used to secure the lower edge of the sidewall to the ground similarly optional guy lines 16 are secured to tie tabs 18 located around the outer edge of the transition between the sidewall and top one or more door openings 20 allow access to the interior these may be fastened with ties velcro strips or zippers in a conventional manner in the version shown tent 2 has a lower top portion 6 in the form of a truncated cone atop this is an upper conical portion 8 joined to the lower portion along transition zone 22 this construction is preferred for a larger tent a smaller tent might simply have a single conical top section for very large tents additional stacked truncated sections might be used additional central area support poles and vertices may also be used while the tent can be made in the smaller sizes often used by back packers it will most often be made in sizes suitable for so called family camping this use demands greater space and comfort and the sidewall will typically be sufficiently high so that most or all of the area under the top will at least be high enough to permit standing erect many other uses are contemplated such as emergency shelters or other applications where tents have been used or would be satisfactory inside the tent are tension shelves 24 located at the transition between the sidewall and top and 26 placed at the transition between then lower and upper portions of the top these are key to support of the tent and their construction and purpose will now be explained.