Abstract:
A temporary shelter structure is disclosed which includes a structure body including walls and supporting rods providing support for the walls. The structure also includes a removable entrance portion permitting access to the inside of the structure body and a bottom portion that is contiguous with the ground surface. The bottom portion has a section which is removable. The removable portion is affixed to the bottom portion of the shelter and occupies a portion of the total surface area of the bottom portion. The removable bottom provides a way to place field equipment on the removable portion prior to setting the shelter over the field equipment for protection against the elements of nature.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is generally related to a temporary shelter device and in particular a temporary shelter that may be erected to protect field equipment from harsh weather conditions. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Temporary shelters are commonly used for outdoor activities, such as camping, trade shows, military field events, etc. Using a temporary shelter provides a quick and inexpensive way to protect persons and goods from natures elements (i.e., sun exposure, rain, snow, excessive heat, cold, etc.). The majority of temporary shelters are used to protect people while they work and/or sleep. However, temporary shelters may also be used to protect equipment from unnecessary weather damage and premature operation failure. 
         [0003]    Different equipment requires different types of temporary shelters. However, unlike a person the equipment may be affixed to the temporary shelter to maintain stability and provide increased protection. Also, equipment may be heavy and must be properly setup prior to entering the temporary shelter. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Example embodiments of the present invention provide a temporary shelter structure that may include a structure body that includes a plurality of walls and a plurality of supporting rods providing support for the plurality of walls. The structure body may include a removable entrance portion permitting access to the inside of the structure body and a bottom portion that is contiguous with the ground surface. The structure body may also include a removable portion affixed to the bottom portion, the removable portion occupying a portion of the total surface area of the bottom portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a temporary shelter according to example embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  illustrates another example of a temporary shelter according to example embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3A  illustrates an example of a exterior temperature conditioning vent configuration according to an example embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3B  illustrates another example of a exterior temperature conditioning vent configuration according to another example embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3C  illustrates an example of a interior temperature conditioning vent configuration according to an example embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a bottom portion of the temporary shelter according to example embodiments. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a removed portion of the temporary shelter corresponding to a bottom portion of the temporary shelter according to example embodiments. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5A  illustrates an example removed portion of the temporary shelter with a first securing mechanism corresponding to a bottom portion of the temporary shelter according to example embodiments. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5B  illustrates an example removed portion of the temporary shelter with a second securing mechanism corresponding to a bottom portion of the temporary shelter according to example embodiments. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5C  illustrates an example removed portion of the temporary shelter with a third securing mechanism corresponding to a bottom portion of the temporary shelter according to example embodiments. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6A  illustrates an example removed portion of the temporary shelter corresponding to a bottom portion of the temporary shelter with an example hardware device according to example embodiments. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6B  illustrates an example removed portion of the temporary shelter corresponding to a bottom portion of the temporary shelter with an example hardware device according to example embodiments. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7A  is a schematic diagram of the bottom portion of a temporary shelter according to example embodiments. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7B  is a schematic diagram of the bottom portion of another temporary shelter according to example embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of an apparatus, as represented in the attached figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the invention. 
         [0020]    The features, structures, or characteristics of the invention described throughout this specification may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. For example, the usage of the phrases “example embodiments”, “some embodiments”, or other similar language, throughout this specification refers to the fact that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “example embodiments”, “in some embodiments”, “in other embodiments”, or other similar language, throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same group of embodiments, and the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a temporary shelter according to example embodiments of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the example shelter structure  100  may be an even-sided (i.e., length and width are equivalent or near equivalent) and four-side structure. The wall portion  110  of the structure may be an arc or substantially straight portion of material. The structure material may be any or more of a cloth, plastic, canvas, screen, rubber, poly-plastic, or other suitable and flexible material. The material may also be a radio frequency (RF) permeable material that a radio signal may penetrate without any measurable interference. Alternatively, the top portion of the structure may be an RF permeable material while the bottom portion of the structure is made of a different material. 
         [0022]    In  FIG. 1 , an air pocket or air flap  170  may be engaged by loosening an affixing mechanism (i.e., zipper, snap, Velcro®, magnet, etc.). The affixing mechanism of the airflow pocket may be otherwise maintaining the air flow pocket  170  against the surface of the structure material. The airflow pocket may be located at the topmost portion of the structure. Structure supports or rods  120  may be erected by a series of connected shorter rods that are inserted into holding slots to form one large rod  120 . There may be two, four or more rods used to hold the structure up and support the structure against the ground. Additional supporting features may include a series of strings or ropes  140 / 142  used to keep a certain degree of tension against the structure at various locations around the body of the structure. The ropes  140  may be a shorter rope use to support tension from the lower portion of the structure while the longer ropes  142  may be used to support tension from the upper portion of the structure. The ropes may be anchored into the ground to maintain a secure position independent of rain or wind or other external sources of movement and agitation. 
