Chapel tent

March 28, 1939.

Μ. E. GOTTLIEB

CHAPEL TENT

Filed April 21, 1938

2,151,908

Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US2151908A_D0001.tif" />

March 28, 1939.

2,151,908

Μ. E. GOTTLIEB

CHAPEL· TENT

Filed April 21, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US2151908A_D0002.tif" />

Patented Mar. 28, 1939

2,151,908

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,151,908 CHAPEL TENT Max E. Gottlieb, Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Application April 21, 1938, Serial No. 203,300 (CI. 135—4) of the truss taken along the lines Ί—Ί of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the distant left corner taken along the lines 8—8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a top or plan view of an awning 5 bracket taken along the lines 9—9 of Figure 10;

Figure 10 is a side view of the bracket referred to in the above mention of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a side view of a bow clamp taken along the lines ί ί—11 of Figure 12; 1Ό-

Figure 12 is a front or inside view of the bow clamp shown in Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a top or plan view of parts of the roof section and particularly showing the fixture used to join a bow-member to the ridge-pole; ]5

Figure 14 is a sectional view of the aforementioned fixture and an elevation of a part of a bow-member, showing particularly the method of joining the two parts together;

Figure 15 is an end sectional view of the ridge- 20 pole, fixture and a bow-member assembled, taken along the lines 15—15 of the Figure 13;

Figure 16 is an end sectional view of the ridgepole taken along the lines (6—16 of the Figure 17; 25

Figure 17 is a side view of the ridge-pole referred to in the above mention of Figure 16, and particularly showing how short pieces are joined together to make one long ridge-pole;

Figure 18 is an end view of a side-pole taken ₃₀along the lines 18—18 of the Figure 19;

Figure 19 is a side view of a side-pole referred to in the Figure 18, and also showing how the short side-poles are joined together;

Figure 20 is a top sectional view of a corner _g5of an awning showing how the horizontal awning-rod is attached to the awning-arms. This view is taken along the lines 20—20 of the Figure 21; and

Figure 21 is a side end view of an awning-arm ₄₀and horizontal awning-rod, taken along the lines 21—21 of Figure 20.

In describing this invention the parts and elements will be enumerated and set forth in about the order they would be assembled for erection. Broadly, the parts could be termed as first, the end-sections, which include the upright standards or legs and the folding arched trusses; second, the roof-section, which includes all the horizontal pieces, braces and attachments extending ₅₀between the end-sections; third, the adjustable awning-structure, which can also be used as a mound cover or wall panel; and fourth, the over-spread, which includes the roof cover, wall panels, awning, cover and mound cover. -4 Claims.

This invention relates to chapel tents and particularly to the collapsible or folding type which is used at cemeteries during funeral services.

One of the objects of this invention is to pro5 vide a shelter tent suitable for the purposes mentioned which will fold up compactly so as to be easily transported and yet be sturdy enough to withstand all sorts of inclement weather without the aid of auxiliary and troublesome anchors, 10 straps or guy ropes, and which possesses novel locking means for holding the sections in rigid position.

Another object is to provide a tent of the type mentioned, which is inexpensive to manufacture, 15 is light in weight and which has an extensible and adjustable means to facilitate enlargement or contraction as needed to accommodate congregations of different sizes and to conform to irregular terrain.

A further object is to equip such tent with a framework, consisting of supports, brackets and connectors, that can be easily and quickly assembled and erected by one person without special tools or equipment and without the 25 necessity of disfiguring the landscape or risk damaging neighboring property during its erection.

A still further object is to provide a tent structure with a foldable truss section' that simplifies 30 the erection of the frame and which frame is free of objectionable low hanging beams, braces or other interior obstructions.

These and other features of my invention are more fully set forth hereinafter, reference being 35 made to the accompanying drawings in which like parts are designated by like reference characters and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tent with parts of the top and sides cut away to show 40 the frame structure;

Figure 2 is a sectional side view of an end wall extended to form a mound cover;

Figure 3 is a view of the foldable arched truss which constitutes one of the features of this invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a section of one of the adjustable legs;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a section of the folding arched truss, as it would appear when ⁶⁰ opened. The view is that of the distant left corner of the Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an elevation of the distant left corner as viewed along the lines 6—6 of Figure 5;

-- Figure 7 is a plan view of the lower portion

2,161,908

The first of the above-mentioned parts, namely the end-sections consists of legs 31, to which are removably attached flanges or feet 32. The feet have small holes 33, through which pins 34, are g inserted to hold the legs 31, upright and firmly to the earth.

