GB2247259A - Portable shelter - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable shelter comprises a collapsible frame (11), a flexible cover (10) supported by the frame and a seat (12). Logs (20) of the seat are received in pockets (19) of the cover so that a gravitational load exerted on the seat holds the cover on the ground. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Shelter Description of Invention The present invention relates to a shelter for one or more persons and is primarily concerned with a portable shelter.

According to the invention, there is provided a shelter comprising a frame, a cover which is supported by the frame and a seat, wherein the seat is so connected with the cover that a gravitational load exerted on the seat is available to prevent upward movement of the cover.

The seat preferably incorporates a plurality of legs. In this case, the cover preferably includes respective pockets for receiving the legs of the seat.

An example of a shelter embodying the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view from the front and one side of the shelter.

The shelter shown in the drawing comprises a cover 10 supported on a frame 11. The shelter further comprises a seat 12. The example of shelter illustrated is rectangular, as viewed in plan and as viewed in front and rear elevations.

The frame 11 comprises a pair of front uprights and a pair of rear uprights 14 disposed at respective corners of the shelter. These uprights are rectilinear. Rectilinear front and rear roof-supports extend between the upper ends of the front and rear uprights respectively. Further rectilinear roof supports extends between corresponding ends of the front and rear supports. The frame may further comprise spacers which extend between lower end portions of the rear uprights 14 and between each rear upright and the corresponding front upright. The uprights, supports and spacers of the frame are all preferably formed of lengths of tubular metal. A plurality of separable tubes may be incorporated in each of the uprights, each of the supports and each of the spacers, in order that the frame can be dismantled to a compact configuration.

Spigot and socket connections of the kind used in the frames of tents may be used for releasably connecting the various members of the frame to one another and elastic links may be provided between components of the frame to facilitate assembly of the frame with all of the components in the proper relation to one another. Spigots of the connections may have spring-loaded plungers which can project into apertures formed in the sockets in a known manner.

The cover 10 is formed of flexible sheet material for example reinforced plastics sheet. The cover includes a back 15, a roof 16 and opposite ends 17 and 18. At least the ends of the cover are preferably formed of transparent sheet material. The cover may further comprise a front wall which partly closes the front of the shelter or a front wall which can be set in a closed position and which can be moved to an open position without disturbing the other parts of the cover.

The cover 10 is attached to the frame 11 in any convenient manner.

In the example illustrated, loops of the sheet material are incorporated in the cover and components of the frame extend through these loops. The loops may be permanently closed loops or loops which incorporate a fastener so that the loops can be opened and closed around the frame members. Alternatively, the cover may be provided with tapes which can be tied around the frame members.

There is incorporated in each of the ends 17 and 18 of the cover a pocket 19 having an open top and a closed bottom. The bottom of the pocket is at the level of the bottom of the end of the cover and rests on the ground.

The pocket is at the inside of the end concerned. The pockets are preferably rectangular in shape.

The seat 12 is elongated and has at each of its ends a leg 20 of a size such that the leg can be received entirely or such that a lower end portion of the leg can be received in one of the pockets 19. When the shelter is in use, the legs at the ends of the seat do not rest directly on the ground but rest on the bottoms of the pockets which, in turn, rest on the ground. The legs transmit a gravitational load to the pockets and thereby to the cover as a whole. The pockets are preferably spaced from both the front uprights and the rear uprights.

Each leg 20 is preferably rectangular. The legs 20 are foldable relative to the horizontal portion 21 of the seat so that the legs can be folded against the underside of this portion. The horizontal portion 21 is itself foldable at a central joint lying mid-way between the legs 20 so that the seat can be folded into a compact configuration, when removed from the pockets of the cover. The seat preferably comprises also a central leg, relative to which the portion 21 is foldable. A shelter which can accommodate five persons can conveniently be folded into a sufficiently compact configuration to be stowed in the boot of a car.

There is provided at the lower end of each of the uprights 13 and 14 a spike for penetrating the ground. There may also be provided at the upper end of each spike a plate for bearing on the surface of the ground. Guy ropes or other known means may also be provided for anchoring the shelter to the ground.

Although in the example described the frame is at the inside of the cover, it would also be within the scope of the invention to provide the frame at the outside of the cover, the cover having external loops or other suitable means for attaching the cover to the frame.

When persons are sitting on the seat 12, the weight of those persons is available to anchor the shelter to the ground. The shelter is suitable for use by persons who need to attend sporting functions such as matches and practice sessions but who do not participate actively throughout the function.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (10)

1. A shelter comprising a frame, a cover which is supported by the frame and a seat, wherein the seat is so connected with the cover that a gravitational load exerted on the seat is available to prevent upward movement of the cover.

2. A shelter according to Claim 1 wherein the seat includes a plurality of legs and the cover includes respective pockets for receiving the legs of the seat.

3. A shelter according to Claim 2 wherein the pockets are provided on ends of the cover.

4. A shelter according to any preceding claim wherein the frame is collapsible.

5. A shelter according to any preceding claim wherein the cover includes a back, two ends and a roof.

6. A shelter according to any preceding claim wherein the cover is formed of foldable sheet material.

7. A shelter according to any preceding claim wherein the seat is foldable at a joint lying between ends of the seat.

8. A shelter according to any preceding claim wherein the frame has spikes for penetrating into the ground.

9. A shelter substantially as hereindescribed with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

10. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawing.