Abstract:
A fixed geometry shelter system supported above the ground for receiving at least one person is provided. The fixed geometry shelter system comprises a shelter cover supported above the ground thereby defining a covered ground area. A first shelter opening tilts in a first general direction away from the covered ground area and has a first angle less than ninety (90°) degrees relative to the ground. A second shelter opening tilts in a second general direction away from the covered ground area and has a second angle less than ninety (90°) degrees.

Description:
[0001]    The present application is a continuation of pending provisional patent application Ser. No. 09/222,616, filed on Aug. 2, 2000, entitled “Fixed Geometry Shelter for Use in Camping and Related Outdoor Activities”. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates generally to a shelter for use in camping and related outdoor activities and, more particularly, it relates to an adjustable lightweight shelter for use in camping and related outdoor activities which allows a user to adjust the ventilation through the shelter for optimum protection from environmental elements.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    A variety of lightweight portable shelters, including tents and tarps, have been used for mountaineering, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, bicycling, hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities that commonly involve camping in remote areas. In many hiking and camping situations, the amount of weight of the camping gear is of great importance. This is particularly true for backpackers on long term and short-term wilderness treks since even small tents can weigh far more than is desirable.  
           [0006]    Conventional tents usually protect one well from rain, but not moisture collected inside due to inadequate ventilation. Presently available tents provide a trade-off between either good ventilation or rain protection, but not both simultaneously. Moisture inside the tent is typically created by the moisture emitted from the user&#39;s body, such as during breathing and sweating. Without proper ventilation, the moisture saturates the tent and the contents inside the tent thereby presenting a potentially dangerous problem for the user in keeping his or her body and equipment warm and dry.  
           [0007]    Accordingly, there exists a need for a fixed geometry shelter for use in camping and related outdoor activities which allows maximum ventilation through the shelter while maintaining optimum protection from environmental elements across a wide range of conditions. Additionally, a need exists for a fixed geometry shelter for use in camping and related outdoor activities having ventilation openings which can be adjusted depending on the amount of ventilation desired and/or required. Furthermore, there exists a need for a fixed geometry shelter for use in camping and related outdoor activities which is lightweight and can be assembled by the user in minimal time.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0008]    The present invention is a shelter assembly for receiving a person. The shelter assembly is positioned on the ground. The shelter assembly comprises a top cover sheet having a first end edge and a second end edge. First support means are formed along the first edge of the cover sheet for supporting the first edge at a first angle less than ninety (90°) degrees relative to the ground with the first support means forming a first shelter opening. Second support means are formed along the second edge of the cover sheet for supporting the second edge at a second angle less than ninety (90°) degrees relative to the ground with the second support means forming a second shelter opening.  
           [0009]    The present invention additionally includes a fixed geometry shelter system supported above the ground for receiving at least one person. The fixed geometry shelter system comprises a shelter cover supported above the ground thereby defining a covered ground area. A first shelter opening tilts in a first general direction away from the covered ground area and has a first angle less than ninety (90°) degrees relative to the ground. A second shelter opening tilts in a second general direction away from the covered ground area and has a second angle less than ninety (90°) degrees.  
           [0010]    The present invention further includes a method of sheltering at least one person. The method comprises providing a shelter sheet, forming a first opening, forming a second opening substantially opposite the first opening, tilting the first opening in a general direction away from the second opening, and tilting the second opening in a general direction away from the first opening.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a fixed geometry shelter for use in camping and related outdoor activities, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating the fixed geometry shelter for use in camping and related outdoor activities of FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is an elevational side view illustrating the fixed geometry shelter for use in camping and related outdoor activities of FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is another side elevational view illustrating the fixed geometry shelter for use in camping and related outdoor activities of FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a top plan view illustrating the fixed geometry shelter for use in camping and related outdoor activities of FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention is a fixed geometry shelter, indicated generally at  10 , for use in camping and related outdoor activities. Since a wet person loses valuable body heat at a much faster rate than a dry person, maximizing the ventilation to maintain dryness can mean the difference between life and death of the user. The fixed geometry shelter  10  of the present invention is designed to maximize protection from the environmental elements while also maximizing ventilation through the fixed geometry shelter  10  and minimizing weight. Actual use of the fixed geometry shelter  10  to maximize protection from the environmental elements while maximizing ventilation will be discussed in further detail below.  
         [0017]    The fixed geometry shelter  10  of the present invention includes a single shelter sheet  12  having a first side edge  14 , a second side edge  16  substantially opposite the first side edge  14 , a third side edge  18  between the first side edge  14  and the second side edge  16 , and a fourth side edge  20  substantially opposite the third side edge  18 . The first side edge  14  has first support means for supporting the first side edge  14  at an angle tilting away from the ground at a first angle less than ninety (90°) degrees relative to the ground and the second side edge  16  has second support means for supporting the second side edge  16  at a second angle. The second angle is preferably angled less than ninety (90°) degrees relative to the ground, but could be perpendicular to the ground or greater than ninety (90°) degrees relative to the ground.  
         [0018]    Preferably, the first support means is a first sleeve  22  and the second support means is a second sleeve  24  with the first sleeve  22  and the second sleeve  24  each receiving a pole (not shown). The first sleeve  22  and the second sleeve  24  each have a first end (not shown) and a second end (not shown). To provide ease of pitching and assembly of the fixed geometry shelter  10 , the first end of both the first sleeve  22  and the second sleeve  24  has an anchor for receiving an end of each of the poles. A grommet (not shown) at the other end of the first sleeve  22  and the second sleeve  24  receives the other end of each of the poles.  
