Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02882652 2016-09-30
FRAME FOR PORTABLE SHELTER AND ASSEMBLY
CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS
[00011 This application claims priority to and the benefit thereof from
U.S.
provisional patent application no. 61/744,795, filed October 4, 2012, titled
"Frame for
Portable Shelter and Assembly". This application claims priority to U.S.
patent
application no. 13/385,965, filed March 19, 2012.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[00021 The present disclosure relates generally to a portable shelter and
more
specifically it relates to a collapsible portable fish house with a side door.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] Currently, a collapsible portable fish house is known that has a
frame and a
canvas cover with a single opening for egress, located at the front of the
fish house. This
arrangement is inconvenient, especially when more than one fishermen share a
fish
house. In order to enter into and exit from the fish house, a fisherman has to
reach the
front door and unzip the door or flip the tent flap. This is difficult to
perform without
stepping over his fellow fishermen, the fish holes cut into the ice, or the
fishing gear.
Because of this problem, there is a need for a new and improved fish house
that will
allow multiple fishermen to enter and exit the fish house with ease and
convenience.
1
CA 02882652 2015-02-20
WO 2014/070365
PCT/US2013/063270
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
100041 Accordingly,
one aspect of the present disclosure provides a portable shelter
which includes a base, a support bracket that is attachable to the base, a
first collapsible
support member that is projectable substantially vertically upward from the
support
bracket., a second collapsible support member that is projectable
substantially diagonally
upward and rearward from the support bracket, a collapsible base support
member that is
projectable first diagonally downward to a bend and then forward from the
support
bracket, a third collapsible support member that is attachable to an end
portion of the
collapsible base support member, a first spreader bar that is configured to
extend upward
from the base to an end of the second collapsible support member, the end
being distal to
the support bracket, a second spreader bar that is configured to extend upward
and
forward from the end of the second collapsible support member to an end of the
first
collapsible support member that is distal to the support bracket, and a third
spreader bar
that is configured to extend downward and forward from the end of the first
collapsible
support member to an end of the third collapsible support member that is
distal to the
collapsible base support member, wherein the first collapsible support member,
the
second collapsible support member, the third collapsible support member, the
base
collapsible support member, the first spreader bar, the second spreader bar,
and the third
spreader bar include a. frame. The first, second, or third spreader bar may
include a
collapsible spreader bar.
CA 02882652 2015-02-20
WO 2014/070365
PCT/US2013/063270
[0005] The portable shelter may include a cover mounted on and over the
frame. The
cover may include a door formed into at least one side of the cover. The side
door is
capable of being opened and closed to allow entrance into and egress from the
portable
shelter.
100061 Al. least one of the collapsible support members and the spreader
bars may
include a fastener. The fastener may include a push button, a pin, a lock, a
clip, a clamp,
a bolt, or a screw.
100071 The portable shelter may further include a wind flap that is
positionable over a
bottom end of a door.
[00081 The portable shelter may include a window.
100091 According another aspect of the present disclosure, a portable
shelter is
provided that includes a base, a collapsible support member that is
projectable
substantially diagonally upward and rearward from the portion of the base, a
collapsible
base support member that is projectable first. diagonally downward to a bend
and then
forward from the portion of the base, and another collapsible support member
or a
spreader bar that is attachable to an end portion of the collapsible base
support member,
wherein the collapsible support member, third collapsible support member or
the spreader
bar, and collapsible base support member comprise a frame.
[00101 The portable shelter includes a cover mounted on and over the frame.
3
CA 02882652 2015-02-20
WO 2014/070365
PCT/US2013/063270
[0011] The portable
shelter includes a side door formed in a sidewall of the cover, the
side door being capable of being opened and closed to allow entrance into and
egress
from the portable shelter.
[00121 The portable
shelter may include a spreader bar that is configured to extend
upward from the base to an end of the collapsible support member, the end
being distal to
the portion of the base. The portable shelter may include a spreader bar that
is configured
to extend from the end of the collapsible support member.
[00131 The portable
shelter may include a spreader bar that is configured to extend
from the another collapsible support member.
[0014] The portable
shelter may include a wind flap that is positionable over a
bottom portion of the side door.
