Patent Application
20230383567
Conventional portable shelters, such as tents, blinds, or gazebos, may include a roof with a central hub and several support poles extending from the central hub to support a covering material. Although such shelters are generally intended to be temporary, some users leave the shelters installed in place over extended periods of time. Conventional portable shelters, however, tend to collapse when left out for extended periods of time. For example, wind may knock them over or snow may cause them to collapse. Aspects of embodiments of the present technology address these issues and other issues.
Representative embodiments of the present technology include shelter support poles with rotating extension mechanisms, frame structures that implement the shelter support poles, and shelters that implement the frame structures.
In some embodiments, a telescoping pole structure for a shelter includes a shell pole portion extending along a longitudinal axis; a sleeve fixed to the shell pole portion; an inner pole portion extending along the longitudinal axis and positioned at least partially within the shell pole portion and at least partially within the sleeve, wherein the inner pole portion slides telescopically relative to the shell pole portion; and a detent element fixed to the inner pole portion. In some embodiments, the sleeve includes an engagement surface having one or more surface positions for contacting the detent element, the sleeve is rotatable relative to the inner pole portion, and contact between the detent element and each of the one or more surface positions prevents the inner pole portion from moving telescopically into the shell pole portion.
In some embodiments, a frame structure for a shelter includes a center hub structure and a plurality of pole structures, each pole structure of the plurality of pole structures configured to span between the center hub structure and a corner of the frame structure, wherein at least one of the pole structures includes a telescoping pole structure configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.
In some embodiments, a shelter includes a frame structure and one or more cover panels attached to the frame structure. The frame structure may include a plurality of pole structures interconnected with one or more hub structures. The pole structures and the hub structures may form one or more side portions of the frame structure and a roof portion of the frame structure. The frame structure may include a telescoping pole structure configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.
Other features and advantages will appear hereinafter. The features described above can be used separately or together, or in various combinations of one or more of them.
In the drawings, wherein the same reference number indicates the same element throughout the several views:
The present technology is directed to shelter support poles with extension mechanisms, shelters incorporating support poles with extension mechanisms, and associated systems and methods. Various embodiments of the technology will now be described. The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding and enabling description of these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand, however, that the invention may be practiced without many of these details. Additionally, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or described in detail so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the relevant description of the various embodiments. Accordingly, embodiments of the present technology may include additional elements or exclude some of the elements described below with reference to
The terminology used in this description is intended to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the technology. Certain terms may even be emphasized below; however, any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this detailed description section.
Where the context permits, singular or plural terms may also include the plural or singular term, respectively. Moreover, unless the word “or” is expressly limited to mean only a single item exclusive from the other items in a list of two or more items, then the use of “or” in such a list is to be interpreted as including (a) any single item in the list, (b) all the items in the list, or (c) any combination of items in the list. Further, unless otherwise specified, terms such as “attached” or “connected” are intended to include integral connections, as well as connections between physically separate components.
The pole structures 205 may be extendable and contractable (for example, by telescoping) to facilitate assembly, disassembly, or transformation of the frame structure 200 (and, correspondingly, the shelter, such as the shelter 100 shown in
In some embodiments, one or more elements of the frame structure 200 may be omitted. For example, one or more side portions 215 may be omitted from the frame structure 200 to form one or more corresponding openings 235 for doors or other passageways.
With reference to
In some embodiments, the telescoping pole structure 300 includes a biasing element 425 for biasing the inner pole portion 405 away from the shell pole portion 410 (in other words, to bias the telescoping pole structure 300 toward an extended configuration that is longer than a retracted configuration of the telescoping pole structure 300). The biasing element 425 can include any suitable device for creating suitable force for biasing the inner pole portion 405 away from the shell pole portion 410. For example, in some embodiments, the biasing element 425 includes a compression spring positioned inside the shell pole portion 410 between an end 430 of the inner pole portion 405 (specifically, the end 430 opposite the end that has the first connection element 415) and a stop element 435. The stop element 435 may be fixed to the shell pole portion 410 at a location that allows the inner pole portion 405 to be moved into the shell pole portion 410 as the biasing element 425 compresses. The biasing element 425 may push against the stop element 435 and against the inner pole portion 405 to tend to cause the inner pole portion 405 to move in a manner that extends the telescoping pole structure 300. In some embodiments, the stop element 435 may include a screw, pin, bolt, or other element passing through the shell pole portion 410 to fix the biasing element 425 in or to the shell pole portion 410.
