Robert W Howe

US Patent:

60948019, Aug 1, 2000

Filed:

Sep 24, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/160451

Inventors:

Robert H. Howe - Bend OR

International Classification:

B23P 1100

US Classification:

2952501

Abstract:

A tent clip design for coupling with similar adjacent clips comprises a C-shaped upper portion (11) that can be snapped onto a tent pole (12), a webbing slot (19) at the bottom for attaching a loop of webbing (20) extending up from the tent (21) below, a laterally extending tongue (14) with a toothed lower surface (15) near its distal end, and a corresponding tongue slot (16) immediately below the tongue with a toothed upper surface (17) on its lower edge to join in locked engagement with the toothed lower surface (35) of tongue (34) of a similar adjacent tent clip (30) when two or more similar clips are aligned and pressed together. The portion of the clip below the tongue slot is made of flexible material and comprises flexible portion (18) of the clip. A user of the clip can interlock the clip with similar adjacent clips into clusters which can be far more rapidly mounted than can the same number of separated clips, and with considerably less likelihood of being attached in the wrong sequence or orientation, or attached to the wrong pole. Once the clusters are mounted on the poles, a user of the clips can pull down on loops of webbing (20) residing in webbing slots (19) to temporarily widen tongue slots (16) and axially release any toothed tongues held within the tongue slots.

US Patent:

62167154, Apr 17, 2001

Filed:

Jul 30, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/364344

Inventors:

Robert H. Howe - Bend OR

International Classification:

E04H 1530

US Classification:

135 95

Abstract:

A convertible tent comprises an inner canopy (12) having a window (22) and a flysheet or outer canopy (36) spaced above and covering the inner canopy. The flysheet has a window (36P) in alignment with the canopy's window. The canopy's window can be closed with either a solid (26) or a net panel (24). This window has, around its edge, a row of zipper teeth (a zipper chain--30), which teeth mate with respective zipper chains (32, 34) on the solid and net panels. Thus either the solid panel or the net panel can be zipped into the inner canopy's window. A solid panel can also be zipped into the window in the flysheet. The tent can be adjusted for warm, cool, cold, and precipitation conditions from inside by using just the net panel in the inner canopy, just the solid panel of the inner canopy, or the solid panel o the inner canopy and the solid panel of the flysheet.

US Patent:

62960032, Oct 2, 2001

Filed:

Aug 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/638379

Inventors:

Robert Howe - Bend OR
Theodore Ganio - Pleasant Hill CA

Assignee:

Sierra Designs, Inc. - Emeryville CA

International Classification:

E04H 1558

US Classification:

135117

Abstract:

A tent having a fabric body defining an internal volume and a door for entering and exiting the internal volume and for providing ventilation to the internal volume. A continuous zipper is located on the periphery of the door and on the door opening. A pair of zipper slides is configured for traversing the continuous zipper enabling the door to completely open, completely close and open partially in any one of a number of orientations.

US Patent:

60188308, Feb 1, 2000

Filed:

Feb 17, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/024076

Inventors:

Robert H. Howe - Bend OR

International Classification:

A47G 908

US Classification:

5413R

Abstract:

A sleeping bag (11) design for providing adjustability of the inner volume and outer exposed surface area of the bag comprises sheathed drawcords (14), preferably elastic, attached only to the top or upper portion of the bag and secured by cord locks (16) A user of the bag can tighten the drawcords during cold weather, thereby providing a warmer bag by reducing the inner volume and the exposed outer surface area of the bag without reducing the thermal protection provided to the lower portion of the bag by an underlying flat insulated pad, as would be the case with drawcords fully encircling the bag. During warmer weather, the user can relax the drawcord adjustment, thereby providing the user with more freedom of movement. Thus a considerably more versatile sleeping bag is provided--that can be adjusted to provide more warmth during cold weather or more freedom of movement during warmer weather.