Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
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This invention relates to folding shelters, particularly
of the sort which may be otherwise termed to be a collapsible
shelter of a portable type. The invention particularly relates
to the structure of the shelter, specifically the hinging
relationship of the framing members thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
There are many circumstances when it is desirable to have
a folding shelter which may be portable and of low cost and
light weight. Such circums-tances include, for example, shelters
for workmen in inclement conditions, as well as camping shelters
for one or two persons, and similar clrcumstances. Still
other requirements for shelters may include ones which ma~
be placed over vehicles for protection against dust or
inclemency, and so on.
n~S~N~N, in United States ~atent 33G~57~ da'.ed
February 13, 19~8, teaches a portable and collapsible shelter
which is of relatively small size and light weight, has a number
of substantially radially directed members from a central pivot
plate assembly, disposed at the centre of the top and bottom
of the shelter, so that it is somewhat circular or hexagonal
in plan. The ~pivot plate assembly comprises two plates pivoted
to each other, with a plurality of frame legs pivoted to one or
the other of the plates. However, the shelter is rather awkward
to open, and relies upon a chain connected from frame member to f
frame member to support the cover member and to regulate the
spacing of the framework. Moreover, it is necessary to ensure
that the pivot plates are properly aligned when in their unfolded f
position, and lines are drawn on the pivot plates for those
purposes. Thus, considerable effort and care must be taken when
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assembling or erecting the shelter.
Several other portable shelters have been ref~rred to
in the past literature~ of some interest, including the following.
MACYj V.S. patent 3082780, dated March 26, 1963, which teaches
a portable shelter having a number of foldable braces between
bows which are pivoted at a single point on each side of the shelter.
MOLTCHAN, U.S. Patent 3121439, dated February 18, 1964, shows
a plate on each side of the shelter, to which is pivoted a plurality
of supporting members. However, it is only a single plate, and
lacks the ability to collapse to a minimum possible thickness,
and also to be easily erected from elther direction. Likewise,
JOHNSON, U.S. Patent 3513861, dated May 26, 1970, teaches a structure
having plate or footing members on each side of the structure to
which a plurality of bows or framing members are pivotally mounted.
A somewhat different structure is taught in MATHEWS, U.S. Patent
4084599, dated April 18, 1978, which shows base members to which
a plurality of struts are pivotally mounted only on one poxtion
of the periphery of the ba~ member. Finally, BONFILIO, U.S.
Patent 4098281, issued July 4, 1978, teaches a collapsible shelter
which has a central hub to which a plurality of ribs are mounted.
One feature in particular which has been desirable, but
substantially unobtainable, is the capacity or capability of
a folding shelter to be opened and closed -- erected and
collapsed -- from either direction. Further, is has been
desirable to provide such a structure which can be erected or
collapsed with a minimum of operational steps and in a minimllm
of time. These objects are achieved by the present invention.
It is also desirable to provide a structure which,
particularly when intended for use as a camping shelter or the
? ) like, may be easily opened and closed to provide ent~ances
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and ventilation openings, etc. Such structure should, of
course, be light in weight and, at the same time, weather proof
at least so far as its ability to withstand wind and precipitation.
The principal features of this invention are, as noted,
accomplished by the provision of a plurality of hoop-like frame
members, of which at least two are base members which are
adapted to rest against the supporting surface - the ground,
a roor or oth~r construction surface, or the like -- with the
shell of the folding shelter, which is made from fabric or
other pliant material, being secured to the base members and
supported by at least one further hoop-like frame member.
Usually, of course, there are a plurality of further hoop-like
frame members, the centre-most of which is hingedly connected
to a pair of framing plates which, themselves, are hingedly
connected to each other by a pin connection. The framing plates
are centrally located on each side of the shelter, and
slightly overlap each other, with the pin connection between
them being placed near the top of the overlapped area. Any
other of the hoop-like frame members, except the centre-most,
are hingedly connected at each of their ends to one of the
framing plates, in such a manner that each succeeding hoop-like
frame member away from the centre-most frame member is connected
to the respective framing plate at a point thereon which is
lower and further away from the pin connection between the
framing plates than the connection point of the last succeeding
hoop-like frame member.
So as to effect complete foldability of the shelter, without
additional steps, the base members are firmly secured at their
29 ends to the framing plates, in a manner discussed hereafter.
