CA2082465C - Covered frame shelter and method of erection - Google Patents

Abstract

A generally rectangular shelter with a readily assembled frame mounted on a base and covered with a flexible sheet material secured to the frame and base is provided. The base is normally of wood and is placed on the ground or other planar surface Spaced at a desirable distance along each side of the base are pivotal and adjustable supports fixed to the base. To the supports are connected a series of assembled frame ribs transverse to the length of shelter. The frame ribs are normally assembled in an arcuate shape from several pieces of tubing coupled together by a special coupler. The tubes are adapted to receive other tubes by having pin receiving tabs welded to them in appropriate places. Purlins or other spacers are connected between the frame ribs so that all the frame ribs may be drawn up from an assembled horizontal position to an upright position as a unit. Cross bracing is placed between the frame ribs as required and a cover formed of several panels of flexible sheet material is then placed over the erected frame to form a basic shelter.
The several panels are generally insulated fabric and are secured to the frame ribs by having all edges carrying a single continuous draw cord. The panels overlap with the overlapping side edges carrying the draw cord partially wrapping each panel side edge around an adjacent frame rib covered by each panel in a sealing and securing relationship when the panels are tightened by the pivotal and adjustable supports. The ends of the panels include grommets that receive fasteners that are imbedded in the base for total securement of the panels. Front and rear basically semi-circular panels are each secured to an end rib and the base in a similar manner and are placed against front and rear end wall posts of front and rear end walls which are assembled before or after pivoting and are connected to the base and an end frame rib. The total cover or the basic shelter cover is tightened by vertically adjusting all the pivotal and adjustable supports fastened to the base each carrying a bottom end of a frame rib.

Description

~ - 2082~65 ( , This application relates to shelters and more particularly to portable fabric covered frame shelters.

The need for shelters at low cost that can be easily provided in a variety of locations for varying periods of time became -of the utmost importance as world wide development took place at an ever increasing rate.
-, Many of the present shelters require heavy steel frame structures with a steel cover which requires a great deal of . ,. . ~
.'L ' time and equipment such as cranes to assemble which or course ,~ ., ~ , , .
~ ~ 10 could also be dangerous. With the need for something less . ~
- - ~ costly and more versatile new structures and methods have been ~; put forth as shown in United States Patent 4,667,692 and Canadian Patent 1,246,960. In U.S. Patent "692" there is shown a multi-purpose utility shelter which includes a metal frame with a durable fabric attached between frame sections. - -'. "' 5 ^ - ' , ' `. : . ' There is also provided as does applicants device single reinforcing members and/or "X" shaped reinforcing members. ~ , What applicant provides and is not even suggested is a sectioned tubular frame joined by a s~ecial coupler and ~
covered by special flexible sheets that overlap at the ribs, ~ ~ -and ribs that are vertically adjustable to tension and secure -~
the cover. In Canadian Patent "960" there is presented a structure in which the frame is preassembled on the ground, . . --i then pivotally erected and the space between the frame ; members is filled by panels of fabric. While this is basically similar to applicants structure, applicant has made ~-~ definite improvements that enhance the assembly and utility `- thereof. Applicant has provided a new rib structure with fast assembly coupler, a new easy method of placing the panels over the structure, a new vertical rib adjustment feature and a new method of erection.
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-It is desirable in storing articles or equipment to have the storage facility easily erected, movable to various locations with no lost time and at a price that is acceptable under the circumstances. To achieve these results one embodiment of the present invention comprises a generally rectangular base upon which is mounted spaced pivotal mountings. To the mountings are pivotally attached ribs of a framework over which is applied panels of a fabric. The panels are applied to the ribs in a panel edge overlapping manner. The panels are then fastened to the base by panel and base penetrating fasteners. An adjustment is incorporated in the spaced mountings to tighten the fabric and cords in the panel edges thereby securing the panels on the ribs and also the end waIls if installed. A unique coupler has been used in the rib units for fast easy on site assembly thereof. Purlins and cross bracing between the ribs add to the stability of the structure. The erection of the structure is by providing a base, fastening pivotal rib supports to thè base, assembling the ribs and purlins using pin fasteners fastening the ribs to the pivotal supports, pivoting the frame including ribs and purlin spacers to an upright position, stabilizing by cross bracing, applying the panel coverings over the ribs, and end walls when included, fastening the panels to the base, adjusting the spaced pivotal mountings upwardly thereby rendering the panels taut and secured in partial wrap around fashion on the ribs thereby enhancing the stability. From the above summary is readily discernible that the principle object of the present invention is to provide a shelter that is simple, rugged and easy to assemble and erect.-It is a further object of the present invention to provide aspecial rib coupler for ease of rib assembly.

