Portable shelter

Abstract

A portable shelter has slidably mounted near the top of a center pole a dome-shaped ventilator cap while below the ventilator cap is mounted a circular header from which hingeably extend a plurality of outer ribs. Below the circular header there is slidably mounted on the center pole a collar which carries the first ends of a plurality of expansion ribs whose other ends are connected to intermediate points of the outer ribs. The bottom end of the center pole is connected to a circular floor whose outer periphery has means for engaging the free ends of the outer ribs. Covering the skeleton formed by the outer ribs is a pliant material.

Description

This invention pertains to shelters and, more particularly, to easily assembled portable shelters.

As more and more people participate in outdoor recreation the demand for temporary portable shelters has increased. People would like a shelter which is easily packed in a car and taken to a beach or camping site. Upon arrival the shelter must be easy to unload and assemble. In addition, there is the need for portable shelters in times of emergency resulting from calamities such as floods or hurricanes where such shelters can be used for housing, first-aid stations, and storage for food, medicines and the like.

BACKGROUND

While there are shelters available to satisfy such needs, many are too heavy and complicated to be versatile.

THE INVENTION

It is accordingly a general object of the invention to provide a versatile portable shelter which is easy to erect. In addition, while the shelter according to the invention is portable and versatile, it has the simplicity and durability expected by the average user and at a reasonable cost.

These and other objects of the invention along with its features and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawing which show, by way of example, and not limitation, the presently contemplated preferred embodiment of the invention.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shelter with the ventilator closed;

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the floor;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a section of the folded floor;

FIG. 4 is a partial elevation section view of the shelter with the ventilator open;

FIG. 5 is an elevation section view of the collapsed wall portion (floor not shown) with the ventilator lowered;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section view of the upper portion of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section view of the lower portion of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The portable shelter shown primarily in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 includes a hollow center pole 10 having near its top a dome-shaped ventilator cap 12 of rigid material. The cap 12 is controllably movable up and down along the center pole 10 through the agency of control rod 14 (See also FIG. 6). Cap 12 is mounted on sleeve 16 which is connected via arm 18 to rod 14. Note arm 18 passes through a first or upper slot 20 extending axially along pole 10. The other end of control rod 14 has an arm 22 which extends through a second or lower slot 58 (See FIG. 7) of center pole 10. Thus, an up and down movement of arm 22 by a user is translated into a movement which raises or lowers cap 12.

Rigidly fixed below cap 12 is an umbrella housing depending from a circular header 24 to which are hingeably connected flexible outer ribs 26. (See primarily FIGS. 4, 5 and 6). Covering the skeleton formed by ribs 26 is a housing of pliant material 28. The material extends from a free end 30 to a point 32 near the hinge connection of each rib 26. It should be noted that the housing does not completely cover the top end of the ribs so that there can be a free passage of air from within the housing to the inside of cap 12 and from there to the outside of the shelter as is indicated by arrows 34 in FIG. 4.

As can be seen best in FIGS. 4 and 5, a slidable collar 36 hingedly carries the first ends of expansion ribs 38 which are connected to pivot devices 40 fixed on ribs 26. Thus, as collar 36 is moved up and down the outer ribs are spread or closed in an umbrella-like manner.

The bottom of center pole 10 is connected via a base 42 which can be bolted to circular floor 46 by means of bolts 44. The peripheral edge of floor 46 is provided with devices 48 to engage the ends 30 or ribs 26. For the sake or portability, floor 46 is divided into foldable sections. A typical section 46A is shown in FIG. 3.

Finally, there is provided a circular table 50 resting on collar 52 about center pole 10. Extending from collar 52 are struts 54 whose other ends are bolted to floor 46 by means of bolts 56. Thus, struts 54 perform the dual function of supporting table 50 and center pole 10.

In order to assemble the shelter, one first lays out floor 46. Then the housing as shown in FIG. 5 is opened and connected to floor 46. When the housing is opened there is exposed framed doorway 60 in the material 28.

There has thus been shown in improved portable housing which is easily and quickly assembled.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certain now preferred examples and embodiments of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A portable shelter comprising a center pole, said center pole being provided with a slot extending along its length, a circular header fixed to said center pole, a plurality of outer ribs hingeably extending from said circular header, a first collar slidably movable along said center pole below said circular header, a plurality of expansion ribs hingeably extending from said collar, the other end of each of said expansion ribs being connected to a different one of said outer ribs, a pliant covering over said outer ribs and connected to the ends of said outer ribs; a dome-shaped ventilator cap, a second slidable collar connecting said dome-shaped ventilator cap to said center pole near the top thereof, a rod within said center pole having one end connected via said slot to said second slidable collar and a second end remote therefrom having an extension passing through said slot so that movement of said extension in the direction of the axis of said center pole raises or lowers said dome-shaped ventilator cap; a circular floor, means at the center of said circular floor for supporting said center pole in an upright position, and means disposed along the periphery of said circular floor for engaging the ends of said outer ribs remote from said circular header.

2. The portable shelter of claim 1 wherein said circular floor comprises a plurality of foldable sections.

3. The portable shelter of claim 2 further comprising a circular table mounted on said center pole with struts extending from the connection of said table to said center pole to the circular floor.