Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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l Shelter
3 This invention relates to a collapsible portable
4 shelter and is particularly, but not exclusively,
useful in providing a shelter from W radiation for
6 infants.
8 In general, portable shelters have hitherto fallen into
9 two main types: small and lightweight such as
umbrellas and windbreaks, and larger and heavier in the
ll form of various types of tent. The former provide
12 limited protection, while the latter provide, in most
13 conditions, total shelter.
14
There are instances where the former type is inadequate
16 while the latter is too heavy, complex and enclosing.
17 One such instance is on the beach. This particularly
18 affects pre-crawling infants who are particularly
l9 liable to excessive W on the beach.
21 An object of the present invention is to provide a
22 shelter which gives the occupant near total shelter
23 from the elements, including W solar radiation, heat,
24 light and wind and, to a limited extend, rain, while
being sufficiently open and lightweight to offer some
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1 of the openness and immediacy of an umbrella/ parasol
2 or windbreak. Another object is to provide a shelter
3 which is small, light and convenient.
The invention provides a portable and collapsible
6 shelter for providing protection from climatic
7 elements, the shelter comprising a canopy having a
8 dome-like shape, the canopy having a shaded opening at
9 one side thereof and being formed from an opaque fabric
supported by flexible poles held in compression.
11
12 Preferably, said opening is shaded by an extension
13 having floor, side and roof components, the extension
14 further comprising an opening on the further side
thereof which provides access to the opening of the
16 canopy.
17
18 The canopy and the extension are preferably made of a
19 cloth fabric which is both opaque and reflective. The
fabric, which is suitably nylon, may be rendered both
21 opaque and reflective by coating with a gold coloured
22 metallic paint.
23
24 Said side component may be reversible, thereby being
locatable on either side of the opening of the canopy.
26
27 The canopy may have an integral floor.
28
29 Preferably, the canopy is comprised of several panels
of cloth sewn together.
31
32 Preferably also, the extension is releasably fastened
33 at the foot, one side and the top of the canopy opening
34 and the extension tapers to an apex spaced from the
canopy.
36
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1 The shelter preferably has a plurality of flexible
2 poles each of which has at least a major portion of its
3 length receivable in a respective fabric sleeve formed
4 in the canopy. Each sleeve may be open at one end and
closed at the other, and taper in width from the open
6 to the closed end; this eases insertion and also
7 assists in biasing the pole exteriorly of the canopy
8 for tensioning the canopy.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described,
11 by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in
12 which:
13
14 Fig. 1 is a front view of one form of shelter in
accordance with the invention, without an
16 extension;
17 Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the front and
18 one side of the shelter of Fig. 1, with an
19 extension attached;
Fig. 3 shows fabric panel shapes used in making up
21 the shelter of Figs. 1 and 2; and
22 Fig. 4 is a rear view of the shelter.
23
24 The shelter comprises a fabric canopy 10 having the
general shape of half of a dome tent defining an
26 interior space 12 and a front opening 14, and an
27 extension 16 projecting forwardly from the opening 14.
28
29 The canopy 10 is formed by stitching together shaped
fabric panels, such as the panels 18 seen in Fig. 3,
31 and i9 supported and extended by poles received in
32 sleeves. The canopy 10 has an integral floor 11. Two
33 poles 20 and 22 cross diagonally from rear corners 24
34 to the ends of a top edge 26 of the opening 14. A
3S third pole 28 spans the canopy 10 between lower corners
36 of the opening 14, which corners are provided with
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1 webbing loops 29 for tent pegs (not shown).
3 The poles 20, 22, 28 may suitably be of a type known
4 per se of GRP of about 8 mm diameter, the shorter poles
20, 22 being made in three sections and the long pole
6 28 in five sections.
8 The poles are received in fabric sleeves sewn to the
9 canopy 10, as best seen in Fig. 4. The long pole 28 is
received in a continuous sleeve 30 which is closed at
11 one end 32. The short poles 20, 22 have most of their
12 length received in sleeves 34, and their free ends in
13 pockets 36 at the top edge 26. The sleeves 34 are
14 closed at the rear corners 24. The corners 24 are
lS provided with webbing loops 25 for tent pegs (not
16 shown).
17
18 The sleeves 30 and 34 taper in width from their open to
19 their closed ends.
21 The canopy 10 may be formed from any convenient fabric,
22 such as 1067B ripstop nylon or 130T nylon. The canopy
23 fabric is coated with a commercially available opaque
24 coating, suitably a gold-coloured aliphatic
polyurethane elastomer. Coatings of this nature are
26 known for use in rendering hot air balloons opaque.
27 The coating is preferably applied to the exterior of
28 the canopy 10, thus rendering the canopy both opaque
29 and reflective.
31 For use as an infant shelter, the canopy 10 may
32 suitably have dimensions of about:
33
34 width 1.0 metre
depth 0.9 metre
36 height 1.1 metre
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1 This is safe for an infant, while providing sitting
2 height for an adult. Other dimensions may be used for
3 other purposes.
~ 5 Half-dome tents and shelters are known, for example,
6 for use as fishing shelters, but the known products are
7 not opaque to W .
9 The shelter further comprises an extension 40 made from
three fabric panels sewn together to provide a floor
11 42, a wall 44, and a roof 46, which taper from the
12 opening 14 to an apex 48. The extension 40 is attached
13 to the canopy 10 around the opening 14, suitably by
14 'Velcro' (TM) hook-and-loop fastener strips. The loop
portion of the fastener is secured to the canopy, and
16 the hook portion to the extension 40. The position of
17 the fastener is indicated by the dashed line 50 in Fig.
18 2. The apex 48 is provided with a fabric loop 52 to
19 receive a tent peg (not shown).
21 The extension 40 is reversible so that it may be set up
22 to the left or to the right. The extension 40 is made
23 from the same material as the canopy 10 and has the
24 same coating, either on one side or on both sides of
the fabric.
26
27 The shelter provides a space which gives a very high
28 degree of protection from W while being airy and
29 having an open effect. In particular, a young child
may be put to lie in the shelter and be safe from W
31 but within sight and sound of other family members, for
32 example, on the beach. The reversible extension 40 can
33 be positioned toward the sun to maximise shade, while
34 its tapered shape also helps prevent light and W
penetration.
36
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1 The shelter is light and compact to carry, and easy and
2 quic~ to erect. The pole sleeves being closed at one
3 end allows one person to fit each pole with a single
4 push for ease and speed of erection; this is aided by
the use of tapering sleeves. The extension can be
6 positioned and reversed by operation of the 'Velcro'
7 strips and a single tent peg.
