US20080135079A1

US20080135079A1 - Yurt structure

Info

Publication number: US20080135079A1
Application number: US11/636,218
Authority: US
Inventors: William Oakes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-12-07
Filing date: 2006-12-07
Publication date: 2008-06-12

Abstract

An improved yurt assembly for facilitating easy yurt installation and increasing stability, comprising a plurality of expandable lattice wall sections, vertical posts and roof poles. Each lattice wall section includes a plurality of pivotally connected link members. Each of the vertical posts includes a groove on its top end for receiving one of the roof poles, a first slot near its top end, a second slot near its bottom end, and a plurality of intermediate slots between the first and second slots. The first and second and intermediate slots are adapted to receive topmost, bottommost and intermediate corners of the lattice wall sections. The corners of two adjacent lattice wall sections are received into each side of the slots of a vertical post, which maintains the height of the lattice and secures the wall sections during assembly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

None

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL

Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates in general to yurts and similar portable shelters, and more particularly to improvements for facilitating easy installation and improving the strength and stability of yurt-like temporary structures.
Portable and temporary shelters including yurts, tents and the like are known in the art. The strength, shape and size of these shelters vary widely depending on their purpose. Yurts in particular, are sturdier, more stable and used for longer time periods. Various methods of assembly are known in the art to improve the convenience and ease of use of these structures.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,779 to Boyd discloses a portable shelter. The shelter includes a collapsible base having a plurality of legs adapted to be interconnected in a polygonal configuration and a collapsible side wall having a plurality of dihedrally shaped panels mounted on the base. The base legs and side walls are detachably interconnected to form a rigid structure on which a collapsible roof is supported. The roof comprises a plurality of detachably interconnected dihedrally shaped panels. A door is mounted in one of the sidewall panels.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,196 to Carter discloses discloses an easily erectable canopy shelter comprising a perimeter truss linkage assembly, a leg assembly, and a canopy peak support assembly. The perimeter truss linkage assembly has a plurality of perimeter truss pairs connected to the leg assembly. The leg assembly comprises a plurality of legs having a hollow upper section and a telescoping lower section disposed within the upper section. A slider member is mounted to the upper section of the legs. Each perimeter truss pair includes first and second link members pivotally connected together in a scissors configuration. The outer ends of the first link members are connected to upper ends the legs, and the outer ends of the second link members are pivotally connected to the slider member. The canopy peak support assembly is supported above the leg assembly and comprises a plurality of telescoping pole members and a central bracket member. The structural elements of the Boyd and Carter shelters differ from the present invention.
Int'l Pat. No. GB2383807 to Jessop discloses a foldable frame expandable into a dome or yurt frame. The foldable frame comprises a foldable trellis defined by a plurality of cross-linked trellis poles, an apex hub, and a plurality of roof poles connecting the apex hub and the top edge of the foldable trellis. The outer ends of the roof poles are pivoted to the upper edge of the foldable trellis to form a yurt.
Unlike the above referenced shelters, the present invention improves the stability and ease of installation of structures that use expandable lattice wall sections, roof poles and a roof ring. Conventional yurt installations are difficult and time consuming, and include connectable expandable wall sections, and a roof structure including a ring and poles. Maintaining the expandable wall sections at a constant height during installation is difficult. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide specialized vertical posts for connecting adjacent lattice wall sections without the use of ropes and other fasteners, while maintaining the lattice wall sections at a constant height.
A further object is to incorporate a locking mechanism into the vertical posts for convenience in setting up the roof ring and roof poles during assembly.
Finally, it is an object of the present invention to make the lattice wall sections with laminated wood for increasing the strength and reducing the weight of a yurt. These and other objects of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the appended Summary, Description, and Claims.

