GB2502073A - Portable Shelter - Google Patents

Abstract

The shelter 10 comprises a plurality of erectable limbs 20, 21 joined by material wherein the limbs when erected define a roofed space 24 bounded on two opposing sides by material 26, and two opposing faces which open in use. The limbs may be sealed tubes which are inflatable and the shelter may include a self inflation means. The material may be a translucent or transparent material. The limbs may have rubs to strengthen the material when inflated. The shelter may further comprise an opening to receive a vehicle 21 and a securing device 50 to secure the shelter to the vehicle. When not in use, the shelter may be collapsed and stored in a bag (18, fig 6).

Description

A PORTABLE SHELTER

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable shelter, more particularly a portable shelter primarily but not exclusively providing a workplace in inclement conditions.

Backarou nd Due to increasing levels of modernity and mobility in most countries there are ever increasing numbers of highways across the world, and increasing numbers of vehicles on these highways.

Although many vehicles that are produced contemporaneously are focussed on technological advances and varying priorities ranging from environmental concerns to cost concerns, these vehicles may be as prone to failure as older vehicles.

Older vehicles are an increasing trend for many, being seen as classic and by nature of passage of time, conversely more reliable. Importantly many of these older vehicles are easier to fix and work on.

In any event any vehicle may fail and require work, either at the highway or in other circumstances where facilities are not readily available.

More particularly, it may be impossible or undesirable to move the failed vehicle to a covered area. This means that any work that is carried out on the vehicle will be open to the elements, wherein parts may be lost and work conditions uncomfortable or unbearable.

A worker or user may choose to wear protective clothing, and in many situations a bonnet or boot lid may provide some shelter but this often proves unsatisfactory, especially for more involved work, where if available a common solution is to require a towing truck. This may not be appropriate in all locales or situations.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem, including the following: United Kingdom patent application GB 2 274 472 (SHERMAN) discloses an awning for providing a temporary cover over an end of a vehicle and comprising a flexible cover mounted over a collapsible support framework having support legs at the four corners of the framework, the pair of legs at one end each having inwardly extending ground plates onto which the wheels of the vehicle will be driven to anchor the framework, there being an adjustment mechanism for raising and lowering each of said pair of legs with respect to its associated ground plate.

United States patent application US 4 884 588 (SHRODE) discloses a unitary frameless foldable protective emergency shelter for selective drapeable deployment over a raised engine hood during an emergency so as to protect the engine compartment work area and person working therearound from inclement weather, the combination comprising: a front panel portion, said front panel portion provided with a vertical slit opening, said slit opening provided with closure means to effect selective closure of said opening; an engine hood-engaging rearwardly and downwardly sloped top portion having a reat horizontal edge coextensive with the rear edge of the raised engine hood, said top portion adapted for coextensive draped engagement with the upper surface of a raised engine hood; a pair of spaced-apart side portions having vertical rear edges, said pair of spaced apart side portions cooperating with said front panel portion and said top portion to form a tent-like protective shelter over the engine compartment of the vehicle, said side portions and said front panel portion having ground engaging edges extending into contact with the ground surface; a plurality of weighted elements provided along said ground engaging edges of said side portions and said front panel portion so as to maintain said ground engaging edges in relatively secure contact with the ground surface; and a plurality of vehicle body engaging magnetic elements provided along said vertical rear edges so as to maintain said vertical rear edge in vehicle body engaging contact.

In contrast the present invention provides a quickly and easily erected, transportable and storable means of a user achieving some shelter for when working on a vehicle such as by a roadside.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a portable shelter, having a plurality of erectable limbs that are permanently conjoined by material; characterised in that the material is impermeable and the limbs when erected define a roofed space bounded on two opposing sides by material, and two opposing faces which open in use.

In this way the shelter may be easily stored or transported, and then as required by the user may be erected so as to provide cover when the user is working on a vehicle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention the limbs are inflatable, wherein the limbs are formed as sealed tubes, said tubes having at least one inflation point.

