US20070256721A1

US20070256721A1 - Glow in the dark tent supports

Info

Publication number: US20070256721A1
Application number: US11/418,312
Authority: US
Inventors: Cori Spain
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-05-04
Filing date: 2006-05-04
Publication date: 2007-11-08

Abstract

A tent support system includes a stake and rope made with flourescent material so they will be visible in low ambient light conditions.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the general art of tent accessories, and to the particular field of ropes and stakes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For centuries, stakes for driving into a ground surface have been used to secure articles such as tents whose framework rest on a ground surface and without additional support are unstable. To secure and stabilize the framework of a tent, for example, ropes typically extend from a canvas portion of the tent and are tied to a stake driven into the ground surface.
The simplest form of a stake for securing the stabilizing ropes is a simple elongated metal bar or wooden stick with a sharpened end for driving into the ground surface. In driving such stakes into the ground surface, care must be taken to drive it in at a angle with respect to vertical which is sufficient to ensure the rope will not slip off the stake when under tension. If the angle is insufficient, the rope can walk up the stake and slip over its top.
In the securement of tents and the like in a typical camping scenario for example, the tent is secured relative to the surrounding ground surface by a plurality of stake members directed into the ground to afford stability to the tent. During conditions of limited available light such as in the evening, exposed portions of the tent stakes provide for a dangerous projection to effect injury to an individual encountering the tent stake while walking about the erected tent structure.
Furthermore, during such low ambient light conditions, the ropes or cables used to attach the tent to the stakes may also be a hazard because they may not be easily visible. A person could easily collide with such ropes and be injured. Therefore, there is a need for a means for making tent stakes and ropes visible during low ambient light conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-discussed disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by a tent support system which includes a stake and rope that are each coated or mixed with flourescent material so they will be visible in low ambient light conditions.
Using the tent stake and rope embodying the present invention will prevent people from colliding with or tripping over tent stakes or tent ropes during low ambient light.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tent stake and rope embodying the present invention in combination with a tent.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a detail showing the tent stake and rope embodying the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a tent support system 10 for supporting a tent 12. The tent support system includes ropes 20 and anchor stake 14, which is designed to embed into the ground G in use as shown in FIG. 1. The anchor stake 14 and rope are made to glow in the dark. The rope 20 and the anchor stake 14 can be made to glow in the dark through a number of methods. For instance, the anchor stake 14 can be made from mixture of plastic material and fluorescent composition, such as crystalline powder, zinc sulfide, coloring agent, etc. The mixture may then be then poured into a molded to make the stake anchor. The anchor stake 14 may molded to have a hook extension 16 on the top of the stake for better securing the rope and to make it easier to remove the anchor stake 14 from the ground.
The rope 20 can be made from several stands of twisted and dyed nylon type rope with flexibility. The nylon rope can be made to glow in the dark. The nylon stand can be made from mixture of plastic material and fluorescent composition, such as crystalline powder, zinc sulfide, coloring agent, etc. As such, the rope 20 and the anchor stake 14 may glow in the dark after being introduced to natural or artificial light.
Alternatively, the rope 20 and the anchor stake 14 can be coated with a flourescent material 22. There can be a plurality of stakes as shown in FIG. 1. In other words, a tent rope 20 attaches the tent to the anchor stake 14 and is coated with a flourescent material 22. There can be a rope associated with each anchor stake as indicated in FIG. 1. Flourescent material 22 on the rope and anchor stake can be the same or different therefrom as desired. These materials can be white or colored as desired. The particular type of floursescent material is not important and will not be claimed.
The flourescent material(s) may be mixed with the plastic material to mold the anchor stake 14 and the nylon strand 20; or they may be coated with the fluorescent material to glow in the dark and thus will allow them to be visible in the dark or in low ambient light conditions. Use of the system can be understood from the teaching of the foregoing disclosure and thus will be only briefly discussed. A tent is supported by coating an anchor stake with flourescent material; coating a tent rope with flourescent material; embedding the anchor stake in the ground; and connecting the tent rope to the anchor stake and to a tent to attach the tent to the anchor stake.
While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A tent support system consisting of:

A) a tent to be supported;

B) an anchor stake which is embedded in the ground in use, the anchor stake molded from a mixture of plastic material and fluorescent material; and

C) a tent rope which attaches the tent to the anchor stake, the tent rope made from stands of nylon, the nylon made from a mixture of plastic material and fluorescent material.

2-7. (canceled)