A portable and foldable shelter for use by ice fishermen and other outdoorsmen is described. A tripod of pole members, hingedly interconnected at one end, is covered with a canvas or plastics cover. A hinged tang is provided on the central pole member which can be secured to the ice and about which the erected shelter can be rotated to keep the open side thereof directly downwind in the event of a wind shift.

FIELD OF INVENTION
 This invention relates to a portable windbreak for use, for example, by ice
 fishermen and the like.
 BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
 Portable, folding, screens and windbreaks are, of course, well known in the
 art. Attention is directed, for example, to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,730,666;
 4,971,089 and 4,870,984 which all describe some form of folding, portable
 sun and/or windscreen which can be simply erected or stowed. Such devices
 usually incorporate a collapsible metal rod frame over which a canvas or
 plastics material cover can be attached. These devices are, however,
 relatively cumbersome and not particularly well adapted for single handed
 erection nor are they very stable in strong wind conditions. There is a
 need, therefore, for an improved portable windbreak which can be quickly
 and easily erected by one person and which will be effective and stable
 when mounted on an ice surface for use in strong winds such as often
 pertain during such activities as ice fishing or judging skating or skiing
 events and the like.
 OBJECT OF INVENTION
 It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable and
 collapsible shelter which can be erected by one person and which can be
 used in strong winds on an ice surface.
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
 By one aspect of this invention there is provided a portable and foldable
 shelter comprising:
 a hinged combination of three substantially rigid pole members, lying in
 substantially planar parallel relationship when in a folded position,
 having a hinge member at one end thereof arranged so that two outer pole
 members may be extended angularly to each other and a central pole member
 may be extended perpendicularly thereto so as to form a tripod when in an
 extended position;
 a flexible, planar cover member attached longitudinally along the length of
 each of said pole members so as to provide a windbreak when in said
 extended position;
 and ground securing means mounted on a second end of said central pole
 member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 In FIG. 1 there is shown a metal frame A which comprises three tubular or
 solid pole members 1,2,3, lying in substantially planar parallel
 relationship, hingedly interconnected at one end thereof by a hinge member
 4. The pole members may be have any desired cross section such as circular
 or square. If fabricated in metal, such as aluminum or steel, the pole
 members are preferably tubular in order to reduce weight. If fabricated in
 fiberglass, or a substantially rigid, but flexible, plastic material, such
 as nylon, the pole members are generally solid in cross section. A square
 cross section tubular steel pole has been found to be particularly
 suitable. Members 1 and 3 pivot outwardly and away from each other on
 longitudinal pins 5,6 respectively, and the central member 2 pivots
 perpendicularly rearwardly on a transverse pin (not shown). Central member
 2 is provided, at the other, lower, end thereof with a hinged tang 7 which
 can be secured to the ground or ice by means of a spike 8. As seen more
 clearly in FIG. 3, a canvas or thermoplastics material, such as woven
 polyethylene or polypropylene, cover 9 is secured by studs 10 to the pole
 members 1,2,3.
 In operation the frame A, covered with cover 9 is laid on the ice, with the
 hinged tang 7 uppermost and pointing directly into the wind, and the spike
 8 is hammered into the ice to hold the frame A in place. The erector then
 lifts the hinge 4 and spreads the pole members 1 and 3 sideways and
 forwards so as to form a tripod as seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Preferably,
 but not essentially, a latch member 11, connected to either of pole member
 1,3 adjacent but somewhat spaced from hinge 4, may be provided, which can
 be releasably secured to the other of pole members 1,3 by pin 12 mounted
 thereon, so as to releasably secure members 1,3 in the open or extended
 position. As seen in FIG. 4, pole member 1 or 3 may also be provided with
 an intermediate latch 14 which can be releasably secured to the other of
 members 1 and 3 by pin 15 so as to secure pole members 1 and 3 in the
 closely spaced planar parallel or closed position for ease of
 transportation, as shown in FIG. 1. A carrying handle 16 may also be
 provided. Typically, but not essentially, the pole members are about 6
 feet long and about 1 inch in diameter. This provides an erected height of
 about 5'3" with an open width between pole members 1 and 3 of about 6
 feet.
 The structure described herein is lightweight, relatively inexpensive to
 manufacture and has been found effective in winds up to at least 35 mph.
 In the event of a wind shift there is no need to dismantle the shelter.
 All that needs to be done is to lift the lower ends of poles 1 and 3 from
 the ice and rotate the erected shelter about spike 8 so that the open side
 of the shelter again faces directly downwind.