[0015] According to
a further aspect of the present disclosure, a method is provided
for manufacturing a portable shelter. The method includes providing a base,
attaching a
collapsible support member to the base, the collapsible support member being
configured
to project substantially diagonally upward and rearward from the base when the
portable
shelter is erected, attaching a collapsible base support member to the base,
the collapsible
base support member being configured to project first diagonally downward to a
bend
and then forward from the base, and attaching another collapsible support
member or
spreader bar to an end portion of the collapsible base support member, wherein
the
4
CA 02882652 2015-02-20
WO 2014/070365
PCT/US2013/063270
collapsible support member, said another collapsible support member or
spreader bar,
and the collapsible base support member comprise a frame.
100161 The method may include providing a spreader bar that may be
positioned
between end portions of a pair of collapsible support members.
[0017] The method may include placing a cover on and over the frame. The
cover
includes a side door -formed in a side wall of the cover to allow entrance
into and egress
from the portable shelter.
[0018] The method may further include attaching a further collapsible
support
member that is projectable substantially vertically upward from the base.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
100191 The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further
understanding of the disclosure, are incorporated in and constitute a part of
this
specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the
detailed
description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. No attempt is
made to show
structural details of the disclosure in more detail than may be necessary for
a fundamental
understanding of the disclosure and the various ways in which it may be
practiced. In the
drawings:
[0020] FIG. l shows a perspective view of an example of a portable shelter
without
any covering, constructed according to the principles of the disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the portable shelter illustrated in FIG.
I.
CA 02882652 2015-02-20
WO 2014/070365
PCT/US2013/063270
[0022] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the portable shelter illustrated in FIG.
I,
including a cover.
100231 FIG. 4 shows a side view of another example of portable shelter with
a side-
wall portion of the cover removed.
190241 FIG. 5 shows a side view of the portable shelter of FIG. 4 in a
substantially
collapsed position without the cover.
[0025] FIG. 6 shows a front view of the portable shelter of FIG. 4 in a
substantially
collapsed position without the cover.
[0026] FIG. 7 shows a detailed view of a collapsible support arm with an
example of
a fastener.
100271 Fig. 8 shows a detail view of a collapsible spreader bar with
another example
of a fastener.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0028] Some embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to
the
accompanying drawings, in which the preferable embodiments of the present
disclosure
have been illustrated. However, the present disclosure can be implemented in
various
manners, and thus should not be construed to be limited to the embodiments
disclosed
herein. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided for the thorough and
complete
understanding of the present disclosure, and completely conveying the scope of
the
present disclosure to those skilled in the art.
6
CA 02882652 2015-02-20
WO 2014/070365
PCT/US2013/063270
[0029] The terms
"including," "comprising" and variations thereof, as used in this
disclosure, mean "including, but not limited to," unless expressly specified
otherwise.
[00301 The terms
"a," "an," and "the," as used in this disclosure, means "one or
more", unless expressly specified otherwise.
10031] Devices that
are in communication with each other need not be in continuous
communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In
addition,
devices that are in communication with each other may communicate directly or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries.
[0032] Although
process steps, method steps, or the like, may be described in a
sequential order, such processes and methods may be configured to work in
alternate
orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be described
does not
necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order.
The steps of
the processes or methods described herein may be performed in any order
practical.
Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously.
100331 When a single
device or article is described herein, it will be readily apparent
that more than one device or article may be used in place of a single device
or article.
Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein, it will
be readily
apparent that a single device or article may he used in place of the more than
one device
or article. The functionality or the features of a device may be alternatively
embodied by
one or more other devices which are not explicitly described as having such
functionality
or features.
7
CA 02882652 2015-02-20
WO 2014/070365
PCT/US2013/063270
[0033] Fig. 1 shows
a perspective view of an example of a portable shelter IA
without a cover, which is constructed according to the principles of the
disclosure. The
portable shelter IA may be used as a portable fishing house, a camping
shelter, a portable
storage, or the like. The portable shelter IA includes a base 200, a frame 2A,
a pair of
brackets 700 (700A and 700B), and a cover 3A (not shown in Fig. 1). The
portable
shelter IA may further include a floor 4A. The floor 4A may include e.g,, a
tarp, an
insulating material, a weatherproof material, and so on.
[0035] The base 200
has a front portion 220, a first side portion 230, a second side
portion 250, a back portion 240, and a floor portion 260. The base 200 may be
made of a
material, such as, for example, plastic, meutl, carbon-fiber, fiberglass,
glass, cloth, foam,
wood. or the like, or any combination thereof.
