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US 8,622,066 B2Granted
Portable expandable shelter
AssigneeBerg Companies, Inc.
InventorsCraig G. Dolsby, Andrew N. Barrett, Doug W. Combs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one example, a portable expandable shelter includes an enclosure with one or more movable portions such as a side or end, and further includes a foldable frame configured and arranged for operation in unison with movement of the movable portion of the enclosure. This example of the portable expandable shelter also includes a cover that encloses at least a portion of a space defined by the movable portion and the foldable frame.
Claims25
A portable expandable shelter, comprising:
- an enclosure having a fixed portion and a movable portion that comprises one or more of a side and an end of the enclosure, the movable portion of the enclosure being movable between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position;
- a flexible cover connected to the enclosure such that while changing the movable portion between the substantially vertical position and the substantially horizontal position the flexible cover remains attached to the enclosure;
- a rigid, load bearing, foldable frame to which the flexible cover is connected, the rigid, load bearing, foldable frame being connected to the movable portion and to the fixed portion of the enclosure in both the substantially vertical position and the substantially horizontal position, and the rigid, load bearing, foldable frame changing between a stowed position and a deployed position in response to the movable portion of the enclosure changing between the substantially vertical position and the substantially horizontal position such that the flexible cover comprises a top portion of an additional volume of the shelter and encloses the additional volume when the foldable frame is in the deployed position, and
- wherein:
- the rigid, load bearing, foldable frame comprises a first frame element and a second frame element;
- the first frame element hingedly folds onto the second frame element when in the stowed position;
- and
- the rigidity of the foldable frame provides load bearing support to the movable portion when the movable portion is in the substantially horizontal position.
5 more elements
A portable expandable shelter, comprising:
- an enclosure that defines an interior and includes a top, bottom, two sides and two ends, each of the sides and ends comprising a movable portion of the enclosure, each of the movable portions of the enclosure being movable between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position, each of the movable portions corresponding to:
- a flexible cover connected to the enclosure and at least partially defining a doorway;
- a foldable frame to which the flexible cover is connected, the foldable frame being connected to the corresponding movable portion and to the enclosure, and the foldable frame being configured to move between a stowed position and a deployed position in response to movement of the corresponding movable portion between the substantially vertical position and the substantially horizontal position, and the foldable frame provides rigid load bearing support and retains the corresponding movable portion when the corresponding movable portion is in the substantially horizontal position;
- and
- wherein:
- the foldable frame comprises a first frame element and a second frame element;
- and
- the first frame element is configured to hingedly fold relative to the second frame element when in a stowed position.
5 more elements
A portable expandable shelter, comprising:
- an enclosure that defines an interior and includes a top, a bottom, two ends and two sides, at least one of the sides or ends comprising a movable portion of the enclosure, the movable portion of the enclosure being movable between a substantially vertical position in which the interior has a volume and a substantially horizontal position in which the interior has an auxiliary volume;
- a flexible cover connectible to the enclosure and defining and enclosing the auxiliary volume of the interior when the movable portion is in the substantially horizontal position;
- and
- a load bearing, foldable frame to which the flexible cover is connectible, the load bearing, foldable frame connectible at least indirectly to the movable portion and to the enclosure, and the load bearing, foldable frame being configured so that, when connected to the enclosure and the movable portion, the load bearing, foldable frame is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position in response to respective corresponding movements of the movable portion, and the load bearing, foldable frame supporting the movable portion from above when connected to the movable portion and the movable portion is in the substantially horizontal position;
- and wherein:
- the load bearing, foldable frame provides rigid load bearing support to the movable portion in the substantially horizontal position;
- the load bearing, foldable frame comprises a first frame element and a second frame element;
- and
- the first frame element hingedly couples to the second frame element.
6 more elements
A portable expandable shelter, comprising:
- an enclosure that defines an interior volume and includes a top, a bottom, two ends and two sides, one of the ends being rotatably connected to the enclosure and movable between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position;
- a flexible cover connected to the enclosure;
- and
- a foldable frame connected to the flexible cover, the foldable frame connected to the rotatable end and also connected to the enclosure at one or more locations, the foldable frame being configured to move between a stowed position and a deployed position in unison with respective corresponding movements of the rotatable end such that, as a result of movement of the rotatable end from the substantially vertical position to the substantially horizontal position, the foldable frame moves from the stowed position to the deployed position, wherein in the deployed position, the flexible cover forms a portion of the top, substantially enclosing an expansion to the interior volume collectively defined by the flexible cover and the rotatable end, and wherein when the rotatable end moves from the substantially horizontal position to the substantially vertical position, the foldable frame folds in unison with the rotatable end from the deployed position to the stowed position;
- and
- wherein:
- the foldable frame provides load bearing support in the deployed position;
- the foldable frame comprises a first frame element hingedly connected to a second frame element;
- and
- the first frame element folds relative to the second frame element when in the stowed position.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.