SUMMARY

The present invention comprises an improved portable yurt structure facilitating convenient assembly. Conventional portable yurts comprise expandable matrix lattice wall sections and roof poles anchored to a roof ring, along with a covering. The present invention comprises a yurt including a vertical post for connecting two adjacent lattice wall sections. The vertical posts connecting the lattice wall sections create the perimeter of the yurt. The vertical posts further include a first slot near their top ends, a second slot near their bottom ends and a plurality of intermediate slots spaced evenly along their lengths. A topmost corner of a lattice wall is received in the first slot and a bottommost corner of a lattice wall is received in the second slot. The sides of the lattice wall section comprising hinged ends of pivoting members are individually received in the intermediate slots. Once received in the slots, the movement of a lattice wall section is restricted in one direction, maintaining the height of the yurt walls during assembly.
Each vertical post further includes a groove near its top end for receiving a roof pole. In one preferred embodiment, a locking pin is used to secure the roof pole after it is received in the groove. In another preferred embodiment, a roof ring is included with grooves for receiving the poles. The present invention is further comprised of laminated wood to reduce the weight and improve the strength of the yurt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an expandable lattice wall section.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vertical post in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the vertical post in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the vertical post showing the first slot and the groove.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of two lattice wall sections connected by the vertical post.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the connections in the first slot.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the connections in one of the intermediate slots.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the initial setup using four vertical posts, three lattice wall sections, four roof poles, a roof ring and a door frame.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the fully assembled yurt.

FIGURES—REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 . . . Vertical Post
11A . . . Lattice Wall Section
11B . . . Lattice Wall Section
12 . . . First Link Member
13 . . . Second Link Member
14 . . . First Slot
15 . . . Second Slot
16 . . . Intermediate Slot
17 . . . Groove
18 . . . Door Frame
19 . . . Topmost Corner
20 . . . Bottommost Corner
21 . . . Intermediate Corner
22 . . . Roof Pole
23 . . . Locking Pin
24 . . . Roof Ring
25 . . . Hole in the Vertical Post

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The improved yurt of the present invention comprises a vertical post 10 that facilitates easy installation of the yurt, which also incorporates lattice wall sections, roof poles and a roof ring. In addition, the present invention also comprises lattice wall sections made of laminated wood. The use of laminated wood increases strength of, and reduces the weight of the yurt.
Referring to FIG. 1, generally, each lattice wall section 11 is a network of pivotally connected cross-linked members. In detail, each lattice wall section comprises a plurality of first link members 12 and a plurality of second link members 13 pivotally connected to the first link members 12 at locations along their length. The side boundaries of each lattice wall section are therefore comprised of intermediate corners 21 formed by the intersection of these first and second link members. Additionally, the ends of each cross-linked member terminate in two topmost corners 19 and two bottommost corners 20.
Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, each vertical post 10 includes a first slot 14 at its top end, a second slot 15 at its bottom end, a plurality of intermediate slots 16 between the first and second slots. The vertical post 10 is used to connect the sides of two adjacent lattice wall sections. A groove 17 is disposed above the first slot. A hole in the vertical post 25 is used to accommodate a pin for locking roof poles in place once the yurt is assembled.
Referring to FIG. 5, a topmost corner 19 of a lattice wall section 11A or 11B is received in the first slot of a vertical post 10, the bottommost corner 20 of a lattice wall section 11A or 11B is received in the second slot 20. Referring to FIG. 7, intermediate corners comprised of first 12 and second 13 link members are received in the intermediate slots. Referring to FIG. 6, a roof pole 22 of the yurt attaches to the top of a vertical pole 10 with a locking pin 23.
For the first lattice wall installation, the topmost, bottommost, and intermediate corners of a lattice wall section 11 are received in the first slot, second slot, and intermediate slots, respectively, of the side of the vertical post 10. A second lattice wall installation is performed by receiving the side of the second lattice wall in the opposite side of the vertical post. The first and second lattice wall sections are received in the slots so that their topmost and bottommost corners 19 and 20 are overlapping. Also, the end portions of the first 12 and second 13 link members of the intermediate corners 21 of one lattice section 11A overlap with the end portions of the first 12 and second 13 link members of the intermediate corners 21 of an adjacent lattice wall section 11B.
A plurality of wall sections 11 and vertical posts 10 are installed to form the perimeter of a yurt. The topmost 19, bottommost 20 and intermediate corners of the lattices abut the top and bottom boundaries of the first, second and intermediate slots, preventing the wall sections from moving in one direction, and maintaining a uniform height around the perimeter of the yurt walls as the yurt is constructed.
Referring to FIG. 8, a doorframe 18 is affixed between two vertical posts 10. After the lattice wall sections 11 are installed, the roof of the yurt can be installed. In one preferred embodiment, the end portions of each roof pole 22 are provided with holes (not shown) matching the holes 25 in the sidewalls of the groove 17 at the top of the vertical posts 10. Once, a first end of a roof pole 22 is received in the groove 17 of the top of a vertical post 10 and the holes aligned, a locking pin is inserted through the holes, to secure the roof pole 22. Other roof poles are secured to the other vertical posts 10. The opposite ends of the roof poles 22 are secured to a roof ring 24. In an alternate embodiment, the opposite ends of the roof poles 22 are also secured to the roof ring 24 using locking pins.
Referring to FIG. 9, in another preferred embodiment, once a number of lattice walls and adjacent vertical posts are set up, with the roof ring 24 and four roof poles 22, additional roof poles can be connected between the roof ring and the top corners of the walls, completing the structural set-up of the yurt.
All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6.
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.

