Patent Abstract:
An article of manufacture for a portable shelter suspended above the ground having a flexible floor supported by a plurality of straps, a flexible framework attached to the floor, a canopy suspended over the framework for enclosing a space; and support means attached to the framework for attaching the shelter to a plurality of load bearing members. The floor may be further supported by rigid support poles made of PVC placed within a fold sewn along the shorter length of both ends of the floor. The floor may be further supported by diagonally crossing support straps under the floor. In another preferred embodiment, the floor may be rigid.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the field of portable shelters, and more particularly to a portable shelter suspended above the ground. 
     Tents have throughout history been an integral part of camping and hiking. Several problems are inherent to laying on thin fabric placed directly on the ground, including contact with and accessibility to animals of all kinds, the gathering of water at the lower seams, uncomfortable lumps and uneven terrain, and much more—inspiring the development of a new type of portable shelter: shelters elevated above such a problematic surface. Some of the first elevated shelters consisted of a hammock attached to a sleeping bag, while others consisted of a hammock crudely attached to a cover, and many versions of both forms used the end for entry (a difficult method due to limited space and the interference of suspension lines) rather than the side of the shelter for entry. Later forms of elevated shelters attempted to improve upon earlier forms; however, prior elevated shelters in all cases have problems in many areas, detracting from their overall usefulness and comfort. The following is a list of problems, combinations of which plague all prior portable elevated shelters: 
     1) There is an excess of longitudinal sag, causing undue strain on the lower back and elevating the feet far above the rest of one&#39;s body, causing hyper-extensive pressure on the knees. 2) There is an excess of latitudinal sag, causing a sandwiching effect which restricts the user&#39;s movement, makes leaving the shelter a difficult task, and also hangers the ability to create a suitable surface for more than one occupant. 3) Because of the design, the floor tips from side to side when an occupant repositions him/herself, and makes it a near impossibility to sleep anywhere but along the longitudinal centerline. 4) The shelter requires attachment means to the ground or to object(s) to the side(s) of the shelter for stabilization of the structure and/or to straighten the floor. 5) There are many sewn areas in the canopy for connecting poles, fasteners and the like, which reduce the rain resistance of the shelter. 6) There is little or nothing designed to prevent or aid spreader bars against direct pressure upon the center of the bars and/or spreader bars are irremovably internalized or have lines threaded through them to connect them to the hammock body, making the use of lightweight disconnectable spreader bars impossible and thus increasing minimum weight and not allowing a decrease in the width of the shelter when the shelter is put away. 7) The shelter is bulky and cumbersome when put away because of its need for many poles, particularly those poles which are curved (typically used for elevating the canopy) and those which are of great length (usually used as longitudinal reinforcing bars). 8) The ropes which attach to load bearing members may not be pulled taut because such pulling would cause undue strain on the materials throughout the shelter; the looser the pull the more the lines and floor sag longitudially, necessitating that points of attachment to load bearing members be ever higher, particularly when such load bearing members are considerably distant. 9) The lines used to suspend the shelter and maintain its shape easily become entangled. 10) The canopy gathers rain and snow, or to avoid such a gathering the structure requires rigid objects to convexly shape the canopy. 11) The manufacturing process is complex, resulting in increased time-consumption and increased possibility for errors in the manufacture of the shelter. 12) The shelter is difficult to set up and take down. 13) The shelter has an unsightly amount of sag, appears as if it were a cocoon, and/or for other reason(s) is aesthetically displeasing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the invention is to provide a more comfortable portable shelter that is elevated above the ground. Another object of the invention is to provide an elevated portable shelter with a minimum of two horizontal spreader bars which maintains a relatively level floor from side to side and from end to end. Another object of the invention is to provide a surface suitable for occupant(s) to lay in comfort, varying widths allowing for single or multiple occupancy versions using the same design specifications and providing that the floor is of suitable width. A further object of the invention is to provide an elevated portable shelter which maintains a stable form that does not tip to either side or to either end, regardless of whether or not load(s) are placed upon the floor of said shelter, and also regardless of the location of said load(s) upon said floor. Still yet another