Frameless shelter for sunlit enclosures such as greenhouses, solariums and pool shelters

Abstract

A frameless shelter is disclosed constructed of a plurality of spherically shaped panel sections having the same radius of curvature and fabricated from a sunlight transmitting plastic adapted to be assembled together to form a dome structure. The panel sections are formed with U-shaped channel edges adapted to nest together with the contiguous edges of adjacent panels so as to provide vertically extending stiffener ribs so that a separate frame is not required, and at the same time act as locating means for the panels so that the dome may be readily assembled. The edges of the lowermost tier of panels rest in a channel support extending about the periphery thereof and resting on footings at ground level or on a wall structure extending above the ground. A center pole reinforcement is also included which also provides an electrical conduit for an electrically operated exhaust fan which may be included. An access door is formed by a spherically shaped door panel mounted within a frame lining a complementarily shaped opening in one of the lower tier panel sections, with the door being disclosed as of two piece or "dutch door" construction to allow ventilation by opening of the top half. Variations disclosed are a half dome construction adapted for installations against existing buildings and an elongated or extended version in which half dome sections are connected with a semi-cylindrical middle section. Also disclosed is a floating pool shelter in which the dome structure is mounted on a flotation ring providing sufficient buoyancy to support the dome so as to allow the dome to be floated on a pool surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.