-It is a further object of the present invention to provide cover panels with draw ropes and fastener grommets to secure in an overlapping and sealing manner the panels on the frame.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a vertically adjustable pivotal rib support to thereby tighten the flexible fabric panels.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective schematic view of a basic shelter with incomplete numbering for the sake of clarity.
Fig. 2 is an elevation view of the front end wall frame as it would be applied to Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is an elevation view of the rear end wall frame as it would be applied to Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a detailed elevation view of the coupler used in assembling the ribs. A smaller included angle has been used only for illustration purposes.
Fig. 5 is an elevation view of an adjustable pivotal rib support mounted on the base.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the mounting plate of the adjustable pivotal rib support.
Fig. 7 is a schematic cross section of the covering top panels as applied over the ribs.
Fig. 8 is a cross section of the overlapping sealing and securing panel edge joint as it is applied to a rib taken at cutting plane B-B in Fig. 1.

-Fig. 9 is a plan view of a typical top cover panel as shown applied in Fig. 1.
Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view taken at plane A-A
in Fig. 9.
Fig. 11 is an elevation view of an end wall panel which could be applied to Figure 2 or Figure 3.
Fig. 12 is a cross section of the end panel of Fig. 11 taken along the cutting plane C-C showing its manner of securement.

Referring now to figure 1 there is shown in schematic for clarity a basic shelter without a covered front end wall and without a covered rear end wall. A base 1 is placed on the ground or any other basically planar surface. The base 1 is generally formed of two 2 x 8 planks of wood fastened one on top of the other forming a basically rectangular shape for example a 40 foot x 60 foot shape foundation. To the base 1 are nailed or otherwise fastened in a spaced relation rib pivot supports 5 including a rib adjuster 10 more clearly shown in~figure 5. Ribs 3 are assembled from various tubular members such as 8, 8a, 11, which are joined by a rigid rib coupler 4, detailed in figure 4, and assembly pins 9. The assembled ribs 3 are pivotally connected to pivot supports 5 and are spacedly and pivotally joined at their upper extremities by purlins 6. The purlins 6 are pivotally connected by assembly pins 9 to pin receiving tabs fixed to rib coupler 4. Only the upper purlins 6 are shown but the ribs 3 may be connected by any desired number in a similar manner. To avoid snow build up when the ribs 3 are covered the purlins may be placed to give a steeper slope to the outside of the cover. The outside cover of the basic structure is generally formed of several rectangular flexible 2082~6~
-----cover sheet panels of sheet material 20 which may be of a fabric which includes insulating material. Other flexible - sheet materials such as plastic are also envisaged. A
panel 20 in detail is shown in figure 9. A cutting plane B - B
reveals in detail how the panels 20 overlap and is shown more clearly in figure 8. The securing of the cover sheet panels 20 to the ribs 3 is done by fastening the ends of the panels 20 to the base 1 by nails, screws etc. designated 26 passing through grommets 18 and into the base 1. The rib adjuster 10 is then adjusted upwardly tightening the panels 20 with the ropes 17 partly around the ribs 3. For assembly of the basic shelter, a foundation is placed on a basically horizontal surface. The ribs 3 are assembled and pivotally fastened to the pivot supports 5. Purlins 6 are pivotally connected to ribs 3 by assembly pins 9 and a longitudinal force "F" is applied at one end to an upper most point of and end rib 3.
Once this basic frame has been erected it may be stabilized by more purlins 6, the securing of the cover sheet panels 20 to the ribs 3 and base 1, and diagonal cross bracing 7 placed between the ribs 3. As previously pointed out only a sampling of purlins 6 and cross bracing 7 has been shown for the sake of clarity. More stabilizing may be applied depending on the expected load to be supported. This basic Structure may be used as an extension to any other building.