object of the invention is to provide an elevated portable shelter which achieves all functions described without necessitating that any part of the shelter touch the ground or object(s) to the side(s) of said shelter for means of stabilization. Another object of the invention is to provide an elevated portable shelter which achieves all functions described with a minimal amount of necessary sewn locations in the canopy of said shelter. Another object of the invention is to provide support for the spreader bars and to provide a reliable method of inserting and removing spreader bars. Another object of the invention is to provide an elevated portable shelter which achieves all functions described with a minimal number of poles. Still yet another object of the invention is to provide an elevated portable shelter which may be pulled taut without causing undue strain on any of the shelter&#39;s materials, helping to level the floor, add stability, and avoid necessitating that points of attachment to load bearing members be considerably higher than said shelter. A further object of the invention is to minimize entanglements. A further object of the invention is to provide a convex canopy without requiring additional rigid material(s). Another object of the invention is to provide an elevated portable shelter which is designed so that the majority of lines of attachment are straight; and so that the process of manufacture is relatively simple and straightforward. Another object of the invention is to provide an elevated portable shelter which is quick and easy to set up and to take down Yet another object of the invention is to provide an elevated portable shelter which is aesthetically pleasing, even when under load. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed an article of manufacture for a portable shelter above the ground having a flexible floor supported by a plurality of straps, a flexible framework attached to the floor; a canopy suspended over the framework for enclosing a space, and support means attached to the framework for attaching the shelter to a plurality of load bearing members. The floor can be further supported by straps criss-crossing the bottom of the floor and two rigid support poles affixed within the floor running transverse to the length of the floor and encased within a sewn cylindrical pouch created within the floor structure. 
     In accordance with another preferred embodiment, there is disclosed an article of manufacture for a portable shelter suspended above the ground having a rigid floor, a flexible framework attached to the floor, a canopy suspended over the framework for enclosing a space, and support means attached to the framework for attaching the shelter to a plurality of load bearing members. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention in use, with canopy and end covers. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention in use without a canopy and without end covers. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the underside of the preferred embodiment of the floor with lower load lines attached to the floor but not yet to one another; also with attached end covers as they are before attachment to canopy. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the end of a cylinder. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an end of the preferred embodiment of the shelter in use, with canopy and end covers. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. 
     Turning now to the Figures, it is evident that the shelter  10  comprises most generally a plurality of lines, a canopy  11  and a rectangular floor  20 . FIG. 1 best illustrates the canopy  11  and means for suspending said shelter  10  above the ground. In the preferred embodiments, all lines with the exception of cover-pul lines  14 , consist of nylon straps. Said lines consisting of nylon strap may, however, consist of any type of lines suitable for the tasks set forth for said lines herein. Herein throughout the rest of detailed description all lines with the exception of said two lines  14  shall be referred to simply as straps. In the preferred embodiment of said shelter  10 , said material comprising said canopy  11  is suspended upward and outward from the center longitudinal axis line of said floor  20  (seen best in FIG. 3) by hanging over a pair of upper load straps  15  and attaching to said floor  20  and/or lower load straps  22  along the length thereof In the preferred embodiment, said attachments extend along said lower load straps  22  beyond the shortest edges of said floor  20 , thus extending said canopy  11  above an empty trapezoidal space at either end of said floor  20 ; reason for such extension is explained later. In the preferred embodiment, said attachment means consist of sewn lines. Means of attachment, however, may consist of buttons along same said length of attachment or any portion thereof, allowing for optional removal of said canopy  11 ; means of attachment may alternately consist of zippers in close proximity to and parallel to said lines of attachment; means of attachment may alternately consist of any suitable method of attachment. Said canopy  11  most preferably consists of a lightweight, weather resistant fabric such as  70  denier nylon rip-stop, and is also most preferably coated with a water-repellency treatment. 
