AU2013101289A4 - A shelter - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract Disclosed herein is a shelter. Figure 1 17 15

Description

1 A SHELTER Technical field 5 The present invention generally but not exclusively relates to a shelter. Background Shelters are frequently used in parks and around buildings. While shelters have been evolving over hundreds of years, there have been long-standing deficiencies that have not been adequately, to the applicants knowledge, addressed. 0 For example, indoor furniture may be conveniently located adjacent lighting and power and so users using the indoor furniture can access these. Outdoor furniture at the shelter, however, may be remote of a convenient source of power, which may limit the usage of the outdoor furniture. Outdoor furniture is generally supported by legs that may interfere with the access to the furniture or provide discomfort to a user. 5 Summary According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a shelter comprising: a post; and a roof supported by the post. An embodiment comprises a tabletop supported by the post. The roof may be located over the 20 tabletop. In an embodiment, the roof comprises at least one photovoltaic device. The photovoltaic device may be attached to a roof framework. The roof framework may be attached to the post. The photovoltaic device may be at least one photovoltaic panel. The photovoltaic panel may be arranged to shelter the tabletop. The photovoltaic device may be electrically connected to an 25 electrical device at the table. The electrical device may be a lighting system arranged to illuminate the tabletop. The electrical device may be a power point. Generally, the electrical device may be any suitable electrical device. The provision of the electrical device may generally improve the usefulness of the shelter. For example, the lighting system may when in 2 use enable the user to better use the shelter at night. The need to connect the shelter to the grid and the expense of doing so is alleviated. Alternatively or additionally, the shelter may comprise electrical wire arranged to carry electrical power when generated by the photovoltaic device to a location remote of the tabletop. For 5 example, the electrical power may be carried by the electrical wire to a building, an example of which include but is not limited to a kiosk, cafe, outdoor swimming pool or public, and multi purpose facility. An embodiment comprises an electricity monitoring device in electrical communication with the at least one photovoltaic device. The electricity monitoring device may be an arranged to 0 monitor the electrical power generated by the at least one photovoltaic device. The electricity monitoring device may be fastened to the post. An embodiment comprises a spar having a proximal end at the post and a distal end that supports the roof. The proximal end may be attached to the post. Alternatively, the spar may pass through an aperture formed in the post and be supported by an interior post wall and aperture lip. 5 Additionally, the post may comprise a first tube having a first passage and the spar may comprise a second tube having a second passage. The first passage may be in communication with the second passage. At least a portion of an electrical cable may be housed by the first passage and the second passage. The electrical cable may be in electrical communication with the photovoltaic device. The electrical cable may be protected by at least one of the first tube 0 and the second tube. In an embodiment, the distal end may be higher than the proximal end. This may enable the spar to conveniently support the roof from below which is an elegantly simple design. The distal end may be attached to a central portion of the roof. This may improve the balance of the roof and reduce the generation of rotational forces that may otherwise require compensation. A brace 25 may extend between the post and the spar. The brace may strengthen the spar and may relax the strength of the attachment of the proximal end to the post. In an embodiment, the post is located outside of a perimeter of the tabletop. Another spar may be attached to the post, the other spar supporting the tabletop. The other spar may be the only spar supporting the table. There may be no legs supporting the table, which may allow freer 30 movement of a user's legs under the table. A further spar may be attached to the post and supporting a bench. The further spar may be the only spar supporting the bench. The bench may 3 be adjacent the table. The use of spars to support the tabletop and bench instead of legs may improve access to the table for a disabled or aged user, for example a user in a wheel chair. An embodiment comprises a communications portal. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a shelter comprising: 5 a tabletop; and at least one photovoltaic panel sheltering the tabletop. Any of the various features described herein, can be combined as suitable and desired. Brief description of the figures Embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the 0 accompanying figures in which: Figures 1 and 2 show perspective views of one embodiment of a shelter. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a shelter. Description of embodiments Figures 1 and 2 show perspective views of one embodiment of a shelter, generally indicated by 5 the numeral 10. In this embodiment, but not necessarily in all embodiments, the shelter is in the form of a picnic shelter at a public place, for example a park, or cafe. The shelter1O has a post 12 in the form of a metal tube that is vertically orientated. The metal tube is in this embodiment a square steel tube, however generally any suitable geometry - for example a round tube - and any suitable material - for example aluminium - may be used. A base 14 of the post 12 engages the 20 ground 16 that is, in this but not necessarily in all embodiments, in the form of a concrete slab set in earth. The base 14 in the illustrated but not all embodiments has a base plate 15 attached by gusset plates 17 to the post. The base plate 15 may have a plurality of apertures for the passage of fasteners in the form of bolts that may engage the concrete slab, for example. Alternatively, the base 14 may be set in concrete. 25 In this but not necessarily all embodiments, the post 12 supports a tabletop 18. In this embodiment, the post is a single post and bears all of the weight of the tabletop. The post 12 also supports a roof 19 located over the tabletop 18. The roof 19 provides shelter and/or shade for the tabletop 18 and people at the tabletop 18. The tabletop 18 may be in the form of, for example, a slab of recycled or virgin plastic, wood, aluminium or generally any suitable form.

