Patent Application
20060181038
In northern climates, when cold winter temperatures turn lake surfaces into ice, many anglers brave cold and wind for the time honored sport of ice fishing. Often times, the only difference between cold and comfort is avoiding the wind. A simple, inexpensive means for providing shelter in conjunction with activities such as ice fishing is needed.
A portable shelter according to the present invention comprises a sled, a first bracket, a first pole, and a first sheet of material. The sled includes a base and a plurality of walls connected to the base, and the plurality of walls include a perimeter edge. The first bracket is disposed on the sled. The first pole has a first end and a second end, where the first end of the first pole is operatively connected to the first bracket. The first pole is pivotable between a first position where the second end of the first pole is positioned adjacent to a first portion of the perimeter edge and a second position where the second end of the first pole is spaced from the first portion of the perimeter edge. The first sheet of material is secured between the first pole and the portion of the perimeter edge of the sled, such that the sled can be positioned to rest on a bottom edge of the edge portion with the sled tilted at an angle defined by the first sheet.
The present invention relates to a portable shelter. The portable shelter includes a sled and one or more wing assemblies. The sled can be used for carrying and transporting supplies and equipment. The sled can also be placed upright and supported at a tilted angle by the one or more wing assemblies for creating a shelter that functions as a wind brace (or wind break). The portable shelter is convertible simply between a sled mode and a shelter mode.
The sled 22 is constructed from a suitable polymer, such as in a molding process that yields a base 26 and perimeter side walls 28 extending from the base 26. An outwardly radiating upper perimeter ledge 32 extends generally normal to the side walls 28. The ledge 32 is further connected to a perimeter lip 34, which extends generally normal to the ledge 32 and toward the base 26. The sled 22 has a generally rectangular shape, with two shorter sides, front side 35F and rear side 35R, and two longer sides 35S. As shown best in
The wing assemblies 24A and 24B are identically constructed and will be discussed relative to wing assembly 24A. Wing assembly 24A generally comprises a U-shaped bracket 36, a pole 38, and a sheet of material 40. The U-shaped bracket 36 is mounted on the ledge 32 of the sled 22, and pivotally connects the pole 38 to sled 22. The bracket 36 is positioned near the front side 35F of the sled 22, and can be secured to ledge 32 using one or more bolts or similar fasteners.
The pole 38 has a first end 42 and a second end 44. The pole 38 can be adjustable in length. The first end 42 of the pole 38 is pivotally mounted to the U-shaped bracket 36 using a pivot pin or other similar connector. In one embodiment, the second end 44 of the pole 38 has a pointed tip 46. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the second end 44 of pole 38 is generally configured to securely engage or grip a ground surface that may be snowy and/or icy, and other gripping means, for example cleats, can be utilized. The pole 38 is pivotable between a first (closed) position, where the second end 44 of the pole 38 is positioned adjacent to a portion of the ledge 32 of the sled 22, and a second (open) position where the second end 44 of the pole 38 is spaced from the portion of the ledge 32. A pair of C-shaped brackets 47 (only one bracket visible in
The sheet of material 40 comprises any suitable fabric. By way of example, material 40 can comprise a fabric selected for properties such as flexibility in cold temperatures, durability, weather resistance and wind-stopping capability. One suitable fabric is ICE ARMOR™ fabric by Clam Corp., Minneapolis, Minn. The sheet of material 40 has a generally triangular shape. The sheet of material 40 has a first elongate edge that is configured to define a sleeve 48 for securing the sheet of material 40 to the pole 38. The sheet of material 40 further includes a second elongate edge connected to the lip 34 along a longer side 35S of the sled 22 by a bracket 50. Fasteners, such as screws, bolts or the like, can be used to secure the bracket 50 to the lip 34. Such fasteners generally penetrate the sheet of material 40.
The pole 38 in the second (open) position holds the sheet of material 40 in an open, substantially planar configuration, and supports the sled 22 in a tilted, upright position. In this position the ledge 32/lip 34, at a rear end 35R of the sled 22, are in contact with the ground surface.
In further embodiments, the wing assemblies 24A and 24B can include various optional features. In one embodiment, a flap or skirt 52 (not shown with respect to wing assembly 24B) having one or more grommets 54 can extend from a bottom edge of the sheet of material 40. In still further embodiments, a window 56 is disposed in the sheet of material 40. The flap or skirt 52 can be a separate piece of material connected to the sheet of material 40 or merely formed as a contiguous extension of the sheet of material 40 itself. The flap 52 makes the functional length of the sheet of material 40 (measured along the second elongate edge of the sheet of material 40) longer than the sled 22 (measured along one of the longer sides of the sled 22). The one or more grommets 54 are used for securing the flap 52 to a ground surface (that may be snowy and/or icy) using stakes, anchors, or the like. The window 56 can be disposed in the sheet of material 40, and can be a clear vinyl material. Other features such as pockets located on an inside face of the sheet of material 40 and safety reflectors located on an outside face of the sheet of material 40 can also be included.
In further embodiments, a cover (not shown) can be fitted over the shelter 20, while in the sled mode, for covering an open portion of the sled 22 as well as supplies and equipment stored there. In still further embodiments, skis or runners can be fitted to or formed along outer portions of the base 26 of the sled 22 to facilitate sliding the shelter 20 over snowy and icy terrain.
The shelter is convertible to the shelter mode (shown in
In a similar fashion, the shelter 20 can be converted from the shelter mode to the sled mode by following the procedure described above in reverse. When the wing assemblies 24A and 24B are closed, the sheets of material 40 are stowed inside the sled 22. The respective pole 38 of each wing assembly 24A, 24B is secured to the C-shaped clamps 47 (shown in
In further embodiments, a shelter according to the present invention includes only a single wing assembly for supporting a sled in an upright, tilted position. In such an embodiment, the shelter is configured and operated in a similar manner to that described above. A sheltered area is created between the single wing assembly and the sled, and the single wing assembly alone supports the sled in a tilted, upright position.
Thus it will be recognized that the present invention provides a simple, lightweight, and inexpensive shelter than is convertible between a sled mode and a shelter mode.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