[00361 The side
portion 230 may include a plurality of openings 231, 232. The side
portion 230 may further include a slanted wall portion 235. The openings 231,
232 may
be configured so that a user may move the portable shelter IA by, for example,
gripping a
part of the side portion 230 by means of one or more of the openings 231, 232
and
moving the base 200 to a desired location. Alternatively, the openings 231,
232 may be
used to secure, e.g., a pull-cord that may be attached to a vehicle (e.g., an
all-terrain-
vehicle (ATV), a boat, or the like) to pull the base 200. The openings 231,
232 may be
additionally (or alternatively) used to hold objects (e.g., a fishing pole) or
to allow objects
to pass there-through (e.g., a hose) to connect equipment (e.g., a propane
heater) inside
the base 200 to equipment (e.g., a propane tank) located outside of the base
200, or
simply outside of the base 200 (e.g., a heater exhaust output). The slanted
wall portion
0
CA 02882652 2015-02-20
WO 2014/070365
PCT/US2013/063270
235 may assist in reducing drag, such as, e.g., when the base 200 is dragged
by a user on
snow, on water, or the like.
[00371 The side
portion 250 may include openings (not shown) similar to openings
231 and/or 232. The side portion 250 may also include a slanted wall portion
(not
shown) similar to slanted wall portion 235.
[00381 The front
portion 220 and the back portion 240 each include a side wall that
may include one or more openings, such as, e.g., openings similar to openings
231 and/or
232. The side walls may be substantially perpendicular to the floor portion
260, or offset
by a predetei __________________________________________________ mined angle
with respect to the floor portion 260, where the angle formed
by the planar surface of the side wall with respect to the planar surface of
the floor
portion 260 may be in the range of, e.g., about 90 to about 135'.
Alternatively, the angle
may be less 900 than or greater than 135", one of ordinary skill in the art
will readily
recognize.
[0039] The floor
portion 260 may include one or more ribs 262, which may function
to increase strength and rigidity of the floor portion 260 and base 200. The
rib(s) 262
may also function to provide directional control of the base 200 such as, for
example,
when the base 200 is dragged by a user on snow or water.
[0040] The frame 2A
includes a plurality of support members 300, 400, 500, 600, and
a plurality of stretcher bars 12A, 12B, and 12C. The support members 300, 400,
500,
600, may include a portion that is U-shaped. The support member 500 may
include a
bent portion and a U-shaped portion. The support members 300, 400, 500, 600,
may be
9
CA 02882652 2015-02-20
WO 2014/070365
PCT/US2013/063270
telescopically adjustable so as to allow for adjustment in height of the frame
2A. The
stretch bars I 2A, 12B, 12C, may each include a rod, The stretch (or spreader)
bars 12A,
1213, 12C may each include a support member fastener 12F, which may be
attached to or
integrally formed with an end of the stretch bar. One or more of the stretch
bars 12A,
12B, 12C may include a collapsible structure, such as, e.g., a two or more rod-
members
telescopically joined together. The fastener 12F may include a U-shaped
member, a C-
shaped member, a bracket, a clamp, or the like, which may be configured to
have a
diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the support members 300, 400,
600. The
fastener 12F may be pivotally or rotatably mounted and. secured to a portion
of the
support member 300 (or 400 or 600), allowing the spreader bar 12 to pivot or
rotate about
the point at which the fastener 12F is attached to the support member.
100411 The brackets
700 may include a pair of opposing brackets 700A, 700B. The
brackets 700A, 700B may include e.g., an L-shaped bracket, a U-shaped bracket,
a C-
shaped bracket, a plate, or the like. The brackets 700 may be integrally
formed with or in
the base 200. The brackets 700 may be made of the same material as or a
different
material than the base 200. The brackets 700 may form the structure to which a
portion of
the frame 2A may be attached, including the support members 300, 400, 500. The
brackets 700 may be affixed to the base 200 by means of fasteners, or the
brackets 700
may be integrally formed with the base 200. The brackets 700 may be affixed to
or
formed integrally atop of or (partially or entirely) within the base 200. The
fasteners (not
shown) may include, for example, push-buttons, adhesives, pins, bolts, screws,
nuts,
CA 02882652 2015-02-20
WO 2014/070365
PCT/US2013/063270
clips, clamps, rivets, hook-and-loops, tongue-and-groove, or the like. The
support
members 300, 400, 500 may be anchored to, and rotatable about the brackets
700.