         [0019]    It should be noted that while the first support means and the second support means have been described as being a first sleeve  24  with an anchor and grommet and a second sleeve  24  with an anchor and grommet, it is within the scope of the present invention to have any type of first support means and second support means comprising clips and the like and having two grommets, etc.  
         [0020]    Preferably, each pole includes a plurality of connectable pole sections (not shown) which are pre-bent such that upon connection of the pole section, each pole is formed into a substantially curved shape for increased strength and durability. In an embodiment of the present invention, the fixed geometry shelter  10  includes a first pole (not shown) and a second pole (not shown) with the first pole having a length greater than a length of the second pole. The curved shape of the poles, upon insertion of the first pole into the first sleeve  22  of the first side edge  14  and upon insertion of the second pole into the second sleeve  24  of the second side edge  16 , causes the first side edge  14  to assume a corresponding curved shape with a height of approximately forty-two (42″) inches and a width of approximately sixty (60″) inches and the second side edge  24  to assume a corresponding curved shape with a height of approximately twenty (20″) inches and a width of approximately forty-five (45″) inches.  
         [0021]    The fixed geometry shelter  10  further includes a floor sheet  26  connected between the third side edge  18  and the fourth side edge  20  of the shelter sheet  12 . A first end sheet  28  is connected between the first side edge  14  of the shelter sheet  12  and the floor sheet  26  and a second end sheet  30  is connected between the second side edge  16  of the shelter sheet  12  and the floor sheet  26 . Preferably, the floor sheet  26  is connected to the shelter sheet  12  by stitching or the like. Furthermore, preferably, the first end sheet  28  and the second sheet  30  are connected to the shelter sheet  12  and the floor sheet  26  by stitching or the like. A person skilled in the art will understand that the assembly of the fixed geometry shelter  10  of the present invention can be accomplished in a variety of manners in addition to stitching. For instance, the shelter sheet  12 , the floor sheet  26 , the first end sheet  28 , and the second end sheet  30  can be joined by a heat seal or the like. In order to insure that the fixed geometry shelter  10  is sufficiently waterproof from even severe elements, a silicone sealer can be applied over the joined edges.  
         [0022]    The shelter sheet  12 , the first end sheet  28 , and the second end sheet  30  are preferably constructed from silicone-impregnated ripstop nylon for lightweight waterproof reliability. The floor sheet  26  is preferably constructed from urethane-coated ripstop nylon for abrasion resistance and optimal floor friction. It is within the scope of the present invention, however, to construct the shelter sheet  12 , the floor sheet  26 , the first end sheet  28 , and the second end sheet  30  from any type of material including, but not limited to, silicon-impregnated nylon, urethane-coated nylon, plastic, fabric, canvas, etc.  
         [0023]    The first end sheet  28  and the second end sheet  30  include an opening mechanism  32  to allow at least a portion of the first end sheet  28  and the second end sheet  30  to be opened thereby allowing ventilation to travel through the fixed geometry shelter  10 . In a preferred embodiment, the opening mechanism  32  is a zipper, although other types of opening mechanisms  32  are within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0024]    A meshing  34  can be provided about the opening formed in the first end sheet  28  and the second end sheet  30  to inhibit the entrance of insects and other foreign materials into the fixed geometry shelter  10  while allowing maximum ventilation therethrough. Furthermore, a first awning  36  can be placed over the first end sheet  28  and a second awning  38  can be placed over the second end sheet  30 . The first awning  36  and the second awning  38  inhibit direct sunlight and weather elements, such as drizzle, rain, snow, or hail, from entering the fixed geometry shelter  10 . In an alternative embodiment, the second end sheet  30  could be constructed from a mesh material with or without an opening mechanism  32  thereby providing maximum ventilation through the fixed geometry shelter  10 . Additionally, beneath the first awning  36  and the second awning  38 , the top six (6″) inches are entirely mesh to maintain at least some ventilation at all times.  
         [0025]    The fixed geometry shelter  10  of the present invention further includes a plurality of tie-down lines  40  connected to and positioned about the fixed geometry shelter  10  for securing the fixed geometry shelter  10  to the ground, trees, rocks, etc. For instance, two tie-down lines  40  are attached at the first side edge  14  of the shelter sheet  12 , with one tie-down line  40  on each side of the first awning  36 . An additional tie-down line  40  is attached to the first awning  36  and another tie-down line  40  is attached to the second awning  38 .  
         [0026]    The fixed geometry shelter  10  of the present invention can be set-up in a variety of different configurations. The second end sheet  30  is first positioned into the wind and/or weather. The pole sections are then connected together and the poles are inserted into the first sleeve  22  and the second sleeve  24 . Next, in a preferred configuration, the tie-down lines  40  are connected to the ground, trees, rocks, etc., in a taut manner. By connecting the tie-down lines  40  in such a manner, the first end of the fixed geometry shelter  10  is angled away from the center of the fixed geometry shelter  10  thereby allowing the opening in the first end sheet  28  to be left open for maximum ventilation, even in rainy weather. A plurality of stakes  42  can be provided to further secure the fixed geometry shelter  10  to the ground.  
         [0027]    The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained in the drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications and alternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been so shown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as disclosed herein, may be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which are disclosed herein.