AU2020100795A4

AU2020100795A4 - A portable shelter

Info

Publication number: AU2020100795A4
Application number: AU2020100795A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mark Andrew Fraser
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-12-01
Filing date: 2020-05-20
Publication date: 2020-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 2023-12-01
Also published as: AU2017101610B4; AU2017101610A4; AU2018100606A4; AU2018100606B4; AU2015264785A1; AU2017101610C4; AU2015264785B2; AU2020100795B4; AU2019100833A4; AU2018101518A4

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable shelter assembly. The assembly includes a support and an expandable shelter for being supported by the support. A runner is provided for running along the support to expand the shelter to be quadrilateral-shaped so as to shelter at least one person. Anchors are provided for anchoring the shelter and including respective receptacles for receiving material. 0f

Description

A PORTABLE SHELTER

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable shelter. The present invention has particular, although not exclusive application to beach shelters and other like outdoor shelters.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0003] Skin cancer and other skin damage from the sun is increasing at alarming rate. In order to order to minimize skin damage, beach goers can bring beach umbrellas to the beach. The umbrellas may be jammed into the sand and expanded to provide shelter to a beach goer.

[0004] Hoverer, in practice, beach umbrellas are prone to blow away in the wind. Accordingly, the canopy of a beach umbrella is often rested on the sand to stabilize the umbrella. Resting the umbrella in this manner undesirably results in the beach goer needing to crouch awkwardly beneath the umbrella and generally provides only partial sun protection as part of the beach goer is exposed.

[0005] Other types of shelter are also known. A semi-enclosed expandable shelter has flexible ribs that extend to ground level to tension the shelter. These shelters undesirably lack air flow and adequate height to provide suitable ventilation and cooling for their occupants and can be difficult to foldaway.

[0006] Large “scissor” action shelter have extendable legs requiring two or more people to erect. These shelters are difficult to easily transport to and from the beach.

[0007] A known shelter is reliant upon the wind to be kept open to provide adequate room for it’s occupants. Often, there is not enough wind to keep these shelters open enough with the outcome that beach goers do not stay long, do not enjoy their time at

2020100795 20 May 2020 the beach or simply do not use any shelter thereby increasing their susceptibility to skin cancers.

[0008] The preferred embodiment provides an improved shelter for beach goers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable shelter assembly including:

a sole central upright support for extending from the ground;

an expandable shelter for being supported by the support;

a runner for running along the support to expand the shelter to be quadrilateralshaped and so as to shelter at least one person;

strip anchors separated with respect to each other for extending down from and anchoring the shelter, and including respective receptacles for receiving material; and at least one expandable rib extending from the support.

[00010] Preferably, the expanded quadrilateral-shaped shelter is square-shaped.

Even more preferably, the square-shaped shelter is expanded to be at least 1.7 meters long x 1.7 meters wide.

[00011] Preferably, the portable shelter assembly further includes:

a lock for locking the at least one expandable rib when the shelter is in the expanded configuration.

[00012] Preferably, the at least one expandable rib is a telescopic rib.

[00013] The anchors may define two or more separate access spaces. The anchors may define four access spaces on each side of the shelter to provide entry into the shelter from any side.

[00014] Advantageously, the anchors may anchor the shelter to impede the assembly from being blown away in the wind. Typically, the shelter assembly is erected by a single person and provides excellent ventilation.

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[00015] The receptacles may include sheet material. The anchors may include respective strips extending from a periphery of the shelter. The strips may include sheet material. The strips may include corner strips. One or more of the strips may include respective interior pockets.

[00016] The support may include a spike for spiking into the ground (e.g. sand or grass). The support may include a pole for releasably fastening to the spike which may also act as a hammer to hammer the said spike(s) into sand or grass.

[00017] The shelter may be expanded in two steps, namely: a first step for opening the shelter and a second step for tightening the shelter. The expandable shelter may include a canopy. The canopy may include a sheet of material. The shelter may include ribs supporting the canopy. In one embodiment the ribs are axially expandable to tighten the canopy. Each rib may include a lock for locking the rib in an expanded configuration. In another embodiment, the ribs are pivotally expandable to extend and possibly tighten the canopy. Each rib may include a restraint for restraining pivoting. The shelter may include stretchers for expanding the ribs from the support. The runner may run along the support to actuate the stretchers. The shelter may include a lock for locking the runner in place when the shelter is expanded.

[00018] The shelter assembly may be collapsed to be stowed in a carry-bag. The shelter may be square and expanded to be at least 1,7m long x 1,7m wide. The assembled shelter may be of sufficient height to accommodate a standing person. The ribs or support may include lightweight, resilient tubes (e.g. aluminium or fibre reinforced material).

[00019] A method is described for assembling a portable shelter assembly, the method including:

erecting a support;

supporting an expandable shelter with the support;

anchoring the shelter; and expanding the shelter by running a runner along the support to shelter at least one person.