100421 The support
members 300, 400 may be attached to an inner portion of each of
the brackets 700 and the support member 500 may be attached to an outer (or an
inner)
portion of each of the brackets 700. Alternatively, the support member 500 may
be
attached to an inner or outer) portion of each of the brackets 700 and the
support
members 300, 400 may be attached to an outer portion of each of the brackets
700.
10043] Each of the
support members 300, 400, and 500 may include a horizontal
portion 320, 420, 520, respectively, and a pair of telescoping and opposing
side portions
340, 440, 540, respectively. The horizontal portion 520 may provide an anchor
point for
the pivotahle U-shaped support member 600. The support member 600 may include
a
horizontal portion 620 and a pair of telescoping and opposing side portions
640. The side
portions 640 may be rotatably attached to the horizontal portion 520 of the
support
member 500 by a pair of respective fasteners 12F.
100441 The stretcher
bars 12A, 12B, and 12C may be disposed between the horizontal
portions 320, 420 of the support members 300, 400, and the horizontal portion
620 of the
support member 600, as shown in Fig. 1, Each of the stretcher bars 12A, 1213,
and 12C
includes a straight portion having opposing ends, each opposing end including
a fastener
12F that can be removably positioned on the back portion 240 of the base 200
or on the
horizontal portions 320, 420, 620 of the support members 300, 400, 600,
respectively, as
mentioned above. The stretcher bar 12A may include a rod-like end portion
instead of
11
CA 02882652 2015-02-20
WO 2014/070365
PCT/US2013/063270
the fastener I2F, which may be inserted through a hole provided in the back
portion 240
of the base 200.
10045] The stretcher
bars 12A, 12B, and I2C may be compressible and rotatably
attached to the collapsible support members 300, 400, and 600. For example,
the
stretcher bar 12A may be pivotally attached at one end (e.g., by means of the
fastener
12F) to either the back portion 240 of the base 200 or to the horizontal
portion 320 of the
support bar 300; and the other end of the stretcher (or spreader) bar 12A may
be
removably attachable to either the horizontal portion 320 or back portion 240,
respectively, so as to allow the spreader bar 12A to be readily detached from
the base 240
(or horizontal portion 320), pivoted so that it rests in the same plane as the
support bar
300 (or rests in the base 200), and collapsible to allow the bar 12A to fit
within the width
of the base 200. The stretcher bar I 2B may be pivotally fixed at one end to
either the
horizontal portion 320 of the support bar 300 or to the horizontal portion 420
of the
support bar 400, and the other end may be configured to be readily removal so
as to allow
the bar 1213 to be pivoted into the same plane as the bar 300 (or 400). The
stretcher bar
12C may be pivotally fixed at one end to either the horizontal portion 420 of
the support
bar 400 or to the horizontal portion 620 of the support bar 600, and the other
end may be
configured to be readily removal so as to allow the bard 12C to be pivoted
into the same
plane as the bar 400 (or 600). The tbregoing configuration may ensure that the
spreader
arms 12A, 12B, I2C don't get separated from the frame 12A and, possibly, lost,
while
providing for easy collapsibility (or expandability) of the frame to or into
the base 200.
CA 02882652 2015-02-20
WO 2014/070365
PCT/US2013/063270
[00461 When fully
and properly assembled, the frame 2A may be configured to form
a structure that has near vertical front and rear walls 120, 140 (shown in
Fig. 3). This
configuration may be used to maximize the use of space within the portable
shelter IA
(as shown, e.g., in Fig. Z).
100471 Referring to
Fig. 3, a cover 800 may be placed over the frame 2A to enclose
the space therein. The cover 800 may include one or more access openings 180
that may
be placed in, e44., a pair of opposing side walls 160 for easy access to the
interior of the
shelter IA. The cover may further include one or more doors 810 that are
configured to
substantially seal the one more access openings 180. The door(s) 810 may be
configured
to open in any direction, including, from left to right, from right to left,
from top to
bottom, from bottom to top, diagonally, or the like. The door(s) 810 may be
configured
to be partially or entirely removable. The seal may be formed by a fastening
mechanism
such as, e.g., zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners, or the like. The cover 800
may be made
of a material such as, e.g., cloth, fabrics, canvas, foam, insulating
material, fiberglass,
metal, carbon fiber, or the like, or any other suitable weatherproof material.