In some instances where the ground is irregular or when the tent must be erected on a hill side, adjustable legs are used. These adjustable legs 10 31α are simply telescopic arrangements of smaller pipes fitting inside larger ones and held in place by pins or screws. The drawing of Figure 1, shows adjustable legs 3ία, at the forepart of the tent. The Figure 4, shows the construc15 tion in greater detail. The screw 35, being used to maintain the proper height. Ordinarily, two regular length legs 31 and adjustable legs 31α will suffice for any irregular ground surface as the relative positions of the legs 31 and 31α can be 20 set adjacent to each other or obliquely as needed to make the roof section level and even all around.

A foldable arched truss 3, is mounted across the tops of the legs 31 or 3la to complete the end-section. The truss consists of left and right 25 arch-member 36 and 36α respectivly; left and right beam-members 37 and 37α respectively; a ridge-pole fixture 38, to which the arch-members 36 and 36α are hinged; a sliding collar 39, to which the beam-members 37 and 37α are hinged; 30 and corner fixtures 41, to which the arch members 36 and 36α are hinged and to which the beam-members 37 and 37α are permanently fastened. To the ridge-pole fixture 38, there is permanently attached a spacing rod 42. This spac₃g ing rod 42, extends through the collar 39, and serves to brace the truss 3, and to properly space the said arch and truss members. The ridgepole fixture 38, is also provided with a socket 43 engageable with a part of the roof-section, which ₄₀ will be described later. The socket 43, projects horizontally at an angle of 90° to the spacing rod 42 and to the arch-members 36 and 36α. The corner fixtures have sockets 43α and 43b. The socket 43α is engageable with the tops of the legs _4g 31 or 3ia and the sockets 43b are engageable with parts of the roof-section.

A roof-section consists of two parallel sidepoles 44, and a ridge-pole 45 between and parallel to the side-poles 44, but not necessarily on ₅₀ the same horizontal plane with them. The ends of ^υ the ridge-pole 45 and the side-poles 44 fit into the sockets 43 and 43b respectively and connect the aforementioned end-sections at the fixtures 38 and 41 of the opened truss 3.

₅₅ To further strengthen the structure and to complete the roof-section, left and right bowmembers 46 are connected to the ridge-pole 45 and the side-poles 44. The manner of attaching the bow-members 48, is clearly shown in the ₆₀ Figures 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. Securely fastened to the ridge-pole 45, is a slotted sleeve 47. To the inside ends of the bow-members 4G there are attached tongues or S-shaped hooks 48, which engage the slots 49 of the sleeves 47. To the op₆₅ posite or outside ends of the bow-members 46 there are fastened clamps 5i, which firmly engage or fasten to the side-poles 44.

When assembling a roof-section, the side-poles 44 and the ridge-pole 45 are first set up, the end ₇₀ of a bow-member 46 having the S-shaped hook 48 is raised so that the hook 48 enters the slot 49, the bow-member 46 is dropped slightly and then swung downwardly as illustrated in the Figure 14 until the respective parts take the positions ₇₆ shown in Figures 13 and 15. The side-poles 44 are then sprung inward slightly and fastened to the bow-members 46 with the clamps 51. Additional bow-members 46, and sleeves 47, can be provided as needed.

If it is necessary to extend the length of the 5 tent, additional roof-sections can be inserted as illustrated in the Figure 1, where the characters 44α, 45α, 46α, 47α, 48α, 49α and 51α represent supplemental or auxiliary side-poles, ridge-poles, bow-members, sleeve, hooks, slots and clamps 10 heretofore described. The auxiliary side-poles 44α and ridge-pole 45α are equipped with an attachment means illustrated in the Figures 16,17, 18, and 19. This extension means consists of a section of tube 52, riveted to one end of the poles 15 44α and 45α, forming sockets into which the ends of poles 44 and 45 fit and are fastened. The sidepoles 44 and 44α, being slightly larger in diameter than the ridge-pole 45 or 45α, the connecting tube 52 has a webb or fin 59 to serve as a brace 20 or a reinforcement to prevent it from buckling. The corner fixtures 41 also are provided with webbs 59 for the same reason.

