Patent Document

BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The present invention is generally directed to quick assembly shelters, more particularly, the invention is directed to athletic shelters and, most specifically, it is directed to an athletic dugout.  
         [0002]     Athletic dugouts are commonly used in many sporting events to provide a shelter and rest area for players not currently participating in a game. Conventional dugouts require that a permanent area be dedicated to the shelter. Conventional dugouts are also at risk of vandalism when not in use. Dugout walls are typically made of permanent materials, like, wood, masonry blocks or steel to resist the elements year round, but those structures typically trap heat, and, due the fact that typical dugout walls generally are directly on the ground, have restricted air flow within the dugout.  
         [0003]     The art desires and it would be advantageous to have an athletic dugout that is removable and provides better air flow.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     An athletic shelter having first and second dugout side frames that are spaced apart by a predetermined distance and are affixed on a solid surface. Each frame including spaced apart front and back vertical posts and top and bottom transverse supports which define a predetermined area. The back and top are covered by a lateral fabric portion extending between the spaced apart side frames and a top fabric portion extending between the side frames and adjacent to the lateral panel. As a result the lateral and top fabric portions form a sheltered area for athletes not currently in the game. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     The detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the drawings.  
         [0006]     In the drawings:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates an athletic dugout frame according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention which includes an optional central front support;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the frame of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates the frame of  FIG. 1  with fabric panels and an optional transverse seat;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  illustrates a dugout frame anchor;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates an alternative frame anchor;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  illustrates one method of attaching the panels to the frame;  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  illustrates an alternative means of attaching the panels to the frame; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  illustrates the invention with different panels on the top and lateral surfaces and the optional transverse bench. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]     Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words“right,” “left,” “top,” and “bottom” designate directions in the drawings; and, the words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the shelter.  
         [0016]     Since many of the features of the present invention are similar, the common features of the invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . With reference to  FIG. 1 , the shelter has a frame  2  that is assembled of commercially available components, however, custom components may be fabricated if desired. The frame  2  has a back  4 , sides  6  and  8  and a top  10 . The front or open face of the frame  2  may optionally include a central front support  12  and an even more optional cross member  14  which extends between the front and back central supports.  
         [0017]     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the exploded view of the frame shows the various components. The anchors  20  secure the frame to the surface and provide upright female portions for receiving the lower tubes  22 . The female tee coupling  24  pass over the tubes  22  and receive the vertical tubes  34 . When the central front support is used, the straight coupling  25  will join the tubes  22  and  34 , and in like manner the four way couplings  26  and the four way cross coupling  28  will join the tubes  34  at the back of the frame. The lower side tubes  30  are connected to couplings  24  and  26  and the lower back tubes  32  and connected to coupling  26  and  28 . The vertical tubes  34  are connected at the top front to three way corner couplings and four way coupling  46 , all of approximately 68′, and the back tubes  34  are connected by similar coupling  38  and  42 , all of approximately 112′. The top side tubes  44  connect respectively with coupling  36  and  38  or  42  and  46 . Preferably, the front and back vertical posts  14 ,  16  and the top and bottom transverse support  18 ,  20  are formed from durable high strength material, such as steel, aluminum, polyvinyl chloride or other suitable polymer. In the prototype, the tubes were power coated pipe which was purchased from Powell &amp; Powell Supply Company, 402 McKinney Parkway, Lillington, N.C. 27546, under it King Canopy line of products. The couplings were also purchased from the same supplier.  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the shelter  50  has a frame  2  which supports a top fabric portion  52  and a back fabric portion  54 . It is generally preferred that the portion  52  and  54  be of one piece construction. However, in some applications it may be desired to have separate panels  52  and  54  so that a ventilation slot is formed between them.  FIG. 3  illustrates two variations in side panels. Panel  58  is a fabric panel with a mesh window  58 ; this may be preferred in warmer weather. Side panel  60  is a fabric panel with a plastic window; this may be preferred in cooler or inclement weather. The front of the shelter  50  is generally left open for viewing the playing surface. The fabric portions for the present invention may be formed of a mesh, woven, knitted or wet laid from cotton, nylon, polymer, or other synthetics, however, it is preferred that the selected material have good sun and weather resistance. It will be appreciated that fabric can also be mixed. For instance, a solid fabric may be preferred in a top position and a mesh in the side positions. Fabrics which have been found satisfactory are Bruin Plastics′ PVC coated mesh fabric and Bruin Plastics′ “Brun-Tuff” PVC laminated polyester fabrics. In addition to providing the desired cover, the fabrics may be imprinted with human readable information to personalize the shelter, such as with a team logo, to identify sponsors, or to selling advertising space as a means of financing the sports program. In addition, the non-permanent attachment to the frame allows the covering members to be selected by season and geographic area. Thus, it may be desirable to have more water repellency at one time of the season and more desirable to have ventilation and sun protection at another time of the season.  