100481 In
application, the base 200 is used to anchor the support members 300, 400,
500, 600 by means of, e.g., the brackets 700. When stowed, the support members
300,
400, 500, 600 are collapsed and lay on top of or in the base 200. When
assembly is
required, the primary support members 300, 400, 500 are rotated to the
positions shown
in Figs, 1 and 2 and their respective telescoping side portions 340, 440, 540
are extended.
The secondary support member 600 is then rotated upwardly and the stretcher
bars 12A,
12B, 12C are put into place. In alternative configuration, the stretcher bars
12A, 12B,
13
CA 02882652 2015-02-20
WO 2014/070365
PCT/US2013/063270
12C, may already be attached at one end to the support members 300, 400, 500,
in which
case the bards 12A, 12B, 12C may be pivoted and aligned into position (e.g.,
the
configuration shown in Fig. 1). The cover 800 may then be mounted over the
assembled
frame 2A to form the structure (as shown in Fig. 3).
100491 Fig. 4 shows
a side view of another example of a portable shelter 1 that is
constructed according to the principles of the disclosure. The portable
shelter 1 includes
a base 10, a frame 5, a cover 20, a wind .flap 30, a side door 40, and a
support bracket 70,
a non-removable hinged support member 80. Base 10 may be made of the same
material
as base 200. The cover 20 may be made of the same material as cover 800.
[00501 A side door
40 is formed into the cover 20. Side door 40 may opened and
closed by means of fastening mechanism, such as, e.g., a zipper, a hook-and-
loop
fastener, or the like. The cover may, alternatively, include a mechanical door
that may be
opened by hand or by an actuator under control of an electrical signal, and
the like.
According to aspects of the disclosure, the side door 40 may be provided on
only one side
of the shelter, or on both sides of the shelter. If there is a second side
door on the
opposite side of the shelter, the second door 40 may be constructed to be a
mirror image
of the first side door 40 (as shown, e.g., in Fig. 4).
10051] A wind flap
30 may be provided and positioned over a bottom portion of the
side door 40. The wind flap 30 may function to keep out light, wind, cold,
snow, water,
and the like, without the need to close the side door 40 all the way down to
the ground
surface. The wind flap 30 may be made out of same material as the cover 20 (or
cover
800).
14
CA 02882652 2015-02-20
WO 2014/070365
PCT/US2013/063270
10052] The base 10
includes a plurality of side walls 12 and a floor as shown in Fig.
S. The side walls 12 may include a pair of first side walls, and a pair of
longitudinal side
walls. The base 10 may be configured to hold a portion of, or the entire frame
5 when it
is folded into a collapsed configuration (as shown, e.g., in Fig. 5).
100531 Fig. 4 shows
an example of a side view of the frame 5 that is constructed
according to the principles of the disclosure. The cover 20 is installed over
and supported
by a frame 5 (as shown, e.g., in Fig. 4). The frame 5 includes non-removable
collapsible
support members 50 that may be rotated to a diagonal position and a vertical
position,
non-removable collapsible base support member 50B, removable collapsible
spreader
bars 60A and 60B, removable collapsible spreader bar 60C, and a non-removable
hinged
support member 80.
100541 The support
bracket 70, which may be mounted on or (partially or entirely)
within the base 10, functions to pivotally anchor the support members 50 and
the base
support member 50B. One of the support members 50 (the first support member),
when
the frame 5 is in the erected position, extends substantially vertically
upward from
support bracket 70, and the other support member 50 (the second support
member), when
the frame 5 is in the erected position, extends substantially diagonally
upward and
rearward from the bracket 70. The base support member 50B, when the frame 5 is
in the
erected position, extends first diagonally downward and then bends to continue
forward
from the support bracket 70. The bend in the base support member 50B allows
for door
clearance so that persons entering or leaving the shelter I do not have to
step over the
member 50B to enter or exit the shelter 1. The support members 50 and base
support
CA 02882652 2015-02-20
WO 2014/070365
PCT/US2013/063270
member 50B are each collapsible and adjustable as to length by means of a
fastener 90
(as shown e.g., in Fig, 7). The fastener 90 may include, for example a spring
button clip,
a spring pin, a pin, a clip, a clamp, a screw, a bolt, a nut, or the like.