With additional reference to
As the user continues to push the center hub structure 210d upward, the roof portion 230 may pop upwardly due to the force from the biasing element 425 tending to bias the telescoping pole structures 300 toward their extended lengths. The center hub structure 210d is then positioned higher than the remainder of the roof portion 230, forming a generally convex roof shape pointing upward. At that point, the biasing element 425 may temporarily support the weight of the roof, although the roof portion 230 may flex due to the axial flexure allowed by the telescoping nature of the telescoping pole structures 300.
When the center hub structure 210d is in the upward position, the user may operate the extension mechanism 310 to secure the roof portion 230. For example, the telescoping pole structure 300 may include the extension mechanism 310 for increasing or maintaining tension in the roof portion 230 and the roof 120 to support the weight of the roof 120 for an extended time. The extension mechanism 310 also enables reduction of tension for disassembling or stowing the frame structure 200. To increase tension, the extension mechanism 310 extends the telescoping pole structure 300 toward its maximum extended length. To maintain tension, the extension mechanism 310 resists or prevents compression of the telescoping pole structure 300 toward a shortened or contracted length. To reduce tension, the extension mechanism 310 allows the telescoping pole structure 300 to compress toward a shortened or contracted length. Accordingly, the extension mechanism 310 facilitates adjustment and maintenance of a length of the telescoping pole structure 300.
Returning to
In some embodiments, the sleeve 440 includes an engagement surface 450 with one or more surface positions 455 for contacting the detent element 445. The positions 455 on the engagement surface 450 prevent the detent element 445 from passing the engagement surface 450, thereby interfering with the ability of the telescoping pole structure 300 to collapse, retract, or compress. The positions 455 are located at different positions along the longitudinal axis x, such that rotating the sleeve 440 about the longitudinal axis x to change its orientation relative to the longitudinal axis x causes the detent element 445 to engage a selected position 455. Accordingly, the positions 455 provide variable limits on the amount of collapse, retraction, or compression of the telescoping pole structure 300.
In some embodiments, the sleeve 440 includes an opening 460 in a side of the sleeve 440, and the opening 460 may be bounded at least in part by the engagement surface 450. In other embodiments, the engagement surface 450 may be positioned elsewhere, for example, not within an opening in the sleeve 440 (it may be on an end of the sleeve 440 or not surrounded/bounded by other parts of the sleeve 440). To facilitate rotation of the sleeve 440 and the shell pole portion 410 relative to the inner pole portion 405, in some embodiments, the first connection element 415 may include a flat surface 465 or other suitable structure to prevent axial rotation of the inner pole portion 405 relative to the hub to which it is connected (for example, an upper corner hub structure 210b or a center hub structure 210d).
Described another way, the positions 455a, 455b, 455c may be steps along the engagement surface 450 that hold the detent element 445 (and therefore, the inner pole portion 405) at a selected distance from the second connection element 420 (see
In operation, with reference to
Forces from the roof portion 230 and the roof 120 will tend to compress the telescoping pole structure 300, but the detent element 445 pressed against the selected position (for example, position 455a, 455b, or 455c, or another position on the engagement surface 450) will prevent contraction of the telescoping pole structure 300. Accordingly, each telescoping pole structure 300 provides tension, rigidity, and stability to the roof portion 230, the roof 120, and the overall shelter 100. When a user wants to loosen the tension, reduce rigidity, or otherwise disassemble or stow the roof portion 230, the user may rotate the sleeve 440 to position the detent element 445 at a different position (such as position 455a, 455b, or 455c, or another position) or in the elongated slot 600.
