Abstract:
The invention is for an improved security shelter for small personal transportation vehicles. The invention features lockable, weatherproof storage for such vehicles as motorcycles, bicycles, four wheelers, and Segways®. It is lightweight and can be efficiently manufactured. Vents are optimally located to allow the release of vapor and heat. A lid is hinged to the top such that it can be easily raised or lowered by the user for the purpose of parking a vehicle. Moreover, strategic placement of structural molded ridges and structural flanges in the various components of the invention adds to the overall stability and rigidity of the apparatus.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Applicant claims the benefit of prior filed, pending U.S. Provisional Application 61/014,196. Applicant also claims the benefit, by way of a continuation-in-part, of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/306,978 which is the non-provisional of U.S. Provisional Application 60/593480. 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCED OR INCORPORATED MATERIAL 
     The disclosure of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/306,978 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/014196 are herein incorporated by reference into the instant application. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of security shelters for small personal transportation vehicles such as motorcycles, bicycles, and four-wheelers. Such vehicles as are stored in these shelters are quite common in the field of transportation and, furthermore, are experiencing an especially large resurgence in the United States as environmentally conscience citizens turn towards these more environmentally friendly modes of transportation. Unfortunately, the growth in this segment of transportation has been somewhat inhibited by the inherent differences between passenger automobiles and the existing infrastructure. 
     For instance, personal transportation vehicles, be they bicycles, motorcycles, or two wheeled Segway® scooters, are lighter weight and are more easily stolen than their passenger car cousins. In attempts to avoid theft, owners often look for a fixed immovable object that they might be able to chain or cable the vehicle to so that it can avoid being completely carried away. However, such securable stations are often few and far between and, even if one is found, the bike though locally secured, will remain otherwise open to pilfering of its contents. It is not uncommon for the personal transportation vehicle owner to return to her vehicle only to find tires missing or storage pockets pillaged. 
     A closely related problem concerns the exposure to the elements. While passenger cars have sealed cabins protected by roofs and windows, personal transportation vehicles are most often devoid of such protection and are, thus, left exposed even while in temporary storage. Rain, wind, and snow can take their toll on sensitive portions of these vehicles. 
     Until now, there has been very little in the way of efficient storage solutions for personal transportation vehicles. Certainly, for many years, owners have used various tarps and coverings to protect the vehicles from the environmental elements. Moreover, owners have built brick and mortar buildings for protected home-based security. However, each of these solutions has severe drawbacks. For instance, cloth coverings can easily be compromised by would-be thieves and brick and mortar buildings are expensive and are not portable. 
     One particularly innovative solution attempts to bridge the gap between simple coverings and brick and mortar buildings by creating a portable security shelter. This invention is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/306,978. However, though the device does answer many of problems associated with personal transportation device storage, the invention falls short in a number of respects. 
     Many of the problems in the art disclosed by U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/306,978 relate to the lid design. First, because of the “clam-shell” design, too much of the mass of the device is placed in the opening lid portion which causes the lid to be quite heavy. Thus, even with the disclosed “support cylinders” the lid can be difficult and awkward to lift. Second, the y-shaped seal configuration wherein the lid meets the base is inefficient to manufacture as it requires excess material and must be unduly precise in formation in order to function properly. Third, the vents of the lid are located on the side of the lid thus allowing dangerous fumes to collect in the void of space from the top of the vent to the top of the lid. 
     Other problems with the art as disclosed by U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/306,978 relate to structural integrity of the device. In order to achieve the broad aims of its specification as it relates to structural soundness, the device of Ser. No. 11/306,978 must be made of a plastic that is unduly thick. This thickness causes increased weight which decreases portability and drastically increases the cost of production. 