Figure 2 is directed to an uncovered front end wall joined -on the base 1 by base plates 15. Door jambs 14 are pivotally fastened to a tab at their upper ends to a rib coupler 4. The header 12 is pivotally connected by assembly pins 9 to door jambs 14 and header center 13. Header center 13 being joined by an assembly pin 9 to a rib coupler 4. The rib couplers here are all the same and are shown in detail in figure 4.
The rib 3 shown here is formed by coupling frame support pipes 11 to frame sectional pipes 8a with extra tab to standard frame sectional pipes 8, which are coupled together by a further coupler 4. This assembled rib is pivotally mounted to the base 1 by pivot support 5 having a pivot support adjuster 10 which receives frame support pipe 11, The end wall structures may be assembled and connected to the basic shelter frame before or after vertical erection of the basic shelter.

Figure 3 is dlrected to an uncovered rear end wall joined to an end rib 3. The end wall is formed of end wall frame posts 25a, 25b, 25c and 25d and the end rib 3 deviates from the standard rib only in that the frame sectional pipes 8 are replaced with frame sectional pipes 8a having extra tabs to receive the frame posts 25a and 25c. The remainder of the end wall frame posts are pinned to couplers 4 by assembly tabs and pins 9. All of the end wall frame posts are supported and fastened to the base 1 by base plates 15.

Now referring to figure 4 there is shown two standard tubular pipes 8 with tabs which are called frame sectional pipes and are not in themselves inventive, but they can have welded thereon extra pin receiving tabs in which case they are designated 8a. The frame sectional pipes 8 as shown are joined by a rib coupler 4 which receives adjacent ends of frame sectional pipes 8 in coupler first end member 23.

Coupler second end member 24 joins the two frame sectional pipes 8 by being pinned thereto by assembly pins 9. Coupler first end member 23 and coupler second end member 24 are joined by an elongate body member 22. The elongate body member 22 carries assembly pin receiving tabs 21 to receive assembly pins 9 which permits connection of a purlin 6 or other reinforcement or stabilizer such as crossbrace 7 to be attached thereto. For illustrative purposes only the included angle of the coupled pipes 8 is much less than in the remaining drawings.

To look at the vertical frame adjustment there is shown -in figure 5 the rib pivot support 5 which is fastened to the base l by spikes, screws or any other means. Included in the rib pivot support 5 is a rib pivot support rib adjuster 10 which has a threaded rod and a threaded nut carrying a housing to receive a frame support pipe 11. On the frame support pipe 11 there is fixed a cross brace assembly pin receiving tab 16 to receive cross bracing 7 which is pin connected to other frame ribs 3 by tabs and assembly pins 9. Each cross bracing 7 is normally two crossed flexible cables tensioned by turnbuckles 30.

For a more detailed view of the base of the rib pivot support 5 there is shown a flat square portion with fastener receiving holes and two vertical pivot tabs 27 to receive a pivot bolt 28.

Referring now to figure 7 there is taught in schematics a portion of the panel securing means as applied to a series of flexible cover sheet panels. The flexible cover sheet panels 20 include flexible tensile members such as continuous panel flexible draw members 17 encased or otherwise supported but slideable along all edges of the cover sheet panels 20.
The flexible cover sheet panels cover the frame and in particular frame sectional tubing 8, 8a and 11 in an overlapping arrangement which helps to stabilize the frame as well as securing or restricting movement of the flexible cover sheet panels 20.

Figure 8 teaches a more detailed view of the cutting plane B-B as shown in figure 1. In this location the cover is passing over frame support pipe 11. The flexible cover sheet panel 20 in this case is indicated to be of the insulated type but may be a sheet of plastic and along its edges are encased a flexible draw member 17 which when drawn by an upward adjustment of ribs 3 has a tendency to partially wrap the edges of sheet panels Z0 around the frame support pipe 11 and all the remainder of the tubular pipes in the frame ribs 3 as applicable for securing the flexible cover sheet panels 20 and assisting in stabilizing the frame.