4 The roof 19 may have any suitable construction. For example, in the illustrative embodiment, the roof 19 comprises a steel frame 25 supporting a photovoltaic device in the form of a photovoltaic panel 20 The photovoltaic panel 20 is attached to the steel frame 25. The photovoltaic panel 20 provides shade and shelter without the requirement of further roofing material, for example tiles 5 or corrugated steel sheets. This generally may simplify construction and reduce costs. In this embodiment, the photovoltaic panel covers the entire tabletop 18. Any suitable photovoltaic panel may be used, for example commercially available photovoltaic panels having either polycrystalline or single crystal silicon wafers, or organic solar cells. Some embodiments may have a plurality of photovoltaic devices attached to the roof 19. The 0 photovoltaic device receives sunlight and generates electrical power therefrom. In alternative embodiments, the roof 19 may comprise a plurality of lengths of wood or a plastic slab. The photovoltaic device 20 is in this embodiment is in electrical communication via an electrical cable to an electrical lighting system 21 at the underside of the roof 19. The lighting system 5 includes a light in the form of, for example, a LED light fitting or a fluorescent tube fitting located directly above the tabletop 18. The lighting system also includes a battery for storing the electrical power generated during the day for discharge during the evening and at night. The battery system may be separated from the lighting system. In another embodiment, there may not be a lighting system and the battery is in electrical communication with the photovoltaic device. 0 The photovoltaic device 20 is in communication via the batteries to an electrical power point 23 in the form of, for example, a USB port arranged to receive a cable connected to a mobile device (examples of which include but are not limited to a mobile phone and a tablet computer) requiring recharging. Any suitable plug and socket arrangement may be used however, for example 3.5 mm jacks, Samsung G600 female mobile connectors, or a variety of plugs or 25 sockets provided to suit a variety of devices. The photovoltaic device 19 may be, in some embodiments, directly connected to the power point. Any suitable connection and intervening electronics may be used. Alternatively or additionally, the photovoltaic device 20 may be connected via an electrical conduit in the form of an electrical cable that has a distal end remote of the tabletop 18. For example, the distal end of the electrical cable may terminate at a building 30 adjacent the shelter 10. The cable may be connected to the grid and the generated power feed into the grid. This may have environmental benefits. The photovoltaic device 20 may at least in part power the building. The proximal end of the cable may be connected to the photovoltaic panel. The cable may pass through the spar 22 and post 12 which are each a hollow tube. The 5 tubes may act as vandal resistant cable conduits. An electricity monitoring device 52 is mounted to the post 12. The electricity monitoring device 52 monitors the voltage and/or current produced by the photovoltaic panel 20. The electricity monitoring device 52 also generates electricity generated information indicative of the accumulated amount of electricity generated 5 by the photovoltaic panel 20. The device 52 is electrically connected to the cable passing through the post. The device 12 has a display that can display the voltage, current and the accumulated amount of electricity generated. The device 52 may be, for example, a Wattson Plus SOLAR MONITOR (from Multi-powered Products, a division of John Devitt & Associates Pty Ltd) adapted or suitably housed for the shelter, for example, or generally any suitable monitor. 0 Alternative embodiments have cable conduits external of the post 12 and spar 22. The cable may pass from the base 14 of the post 12 into the ground. The shelter 10 also has a communications portal 27. The communications portal may be fastened to or integrated with the post 12, tabletop 18 or generally any convenient location. In some embodiments, the communications portal comprises an intercom for emergency calls to security, 5 the police or other agencies. In some embodiments, the communications portal has a display and speaker for communicating public announcements and/or advertisements. In some embodiments, the communications portal enables the user to connect to the network or the internet via a data socket or wireless (eg. WiFi or bluetooth) aerial. The shelter1O has a spar 22. A proximal end of the spar 22 is welded to the post 12. The distal 0 end 26 of the spar 22 supports the roof 19. The distal end 26 is attached to a central portion 28 of the roof 12. The distal end 26 is higher than the proximal end 24 which enables the spar to elegantly support the roof 12. The post 12 is located outside the perimeter of the foot print of the tabletop 18. The footprint may be determined by, for example, tracing the perimeter of the tabletop 18 on the ground. 25 Another spar 30 attached to the post 12 supports the tabletop 18. A bench 32 adjacent the tabletop 18 is supported by yet another spar 34 attached to the post 12. The spar 34 extends, in this but not necessarily in all embodiments, the length of the underside of the bench 32. Another bench 36 is similarly supported. The bench 32 and other bench 36 may be in the form of, for example, a slab of recycled or virgin plastic, wood, aluminium or generally any suitable form. In 30 this embodiment, the photovoltaic panel has dimensions such that it covers the benches 32, 36 and tabletop 18.

