Moisture diversion system for a collapsible structure

• US 7,721,746 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2006
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seina International, LLC
• Original Assignee: NorthPole Limited
• Inventors: Yul, Lee Pil, Sanford-Schwentke, Anthony, Dong, Yang Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): YIP, WINNIE S
• Application Number:
  US11/504,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20070044827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 135/115, 135/117, 135/119, 135/91, 135 93- 94, 135/156, 135/907, 52/63, 52/82, 52/83, 52/74, 52 11- 13
• US Class Current: 135/93
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/14 Ventilating

Abstract

A moisture diversion system is provided for a collapsible structure including a collapsible frame assembly and an outer structure coupled to the collapsible frame assembly. The moisture diversion system includes a guide strip coupled at each of a first edge and an opposing second edge to the outer structure. The guide strip defines a channel between the first edge and the second edge for facilitating diverting moisture from the outer structure.

Claims

1. A moisture diversion system for a collapsible structure including a collapsible frame assembly and a main structure supported by the collapsible frame assembly, said moisture diversion system comprising:

an outer cover configured to be coupled to the collapsible frame assembly and configured to cover at least a portion of the main structure, said outer cover defining a surface, and comprising a first panel and a second panel coupled to said first panel along a seam, said seam forming a ridge of said outer cover configured to be supported by the collapsible frame assembly;

a first guide strip comprising a first edge and an opposing second edge each being coupled to said outer cover, said first guide strip defining a channel substantially below the surface and between said first edge and said second edge to facilitate diverting moisture from the collapsible structure, said first edge of said first guide strip sealingly coupled to a first portion of said first panel and said second edge of said first guide strip sealingly coupled to a second portion of said first panel;

a second guide strip comprising a first edge and an opposing second edge each being coupled to said outer cover, said second guide strip defining a channel substantially below the surface and between said first edge and said second edge to facilitate diverting moisture from the collapsible structure, said first edge of said second guide strip sealingly coupled to a first portion of said second panel and said second edge of said second guide strip sealingly coupled to a second portion of said second panel; and

a mesh cover coupled between said first edge and said second edge of each of said first guide strip and said second guide strip and configured to at least partially cover said channel defined by each of said first guide strip and said second guide strip,

wherein one of said first edge and said second edge of said first guide strip and said second guide strip forms a seam edge of said outer cover or is substantially parallel to said ridge.

2. A moisture diversion system in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said guide strip comprises a moisture-resistant material.

3. A moisture diversion system in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said first edge and said second edge comprises a moisture-resistant material.

4. A moisture diversion system for a collapsible structure including a collapsible frame assembly and a main structure supported by the collapsible frame assembly, the main structure configured to at least partially define an interior space, said moisture diversion system comprising:

an outer cover configured to be coupled to the collapsible frame assembly and configured to cover at least a portion of the main structure, said outer cover defining a surface;

a first guide strip comprising a first edge and an opposing second edge each being sealingly coupled to said outer cover, said first guide strip defining a first channel substantially below said surface and between said first edge and said second edge to facilitate diverting moisture from the collapsible structure, said first edge of said first guide strip sealingly coupled to a first portion of said outer cover and said second edge of said first guide strip sealingly coupled to a second portion of said outer cover;

a second guide strip comprising a first edge and an opposing second edge each being sealingly coupled to said outer cover, said second guide strip defining a second channel substantially below the surface and between said first edge and said second edge to facilitate diverting moisture from the collapsible structure, said first edge of said second guide strip sealingly coupled to a third portion of said outer cover and said second edge of said second guide strip sealingly coupled to a fourth portion of said outer cover; and

a mesh cover coupled between said first edge and said second edge of each of said first guide strip and said second guide strip and configured to at least partially cover said channel defined by each of said first guide strip and said second guide strip,

wherein one of said first edge and said second edge of said first guide strip and said second guide strip forms a seam edge of said outer cover or is substantially parallel to a ridge of said outer cover.

5. A moisture diversion system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said outer cover comprises a first panel and a second panel coupled to said first panel along a seam, said seam forming the ridge of said outer cover configured to be supported by the collapsible frame assembly, said first edge of said first guide strip is sealingly coupled to said first portion of said outer cover in said first panel and said opposing second edge of said first guide strip is sealingly coupled to said second portion of said outer cover in said first panel, and said first channel is defined between said first edge and said second edge.

6. A tent comprising:

a collapsible frame assembly;

a main tent structure supported by said collapsible frame assembly and configured to at least partially define an interior space;

an outer cover coupled to said collapsible frame assembly and configured to cover at least a portion of said main tent structure, said outer cover defining a surface;

a moisture diversion system operatively coupled to said outer cover, said moisture diversion system comprising a first guide strip comprising a first edge and an opposing second edge each being sealingly coupled to said outer cover, said first guide strip defining a first channel substantially below said surface for facilitating diverting moisture from said tent, said first edge of said first guide strip sealingly coupled to a first portion of said outer cover and said second edge of said first guide strip sealingly coupled to a second portion of said outer cover;

a second guide strip comprising a first edge and an opposing second edge each being coupled to said outer cover, said second guide strip defining a second channel substantially below the surface and between said first edge and said second edge to facilitate diverting moisture from said tent, said first edge of said second guide strip sealingly coupled to a third portion of said outer cover and said second edge of said second guide strip sealingly coupled to a fourth portion of said outer cover; and

a mesh cover coupled between said first edge and said second edge of each of said first guide strip and said second guide strip and configured to at least partially cover said channel defined by each of said first guide strip and said second guide strip,

wherein one of said first edge and said second edge of said first guide strip and said second guide strip forms a seam edge of said outer cover or is substantially parallel to a ridge of said outer cover.

7. A tent in accordance with claim 6 further comprising an awning frame assembly coupled to said collapsible frame and configured to support a portion of said outer cover to form an awning.

8. A tent in accordance with claim 7 wherein said awning comprises a first awing panel and a second awing panel coupled to said first awing panel along a seam, said seam forming said ridge of said awning, said first edge of said first guide strip sealingly coupled to a first portion of said first awing panel and said opposing second edge of said first guide strip sealingly coupled to a second portion of said first awing panel, said first channel is defined between said first edge and said second edge of said first guide strip.

9. A tent in accordance with claim 6 wherein said outer cover comprises a first panel and a second panel coupled to said first panel along a seam, said seam forming said ridge of said outer cover supported by said collapsible frame assembly, said first edge of said second guide strip is sealingly coupled to said third portion of said outer cover on said second panel and said opposing second edge of said second guide strip is sealingly coupled to said fourth portion of said outer cover on said second panel, and said second channel is defined between said first edge and said second edge of said second guide strip.