Said tubes are ideally formed in a robust plastic that may be strengthened in some embodiments with integrated fibres or a wire frame, for example wherein the frame is a concertina or loop within the limb or limbs.

In some other embodiments the limbs may include or comprise some rods or bars, wherein for example the rods are able to be erected to supply support to the limbs and define the space.

In addition or the alternative rigid collar sections may be included at key structural areas, or displaceably.

Ideally and according to a third aspect of the present invention one face of the space is a vehicle face and is inclined, wherein the shelter may be enabled to interact or interface with a plurality of lifted and/or inclined vehicle bonnets.

For example in preferred embodiments there is provided displaceable material in order that the face may be opened or shut according to height of bonnet.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention in some embodiments it may be envisaged that the vehicle face provides means by which to attach the material to the bonnet, for example suction cups or similar temporary means.

In preferred embodiments this means is magnetic, such as portions or strips. Said strips may be felt lined and may be provided in a plurality of places of the vehicle face, or door.

In preferred embodiments there is provided a door on one openable face, or opening, such that the user may be easily enabled to enter and similarly be enabled to close the door after entrance. Typically therefore the door includes a single movement opening and closing mechanism, such as a zipper, said zipper having a large format in order to maximise ease of use.

It may be envisaged that a vehicle will be introduced through the opposing or vehicle face, and ideally there is provided a flap through which the vehicle may pass, wherein the flap is consequently open and able to be placed over the vehicle bonnet to define a workplace for the user with a top defined largely by the flap, a front defined by the bonnet and a rear defined by the shelter.

In some embodiments sides to this place may be provided or defined, for example by inclusion of extra material in the flap, such that the extra material is contained within the shelter when the flap is, for example, zipped closed. This extra material will then be able to provide sides about the bonnet when in use.

For example side material may be ruched or concertina to provide continuous sides and wherefore when the flap is lifted the sides extend out and provide a continuous three sided flap.

In further embodiments the sides may be loose, and in yet further embodiments they are loose and with attachment means so as to prevent flapping in adverse conditions.

In preferred embodiments there may be provided a floor consisting of the material or another fabric or sheet, wherein this floor is robust and able to withstand the worker, vehicle and any tools.

In addition or the alternative strapping may be provided to surround or attach to the vehicle or vehicle wheels, such as robust webbing or strapping with karabiner attachment. Said strapping may work to prevent movement of the shelter or faces.

In further embodiments there may be provided a plurality of inflation points, for example wherein each limb or group of limbs has a separate inflation point.

According to a fifth aspect of the piesent invention a large part of the material used is transparent so that the shelter allows a user good working conditions in a plurality of light conditions.

Typically the material is durable and weatherproof, and may include parts in fabric such as rip-stop nylon. In other embodiments a majority of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is used or there may be large PVC window areas or transparent material so as to permit entrance of light.

In preferred embodiments the roof of the space is transparent. In some embodiments the space is provided with material that is reflective.

In yet further embodiments the space is provided with lighting means, such as integrated light emitting diodes (LEDs), LED tape and/or power source. Further embodiments have means to attach to a power source.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is included a self-inflation means for inflating the limbs.

Such a self-inflation means may be provided by an electrically powered pump or in alternative embodiments or pressurised gas, for example wherein an independently provided cylinder is attached to a regulator, and said regulator is integrated in the shelter.

In preferred embodiments however the shelter is ideally used with a separately powered and independently provided and stored pump, for example one which allows attachment of a 12 Volt vehicle electrical supply, or attachment to a vehicle cigar lighter.

This pump is ideally provided with a screw fit connector to allow connection to a valve such as is common to vehicle tyres.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention the limbs supply ribs, wherein said ribs act to strengthen the material when inflated such that the limbs and ribs form an inflated exoskeleton after full inflation has been achieved.

Said ribs may be included in the material such as wherein they are formed or provided by capillaries radiating from the limbs, which may for example have restricted access in order that the ribs inflate, or attached to the material.