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Where it is desired that the folding shelter of the presen$
invention -- which would otherwise be ~ppropriately dimensioned
-- may be folded sufficiently small as to fit into the trunk
of an automobile, for example, the hoop-like frame members
can be provided in such a manner that they are hinged at their
centre point ~nd o~herwise conveniently -- e.g. upper outer corners,
with support braces at the corners -- so that the frame member
may be folded across their width.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
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The above features and objects of the present invention
are more fully discussed hereafter, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an erected foldable
shelter according to this inventionl showing several optional:.
features thereof, and showing the manner of assembly of the
shell to the frame;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the framing plates
at one side of the shelter of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrows 3-3
of Figure 1, showing the shelter of Figure 1 in a folded
condition;
Figure 4 is a view taken in the direction of arrows 4-4
in Figure 2, and appears with Figures 8 and 9j
Figure 5 is a detailed view showing a detail o~ assembly
c>f a fc>lding shelter according to this inl~ention, as for
example in the area decignated in Figure 1, and appears with Figures 8and 9;
Figure 6 is a top view of a folded shelter according to
this invention, taken in the direction of arrows 6-6 :in
29 Figure 3;
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Figure 7 is a view of an alternative form of framemember of a folding shelter according to this invention;
and,
Figures 8 and 9 show the cross-wise folding fEature
of the frame member of ~'igure 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
As noted, the principal purpose of this invention is to
provide a folding shelter which may be ~sed either for camping
purposes -- e.g., either to protect persons camping outdoors,
or their belongings -- or for a shelter in which supplies or
equipment may be stored for protectlon against the weather, or
within which work may be carried out. This latter feature is
particularly helpful in areas of extreme climate, where relatively
light work such as roofing, certain kinds of telephone and
electrical work, etc., might be carried out under a shelter
according to this invention but not otherwise because of exposure
to the elements and weather.
The folding shelter 10 of Figure 1 comprises two base
members 12 and a plurality of hoop-like frame members 14. In
the particular embodiment illustrated - a folding shelter having
a base area approximately 2.5 meters x 3.5 meters -- the frame
members 14 are designated as 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d and 14e; and
the base members are designated 12a and 12b.
A shell 16 is supported by the frame members 14; and is
secured around its edges -- at the bottom of the shelter -- to
the base members 12 by snap fasteners 15 or other suitable
fastening means.
The shell 16 may be made of fabric, for example canvas or
29 nylon, or other suitable pliant material such as rubberized -
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materials, fibre glass reinforced vinyl, etc.
Se~eral features of the shelter, particularly as it is
shown in Figure 1 as it may be presented ~or purposes of camping
and the like, are a ventillation opening 17 having net or screen
covering 19 and a rollable cover 21 secured in its up position
by tabs 23 and its down position by tabs 25. Also, there is
a closable entrance flap 25 which may be opened and closed at
zippers 27 and 29; and it will be noted that the entrance flap 25
is located so as to be positioned between the side portions
of the hoop-like frame members 14b and 14c. Also, as noted
in Figure 5, the shell 16 may be removably secured to the
frame members 14 by means of a tab 29 and dome fastener 20.
Turning now to the features of the construction, particularly
as they relate to the foldability of the folding shelter of
this invention, it is noted that there are a pair of framing
plates 18 which overlap each other, creating an overlapped
area 20. The framing plates 18 are hinged together by a pin
22 which may have a cap 24 placed over one end. The positioning
of the pin 22 is such that it is near the top of the overlapped
area 20
It will also be noted that the centre-most hoop-like frame
member 14c is hingedly secured to the framing plates 18 by the
same pin 22.
The remaining hoop-like frame members 14a, 14b, 14d and 14e
are also each hingedly secured at their ends to a respective one
of the framing plates 18 by pins 24. Each attachment of a
framing 14 to a framing plate 18 is such that each succeeding
frame member away from the centre-most frame member 14c is
29 connected to the respective framing plate 18 at a point lower
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and further away from the pin connection of the last succeeding
frame member. For example, with reference to Figure 2, it is
noted that the connection of frame member 14d to the right hand
framing plate 18 (as viewed) is lower than the connect~on of
the frame member 14c; and the connection of frame member 14e i5
lower than the connection of frame member 14d, and further
away from the pin 22.
Reference is now made to Figure 3, showing the folding
shelter 1~ in its folded condition. It will be seen that
the framing plates 18 have changed their relative posi-tion to
one another such that the framing plate designated 18a has
moved from the position illustrated by the chain line in
Figure 3 to the ~olded positi~n .illustrated, and as shown by
the arrow 26. The manner in which the ~hell 16 has ~olded
between the rame members 1~ is also noted.