     As exemplified by FIG. 1, a means for entry through said canopy  11  consists, in the preferred embodiment, of a straight length of zipper  12  parallel to and in close proximity to one said lower load strap  22  and not extending beyond vertical straps  41  (said vertical straps  41  illustrated in FIG.  2 ); convenient entry through such zipper entry is allowed for by the elevation of said shelter  10  above the ground. The shape of said zipper entry  12  may differ from its form illustrated in FIG. 1, such as consisting of a U shape, instead consisting of a right angled zipper entry, or instead comprised of any other suitable zipper means of passage into the area covered by said canopy  11 . Means of entry may also consist of said removable canopy method through implementation of said buttons or said zipper connecting said canopy  11  to said floor  20  along lines of attachment, or may comprise a combination of said removable canopy method and any appropriate form of zipper entry. 
     As seen in FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of said canopy  11  includes a convexly rounded upper portion; means for pulling said upper portion into said shape as in FIG. 1 is provided for by the attachment of two small pieces of material  13  with apertures to the upper portion of said canopy  11  at either end and also removably attached to a pair of lines  14 . Said lines  14  most preferably consist of thin semi-elastic rope; each of said lines  14  may instead consist of nylon straps, braided rope, or any other fine of suitable strength for puffing said upper portion of said cover  11  into a convexly rounded shape. Said ropes  14  are attached at one end to said materials  13  and at the other end to higher points than that of said materials  13 ; higher points are exemplified as being loops  16  at either end of said upper load straps  15 , best seen in FIG. 5, although any points of same or greater elevation to which ropes  14  my be attached give same or better results. When pulled in such a way, upper portion of said canopy  11  becomes convexly rounded, particularly so when said shelter  10  is under load. Other means of shaping said upper portion of said cover  11  convexly may comprise a singe line extending throughout the underside of said upper portion with attachment points to two spaced points of higher elevation, or any similar means. 
     Referencing FIG. 5, an illustration of an end cover  50  is given. Two of said end covers  50  are provided in the preferred embodiment-each wrapped around one of the shortest edges of said floor  20  via slits  53  along the bottom edges thereof for passage of material around said lower load straps  22  and said inner load straps  23 ; said end covers  50  are also attached to said canopy  11 . Said end covers  50  are attached to each shortest edge of said floor  20  along the underside of said floor  20  or said cylinders  30  and attached along the underside of said canopy  11  transversely and nearly directly above and parallel to line of attachment to said floor  20 ; in the preferred embodiment, attachment means consist of sewn lies; buttons or zippers in close proximity to and parallel to same said fines of attachment may be substituted. In the preferred embodiment, the upper portion of said end covers  50  consist of a mesh screen  51  for allowing ventilation throughout the interior of said shelter  10  while also preventing the passage of insects into the same area. In the preferred embodiment, the lower portion  52  of said end covers  50  consist of the same type of material as of that comprising said canopy  11 . Said end covers  50  cover the entire space between said canopy  11  and said floor  20 . Said floor  20 , said canopy  11 , and said end covers  50  define an enclosure. In keeping with the preferred embodiment of said shelter  10 , said canopy  11  extends over and beyond said end covers  50 , creating an alcove in which said end covers  50  are removed from direct contact with falling precipitation, even in heavy winds; and also wherein amount of ventilation depends upon distance of extension of said end covers beyond said shortest edges of said floor  20 . Said covered alcove allows implementation of said mesh screen  51  instead of necessitating that the entirety of said end covers  50  consist of a rain resistant material to protect the enclosed area of said shelter  10  from rain. Said end covers  50  may consist entirely of mesh, or may consist of any suitable materials). 