In preferred embodiments the shelter is provided for transport and storage in a kit bag, said bag having ventilation holes, to allow storage and transport of the shelter even when wet.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief DescriQtion of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the shelter in use with a vehicle; Figure 2 shows a side view of the embodiment; Figure 3 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment; Figure 4 shows a view from above of the embodiment; Figure 5 shows a view from opposing the vehicle; Figure 6 shows the embodiment in kit form in use. and

Figures 7 shows sketches of a further embodiment.

Detailed Description of Figures

Referring to Figures 1 to 5, the pictured and preferred embodiment shows a collapsible vehicle shelter 10 for covering at least a part of a motor vehicle 12, comprising an inflatable frame 14 connected with flexible material 16.

The frame 14 in the pictured and preferred embodiment comprises a continuous loop of hollow tubing that is connected to, or integral with, the material 16. As shown in Figure 6, the awning 10 may be held captive in a collapsed or deflated condition by placing it in a storage bag 18. When collapsed the shelter 10 forms a relatively small generally rectangular block.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, when erect the frame 14 defines two faces of generally opposed spaced apart arches 20, 21 interconnected at lowermost ends by opposed transverse bases 22.

Portions of material may be made of a high visibility material such as the portions 23. Alternatively, or additionally, the material may be a high visibility material or provided with high visibility markings When the frame 14 is in an erect or inflated condition, the material 16 is stretched between the arches 20, 21 to define a roof portion 24 and generally opposed closed wall faces 26 extending downwardly from the roof to transverse bases 22 of the frame 14. Optionally, the roof 24 and/or the walls 26 is/are provided with windows 28, 30 made of a transparent or translucent material. Alternatively, the entire material 16 may be made of a translucent or transparent material.

As shown in Figure 2, the material 16 may also include a floor 32 that extends between the transverse bases 22 of the frame 14. Where a floor 32 is provided, it is preferable that it does not extend fully according to the transverse base 22. This is so that the shelter 10 can be pushed up to a vehicle 12 until the floor reaches the vehicle wheels and still extend beyond the wheels allowing the shelter 10 to cover parts of the vehicle disposed rearwardly of the wheels without having to move the vehicle relative to the shelter.

A front face of the shelter 10 is provided with an access opening 34 through which a covered workplace defined can be accessed once the shelter 10 has been positioned with a part of the vehicle 12 received in the workplace. In the illustrated embodiment, the opening 34 is strengthened by a frame 36 that extends around the front arch 20.

When the door 38 is rolled up ties 40 are provided to allow the door 38 to be secured in a roll to maintain an open condition of the opening 34. The door 38 may be made of a transparent or translucent material or provided with a window made of transparent or translucent material. The door 38 may be secured in a closed position by providing suitable ties, straps and buckles, zips, VELCRO (Trade Mark) fastenings, magnetic tape fastenings or other easily used and manipulated fastenings that may be used with gloved hands.

The vehicle 12 in use extends through a rear arch 21 in the vehicle face which forms the workplace. The rear arch 21 includes at least a portion that is inclined upwardly towards the front arch 20 of the opening. Although not essential, this configuration makes it easier to fit the shelter 10 to a range of sizes of vehicle and more particularly bonnets. The vehicle face is closed by a flap 42. The sides of the flap 42 may be secured in a closed position by providing a fastening system that may comprise suitable ties, straps and buckles, zips, VELCRO (Trade Mark) fastenings, magnetic tape fastenings or other suitable known securing devices. In the illustrated embodiment the fastening system comprises zips extending along the sides of the flap 42.

At least at the lowermost end of the vehicle face, the shelter is provided with sides 44. The sides 44 are provided with at least one magnetic fastener, such as a magnetic tape, so that the sides can be releasably secured to the vehicle to assist in closing the vehicle face.

