US-12624566-B2 - Portable shelter

US12624566B2US 12624566 B2US12624566 B2US 12624566B2US-12624566-B2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable shelter assembly. The assembly includes a support; and an expandable shelter for being supported by the support and expanding to shelter at least one person. The shelter includes ribs extending from the support. Each rib includes a proximal element pivotally mounted to the support. Each rib further includes a distal element extending from the proximal element and configured to move outwardly to expand the shelter when the proximal element pivots in a first direction. The ribs can be extended independently, one at a time.

Inventors

Mark Andrew Fraser

Assignees

Mark Andrew Fraser

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240423
Priority Date: 20190308

Claims (19)

1 . A portable shelter assembly including: a support; and an expandable shelter for being supported by the support and expanding to shelter at least one person, the shelter including ribs extending from the support and supporting a canopy, each rib including: a proximal element pivotally mounted to the support, and a distal element extending from the proximal element and configured to move outwardly to expand the shelter when the proximal element pivots in a first direction, both the proximal element and distal element supporting the canopy; wherein the ribs can be extended independently and anchored, one at a time; and wherein the shelter includes weighted peripheral anchors, the anchors including respective corner strips each extending from a corner periphery of the shelter to the ground; and wherein the distal and proximal elements fold together when collapsing the shelter so that outer surfaces of an expanded canopy supported by the ribs fold together; moisture from rain being contained within the collapsed shelter and the outer surface of the collapsed shelter, being the inner surface of the expanded canopy, is dry.
2 . A portable shelter assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the distal elements can be simply pulled down one at a time to lift the associated proximal element and extend the ribs, or pulled down together to lift the proximal element and extend the ribs.
3 . A portable shelter assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the elements are substantially parallel and/or stacked when the shelter is collapsed to advantageously form an extremely compact shelter for storage whilst forming an expansive shelter when expanded.
4 . A portable shelter assembly as claimed in claim 1 , further including another proximal element extending between the support and the rib.
5 . A portable shelter assembly as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the distal element is further configured to move inwardly to collapse the shelter when the proximal elements pivot in a second direction opposite the first direction.
6 . A portable shelter assembly as claimed in claim 4 , wherein ends of the proximal elements come together proximal the distal element during expansion of the shelter to form a secure triangular structure.
7 . A portable shelter assembly as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the distal element is pivotally mounted to at least one of the proximal elements, and pivots in an opposite direction to the proximal elements.
8 . A portable shelter assembly as claimed in claim 4 , wherein at least one of the proximal elements includes a retainer for retaining the distal element.
9 . A portable shelter assembly as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the other proximal element includes a sole strut.
10 . A portable shelter assembly as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the proximal and distal elements are spaced and pivotally mounted to the support at respective mounts fixed to the support.
11 . A portable shelter assembly as claimed in claim 4 , including a spacer for spacing the distal ends of the proximal elements during collapsing.
12 . A portable shelter assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first direction is in an upward direction.
13 . A portable shelter assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the expandable shelter includes the canopy which impedes further rotation of the proximal elements.
14 . A portable shelter assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein: the distal element and proximal element overlap when the rib is fully open; and/or an obtuse angle is formed between the proximal element and the distal element when the shelter is expanded and in use.
15 . A portable shelter assembly including: a support; and an expandable shelter for being supported by the support and expanding to shelter at least one person, the shelter including ribs extending from the support and supporting a canopy, each rib including: a proximal element pivotally mounted to the support, and a distal element extending from the proximal element and configured to move outwardly to expand the shelter when the proximal element pivots in a first direction, both the proximal element and distal element supporting the canopy; another proximal element extending between the support and the rib wherein the ribs can be extended independently, one at a time; and wherein the shelter is a beach shelter with weighted peripheral anchors, each peripheral anchor extending from a periphery of the shelter to the ground; and wherein at least one of the proximal elements includes a guide permitting sliding of the distal element there-through.
16 . A portable shelter assembly as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the distal element includes an impediment for impeding free sliding through the guide.
17 . A portable shelter assembly as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the impediment includes a rounded formation.
