Portable shelter assemblies
OwnerTheodore R. Zeiglerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable shelter framework is formed by a series of end-interconnected modules, each defining a separate arch portion of the framework extending in different directions relative to each other. Each module is formed of elongate struts capable of being expanded into arched three dimensional form and collapsed into bundled form.
Claims41
In a portable shelter framework formed of elongate struts and which is capable of being expanded into arched three dimensional form and collapsed into bundled form, the combination of a plurality of series of end-interconnected modules each defining a separate arch portion of the framework, said arch portions extending in different directions relative to each other.
In a portable shelter framework comprised of a plurality of expanded, three dimensional modules distributed throughout the framework, each module including crossed pairs of elongate struts and pivot means pivotally joining said struts for allowing said modules to be manipulated between expanded, three dimensional form and strut-bundled form, the combination of a plurality of series of end-interconnected modules each defining an arch portion of the framework, the modules of each arch portion being bounded on opposite sides of the arch by crossed, pivotally connected pairs of struts and each arch portion including at least one transition module which when expanded defines rectilinear inner and outer faces of the arch portion in which the rectilinear inner face is of lesser area than that of said rectilinear outer face.
In a portable shelter framework said one module of said series being vertically disposed to present an end thereof disposed in a definite supporting position relative to the expanded framework, and said modules including crossed, pivotally connected struts and hub means pivotally joining ends of said pairs of struts for allowing collapse and expansion of said framework by extending said one module of said series of modules outwardly beyond said supporting position thereof.
In a portable shelter framework formed of elongate struts and which is capable of being expanded into three dimensional form and collapsed into bundled form in which struts are disposed in closely spaced, generally parallel relation, the combination of a series of end-interconnected modules defining an arch portion of the framework, the modules comprising said series of modules including at least one first module which when expanded defines inner and outer faces of the arch portion which are of the same rectangular area and at least one second module which when expanded defines inner and outer rectangular faces of the arch which are of areas different from each other, said first module defining inner and outer faces of said arch portion which are square.
In a portable shelter framework formed of elongate struts and which is capable of being expanded into three dimensional form and collapsed into bundled form in which struts are disposed in closely spaced, generally parallel relation, the combination of a series of end-interconnected modules defining an arch portion of the framework, the modules comprising said series of modules including at least one first module which when expanded defines inner and outer faces of the arch portion which are of the same rectangular area and at least one second module which when expanded defines inner and outer rectangular faces of the arch which are of areas different from each other, said first and second modules are circumscribed by pairs of crossed, pivotally connected struts.
A framework for a portable shelter, said framework comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected elongate struts capable of relative movement between an expanded condition defining a three dimensional framework and a collapsed condition defining bundled struts, said struts forming a plurality of strings of modules, each string of modules defining an arch portion of the framework, each arch portion having a foot adapted to rest upon a support surface upon which said three dimensional framework may stand, said feet being disposed in different positions in peripherally spaced relation to each other to define a supporting base periphery of the three dimensional framework, each module being of three dimensional form when the framework is expanded and each module including opposite ends each formed by a pair of crossed, pivotally connected struts and opposite sides each formed by a pair of crossed, pivotally connected struts, and hub means pivotally joining adjacent ends of each pairs of struts.
An expandable/collapsible framework for a portable shelter, said framework comprising a plurality of pairs of crossed, pivotally connected elongate struts and hub means pivotally connecting said pairs of struts in orthogonally patterned end-to-end relation to define a plurality of modules each expandable to three dimensional form and collapsible into a bundle of generally parallel struts, each module being bounded by opposite parallel sides and opposite ends in which a pair of said crossed, pivotally connected struts defines each of said opposite ends and each of said opposite sides, said framework when expanded having a base adapted to rest upon a supporting surface, an elevated top portion and a plurality of independently movable arch portions joined only to said top portion and extending archwise downwardly therefrom to define a plurality of independently movable arches terminating in supporting leg modules disposed in supporting leg positions in peripherally spaced relation around said base of the expanded framework, each arch portion comprising at least a string of said modules sharing common ends and corresponding common hub means and said strings being disposed such that the respective opposite sides of the modules of each string are disposed in planes which intersect the planes in which the opposite sides of the modules of the respective other strings lie whereby the framework is moveable between its collapsed and expanded conditions by moving said supporting leg modules outwardly beyond their supporting leg positions and then back to their supporting leg positions, and means for holding said framework in expanded condition.
In a collapsible/expandable framework comprised of a plurality of joined modules and having a base and a rectangular top region in the expanded condition, the combination of module means defining a plurality of separations from said base to corners of said top region.
An expandable/collapsible framework for a portable shelter, said framework comprising a plurality of modules each expandable to three dimensional form and collapsible into a bundle;
- each module comprising pairs of crossed, elongate struts, pivot means for pivotally connecting the struts of each crossed pair thereof in scissors-like fashion, and hub means pivotally connecting the opposite ends of each strut of each pair thereof to corresponding ends of individual struts of adjacent pairs thereof for allowing each module to be manipulated between a collapsed condition in which all of the struts of the module are in bundled, generally parallel relation and an expanded condition in which said pairs of struts are in patterned end-to-end relation;
- said framework when expanded having an elevated, horizontally disposed top portion and a plurality of supporting leg portions which are joined to said top portion, extend downwardly therefrom and are spaced from each other;
- said elevated, horizontally disposed top portion comprising a first plurality of said modules of the framework which share common struts and corresponding common hub means;
- each supporting leg portion comprising at least a vertically extending string of a further plurality of said modules of the framework which share common ends and corresponding common hub means.
An expandable/collapsible framework for a portable shelter, said framework comprising a plurality of modules each expandable to three dimensional form and collapsible into a bundle;
- each module comprising four pairs of crossed, elongate struts in which all of such struts are of the same length, pivot means for pivotally connecting the struts of each crossed pair thereof in scissors-like fashion, and hub means pivotally connecting the opposite ends of each struts of each pair thereof to corresponding ends of individual struts of adjacent pairs thereof for allowing each module to be manipulated between collapsed condition in which all of the struts of the module are in bundled, generally parallel relation and expanded condition in which said four pairs of struts are in orthogonally patterned end-to-end relation with each module being bounded by opposite parallel sides and opposite ends in each of which sides and ends a pair of said crossed, pivotally connected struts defines a corresponding one of said opposite ends and of said opposite sides, a first type of said modules having those struts which bound its opposite sides and its opposite ends pivotally scissored about their mid points and a second type of said modules having those struts which bound its opposite ends pivotally scissored about their mid points and the pairs of struts which bound its opposite sides pivotally scissored in offset relation to their mid points;
- said framework when expanded having an elevated, horizontally disposed top portion and a plurality of supporting leg portions joined to said top portion and extending downwardly therefrom;
- said elevated, horizontally disposed top portion comprising a plurality of modules of both said first and said second types thereof;
- and
- each supporting leg portion comprising at least a vertically extending string of modules of both the first and second types thereof with the upper end of that module at the upper end of the string sharing common struts and corresponding common hub means with one module of said top portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.