Now referring to figure 9 there is shown a flexible cover sheet panel 20. These panels generally cover the space between frame ribs 3 but are of course slightly wider in order for the partial wrap around. The flexible cover sheet panel 20 as shown is rectangular but may be of a different shape and may be made of fabric, vinyl or other suitable material that is sufficiently flexible. In all edges of the flexible cover sheet panel 20 is a continuous panel flexible draw member 17 encased or otherwise moveably supported. At the ends of the flexible cover sheet panel 20 are provided grommets 18 to receive fastening means 26 for fastening the flexible cover sheet panel 20 to the base 1.

Figure 10 is a cross section taken at A-A in figure 9 to give 20~2~6S

some idea as to how the panel flexible draw members 17 may be encased in the edges of an insulated cover sheet panel 20.

In figure 11 we have shown a rear end view of the shelter having an end wall cover 19 with its end flexible draw member 17a drawn to cause it to partially wrap around the end frame rib 3. The bottom of end wall cover 19 has grommets 18 through which passes fasteners 26 to engage base l. A front end wall cover will be the same as end wall cover 19 except that it will have a square or rectangular exit and entrance opening being covered by using the same flexible material from which the shelter is formed.

Referring now to figure 12 there is shown a cross section C-C of figure 11. The end wall cover 19 has been placed on ; the end frame rib ~3 in a non adjusted position. The bottom of the end wall cover 19 is then completely secured by passing fasteners 26 through the grommets 18 at the bottom of end wall cover 19 into the base 1. The end rib 3 is then adjusted vertically by rib adjuster 10 to cause flexible draw member 17a to secure end wall cover 19 to end rib 3. Flexible cover sheet panels 20 can be placed over the frame ribs 3 and secured before or after placement of the end wall cover(s) 19.

It is to be understood that "X" braces may or may not be required and that they may be placed between the ribs before or after the covering is applied. It is also to be understood that the end walls may be assembled to the end frame ribs before or after the ribs have been pivoted to the vertical working position. The frame may be pivoted to the upright position with the rib spacing being provided by the pivoting tensile force member ~F~' so that the cover means may be applied before or after the purlins 6 are attached.
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2082~65 -Various modifications such as size, shape and arrangement of components may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The above disclosure shall be interpreted as illustrative only and limited only by the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims (25)

1. A fabric covered frame shelter comprising in combination, base means formed of a fastener receiving material, frame means including rib means for supporting said fabric cover and partially formed of sections, said sections having tabs affixed thereto to receive assembly pins, coupler means joining said sections, each one of said coupler means including a first end receiving adjacent ends of a pair of said sections and a second end having a linkage linking said sections joined by said first end, fabric cover means covering said frame means including cover movement restricting means for holding said cover means on said frame means, said fabric cover means formed of flexible sheets held in a partial overlapping and sealing relationship, supporting means pivotally connecting said rib means to said base means so that said frame means may be assembled in a horizontal position and pivoted upwardly to a vertical upright working position.

2. A fabric covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rib means includes several ribs, and said frame means includes a front end wall and a rear end wall, and wherein said frame means includes purlins spacedly and pivotally connecting adjacent ribs and cross bracing connecting adjacent ribs to supplement the stability of the shelter provided by said cover means and said purlins.

3. A coupler for tubular members comprising an elongate body member, a first end member being arcuate in shape and adapted to receive at least two of said tubular members to be joined, said first end member being integrally attached to said elongate body member, a second end member being rectilinear in form and having pin receiving members for attachment to said at least two tubular members, said second end member being integrally attached at right angles to said elongate body member, said elongate body member having at least one pin receiving tab to connect a further element thereto.