     FIG. 2 best illustrates the system of straps comprising the famework of the shelter. Said lower load straps  22  discontinue parallelism at said shortest edges of said floor  20  and each attaches to another set of inner load straps  23  and to each other at a point beyond shortest edges of said floor  20 ; said inner load straps  23  run between, nearly parallel to and equidistant to said lower load straps  22 , and are preferably two in number, as illustrated. Said upper load straps  15  run parallel to the length of said floor  20  until reaching close proximity to shortest edges of said floor  20 , whereupon said upper load straps  15  discontinue parallelism and attach to each other at a point beyond said floor  20 . Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, said upper load straps  15  and/or said lower load straps  22  form loops  16  at their points of attachment to their respective partners; said points of attachment may instead continue directly into lengths of lines or directly into j-hooks, said lines or said j-hooks providing means for connection to spaced load bearing members (load bearing members are represented as a pair of trees  63  in the illustration). 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred means for attaching said shelter  10  to spaced load bearing members  63 . As in FIG. 1, the means for suspending said shelter  10  in the preferred embodiment comprises four straps  60 , each equipped with j-hooks  61 , 64  at either end. The preferred embodiment additionally provides that each of said straps  60  are also equipped with cam buckles  62  for tightening said straps  60  and all portions of said shelter  10  effected by such tightening, resulting in a more level floor  20  and a more stabilized and aesthetically improved shelter  10 . Said j-hooks  61  attach to said loops  16  in the preferred embodiment; said straps  60 , at the ends most distant from said loops  16 , are looped around load bearing members  63  and hooked to themselves by way of said j-hooks  64 . In the case that load bearing members comprise objects to which said j-hooks  64  may attach directly, direct attachment of said j-hooks  64  to said objects is most preferable. Any or all of said straps  60  may be void of any or all said j-hooks  61 , 64  and said cam buckles  62 , and/or clasps in lieu of any or all said j-hooks  61 , 64  and/or winches in lieu of any or all said cam buckles  62  may be substituted; any conventional means for attaching straps to load bearing members and any conventional means for tightening straps may alternately be used in lieu of any or all said j-hooks  61 , 64  and cam buckles  62 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the end portion of one of the two cylindrical pouches  30  of said floor  20 . Means for creating said cylinders  30  comprises a folding of shortest edges of said floor  20  back onto said floor  20  and sewing along the line of contact. Said spreader bars  35  are additionally supported by said lower load straps  22  and said inner load straps  23 : short lengths of strap  33  are looped half-way around said cylinders  30  and sewn to portions of each said lower load strap  22  and short lengths of strap  32  are similarly attached to each said inner load strap  23  and in close proximity to said cylinders  30 ; this design, in addition to reinforcing said spreader bars  35 , also prevents undue stretch of said floor material  21  from the pulling of said lower load straps  22  and said inner load straps  23 . The added support to said spreader bars  35  allows the implementation of light and inexpensive spreader bars  35  and also allows the implementation of mating or otherwise removably connected spreader bars  35  for means of decreasing spreader bar  35  length when the use of said shelter  10  is not desired. Said spreader bars  35  preferably consist of mating polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubes. Short pieces of heavy-duty material  31  —preferably 2″ to 3″—wide nylon straps—are attached to said lower load straps  22  adjacent or in proximity to the open ends  34  of said cylinders  30 ; apertures  34  allow the insertion and removal of said spreader bars  35  when said shelter  10  is not tightened or under load; when said shelter  10  is tightened or under load, said pieces of heavy-duty material  31  and said lower load straps  22  pull up and over said apertures  34 , preventing the escape of said spreader bars  35 . Said spreader bars  35  laterally level said floor  20  and also spread the weight of load(s) laterally across said floor  20 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 3, the underside of said floor  20  is reinforced by a system of straps  22 , 23 , 24 , 25 . Straps  24 , 25  are attached to said lower load straps  22  and transverse said inner load straps  23 . Said system of straps  22 , 23 , 24 , 25  is preferably sewn to floor material  21  along the entire length of each strap; said straps  22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , however, are not required to be sewn along their entire length, neither are they required to be attached to any portion other than at two points generally distant from one another. Said transversing straps  24  are attached at points along said lower load straps  22  in close proximity to said cylinders  30  at one end or more preferably directly attached to said vertical straps  41 , and at the other end are attached in close proximity to vertical straps  42  (illustrated in FIG. 2) at the attachment point of said vertical straps  42  to the other of said lower load straps  22 , thusly importantly connecting five said sets of straps  22 , 24 , 25 , 41 , 42  at four points. Said system of straps  22 , 23 , 24 , 25  provide reinforcement throughout said floor material  21  by means of distributing the strength of spreader bars  35  and strength of said upper load straps  15  throughout said floor  20 . Transversing straps  24  may alternatively be of less length and be attached to said straps  22 , 25 , 42  in such a way as to use only two straps in the form of an X across said floor  20  and not attaching to points of close proximity to said cylinders  30 ; said alternate design is less preferable than previously stated design for transversing straps  24 . The purpose of said transversing straps  25  is to reinforce said floor material  21 ; said transversing straps  25  may, therefore, be excluded from design altogether, particularly when said floor material  21  is of sufficient strength. 