6 Alternatively or additionally, the embodiment may be manufactured without the bench 32 and other bench 36 and be used to provide shelter only, for example in a car-park environment, or bus stop. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a shelter, generally indicated by the 5 numeral 50. Parts similar in form and/or function to those in figures 1 and 2 are similarly numbered. A brace in the form of a steel tube having a 1st end and a 2nd end extends between the post 12 and the spar 22. The 1st end is attached to the post 12, and the 2nd and is attached to the spar. Attachment may be by any suitable means including but not limited to welding, brackets, and fasteners. The brace may alternatively take the form of a rod or plate. Generally 0 any suitable brace may be used, for example a chain. Some embodiments may generate electricity from sunlight which may have environmental benefits. Variations and/or modifications may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention. For example, the shelter may not have a table and/or 5 benches. The shelter may be used, for example, to shelter a car that is parked beneath the roof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Prior art, if any, described herein is not to be taken as an admission that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction. 0 In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, that is to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. 25

Claims (5)

1. A shelter comprising: a post; and a roof supported by the post. 5

2. A shelter defined by claim 1 comprising a tabletop supported by the post, the roof is located over the tabletop, and the roof comprises at least one photovoltaic panel arranged to shelter the tabletop.

3. A shelter defined by either one of claim 1 and claim 2 comprising a spar having a proximal end attached to the post and a distal end that supports the roof. 0

4. A shelter defined by any one of the preceding claims wherein the post comprises a first tube having a first passage and the spar comprises a second tube having a second passage, the first passage being in communication with the second passage, and at least a portion of an electrical cable is housed by the first cable conduit and the second cable conduit.

5 5. A shelter defined by any one of the preceding claims wherein the distal end is higher than the proximal end and a brace extends between the post and the spar, the post is located outside of the perimeter of the tabletop, and comprising another spar attached to the post and that supports the tabletop. 20