     A final problem in the prior art disclosed by U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/306,978 relates to the slope of the side walls, specifically the leading edge, and the front of the lid which meets the leading edge of the side walls. In that disclosure, the front of the lid and the leading edge of the side walls meet at flat, rigid corner. The height of these side walls poses problems for the user who rides her vehicle into the device because her feet must maneuver around these wall openings when mounting or dismounting the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention, thus, seeks to improve on the state of the art including U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/306,978. Specifically, the present invention is an improved security shelter for personal transportation vehicles that is efficient to make, lightweight, portable, secure, weather resistant, safe, and user friendly. 
     The present invention contemplates a lightweight lid that, rather than being split along the horizontal axis as in a typical clam-shell arrangement, is hinged forward and split closer to the vertical axis when viewed from a side perspective. In this vein, the hinge is located on the top of the unit and the opening lid portion extends from the top to the bottom. This location of the lid and hinge allows for a much lighter weight lid which, in turn, allows for easier manipulation of the lid by the user. 
     Another aspect of the improved invention relates to the vent locations. The vents of the present invention are designed so that water cannot penetrate the louvers and, importantly, they are positioned so as to eliminate the dead space that might trap dangerous fumes or excess heat. 
     The seal between the lid and the top and the base is designed to be efficiently made and tightly fitting. The efficiency is produced by way of two complementary lips which meet in a downward projecting arrangement. This design facilitates manufacture of the seal out of plastic of a single thickness so as to be directly molded as part of the respective lid, top, and base. Moreover, the downward slope prevents water from entering the enclosure. 
     Additionally, the present invention contemplates that the walls of the base are lower in the front than those of the prior art such that the lid extends further towards the bottom of the base. Indeed, at the very front of the device where the vehicle enters, the lid touches base. This feature allows for reduced interference between the walls and the user when the user is mounting or dismounting the vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the security shelter showing the lid in the closed position. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the security shelter showing the lid in the open position. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the security shelter showing the lid in the open position and highlighting how a motorcycle enters the security shelter. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the security shelter showing the lid in the closed position and highlighting a motorcycle stowed within the security shelter. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the security shelter showing the lid in the closed position. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the security shelter showing the lid in the closed position. 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of the security shelter with the lid in the closed position. 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of the security shelter with the lid in the closed position. 
         FIG. 9  is side view of the security shelter with the lid in the closed position. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the security shelter showing the lid in the open position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It is to be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention. The following example is provided to further illustrate the invention and is not to be construed to unduly limit the scope of the invention. 
     The invention is characterized by its efficiency of production, its lightweight compared to the relevant prior art, its portability, its security, its weather resistance, its safety, and its general user friendliness. 
     The basic components include a lid ( 500 ), a top ( 400 ), a threshold ( 200 ), a mid-wall ( 300 ), and a base ( 100 ). The base ( 100 ) constitutes the foundation of the device and further comprises the floor ( 101 ), the base walls ( 110 ,  120 , &amp;  130 ), the side vents ( 111  &amp;  121 ), the anchor points ( 640 ), and structural flooring ridges ( 102 ). 
     The floor of the base ( 101 ) is the surface upon which the personal transportation vehicle ( 630 ) will rest when stored in the device. The floor ( 101 ) serves the dual purpose of protecting the vehicle ( 630 ) from the elements but also protecting the outside environment from potential oil and other liquid spills. In the present embodiment, the floor ( 101 ) has a series of structural flooring ridges ( 102 ) which are molded into the plastic design. These structural ridges ( 102 ) provide support for the stored vehicle ( 630 ) as well as tension/compression from the base walls ( 110 ,  120 , &amp;  130 ). In one embodiment, the structural flooring ridges ( 102 ) comprise two lengthwise ridges ( 103 ) which are crisscrossed at least three points by angled ridges ( 105 ). For instance, as shown in  FIG. 5  there are two uninterrupted lengthwise ridges ( 103 ). There are also two ridges ( 104 ) perpendicular to these lengthwise ridges. Also, there are a plurality of angled ridges ( 105 ) that are not perpendicular but are at an angle other than ninety degrees from the lengthwise ridges ( 103 ). In each of these flooring ridges ( 102 ), the bottom of the ridge is that portion exterior to the shelter. This bottom of the flooring ridges comes into contact with the ground or other exterior surface upon which the shelter rests. Each of these ridges ( 102 ) also has a top portion which extends downward from the generally planar surface of the remainder of the floor of the base. 