The shelter 10 may be provided with an integral illumination system. In the illustrated embodiment, the illumination system takes the form of an light emitting diode (LED) tape 46 coupled to the material 16. The LED tape 46 can be sewn into the canopy at any convenient location such as adjacent portions of the frame 14. The LED tape, or tapes, 46 may be powered by a suitable battery to provide illumination of the space defined within the shelter 10.

The shelter 10 is optionally provided with securing to secure to the vehicle 12.

In the illustrated embodiment, this takes the form of strapping 50 that extends transversely between the bases 22. Ends of the strapping 50 are provided with a snap buckle 54 or other suitable fastening to allow them to the releasably joined to secure the strapping 50 behind the wheels 52 of the vehicle 12.

A storage bag 18 (Figure 6) is made of a fabric and provided with a drawstring 56 to allow the bag to be secured tightly around the collapsed shelter 10.

Advantageously the bag is breathable to facilitate drying of the shelter 10 after use in wet weather conditions. Furthermore the shelter 10 may be supplied with a suitable storage chest 58 in which the bagged shelter 10 can be stored.

The storage chest 58 may be provided with apertures 60 to ventilate and facilitate drying of the shelter after use in wet weather conditions. The storage chest 58 may store tools and/or a battery to power the LED tape 46.

The bag 18 ideally provides a flexible storage system to receive the shelter 10 in a collapsed condition and maintain it in the collapsed condition. The storage system may alternatively comprise a rigid enclosure or an open system of straps or the like.

To use the shelter 10, the user first releases the shelter 10 from the storage bag 18 in which the shelter is held captive in its collapsed position. Once released, the frame 14 may be inflated, and in some embodiments parts are included to facilitate self-erection wherein it may be necessary and/or desirable for a user to provide some initial impetuous to the erection process by unfolding, shaking or lifting the shelter 10 into shape. Once the frame 14 is inflated and/or erect, the material 16 is suitably stretched by the frame 14 to define the root 24 and walls 26. With the flap 42 raised to an open position, the shelter 10 is manoeuvred up to the front of the vehicle 12 so that it covers the front part of the vehicle. The strapping 50 is then extended across the shelter 10 and fastened behind the wheels 52 of the vehicle by means of the snap buckle 54, thereby securing the shelter 10 to the vehicle. The flap 42 can then be rolled down. Any surplus flap can sit in a roll on the vehicle. The flap 42 can be secured by means of zippers, wherein two zippers are in use around the flap 42.

The illustrated embodiment has been described fitted over a front end of a vehicle. This is not to be taken as limiting. The shelter may be fitted over the rear of a vehicle and in some embodiments may be large enough to fit over at least substantially all of a vehicle.

In addition further embodiments may be taken to include further shapings.

For example in some embodiments the defined roof may be domed, wherein extra structural strength is provided, as shown in Figure 7.

Furthermore some embodiments of the shelter may provide larger or extendable shelter space in order to accommodate workers on long trips or jobs, for sleep and living purposes.

Claims (8)

1. Claims 1. A portable shelter, having a plurality of erectable limbs that are permanently conjoined by material; characterised in that the material is impermeable and the limbs when erected define a roofed space bounded on two opposing sides by material, and two opposing faces which open in use.
2. 2. A shelter according to claim 1 wherein the limbs are inflatable, wherein the limbs are formed as sealed tubes, said tubes having at least one inflation point.
3. 3. A shelter according to claim 1 or 2 wherein one face of the space is a vehicle face and is inclined away from its opposing face.
4. 4. A shelter according to claim 3 wherein the vehicle face provides means by which to attach the material to a vehicle.
5. 5. A shelter according to any preceding claim wherein a large part of the material used is transparent.
6. 6. A shelter according to any preceding claim wherein there is included a self-inflation means for inflating the limbs.
7. 7. A shelter according to any preceding claim wherein the limbs supply ribs, wherein said ribs act to strengthen the material when inflated.
8. 8. A shelter according to any preceding claim having a domed or shaped roof so as to increase structural strength,