         [0023]    An entrance or removable portion  130  of the structure may be included on one or more sides of the structure  100  to allow a person to unzip, unsnap, undo, etc., the removable portion  130  and enter the structure. There are a plurality of openings  150  which may traverse the entire structure to offer vents or passages for forced air to enter the structure by auxiliary air vents powered by an electronic air handler or air conditioning unit. 
         [0024]    Ground securing flaps  160  may be rolled-up and tucked into the body of the structure and secured by securing coils  162  (elastic rope, snaps, Velcro®, etc.) used to wrap around the securing flap  160  or snap into a button hole on the reverse side of the securing flap  160 . The securing structure rods  120  may have a bottom portion  164  that is anchored into the ground or secured into a corner flap to provide constant tension to the body of the structure  100 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates another example temporary shelter  200  which is larger than the example shelter of  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the large structure  200  includes various elements that are similar to  FIG. 1 . For instance, a series of rods may be setup to create one large rod  220  which traverses the exterior surface of the structure and which is secured under a designated area of the structure material. One, two or more large rods  220  may be used to maintain the structure in an upright position. A set of supporting strings or ropes  240  may be used to maintain a certain amount of tension necessary to keep the structure taught and upright. 
         [0026]    The ground securing flaps  260  operate by providing a surface that may be unrolled from the body of the structure and secured to the ground via weights that are added to the surface of the flaps  260  or by one or more stakes that are driven into the ground through a designated portion of the ground securing flaps  260 . The ground securing flaps  260  may be rolled-up and tucked into the body of the structure and secured by securing coils  262  (elastic rope, snaps, Velcro®, etc.) used to wrap around the securing flap  260  or snap into a button hole on the reverse side of the securing flap  260 . The securing structure rods  220  may have a bottom portion  264  that is anchored into the ground or secured into a corner flap to provide constant tension to the body of the structure  100 . 
         [0027]    An entrance or removable portion  230  of the structure may be included on one or more sides of the structure  200  to allow a person to unzip, unsnap, undo, etc., the removable portion  230  and enter the structure. There are a plurality of openings  250  which may traverse the entire structure to offer vents or passages for forced air to enter the structure by auxiliary air vents powered by an electronic air handler or air conditioning unit. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate examples of exterior access to a ventilation sleeve and hole configuration of the temporary shelter according to example embodiments. Referring to  FIG. 3A , an example of a exterior temperature conditioning vent configuration  300  is illustrated as having a vent cover  330  that is lined with a securing mechanism  332  (i.e., Velcro®). However, other securing mechanisms may also be used, such as, buttons, magnets, a zipper, etc. The securing mechanism may also have a receiving side  334  on the surface of the shelter body. Under the vent cover  330  are two different sized ventilation holes and sleeves including the larger hole  310  and the smaller hole  320 . Both holes have a tightening mechanism  336 , such as a drawstring rope that is used to tighten around an external air channel that is introduced into one or more of the ventilation holes. The larger and smaller holes may be used to accommodate different sized air handling configurations depending on the external devices introduced to provide forced warm or cold air into the temporary shelter. Also, one hole may be used to introduce forced air into the shelter while the other hole is used to remove air from the shelter by a fan or suction mechanism. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3B  illustrates another example of a exterior temperature conditioning vent configuration according to another example embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 3B , an example of a exterior temperature conditioning vent configuration  350  is illustrated as having a vent cover that is lined with a securing mechanism  362  (i.e., Velcro®). However, other securing mechanisms may also be used, such as, buttons, magnets, a zipper, etc. The securing mechanism may also have a receiving side  364  on the surface of the shelter body. Under the vent cover  360  is one ventilation hole and corresponding sleeve  360 . The hole has a tightening mechanism  366 , such as a drawstring rope that is used to tighten around an external air channel that is introduced into one or more of the ventilation holes. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3C  illustrates an example of a interior temperature conditioning vent configuration according to an example embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 3C , the interior vent configuration  370  is comparable to the inside view of the vent configuration of  FIG. 3A . The sleeves may be operated and tightened allowing the user to access the ventilation sleeves inside or outside the shelter. Either sleeve size  372  and/or  382  may be used to allow airflow to enter and/or leave the shelter via external air handling devices. The sleeves may be tightened by corresponding drawstrings  374  and  284 , respectively. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a bottom portion of the temporary shelter according to example embodiments. In this configuration, the bottom portion of the shelter  400  is a circular shaped removable section  410  that corresponds to a removable portion  450  of  FIG. 4B . The removable section  460  may be a same or different type of material than the remaining structure  400 . The removable section  460  may be affixed to the shelter structure  400  via a fastening or securing mechanism. 