     Also disposed on the floor of the base are anchor points ( 640 ) wherein the user can secure the device to the floor or ground. The points allow the device to be nailed, bolted, screwed, or otherwise attached to a sub-floor for added security. Additionally, cork-screw type mounts can be used to secure the device to the earth in an outdoor setting. These anchor points ( 640 ) are preferably located within the structural flooring ridges ( 102 ). 
     The walls ( 110 ,  120 , &amp;  130 ) of the base are molded directly to the floor such that the walls and the base constitute a single piece of plastic. The base walls ( 110 ,  120 , &amp;  130 ) have a left ( 120 ), right ( 110 ), and rear ( 130 ) portion rising from the floor ( 101 ) of the base ( 100 ). If the open ended portion of the shelter where the vehicle enters the shelter (see  FIG. 3 ) is considered the front, the portion of the base wall opposite that opening is the rear portion ( 130 ). Likewise, the left portion ( 120 ) of the base wall is that portion to the left of the opening and the right portion ( 110 ) of the base wall is that portion to the right of the opening. These respective directions are consistent throughout the description of this embodiment. These base walls ( 110 ,  120 , &amp;  130 ) can have one or more vents ( 111  &amp;  121 ) to allow vapors and heat to escape without compromising the security or the environmental soundness of the device. Preferably, these vents are in pairs ( 111 ) as shown in  FIG. 9 . In the vertical direction, from their lower terminus where they meet the floor to the upper end where they meet the mid-walls, the walls of the base ( 110 ,  120 , &amp;  130 ) rise roughly ⅓ of the overall height of the shelter. At the upper end of the base walls ( 110 ,  120 , &amp;  130 ), the base walls form an outward (away from the center of the shelter) flange ( 140 ) which is the point of contact with the mid-walls ( 300 ). Horizontally, at a point roughly midway between the front and rear of the shelter, the top of the left ( 120 ) and right ( 110 ) walls of the base begin to slope downward towards the front of the shelter to eventually meet with the floor ( 101 ) and the lower point of the left and right base walls. The entire length of this downward slope of the left and right base walls carries forward the outward flange ( 140 ) to form the point of contact with the threshold ( 200 ). 
     Fixedly attached to the base ( 100 ) is the threshold ( 200 ). The threshold ( 200 ) is fixedly attached to the floor ( 101 ) of the base and the left ( 120 ) and right ( 110 ) base walls of the base ( 100 ). Preferably this attachment is a heated glue connection to the base ( 100 ). The threshold ( 200 ) is molded from a single piece of plastic and has as a bottom portion ( 201 ) and a left ( 220 ) and right ( 210 ) side wall portion. The left ( 220 ) and right ( 210 ) sidewall portions have a lower edge portion, an upper edge portion, and a rear edge portion. The lower edge portions form an inwardly directed flange ( 240 ) that matches the outward flanges ( 140 ) of the base walls ( 110 ,  120 , &amp;  130 ) and forms the point of contact between the two. The upper edge portion of the sidewalls of the threshold forms a lower lip ( 250 ) which meshes with the upper lip ( 550 ) of the lid ( 500 ). This lower lip ( 250 ) extends from the uppermost point of the threshold ( 200 ) downward to the point where the upper edge of the respective side walls ( 210  &amp;  220 ) of the threshold ( 200 ) meet the bottom ( 201 ) of the threshold ( 200 ). A front portion of the lower lip ( 250 ) connects the respective left and right portions of the lower lip and is attached to the bottom ( 201 ) of the threshold. The lower lip ( 250 ) has a generally downward projection so as to discourage the penetration of the elements into the interior. Moreover, the lower lip ( 250 ) is rather wide so that there is great amount of surface area for contact with the upper lip ( 550 ) of the lid. 