As mentioned above, when the base members 12a and 12b -
are secured to the respective framing plates 18a and 18b, then
it is a very simple matter to erect or collapse the folding
- shelter simply by manipulating.one or the other of the base
members 12. For example, the left.hand ~ase member 12 (as seen
in Figure 1) may be picked up, causing the left hand framing
plate 18a to pivot around the pin 22, in the manner shown in
Figure 3. As the framing plates 18a and 18b pivot with respect
to each other -- only framing plate 18a moves in the circumstances
considered above -- the ~hell 16 becomes slack, thereby permitting
the frame members 14 to approach each other until they attain .
the position illustrated in Figure 3. Erection is, of course,
a simple matter and is carried out in reverse; whereby, as shown
29 in Figure 3, the base member 12a is grasped and is swung through ;
an arc to the left. Obviously, as that operation continues,
the shell 16 goes into tension between successive pairs of ~rame
members, and as the arc motion of the base member 12a continues
to the left, successive ones of the frame members 14 are pulled
up until finally they achieve the erected position illustrated
in Figure 1.
It is obvious that the folding shelter 10 may be erected
and folded from either direction; that is, from the left to
the right or from the right to the left, with no difference
in the operation or achieved results. All of this is, of course,
possible, because of the hinged relationship of the framing plates
18, and the manner in which the frame members 14 are each
hingedly secured to the framing plates ].8, at a point further
away from and lower than the last succeeding frame member,
with regards to the centremost ~rame member.
As noted in Figure 6, when the folding shelter 10 is in
its collapsed conditio~, at least when it has been first folded
down or just prior to its erection, it occupies an area
approximately one half of the area that will be occupied by
the folding shelter when it is erected. In many instances, this
matter is of no concern. However~ in some circumstances it may
be desirable to reduce the area taken up by a folded shelter
according to this .invention, and especially the~limits thereof.
To this end, especially when the base and frame members are
substantially rectilinear in shape as those are according to
the embodiments of the folding shelter that have been discussed
so far and are illustrated, an improvement is further provided
whereby each of the frame members is foldable across its width.
29 With reference to Figure 7, a frame member 14 is noted
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having a substantially centrally placed hinge 28. Because of
the shape of the frame member -- substantially rectilinear, in
the present discussion -- corner hinges 30 are also provided, to-
gether with support braces 32 having stop lugs 34~ With
reference to Figures 8 and 9, the manner by which the frame
members 14 may be collapsed cross-wise is clearly shown.
That is, the braces 32 are unlocked, the corner hinges 30 are
folded and the centrally located hinge 28 folds, all in the
manner indicated by the arrows in Figures 8 and 9. By this manner,
it will be seen especially from Figure 9 that the wldth of
the folded frame members is considerably less than when the
folding shelter is in its erected state or as shown in
Figure 6. Accordingly, taking advantage of the pliancy of
the shell 16, the entire folding shelter may be folded and
collapsed into a volume sufficiently small so that the collapsed
folding shelter might fit into the trunk of an automobile.
It is evident that the configuration of the hoop-like
frame members 14 and the base members 12 are most conveniently
of the same rectilinear shape, for the most efficient use of
space and the most efficient head room across the width of the
folding shelter. Further, the frame members 14 may also be
more semi-circular; and, indeed, so may the base members 12.
Suitable materials for construction of the frame of the
folding shelter according to this invention include steel and
aluminum, and it has been found that aluminum pipe and rod is
particularly useful, of sufficient strength and lightweight. It
is, of course, possible to weld the base members 12 to the framing
plates 18, when both are of the same material, whether steel
29 or aluminum. ~8-
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There has been describ~d a folding shelter, which may be
usefull for both recreational purposes and for protection of
workmen from inclement or adverse weather conditions, and which
is of lightweight and simple construction so that it may be
portable and easily collapsed. Suitable materials have been
discussed, both for purposes of the frame, and the shell.
When the base members are not secured to the framing
plates, it is necessary to otherwise provide for the hinging
relationship of the framing plates to one another; which may
be provided simply by the jamming action of the base and frame
members against one another, but is more conveniently provided
by a handle on the framing plates. As noted, however, the more
convenient manner is by securing the base frames to the framing
plates.
Also, as noted, the hinging relationship of the centre-
most -- or one of them -- frame member to the hinging of the
framing plates assures the collapslng and erecting action in a
single motion.
Other alterations and embodiments are, of course, capable
of production, especially depending upon the size of area to be
covered by an erected folding shelter according to this invention,
and the number of hoop-like frame members may be changed --
although it is best for there to be an odd number of such members
-- without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended
claims.
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