In use, frame structures and shelters configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology may be deployed in any suitable manner, while utilizing the pole structures described herein. For example, frame structures and shelters may be configured to “pop-up” or deploy quickly, after which a user may rigidify the structure using the extension mechanism 310.
In some embodiments, only the roof portion of a frame structure employs telescoping pole structures 300. In other embodiments, the telescoping pole structures 300 may be implemented in any portion of a frame structure, such as one or more sides of a frame structure. Accordingly, any of the pole structures 205 implemented in a frame structure may be a telescoping pole structure 300 described above. In some embodiments, the extension mechanism 310 may be positioned closer to a corner hub structure 210b than to a center hub structure 210d. In other embodiments, the extension mechanism 310 may be positioned closer to the center hub structure 210d than to the corner hub structure 210b.
In some embodiments, a shelter may include a single stand-alone wall or a single roof structure configured to be supported by a suitable support structure. For example, individual side portions 215 and roof portions 230 (each of which may include a plurality of pole structures and hubs to form a frame, with one or more panels of material attached thereto) may be implemented independently in various embodiments and oriented in any suitable manner to provide a shelter. A shelter configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology need not include multiple sides supporting a roof. In some embodiments, a shelter may be an indoor or outdoor partition structure (such as a partition or shade from the sun or wind in an outdoor environment). In some embodiments, a shelter may be in the form of a single wall or partition structure configured to be supported by a corner or an edge of the single wall. In other words, a roof or side structure implementing aspects of the present technology (such as the pole structures) may be deployed independently of other walls or supports associated with a shelter. In some embodiments, therefore, a shelter may include a hub structure, one or more pole structures, and one or more panels of cover material attached to—or supported by—the hub structure and the pole structures.
Various suitable materials may be used to form the various components of the frame structure and the panels. Rigid or generally rigid components such as the hub structures, connection elements, or portions of pole structures may include composite materials such as high-stiffness fiberglass or carbon fiber, high-stiffness plastic materials, or metal materials. In some embodiments, the pole structures may include semi-flexible materials.
Some embodiments of the present technology include kits of parts for assembling a frame structure or shelter. Kits of parts may include some or all of the elements of a frame structure or shelter described herein. For example, a kit of parts may include a plurality of pole structures 205, 300, a suitable quantity of hub structures 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d, one or more panels 110, a roof 120, or other components or combinations of components disclosed herein.
Embodiments of the present technology include portable shelters (such as tents, blinds, gazebos, partitions, or other shelter structures) that resist collapse, even when left installed for extended periods of time and in inclement conditions. Telescoping pole structures 300 configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology enable a user to stiffen the roof or sides of a portable shelter and to apply and maintain tension on the panels used in the roof or sides of a portable shelter. Any suitable number of pole structures may be used in various embodiments.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the presently disclosed technology have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the scope of the technology. For example, although shelters are illustrated herein as having six walls, some embodiments may include more or fewer walls. Although shelters are illustrated as having sheets of material forming walls of the shelters, in some embodiments, one or more sheets of material may be eliminated to form openings in one or more walls or the roof of the shelter. In some embodiments, sheets of material may be omitted entirely (such that some embodiments of the technology include frame structures without walls or a roof).
In some embodiments, a biasing element (e.g., biasing element 425) may be omitted and a user may simply push and hold the center hub structure 210d upward before using the extension mechanism 310. Accordingly, telescoping pole structures, roof portions, and shelters configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology may include other combinations of features disclosed herein. Aspects of embodiments of the present technology may include aspects of elements disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021/0396037, which is incorporated here in its entirety by reference.
Certain aspects of the technology described in the context of particular embodiments may be combined or eliminated in other embodiments. Further, while advantages associated with certain embodiments of the presently disclosed technology have been described in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the technology. Accordingly, the disclosure and associated technology can encompass other embodiments not expressly shown or described herein.