     The left ( 220 ) and right ( 210 ) side walls of the threshold ( 200 ) each, respectively, also attach to the mid-wall ( 300 ) at vertical edges. The left ( 220 ) and right ( 210 ) sidewalls of the threshold ( 200 ) have a vertical flange ( 280 ) that laps over the respective vertical edge ( 380 ) of the mid-wall ( 300 ). The bottom ( 201 ) of the threshold ( 200 ) is a portion of the threshold ( 200 ) that has molded structural ridges ( 202 ) that meet and coordinate with those structural flooring ridges ( 102 ) of the floor ( 101 ) of the base ( 100 ). Near the front edge of the threshold, one of the structural ridges ( 202 ) is a large ridge ( 203 ) perpendicular to the length of the shelter. From that ridge ( 203 ), two angled ridges ( 204 ) extend from the center of the large perpendicular ridge ( 203 ) to the rear edge of the threshold bottom ( 201 ), thus forming a sort of “K” shape. In the lower and upper portion of this “K” shape, a pair of ridges ( 205 ), parallel to each other, extends between the angled portions ( 204 ) of the “K” and the large perpendicular ridge ( 203 ). The threshold ( 200 ) has at least two anchor points ( 641 ), disposed on the bottom portion ( 201 ) of the threshold ( 200 ) within the large perpendicular ridge ( 203 ), that coordinate with the anchor points ( 640 ) of the base ( 100 ). 
     Fixedly attached to the base ( 100 ) and to the threshold ( 200 ) is the mid-wall section ( 300 ). The mid-wall section ( 300 ) is “stacked” on top of the walls ( 110 ,  120 , &amp;  130 ) of the base ( 100 ) and has a height that is shorter than that of the base walls ( 110 ,  120 , &amp;  130 ) such that when the two ( 100  &amp;  300 ) are “stacked,” the combined height of the base ( 100 ) and the mid-wall ( 300 ) is less than twice the height of the base ( 100 ) alone. The mid-wall section ( 300 ) has a left ( 320 ), right ( 310 ), and rear ( 330 ) wall, all formed from a single piece of plastic which is molded in a “U” shape. The mid-wall section ( 300 ) has a lower flange ( 340 ) located at the lower terminus end; an upper flange ( 350 ) located at its upper terminus end, and a left and right vertical edge ( 380 ) over which the threshold edges ( 280 ) lap. 
     The lower flange ( 340 ) of the mid-wall section ( 300 ) flanges inward and meets with the outward flanges ( 140 ) of the base walls of the base. The upper flange ( 350 ) of the mid-wall section flanges outward and meets with the inward flanges ( 440 ) of the top ( 400 ). The left and right vertical edges ( 380 ) meet with the respective vertical flange edges ( 280 ) of the threshold, said flanges ( 280 ) of the threshold lapping over the vertical edges ( 380 ) of the mid-wall section. 
     The top ( 400 ) is “stacked” on top of the mid-wall ( 300 ) and is fixedly attached to the mid-wall ( 300 ) with rivet connections. Screws may also be used either alone or in combination with the rivets. Likewise, a glued connection can be used in alternate embodiments. The top ( 400 ) has a length roughly equal to the length of the mid-wall section ( 300 ). The top ( 400 ) has a height that is slightly larger than the height of the base ( 100 ). The top ( 400 ) further comprises at least one vent ( 462 ) (though in the preferred embodiment there is a pair of vents), structural side ridges ( 470 ), a pair of parallel peak ridges ( 460 ), and hinge and gas spring mounts ( 490 ). The top ( 400 ), like the base ( 100 ) and mid-wall ( 300 ), has left ( 320 ), right ( 310 ), and rear ( 330 ) side walls. At the lower end of each of these walls is a flange ( 440 ) that flanges out and slightly downward to meet the flange ( 350 ) of the mid-wall. The left ( 420 ) and right ( 410 ) side walls of the top ( 400 ) fixedly attach to the left ( 320 ) and right ( 310 ) side walls of the mid-wall ( 300 ) at the respective flanges ( 440  &amp;  350 ). The rear side wall ( 430 ) of the top ( 400 ) attaches to the rear wall ( 330 ) of the mid-wall ( 300 ) at the respective flange ( 440  &amp;  350 ). This rear wall ( 430 ) of the top ( 400 ) slopes generally upward (with respect to base on horizontal ground) towards the front and towards the point of attachment to the lid ( 500 ). 