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[00020] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00021] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

[00022] Figure 1 is a lower perspective view of an assembled portable beach shelter assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[00023] Figure 2 is an exploded side view of the unassembled portable beach shelter assembly of Figure 1;

[00024] Figure 3 is a close-up perspective view of a rib of the beach shelter assembly of Figure 1;

[00025] Figure 4 is a close-up perspective view of an alternative rib of the beach shelter assembly of Figure 1;

[00026] Figure 5 is an upper perspective view of a beach shelter frame including the ribs of Figure 4; and

[00027] Figure 6 is an upper perspective view of beach shelter frame including the ribs of Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[00028] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a portable beach shelter assembly 100 as shown in Figure 1. The shelter assembly 100 includes a vertical and central support 102. An expandable shelter 104 is supported by the support 102 and expands to shelter a person from the sun. Four corner anchors 106 are provided for anchoring the shelter 104 to the ground. The anchors 106 define four

2020100795 20 May 2020 respective and separate access spaces to provide entry into the shelter 104 from any of the four sides. Each access space is substantially greater in area than the anchors 106 to advantageously capture the view and breezes. Advantageously, shelter assembly 100 is wind resistant whereby the anchors anchor the shelter 104 to impede the assembly 100 from being blown away. The assembly 100 is erected by a single person and provides excellent ventilation.

[00029] The anchors 106 include base pocket receptacles 108 for receiving sand, water bottles, rocks or other like anchoring materials. The receptacles 108 are formed from stitched sheet or other material. The anchors 106 also include respective corner strips 110 extending from a corner periphery of the shelter 104 to the ground. One or more of the strips 110 may include interior storage pockets 112.

[00030] Turning to Figure 2, the support 102 includes a spike 200 for spiking into the sand (e.g. ground). The support 102 also includes a tubular hammer pole 202 for releasably receiving the spike 200. In turn, the pole 202 couples to a tubular vertical pole 204 of the shelter 104.

[00031] The expandable shelter 104 includes attached canopy 206 formed from a sheet of material. The shelter 104 includes four ribs 208 supporting the canopy 206 and pivotally anchored at a crown 209. The shelter 104 also includes stretchers 212 for expanding the ribs 208 from the support 102. A runner 210 is provided for running along the support 102 to actuate the stretchers 212. The shelter 104 may include a lock for locking the runner 210 in place when the shelter 104 is expanded.

[00032] The shelter assembly 100 can be collapsed to be conveniently stowed in a carry-bag carried by one person. The shelter 100 is generally square (Fig. 1) and expanded to be at least 1.8 metres long x 1.8 metres wide, or other larger or smaller dimension as required. The assembled shelter 100 may be of sufficient height to accommodate a standing person. The ribs 208 and support 102 include lightweight, resilient tubes (e.g. aluminium) to facilitate easy handling by the single user that can conveniently erect and collapse the assembly 100.

[00033] The shelter 104 is initially expanded using the runner 210, and then further expanded to tighten the canopy 206 using the ribs 208. Figure 3 shows a telescopic rib 208 which can be axially expanded to tighten the canopy 208. Each rib 208 includes a

2020100795 20 May 2020 lock 300 or a ratchet type lock for locking the rib 208 in an expanded configuration. The lock 300 includes a spring-biased pushbutton 302 that protrudes through adjustment holes 303 in both sliding stems 304, 306 to lock the stems 304, 306 together. Figure 6 shows the beach shelter frame including the ribs 208 of Figure 3.

[00034] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 4, the ribs 208 can be pivotally expandable to tighten the canopy 206. In this manner a top stem 400 of the rib 208 pivots downwardly to align with the level stem 402 during tightening of the canopy 206. Each rib 208 may include a mechanical restraint for restraining pivoting downwardly beyond 180° so that the erected rib 208 is substantially straight. Figure 5 shows the beach shelter frame including the ribs 208 of Figure 4.

[00035] A method for assembling the portable shelter assembly 100 is now briefly described.

[00036] Initially, a storage bag axially slips of off the compacted shelter assembly 100.

[00037] Next, the method involves erecting the support 102. The spike 200 slides into the pole 202. The spike 200 is then hammered into the sand by forcing the pole 202 up and down.

[00038] Next, the expandable shelter 104 is supported by the support 102. The vertical pole 204 of the shelter 104 slides onto the lower pole 202.

[00039] Next, the anchor receptacles 108 are filled with sand to anchor the shelter 104.

[00040] Next, the shelter 104 is expanded in two easy steps to shelter up to two people comfortably, namely: a first step for opening the shelter 104 and a second step for tightening the shelter 104. Firstly, the runner 210 is run up the vertical pole 204 to expand the ribs 208 supporting the canopy 206. Secondly, the ribs 208 are expanded to tighten the canopy 206. Both the runner 210 and the ribs 208 may be locked in place.

[00041] Once the day is done, the portable assembly 100 may be conveniently unassembled and returned to its storage bag.

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[00042] A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention.

[00043] In one embodiment, the anchors 106 may include pegs for pegging to hard ground (e,g. grass).

[00044] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

[00045] Reference throughout this specification to One embodiment’ or ‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A portable shelter assembly including:

a sole central upright support for extending from the ground;

an expandable shelter for being supported by the support;

a runner for running along the support to expand the shelter to be quadrilateralshaped and so as to shelter at least one person;

strip anchors separated with respect to each other for extending down from and anchoring the shelter, and including respective receptacles for receiving material; and at least one extendable rib extending from the support.
2. A shelter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portable shelter assembly further includes:

a lock for locking the at least one extendable rib when the shelter is in an expanded configuration.
3. A shelter assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one extendable rib is pivotally expandable.
4. A shelter assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one extendable rib is a telescopic rib.
5. A shelter assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the portable shelter assembly further includes a lock for locking for the runner when the shelter is in an expanded configuration.