GB2444494A

GB2444494A - Emergency shelter

Info

Publication number: GB2444494A
Application number: GB0624442A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Douglas John Harris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-12-07
Filing date: 2006-12-07
Publication date: 2008-06-11
Also published as: GB0624442D0

Abstract

Emergency shelter following natural disasters is usually in the form of tents, which may often remain as 'temporary' dwelling for five years and even more. This invention is a tent which is novel in having an external frame constructed of vertical and horizontal struts a, b. The struts can be used as a framework to which other materials can be attached (See Figs 7 and 8) in order to convert the tent into a more durable and sturdy building, to protect the occupants better from heat and cold. The attaching of these materials to create more permanent accommodation can take place while the occupants continue living in the tent.

Description

A Tent that Can be Converted to a Permanent or Semi-permanent

Building

Description

Refugees from war and natural disasters require quickly-erected emergency shelter. This is usually provided in the form of tents. In many cases such accommodation is less temporary than was originally hoped, and tented camps sometimes remain in use for five years or more In such circumstance the tents are gradually extended and adapted by adding extra sections made from wood, cardboard and other waste materials. These enlarged tents are neither comfortable nor healthy and provide little protection against cold or heat. Healthier, sturdier, more permanent shelter is required but cannot be constructed without dismantling the tent or moving to a different site.

This invention solves the problem by proposing an externally-framed tent using rectilinear supporting members. The tent can be converted into more permanent shelter by attaching materials to the frame such as wooden laths or panels, or other sheeting materials such as plastic or metal. The form may be flat or pitched roof. Alternative building materials such as stabilised earth blocks may also be used to make the walls by erecting them against the framework. Thus the permanent building can be constructed without disrupting the lives of the tent occupants; when the permanent walls and roof are complete the tent can be taken down, removed from inside and used again elsewhere.

Essential Features I. A tented dwelling which is supported by an external frame.

2. An external frame that is rectilinear, that is with vertical and horizontal members, but may also include addition members if a pitched roof is desired.

3. Guy ropes as necessary to anchor and stabilise the frame.

4. Ropes to attach the tent to the frame.

5. Holes in the frame such that sheeting and other materials can be attached or built up around the flame to produce a permanent or semi-permanent building.

Explanation of Drawings Figure 1 shows an elevation of the tent and frame. The tent frame may be designed to allow for a flat or pitched roof as shown in figures 1 and 2, and the plan form of the tent frame may be rectangular or square (Figure 3). The frame is made up from vertical members (a) placed at the outside corners. These may be attached to the ground by means of pegs as shown in figure 4 driven through plates at the foot of each vertical member. Alternatively, the vertical members have pointed lower ends and be driven into the ground until at the correct depth.

For large tents, the frame may be strengthened and stiffened by using additional struts as shown in Figure 5. The horizontal members are bolted or otherwise affixed to the vertical members at the corners of the frame (Figure 6). The corners may be strengthened if necessary by the use of triangular gusset pieces. The tent itself, of conventional cotton or other tenting material, is located inside the frame and at its base is attached to the ground in the normal way by means of pegs. The upper parts of the tent are attached to the frame by means of ropes (c, figure 1). The frame may be further secured to the ground my means of guy ropes (d, figure 1) for greater stability.

The construction of the external frame need not be confined only to vertical and horizontal members. Additional members may be added to form the frame of a pitched roof as shown in figure 2; roofing material may subsequently be attached to the sloping members to form the pitched roof.

Wall material of various kinds may be attached to the vertical and horizontal framework to produce a more permanent building. This may be in the form of bricks (fired or unfired material) or sheet materials of various kinds, including wood laths or sheet, plastic or metal sheet, as shown in figures 7 and 8. The framework should be of drilled or slotted angle work to facilitate connection of materials by means of bolts or wire. (Figures 7 & 8).

Claims

Claims It is claimed that this tent with its external framework can be

converted to a permanent or semi-permanent dwelling by attaching materials, which may be conventional building materials, or may be other materials, to the external frame. This may be done while the tent is occupied without interrupting the normal life of the inhabitants. They may continue living normally in the tent while the permanent parts of the structure are added to the external frame. When this permanent structure is completed the tent may be taken down, removed from inside and used again elsewhere. This is possible by virtue of the external rectilinear frame to the tent, which allows conventional walls and roof to be constructed by attaching a variety of materials to the frame.

Novel Features The new features in this design of tent are: An external frame which consists mainly of vertical and horizontal members connected orthogonally to produce a rectilinear cubic or cuboid shape to which other materials may be attached to provide permanent walls and roof. Further frame members may be used to provide a pitched roof if so desired.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows I. A method of construction of a tent such that the fabric of the tent is supported by an external rigid skeletal framework of rectilinear struts, which may additionally include further struts in the roof position to form a skeletal pitched roof structure (monopitch or double pitch) on top of the frame.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein sheeting, boards, blocks or other material may be attached to the outer skeletal framework to form a permanent or semi-permanent dwelling.
3. A method as claimed in claim I wherein said material may be applied to the frame while the inner tent material is in position and whilst the tent is inhhjted.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner tent may be removed after attaching materials to the framework to form a permanent or semi-permanent dwelling, whilst the tent is inhabited, and with minimum disruption to the inhabitants. * S * S.. * . *5SS

*. Novel Feahnes *5** : The new features in this design of tent are: An external frame which consists mainly of vertical and horizontal members connected *. *5 orthogonally to produce a rectilinear cubic or cuboid shape to which other materials may be * is attached to provide permanent walls and roof. Further frame members may be used to provide a pitched roof if so desired.