18 . A portable shelter assembly including: a support; and an expandable shelter for being supported by the support and expanding to shelter at least one person, the shelter including ribs extending from the support and supporting a canopy, each rib including: a proximal element pivotally mounted to the support, and a distal element extending from the proximal element and configured to move outwardly to expand the shelter when the proximal element pivots in a first direction, both the proximal element and distal element supporting the canopy; wherein the ribs can be extended independently and anchored, one at a time; and wherein the shelter includes weighted peripheral anchors, the anchors including respective corner strips each extending from a corner periphery of the shelter to the ground; and wherein the distal element can slide relative to the proximal element.
19 . A portable shelter assembly including: a support; and an expandable shelter for being supported by the support and expanding to shelter at least one person, the shelter including ribs extending from the support and supporting a canopy, each rib including: a proximal element pivotally mounted to the support, and a distal element extending from the proximal element and configured to move outwardly to expand the shelter when the proximal element pivots in a first direction, both the proximal element and distal element supporting the canopy; wherein the ribs can be extended independently, one at a time; and wherein the distal element can slide relative to the proximal element.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/424,286 filed Jul. 20, 2021, which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of PCT Application No. PCT/AU2020/050033 filed on Jan. 22, 2020, which claims priority to AU patent application No. 2019100254 filed on Mar. 8, 2019, and AU patent application No. 2019900194 filed on Jan. 22, 2019, and U.S. application Ser. No. 17/424,286 also claims priority to AU application No. 2021900005 filed on Jan. 4, 2021, the disclosures of which are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a portable shelter. The present invention has particular, although not exclusive application to beach shelters, umbrellas and other like outdoor shelters. BACKGROUND The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. Skin cancer and other skin damage from the sun is increasing at alarming rate. In order to order to minimize skin damage, beach goers can bring beach umbrellas to the beach. The umbrellas may be jammed into the sand and expanded to provide shelter to a beach goer. However, in practice, beach umbrellas are prone to blow away in the wind. Accordingly, the canopy of a beach umbrella is often rested on the sand to stabilize the umbrella. Resting the umbrella in this manner undesirably results in the beach goer needing to crouch awkwardly beneath the umbrella and generally provides only partial sun protection as part of the beach goer is exposed. Other types of shelter are also known. A semi-enclosed expandable shelter has flexible ribs that extend to ground level to tension the shelter. These shelters undesirably lack air flow and adequate height to provide suitable ventilation and cooling for their occupants and can be difficult to foldaway. Large “scissor” action shelter have extendable legs requiring two or more people to erect. These shelters are difficult to easily transport to and from the beach. A known shelter is reliant upon the wind to be kept open to provide adequate room for its occupants. Often, there is not enough wind to keep these shelters open enough with the outcome that beach goers do not stay long, do not enjoy their time at the beach or simply do not use any shelter thereby increasing their susceptibility to skin cancers. There are 2 main types of existing umbrellas: namely large golf type umbrellas that fold in length to more than 1 m or compact “handbag” umbrellas that use a tri-folding mechanism to fold small enough to fit inside a handbag or satchel for convenience. Both types fold in manner which exposes the outer top “wet” surface of the canopy when closed. Compact handbag umbrellas require a complex opening and closing process comprising many parts which must be small in order to achieve their compact fold. This undesirably results in many weak umbrellas that have a short lifespan and end up as waste. The preferred embodiment provides an improved shelter for beach goers and umbrellas for protection from rain and sun. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable shelter assembly including: a support; andan expandable shelter for being supported by the support and expanding to shelter at least one person, the shelter including ribs extending from the support and supporting a canopy, each rib including: a proximal element pivotally mounted to the support, anda distal element extending from the proximal element and configured to move outwardly to expand the shelter when the proximal element pivots in a first direction, both the proximal element and distal element supporting the canopy; wherein the ribs can be extended independently, one at a time. The present specification also discloses a portable shelter assembly including: a support; and an expandable shelter for being supported by the support and expanding to shelter at least one person, the shelter including ribs extending from the support, each rib including: one or more proximal elements pivotally mounted to the support, anda distal element extending from the proximal elements and configured to move outwardly to expand the shelter when the proximal elements pivot in a first direction. Advantageously, the distal elements may be simply pulled down one at a time to lift the connected proximal elements and extend the ribs, which is advantageous in windy conditions, or pulled down together to lift the proximal elements and extend the ribs. The distal and proximal elements may fold together when collapsing the shelter (e.g. umbrella) so that outer surfaces of an expanded canopy supported by the ribs fold together. Advantageously, moisture from rain may be contained within the collapsed shelter, and the outer surface of the collapsed shelter (being the inner surface of the