Claims

1. A structure, comprising:

a. at least one articulating lattice wall section; and

b. at least one vertical post comprising a means for receiving the side of an articulating lattice wall section, so that when the side of an articulating wall section is received in the receiving means, articulation of the articulating lattice wall section is limited.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the structure further comprises;

a. at least one roof support;

b. an attachment means at the apex of the roof for supporting any number of roof supports;

c. at least one vertical post, including a means for receiving the side of an articulating lattice wall section, so that when the side of an articulating wall section is received in the receiving means, articulation of the articulating lattice wall section is limited; and

d. a means for receiving and securing a roof support to a vertical post and/or a lattice wall section.

3. The structure of claim 2, wherein the means for receiving and securing a roof support comprises an attachment means that receives a roof support, and a mechanism for holding the roof support in place.

4. The structure of claim 2, wherein at least one vertical post also comprises a series of slots along its length.

5. The structure of claim 4, wherein the slots are disposed along the length of a vertical post and extend through the vertical post from one side of the vertical post to another side.

6. The structure of claim 4, wherein each articulating lattice wall section comprises a matrix of pivotally connected linked members.

7. The structure of claim 4, wherein the articulating movement of the linked members of the lattice wall sections is hampered by the side of a lattice wall section engaging the sides of the slots in the vertical posts.

8. The structure of claim 7, wherein the slots are evenly spaced.

9. The structure of claim 6, wherein when the linked members' ability to pivot in one direction is hampered when the side of a lattice wall section engages the sides of the slots.

10. The structure of claim 9, wherein the weight of a lattice wall provides enough pressure to hold the linked members in the slots of the vertical posts.

11. The structure of claim 9, wherein the roof supports are permanently attached to the means for receiving and securing roof supports to vertical posts.

12. The structure of claim 2, wherein the articulating lattice wall sections comprise laminated wood.

13. The structure of claim 2, wherein the structure comprises at least one doorframe member between two adjacent vertical posts.

14. The structure of claim 13, wherein one doorframe member is disposed between the tops of the sides of two adjacent vertical posts, and another doorframe member is disposed between the bottoms of the sides of two adjacent vertical posts.

15. The structure of claim 13, wherein a locking means secures doorframe members in place.

17. A yurt comprising; at least one articulating lattice wall section defined by a matrix of pivotally linked members; and at least one vertical post that connects to the side of a lattice wall section, together forming a perimeter wall or a part of a perimeter wall of a yurt; wherein each vertical post comprises a means on one end for receiving a roof support, a first slot near its top end for receiving a topmost corner of a lattice wall section, a second slot near its bottom end for receiving a bottommost corner of a lattice wall section, and a plurality of intermediate slots spaced apart to receive the sides of lattice wall sections;

wherein the slots prevent the side, and therefore the entirety, of a lattice wall section from moving, using force generated from the weight of the lattice wall section.

18. The yurt of claim 17, wherein the means for receiving a roof support comprises a locking mechanism for locking the roof support in place.

19. The yurt of claim 17, wherein the roof supports attach to a central roof ring at the apex of the structure.

20. The yurt of claim 17, wherein the lattice walls, roof supports and vertical poles are covered with a covering further comprising the walls of the yurt.