[00551 The vertical
support member 50 may include a plurality of sub-members,
including a first submember 52 and a second submember 54. The submembers 52
and 54
may be telescopically joined, with the submember 52 being configured to
slidably hold
submember 54. The submembers 52 and 54 may be locked into an extended
configuration as shown in Fig. 4, by means of a fastener 90 (as shown, e.g.,
in Fig. 7).
100561
Additionally, the diagonal support member 50 may include a plurality of
submembers, including a first submember 56 and a second submember 58 (as shown
in
Fig. 4). The submembers 56 and 58 may be telescopically joined, with the
submember
56 being configured to slidably hold submember 58. The submembers 56 and 58
may be
locked into an extended configuration by the fastener 90, as shown in Fig. 4.
[00571 The base
support member 50B may include plurality of submembers,
including a first submember 53 and a second submember 55 (as shown in Fig. 4).
The
submembers 53 and 55 may be telescopically joined, with the submember 53 being
configured to slidably hold submember 55. The submembers 53 and 55 may be
locked
into an extended configuration as shown in Fig. 4, by means of the fastener
90.
100581 The non-
removable hinged support member 80 may be connected by a hinge
mechanism 81 to the vertical support member 50 (e.g., slightly below the top
end of
support member 50). The hinged support member 80 may be configured to extend
16
CA 02882652 2015-02-20
WO 2014/070365
PCT/US2013/063270
diagonally downward and forward from the support bracket 70 (and support
member 50)
(as shown e.g., in Fig. 4). The hinge mechanism 81 may include, e.g., a pivot
hinge, a
pin, a rivet, a bolt-nut, a screw, or the like. Hinged support member 80 is
configured to
swing upward when the shelter 1 is erected and downward when the shelter 1 is
collapsed. The hinged support member 80 supports the cover 20 and eliminates
the need
for an additional support members extending diagonally upward and forward from
the
support bracket.
100591 The frame 5
of the shelter may be completed by adding the removable
spreader bars 60A, 60B, and 60C (as shown in Fig. 4). Spreader bars 60A and
60B are
each collapsible and adjustable as to length by means of a fastener 100 as
shown in Fig.
8. The fastener 100 may be the same as fastener 90. Spreader bar 60C, which is
non-
collapsible and therefore has a fixed length, extends diagonally downward and
rearward
from the top of vertical support member 50 to the junction of diagonal support
member
50 and spreader bar 60A. The spreader bars 60A, 60B, and 60C impart tension
between
the support members with which they interface, in order to keep the portable
shelter in
erected position and to prevent the cover 20 from sagging.
100601 Spreader bar
60A extends vertically upward from base 10 to the end of
diagonal support member 50 that is distal to support bracket 70. Spreader bar
60B
extends diagonally upward and to the rear from the front end of base support
member
50B to the front end of hinged support member 80, forming an acute angle with
the base
support member 50B and forming an obtuse angle with hinged support member 80.
Spreader bar 60B supports hinged support member 80 (as shown e.g., in Fig. 4),
17
CA 02882652 2015-02-20
WO 2014/070365
PCT/US2013/063270
[00611 The removable
spreader bar 60A may include a plurality of submembers,
including a first submember 62A and a second submember 64A (as shown in Fig.
4).
The submembers 62A and 64A may be telescopically joined, with the submember
62A
being configured to slidably hold submember 64A. The submembers 62A and 64A
may
be locked into an extend configuration as shown in Fig. 4, by means of the
fastener 90 (or
100).
[00621 Additionally,
the removable spreader bar 6013 may include a plurality of
submembers, including a first submember 6213 and a second submember 64B (as
shown
in Fig. 4). The submembcrs 6213 and 64B may be telescopically joined, with the
submember 62B being configured to slidably hold submember 64B. The submembers
62B and 64B may be locked into an extended configuration as shown in Fig. 4,
by means
of the fastener 90 (or 100).
100631 In order to
transport and store the portable shelter, spreader bars 60A, 60B,
and 60C are removed, and support members 50 and base support member 50B arc
folded
down into the collapsed position shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
[00641 While the
disclosure has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments,
those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure can be practiced
with
modifications in the spirit and scope of the appended claim, drawings and
attachment.
The examples provided herein are merely illustrative and are not meant to be
an
exhaustive list of all possible designs, embodiments, applications or
modifications of the
disclosure.
18
