Patent ID: 8578956
Filing Date: 2013-11-12
Classification: E04H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A collapsible shelter structure, comprising: a flexible fabric cover having a plurality of side walls and a top; a self-supporting framework comprising a central hub and a plurality of resilient spokes hingedly connected to said central hub and radiating outwardly therefrom for engaging and self-supporting the top of the fabric cover to provide a clear span roof for the shelter structure; and a supplemental support assembly for temporarily supporting said framework, said supplemental support assembly comprising a pole having a coupler at one end for coupling with and uncoupling from said framework, and a ground engaging structure at the other end of the pole for engaging the ground, whereby said supplemental support assembly supports a center portion of said framework to prevent the clear span roof of the shelter structure from collapsing under heavy external loads; wherein said coupler comprises a plurality of slots for coupling with said framework, each of said slots being arranged to receive a respective one of said spokes; wherein said coupler surrounds said central hub with said spokes extending radially outwardly through said slots; wherein said slots each have an axial portion open at the top of the coupler and a circumferential portion that extends circumferentially from the axial portion; and wherein said axial portions of the slots are arranged to allow the coupler to be pushed over the central hub with the spokes extending through the slots, and said circumferential portions of the slots are arranged to allow said coupler to be rotated into locking engagement with said spokes.