The awning-structure is attached to the legs 31 or 31α as the case may be, by means of the 2a bracket 53, to which the awning-arms 54 are hinged. The bracket 53, and an awning-arm 54 hinged thereto is particularly Illustrated in the Figures 9 and 10. Between the unhinged ends of the awning-arms there extends a horizontal 30 awning rod 55. To facilitate attachment of the rod 55 to the arm 54, the end of the arm 54 Is provided with a ring 56 through which the peg 57 on the end of the rod 55 projects; and to hold the peg 57 within the ring 56 and also to prevent 35 it and the rod 55 from turning therein, the ring 56 and the peg 57 are drilled to receive the removable pin 58.

A feature of this invention and one of its advantages permits the bracket 53 and the arms ₄₀54 to be raised or lowered so that the awning-rod 55 can be extended or otherwise positioned so as not to interfere with adjacent buildings, tombstones, trees or other obstructions. The aforementioned parts can also be lowered to the posi- _4gtion illustrated in the Figure 2 to form a mound cover.

The fourth and last element of the invention consists of the over-spread. In the drawings it is shown as a canvas roof cover 61, which includes _5nthe end and side valances 62. The canvas wall panels are used to form the vertical walls 63; the side awning 63α of Figure 1, and the inclined side of the mound cover 63b shown in Figure 2. Enough material is provided for any arrange- ₅₅ment, and the excess is rolled up on the awningrod 55. When the mound cover is required, two triangular sides or flaps 63c, are attached to the panel 63b. This is particularly desirable in rainy weather to prevent the freshly dug earth becom- ₈θ ing muddy and unsightly as well as to prevent the newly dug grave from filling with water. These flaps 63c could also be made a part of the panel 63b and merely folded or rolled up on the rod 55 when not needed. With this construction, ₆₅any of the walls may be paneled as desired; the ° awnings may be extended outwardly from the ends instead of from the side as illustrated; or the tent can be lengthened or shortened or otherwise set up to accommodate any size congregation, ground or surroundings.

The roof cover 61 and the wall panels 63, 63α, G3b and G3c are provided with buttonholes or eyelets, and likewise the tent frame including all the legs 31, arch-members 36 and 36α, beam- ₇₆

2,151,808 members 37 and 37α, ridge-pole fixtures 38, collars 39, corner fixtures 41, side-poles 44 and 44α, clamps 51 and 51α, tubes 52 and awning brackets 53 are equipped with buttons or hooks to engage 5 the buttonholes or eyelets. There is nothing particularly novel about buttonholes or eyelets and hence they are not illustrated, but in order to complete the description, the buttons are shown and are designated by the character 64 in the 10 drawings.

The awning-rod 55 is also used to hold the wall panel 63 in place at the bottom, and the legs 31 or 31α have holes 65 and 66 to receive the pegs 57 and the pins 58. This is clearly shown 15 in the Figures 1 and 4.

Finally, in order to hold the parts constituting the frame work together, the various socket members, brackets, collars and tubes are provided with means to firmly hold the inserted 20 pipes, poles, sections Or members. Any suitable method may be employed, but in the drawings all the holding means are illustrated as screws 35, having conventional knurled heads for convenience for manipulation.

It will now be clear from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, that I have provided a chapel tent with collapsible, inexpensive and portable frame structure, which may be quickly and easily erected or dismantled without the employment of special tools or equipment; one which is sturdy and rigid and yet does not contain objectionable interior obstructions; and which fully accomplishes the objects of the invention.

Furthermore, while I have described the invention in its preferred form and while certain specific terms and language has been used, it is to be understood that the embodiment of the invention as described is merely illustrative and it is to be considered in any limiting sense, as various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as no limitations upon the said invention are intended other than those imposed by the scope of the appended claims.