Shelter structure, in particular for a load deck, such as a platform of a truck, a trailer, or the like, and a shelter incorporating such a structure

A structure (2) for sheltering a surface (3), said structure (2) comprising:

• a plurality of parallel arches (5) each made up of facing uprights (6) connected together by a cross-member (7), said arches (5) being suitable for supporting at least one tarpaulin type covering element (4) and being movable along a guide path (8) towards and away from one another between i) a deployed position for forming a shelter for said surface (3), and ii) a more compact folded position for releasing at least a portion of said surface (3);
• connection means (9) between the facing uprights (6) of two adjacent arches (5), at least a portion of said connection means (9) being mounted to be movable in a direction that extends transversely to the travel plane of the uprights (6) when the structure (2) is passing between the folded position and the deployed position;
• and
• a plurality of spreaders (10), each spreader (10) being connected to an arch (5) by a hinged connection (11) to pass from the folded position, in which the spreader extends against said arch (5), to the deployed position, in which the spreader forms an additional cross-member, and vice versa,
• wherein for at least one spreader (10), the hinge connection (11) between the spreader (10) and the arch (5) is at least a pivotal connection of the spreader (10) about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cross-member (7) of said arch (5) and a sliding connection of the spreader (10) along an upright (6) of the arch (5).