4. a covered frame shelter comprising in combination, base means, frame means including rib means for supporting said cover, a portion of which is formed of sections, rigid coupler means joining said sections, cover means covering said frame means and including cover movement restricting means holding said cover means on said frame means, said cover means stabilizing said frame means, pivotal support means connecting said rib means to said base means, each of said coupler means slideably receiving adjacent ends of a pair of said sections and further including a linkage linking said pair of sections having said adjacent ends.

5. A covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 4 wherein said pivotal support means is adjustable.

6. A covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 4 wherein said base means is formed of wood.

7. A covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 4 wherein said pivotal support means is fastened to said base means and said rib means is slideably received by said pivotal support means so that said rib means may pivot about said base means to an upright operational position.

8. A covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 7 wherein said pivotal support means is adjustable.

9. A covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 4 wherein said rib means includes several ribs having a rib spacing longitudinally of said shelter.

10. A covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 9 wherein said cover means includes flexible sheets of material having a width greater than said rib spacing.

11. A covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 10 wherein said flexible sheets of material are rectangular and further include said cover movement restricting means in the form of a flexible draw member slideably supported in each edge of said flexible sheets of rectangular sheet material and fastener receiving grommets.

12. A covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 11 wherein said cover means further includes substantially semi-circular end walls of flexible sheet material having said cover movement restricting means in the form of endwall draw members and fastener receiving grommets.

13. A covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 12 wherein said cover means of flexible sheet material is made of an insulated fabric.

14. A covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 5 wherein said rib means are spaced longitudinally of said shelter and wherein said pivotal support means are fixed to said base means.

15. A covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 14 wherein said pivotal support means receives said rib means at an angle and wherein said pivotal support means is threadably adjustable to tighten said cover means over said frame means by raising said rib means.

16. A covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 15 wherein said frame means further includes front frame means and rear frame means, said front frame means including an exit and entrance opening.

17. A covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 16 further including base plates fastened to said base means to supportively receive said front frame means and said rear frame means.

18. A covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 8 wherein said frame means further includes front wall means and rear wall means each one of said wall means formed using upright posts and each one of said wall means are fastened to a separate rib of said rib means.

19. A covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 18 wherein said frame means are formed of tubular members having pivot pin receiving tabs affixed thereto and further including purlins pivotally connected to and separating several ribs of said rib means to enable easy pivoting of said frame means when assembled, from a horizontal position to an upright useable position.

20. A covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 19 wherein said frame means further includes, cross bracing connected between several of said several ribs, said cross bracing being formed of adjustable length flexible tensile members and said purlins being so placed between said several ribs to steepen the cover slope to prevent snow build up thereon.

21. A method of erecting a basic covered frame shelter wherein the frame includes ribs comprising; laying down a base upon a surface upon which the shelter is to be erected positioning pivot supports on said base with a predetermined spacing, fastening said pivot supports to said base, pivotally attaching a plurality of said ribs of the frame at their ends to said pivot supports, pivotally attaching rigid spacers between adjacent ones of said ribs such that said ribs remain parallel when pivoted uprightly from said surface, pulling ribs uprightly from the surface to a basically vertical functional position, holding said ribs in said vertical position, covering said ribs by placing flexible sheet panels over said ribs, fixing said flexible sheet panels to said base and vertically adjusting said covered ribs to complete securement of said flexible sheet panels thereto thereby providing a basic covered frame shelter.

22. A method of erecting a covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 21 wherein said securing of said flexible sheet panels to said ribs includes, shortening side edges of said flexible sheet panels placed over said ribs in an overlapping manner by tensioning cords slideably supported in said side edges when said covered ribs are vertically adjusted.

23. A method of erecting a covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 22 wherein said fixing of said flexible sheet panels to said base includes, fastening end edges of said flexible sheet panels to said base by base penetrating fasteners.

24. A method of erecting a covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 23 further including, connecting a front wall frame and a rear wall frame to said base and to respective separate ribs adjacent thereto, and securing a flexible sheet panel over each of said end walls.

25. A method of erecting a covered frame shelter as claimed in claim 24 further including, placing cross bracing between several of said ribs.