T-pole support for fabric structure

A fabric structure adapted to be erected on a support surface to provide shelter, said fabric structure comprising:

• a) a plurality of side poles in spaced-apart relationship, said side poles extending vertically from a support surface;
• b) a fabric membrane operatively connected to and extending between said plurality of side poles, said fabric membrane including a plurality of fabric segments sewn together along a longitudinal center seam to provide an inwardly curved gore for expanding said fabric membrane as tension on said fabric membrane is increased, said fabric membrane including at least one longitudinal pocket area formed along a segment of the center seam in said fabric membrane, the pocket area being defined by a pair of opposing fabric segments sewn together to form the center seam segment and by a fabric convergence point at an end of the center seam segment;
• and
• c) at least one T-shaped center pole, said center pole including an elongate pole body and a head member transversely welded to a top end of the pole body, said center pole being positioned under a bottom surface of said membrane and extending generally vertically from the support surface such that the head member is positioned longitudinally in the pocket area and slidingly engages the pocket area, whereby said center pole is retained in the vertical position and the tension forces are distributed over said fabric membrane.