     The front edge ( 480 ) of the left ( 420 ) and right ( 410 ) side walls of the top ( 400 ) each comprise two generally vertical edges displaced by a sloped edge. These edges are lapped by a flange ( 540 ) on the lid ( 500 ). 
     The structural side ridges ( 470 ) lend strength to the top ( 400 ) and are primarily located on the left ( 420 ) and right ( 410 ) side walls of the top ( 400 ). These ridges ( 470 ) are molded into the design. The parallel peak ridges ( 460 ) of the top ( 400 ) are located primarily on the sloped rear wall ( 430 ) of the top ( 400 ). These parallel peak ridges ( 480 ) are associated with three coordinating linear valleys ( 461 ). These ridges ( 460 ) match up with similar ridges ( 560 ) on the lid. In the preferred embodiment, the pair of vents ( 462 ) are located within these parallel peak ridges ( 460 ) of the top ( 400 ). 
     The lid ( 500 ) attaches directly to the top ( 400 ) via hinges ( 620 ) on the leading edge of the upward sloping rear wall ( 430 ) of the top ( 400 ) and via gas springs ( 600 ) attached to the respective side walls ( 410  &amp;  420 ) of the top ( 400 ). The shelter operates from an open to a closed position. The shelter is in the open position when the lid ( 500 ) is raised and the shelter is in the closed position when the lid ( 500 ) is lowered. The lid ( 500 ) has a roof wall ( 501 ), a front wall ( 530 ), and both a left ( 520 ) and a right ( 510 ) side wall. All of the walls of the lid ( 500 ) are molded together from a single piece of plastic. The edges of the walls form the upper portion of the lip ( 550 ) which seals the shelter in the closed position. This lip ( 550 ) is congruent with the lower lips ( 250 ) of the threshold ( 200 ). Thus, the upper lips ( 55 ) of the lid ( 500 ) meet the lower lips ( 250 ) of the threshold ( 200 ) to form a seal when the shelter is in the closed position. 
     As noted above, the lid ( 500 ) also has the structural ridges which are similar to those of the top. The parallel peak ridges ( 560 ) are located on the roof wall ( 501 ) and on the front wall ( 530 ) and run from the point of contact with the top ( 400 ) towards the point of contact with the threshold ( 200 ). Just above the lip of the front ( 530 ), left ( 520 ), and right ( 510 ) walls of the lid ( 500 ), there is a continuous perimeter structural ridge ( 561 ) molded into the respective walls. 
     Also disposed on the lid are a handle ( 610 ) and a locking mechanism ( 591 ). The handle ( 610 ) is located within an indentation in the front ( 530 ) wall of the lid ( 500 ). The handle ( 610 ) is centered with respect to the width of the lid ( 500 ) and located close to the bottom with respect to the height of the lid ( 500 ). The locking mechanism ( 591 ) of the lid ( 500 ) meshes with a reciprocal locking mechanism ( 291 ) disposed on the bottom of the threshold ( 200 ). In the preferred embodiment, this locking mechanism of the lid ( 591 ) is a horseshoe loop which passes through an indented hole ( 291 ) on the threshold ( 200 ) so that a lock, such as a pad lock, can be applied by the user. 
     In the preferred embodiment, base ( 100 ), mid-wall ( 300 ), threshold ( 200 ), top ( 400 ), and lid ( 500 ) sections are each made of molded plastic of the same thickness and composition.