Foldable shelter

• US 4,930,534 A
• Filed: 07/14/1988
• Issued: 06/05/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter M. Hill
• Original Assignee: Peter M. Hill
• Inventors: Hill, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dennison, Caroline D.
• Application Number:
  US07/219,099
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 135/102, 135/104, 135/106, 135/109, 135/117, 135/900
• US Class Current: 135/136
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/003 Bathing or beach cabins

Abstract

A foldable shelter having a frame that is comprised solely of a foldable arch and a pair of struts that are detachably connected to the arch and receive pockets of a flexible covering that is affixed to the arch so as to provide form for the shelter when erected.

Claims

1. A foldable shelter consisting of a frame consisting of an arch including a bridge portion extending substantially horizontally when said shelter is erected and a pair of leg portions one at each end of said arch and forming with said bridge a generally inverted U-shaped opening when erected, a flexible covering attached to said arch and arranged to extend to one side of said arch and having a bottom edge positioned adjacent the ground when erected, and a pair of struts each extending from and affixed to said bridge portion of said arch to a respective bottom edge of said covering and being flexed by a tensile member connected between the bridge portion of the arch and the bottom edge of the covering, the struts cooperating with said flexible covering to maintain said covering in a state of tension when the shelter is in an erected condition and to give form and shape to said covering, for providing a sheltered area, said arch and said struts consisting of the sole support for said covering.

2. A foldable shelter according to claim 1 wherein said flexible covering includes a pair of side sections fixed at one end respective of said leg portions and a rear section extending between the other end of said sections and meeting said side sections at respective junctions which extend between said arch and the bottom edge of said covering and wherein the respective struts are affixed.

3. A foldable shelter according to claim 2 wherein said strut means comprises two struts each extending from said arch member to the respective junctions between said end and side sections of the covering.

4. A foldable shelter according to claim 3 wherein said struts are in comparison when the shelter is in the erected condition and deflect laterally to give form and shape to the covering.

5. A foldable shelter according to claim 3 wherein said arch member includes means for detachably securing said struts to said arch member.

6. A foldable shelter according to claim 5 wherein said securing means comprises respective recesses provided in said arch to receive corresponding ends of said struts.

7. A foldable shelter according to claim 3 wherein means are provided for detachably securing said struts to the flexible covering.

8. A foldable shelter according to claim 7 wherein said securing means comprises pockets provided on the flexible covering to receive the struts.

9. A foldable shelter according to claim 1 wherein a skirt portion is provided at the bottom edge of said flexible covering which lays on the ground in use.

10. A foldable shelter according to claim 1 wherein said flexible covering is perforated for ventilating said sheltered area.

11. A foldable shelter according to claim 1 wherein said arch is foldable.

12. A foldable shelter according to claim 11 wherein said arch comprises an elongated member which provides said bridge portion and the pair of legs are pivotally connected one to each end of said elongated member.

13. A foldable shelter according to claim 12 wherein said legs are provided with means for releasably and positively engaging the ground.