pole receptacles and enable said plurality of pole receptacles to rotate into said second orientation only when said slotted plate is rotated to said second position;   a plurality of support poles, wherein said plurality of pole receptacles receive said plurality of support poles; and   a canopy supported by said plurality of support poles.   
     
     
         2 . The portable shelter according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of pole receptacles extends generally horizontally when in said first orientation and extends generally vertically when in said second orientation. 
     
     
         3 . The portable shelter according to  claim 1  further including a knob that is interconnected with said slotted plate for selectively turning said slotted plate between said first position and said second position. 
     
     
         4 . The portable shelter according to  claim 3 , wherein said mounting disc, said slotted plate and said knob are configured into a single crown hub assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The portable shelter according to  claim 3 , wherein said mounting disc has a central opening, and wherein said knob is connected to said slotted plate by a shaft that extends between said knob and said slotted plate through said central opening. 
     
     
         6 . The portable shelter according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounting disc contains pockets and said plurality of pole receptacles sits in said pockets and are free to rotate at least ninety degrees while seated in said pockets. 
     
     
         7 . The portable shelter according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said pole receptacles has a tube with an open end for receiving one of said support poles therein. 
     
     
         8 . A portable shelter comprising:
 a crown hub assembly containing a mounting disc, a plurality of pole receptacles, a slotted plate and a knob, wherein said plurality of pole receptacles is pivotably connected to said mounting disc and said slotted plate has slots that can be selectively aligned with said plurality of pole receptacles by rotating said slotted plate with said knob, and wherein said slotted plate retains said plurality of pole receptacles in a first orientation until said slots align with said plurality of pole receptacles and enables said plurality of pole receptacles to rotate into a second orientation;   a plurality of support poles, wherein said plurality of pole receptacles receive said plurality of support poles; and   a canopy supported by said plurality of support poles.   
     
     
         9 . The portable shelter according to  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of pole receptacles extends generally horizontally when in said first orientation and extends generally vertically when in said second orientation. 
     
     
         10 . The portable shelter according to  claim 8 , further including a knob that is interconnected with said slotted plate for selectively turning said slotted plate between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         11 . The portable shelter according to  claim 8 , wherein said mounting disc is interposed between said slotted plate and said knob. 
     
     
         12 . The portable shelter according to  claim 11 , wherein said mounting disc has a central opening, and wherein said knob is connected to said slotted plate by a shaft that extends between said knob and said slotted plate through said central opening. 
     
     
         13 . The portable shelter according to  claim 8 , wherein said mounting disc contains pockets and said plurality of pole receptacles sit in said pockets and are free to rotate at least ninety degrees in a vertical plane while seated in said pockets. 
     
     
         14 . The portable shelter according to  claim 8 , wherein each of said pole receptacles has a tube with an open end for receiving one of said support poles therein.