Portable shelter

• US 9,683,386 B1
• Filed: 04/01/2016
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Larry B. Morrison
• Original Assignee: Larry B. Morrison
• Inventors: Morrison, Larry B.
• Primary Examiner(s): YIP, WINNIE S
• Application Number:
  US15/088,651
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 135121-122, 135141, 135157-158, 135114, 135117-119, 52 791, 52 796, 52 799, 521261, 521266, 525881, 52580, 52632, 52639, 446476, 446478, 446479, 446105
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/38 Connections for building structures in general
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 3/17 with non-parallel upper and lower edges, e.g. roof trusses
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 1/1205 Small buildings erected in the open air E04H1/1272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/54 Covers of tents or canopies
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/025 in the form of an overhead canopy, e.g. carports

Abstract

A portable and adjustable shelter for sheltering vehicles, cars, or goods or people is disclosed. The shelter includes a plurality of legs, each leg having a column base attached to a first column which is attached to a second column. The first column is vertically adjustable relative to the column base, enabling the height of the legs to be adjusted. The second column has a projection for attaching to a roof. The roof has a pair of truss assemblies each configured to attach two legs, and each having an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface defines a plurality of spaced apart receptacles sized to receive the projection of the second column to secure the roof to the legs at various positions, enabling the user to alter the width of the shelter.

Claims

1. A portable and adjustable shelter, comprising:

a plurality of legs, each leg having

a column base defining a lower surface for contacting an underlying surface, and an upper surface defining a cavity with a first surface feature therein,

a first column having a second surface feature configured to engage with the first surface feature within the cavity, wherein the second surface feature is adjustable relative to the first surface feature enabling the first column to be vertically adjusted relative to the column base, and

a second column configured to attach coaxially with the first column, the second column having a projection extending therefrom; and

a roof attached to the plurality of legs, the roof having a pair of truss assemblies configured to connect two of the legs, each truss assembly having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface of each truss assembly defining a plurality of spaced apart receptacles sized to receive the projection of the second column to secure the roof to the legs at various positions.

2. The portable and adjustable shelter of claim 1, wherein the column base includes an inner surface and an attachment rod selectively disposed therein, the attachment rod defining the first surface feature.

3. The portable and adjustable shelter of claim 1, wherein the first and second surface features are screw threads allowing the first column to be vertically adjusted relative to the column base to alter a height of the legs.

4. The portable and adjustable shelter of claim 1, wherein the column base defines an exterior surface, an interior surface, a hollow cavity, and an aperture extending through the exterior surface and interior surface to provide access to the hollow cavity for filling with a substance to increase weight of the leg.

5. The portable and adjustable shelter of claim 1, wherein the first column has an exterior surface that defines a pocket, and wherein the first column includes a handle sized to nest within the pocket and rotatably attached to the first column to facilitate vertical adjustment of the first column relative to the column base.

6. The portable and adjustable shelter of claim 1, wherein each truss assembly includes a middle truss body and a pair of end truss bodies attached on either side of the middle truss body.

7. The portable and adjustable shelter of claim 6, wherein the end truss bodies each include an inner end attachable to the middle truss body and an opposing outer end, the inner end defining a slot ending in a receptacle, and wherein the middle truss body includes a projection sized to be received within the slot and a projection sized to be received within the receptacle to interlock the middle truss body with the end truss bodies.

8. The portable and adjustable shelter of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of beam members spanning across and connecting the truss assemblies, wherein each truss assembly includes a plurality of notches extending from an upper surface and partially toward a lower surface thereof to receive the beam members.

9. The portable and adjustable shelter of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of each truss assembly defines a plurality of apertures formed therein and aligned along a line, wherein the portable and adjustable shelter further comprises a plurality of anchors affixed within the apertures.

10. The portable and adjustable shelter of claim 9, wherein each anchor includes an attachment portion sized to be received within one of the apertures, a boss extending from the attachment portion having a diameter exceeding a diameter of the one of the apertures, and a flange extending from the boss, wherein the flange is spaced from the truss assembly when the attachment portion is attached to the truss assembly in the one of the apertures.

11. The portable and adjustable shelter of claim 10, further comprising a fabric spanning over the truss assemblies and coupled to each anchor about at least a portion of the boss.

12. The portable and adjustable shelter of claim 1, wherein the column base, the first column, the second column, and the truss assemblies are made of plastic.

13. A portable and adjustable shelter, comprising:

a plurality of legs adjustable in height, a portion of the legs defining a hollow cavity covered by a plug to enable storage of a substance therein to add weight to the legs, the legs each having a projection at one end;

a pair of truss assemblies, each truss assembly connecting two of the legs along a length of the shelter, each truss assembly having a plurality of receptacles facing the legs and configured to receive the projection enabling the legs to connect to the truss assemblies at various distances apart, the truss assemblies having a plurality of notches formed therein;

a plurality of beam body members, each beam body member connecting to both truss assemblies within two of the notches; and

a fabric covering the beam body members and at least a portion of the truss assemblies.

14. The portable and adjustable shelter of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of anchors attached to the truss assemblies and defining an attachment surface for securing the fabric.

15. The portable and adjustable shelter of claim 14, further comprising a cord connecting the fabric to one or more of the anchors.

16. The portable and adjustable shelter of claim 13, wherein the fabric defines a vent hole and the portable and adjustable shelter further includes a vent cover covering the vent hole.

17. The portable and adjustable shelter of claim 16, wherein the vent cover is directly affixed to the fabric at a first end thereof, and is indirectly affixed to the fabric at a second end thereof via cords to allow the vent cover to open and close at the second end.

18. The portable and adjustable shelter of claim 13, further comprising a pair of column beams attaching two of the legs along a width of the shelter, the column beams having projections that are received within apertures in the legs.

19. The portable and adjustable shelter of claim 18, wherein the column beams each include a groove formed therein along a length of the column beam, the portable and adjustable shelter further including one or more curtains attached within the grooves of the column beams.

20. The portable and adjustable shelter of claim 13, further comprising a placement pattern configured to be placed on an underlying surface, the placement pattern having a plurality of cut-outs along a length thereof, each cut-out aligned with one of the receptacles of one of the truss assemblies when the placement pattern is on the underlying surface to provide a user with a template for locating the legs at various distances from one another.