         [0032]    In operation, upon desiring to setup an hardware device inside the shelter (i.e., mobile communication transceiver, etc.), the removable portion may be removed and set on the ground outside the standing shelter structure. Next, the hardware device may be placed on the removable portion  460  and affixed to the removable portion  460  via a securing mechanism described in detail below. Next, the shelter  400  may be placed on top of the removable portion  460  (as illustrated in  FIG. 4B ) and affixed to the larger shelter structure  400 . Additional securing measures may be performed to ensure the stability of the structure and the safety of the hardware device now located inside the structure. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5A  illustrates an example removed portion of the temporary shelter with a first securing mechanism corresponding to a bottom portion of the temporary shelter according to example embodiments. Referring to  FIG. 5A , the removable portion  500  of the temporary shelter represents a circular portion of the bottom of the temporary shelter. The removable portion  500  may include a fastening mechanism along the perimeter or circumference of the removable portion  500 . In  FIG. 5A , the removable portion  500  includes a zipper  510  along the are of the perimeter. The zipper  520  may be used to secure the removable portion  500  to the bottom of the temporary structure. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5B  illustrates an example removed portion of the temporary shelter with a second securing mechanism corresponding to a bottom portion of the temporary shelter according to example embodiments. Referring to  FIG. 5B , the removable portion  520  of the temporary shelter represents a circular portion of the bottom of the temporary shelter. The removable portion  520  may include a fastening mechanism along the perimeter or circumference of the removable portion  520 . In  FIG. 5B , the removable portion  520  includes Velcro®  530  along the area of the perimeter. The Velcro®  530  may be used to secure the removable portion  520  to the bottom of the temporary structure. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5C  illustrates an example removed portion of the temporary shelter with a third securing mechanism corresponding to a bottom portion of the temporary shelter according to example embodiments. Referring to  FIG. 5C , the removable portion  540  of the temporary shelter represents a circular portion of the bottom of the temporary shelter. The removable portion  540  may include a fastening mechanism along the perimeter or circumference of the removable portion  540 . In  FIG. 5B , the removable portion  540  includes button snaps  550  along the area of the perimeter. The button snaps  550  may be used to secure the removable portion  540  to the bottom of the temporary structure. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6A  illustrates an example removed portion of the temporary shelter corresponding to a bottom portion of the temporary shelter with an example hardware device according to example embodiments. Referring to  FIG. 6A , the configuration  600  provides a hardware device  610 , which illustrates an example of field equipment often used by military services deployed in remote locations. The field equipment  610  may be a heavy, fragile, expensive piece of equipment that could utilize shelter from wind, rain and other outdoor conditions to maximize its life span and maintain its proper operating conditions. The removable portion  620  of the shelter structure may be removed and placed outside the structure to provide an opportunity to place the hardware  610  on top of the removable portion  620 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 6B  illustrates an example removed portion of the temporary shelter corresponding to a bottom portion of the temporary shelter with an example hardware device according to example embodiments. Referring to  FIG. 6B , the hardware device is affixed to the removable portion via a plurality of fastening straps or pockets  664  which provide a stopping force to reduce movement of the legs of the hardware device on the removable portion. A plurality of securing lines may also be used to ensure the hardware device is stabilized inside the shelter  650 . The securing lines  662  may be affixed to wall fasteners  660  that are stitched or glued onto the wall portions of the shelter. The wall fasteners  660  provide an added measure of stability to the hardware inside the structure. 
         [0038]      FIG. 7A  is a schematic diagram of the bottom portion of a temporary shelter according to example embodiments. Referring to  FIG. 7A , the schematics may correspond to a smaller temporary structure, such as the example in  FIG. 1 . The removable portion  710  may be approximately 36-60 inches or in this example 48 inches across in diameter. The bottom portion of the temporary structure  724  may include ground fastening flaps  722  which are approximately 24 inches long and 11 inches wide. The overall length of the side of the bottom portion of the structure  724  may be between 48 and 72 inches. 
         [0039]      FIG. 7B  is a schematic diagram of the bottom portion of another temporary shelter according to example embodiments. Referring to  FIG. 7B , the schematics may correspond to a larger temporary structure, such as the example in  FIG. 2 . The removable portion  760  may be approximately 60-108 inches or in this example 96 inches across in diameter. The bottom portion of the temporary structure  772  may include ground fastening flaps  774  which are approximately 28 inches long and 11 inches wide. The overall length of the side of the bottom portion of the structure  772  may be between 8 and 12 feet. 
         [0040]    It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding the above description. Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be recognized that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.