Patent ID: 7559335

Claim:
A structure, comprising: a single support pole comprising: first and second hollow end members, each hollow end member comprising a first end having a fitting configured to engage with a fastener, and a second end configured to engage with an interior member, a plurality of hollow interior members each having two ends, and an elastic member having first and second ends, the first end of the elastic member is coupled to the interior of the first end of the first hollow end member, the second end of the elastic member is coupled to the first end of the second hollow end member, and wherein the elastic member extends through the interior of each of the plurality of hollow interior members, the elastic member configured to provide a force to hold the interior members and ends together to form the single support pole; a fabric covering having at least two fasteners; a first flexible member; a fabric shell comprising a floor portion and an upper portion, at least two fasteners formed on opposite sides of the floor portion, and further comprising a sleeve configured to receive the first flexible member, the first end and the second end of the single support pole coupled to the at least two fasteners of the floor portion to hold the single support pole in an erected position, the fabric shell configured to couple to the single support pole and be enclosed by the fabric covering, and wherein the first flexible member is configured to exert a force on the fabric shell to provide structural support for the structure, and the first flexible member is configured to cause the structure to substantially self-erect, and the fabric covering is configured to be coupled to the support pole such that the fabric shell forms at least one wall and a roof for the structure, and wherein the fabric shell is configured to be secured to the ground.