     It may be preferable that said straps  22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , said lengths of materials  31 , and said floor material  21  be protected from the elements (particularly rain). Protection of such materials may be provided for by attaching the upper portion of a length of water-proof material to said floor  20  along the edges thereof or along said lower load straps  22 , as a drip-edge; or by using canopy material of greater width than that specified hereto and sewing wider canopy material along in a fine parallel to yet above the edges of the wider canopy material along the lengths of said lower load straps  22 . Alternately or in combination with first said methods is a method of protection comprised of the attachment of material with width and length approximately equivalent to said floor material  21  (after folding to create said cylinders  30 ), attached along lines parallel to and in close proximity to the edges of said floor  20  and/or along said lower load straps  22 , or along edges of said canopy  11  or in close proximity thereto. 
     As seen in FIG. 2, the set of said inner vertical straps  42  are attached to said lower load straps  22  and said upper load straps  15  generally perpendicular to both said straps  15 , 22 ; said attachments interconnect said transversing straps  24 , 25 , said inner load straps  23 , said lower load straps  22 , and said upper load straps  15 . In the preferred embodiment, said vertical straps  41  are attached to said lower load straps  22  adjacent to said apertures  34 , and also to said upper load straps  15 , further connecting both sets of said load straps  15 , 22 ; and are also most preferably attached to said heavy-duty materials  31 . Said vertical straps  41 , 42  transverse between said upper load straps  15  for means of reliably maintaining an inward slant of the generally vertical portions of said straps  41 , 42  and thus also helping to inwardly slant said canopy  11 . Said system of straps  15 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 41 , 42  in this way provide reinforcement to said floor  20 , and more importantly, effectively distribute the weight placed upon said floor  20  between said floor  20  and all straps in said shelter  10 ; in so doing, said upper load straps  15  absorb much of the curvature which would otherwise be forced directly upon said floor  20 : by said absorption, longitudinal sag of said floor  20  is decreased; also, by connecting said upper load straps  15  to said lower load straps  22  as herein detailed, said upper load straps  15  lower in elevation roughly equivalent to the distance which said lower load straps  22  lower when said shelter  10  is under load, preventing undue strain and stretch of material comprising said canopy  11 . Furthermore, all straps in said shelter  10  effectively stabilize said floor  20 , preventing excessive swaying and tipping thereof regardless of the area of said floor  20  upon which a load is placed. The functions of all straps used in said shelter  10 , along with said spreader bars  35 , allow for the comfortable use of said shelter  10  by multiple occupants provided width of said floor  20  is sufficient. The reinforcement provided for said floor  20  by said system of straps  22 , 23 , 24 , 25  allows said floor material  21  to consist of thin fabric such as that used for said canopy  11  (such as  70  denier nylon rip-stop) and provide that said floor  20  still maintains great strength. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4