         [0019]     Referring still to  FIG. 3 , the optional bench  64  is secured at the ends by curved end straps  68  and included intermediate supports  66 . Three is the presently preferred number of supports  68 , but they may be varied according to choice. The supports  68  can be fabricated from the same materials as the frame and attached to the bench  64  in a variety of ways.  
         [0020]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , the structure of suitable anchors  20  will be described in more detail. Anchor  20  has a base plate  70  which includes a plurality of apertures  72  through which ground spikes or nails are driven to secure the anchor. The female upright  72  receives the tube  22  for anchoring the frame  2 . The block  76  is threaded and receives the thumb screw  78  which is thread through block  76  to apply pressure for holding the tube  22  in the female upright  74 .  FIG. 5  illustrates and alternative anchor which has an earth screw  80  that is threaded into the ground. The embodiment of  FIG. 5  further differs from the earlier embodiment in that the base plate  70 ′ does not have apertures for the ground spikes or nails.  
         [0021]     With reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , there are illustrated alternative methods of securing the fabric portions to the frame  2 . In  FIG. 6 , the strap  90  is fastened to the fabric at least at one end by pile  92  and hook  94  materials. The other end of the strap  90  may be fastened directly to the fabric or may use the pile and hook attachment. Although the strap  90  may be made to size and fixed, it is preferred that it be elastic so that it will allow for misalignments. In  FIG. 7 , the tie down arrangement is a cord  100  which is looped around the tubes and through the eyelet  102 . Depending on the application and preferences of the user, the cord  100  may be tied off at each eyelet or it may be threaded though a plurality of eyelets and the ties off. Alternatively, strap  90  or cord  100  can be replaced with ties, straps with buttons, straps with snaps, magnets, or any other known securing mechanism.  
         [0022]     With reference to  FIG. 8 , there is illustrated a shelter  150  with a solid top, such as canvas, mesh back panel  154  and mesh side panel  158  which has a straight top to define an open area  160 . Alternatively, the back mesh portion  154  may include a skirt  162  that completely closes the back of the shelter. This configuration may be desirable when the shelter is visible to fans. If desired, the skirt  162  may be attached to the frame  2  in the same manner as the other fabric portions.  
         [0023]     As noted earlier, it is preferred that the shelter&#39;s top frame is slopped upwardly from the back to provide the improved light of sight for occupants of the dugout. As shown in  FIG. 8 , this slope combines with a straight side panel  162  to form an open area that permits air flow over the panel.  
         [0024]     A shelter, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , that can be disassembled and reassembled, was assembled using commercially, non-custom components. The non-custom components had the additional advantage that they are within the size restrictions of package delivery services, such as UPS or FedEx and do not require and special handling. It will be understood that larger components can be shipped by other means if the end user desires single lengths. The resultant shelter from the available components had a rear height of 82″, a front height of 94″, a front to back distance of 60″ and an inside width of 15′6″. The following components were purchased from the Powell &amp; Powell Supply Company; six of the longer pipes 77½″ pipes were combined with the 17½″ length pipes to produce the preferred 95″ back sections of tubing.  
         [0025]     12—77½″×2″ lengths of Powder Coated Pipe;  
         [0026]     2—56″×2″ lengths of Powder Coated Pipe;  
         [0027]     3—48″×2″ lengths of Powder Coated pipe;  
         [0028]     6—17½″×2″ lengths of Powder Coated pipe;  
         [0029]     3—14″×2″ lengths of Powder Coated pipe;  
         [0030]     2—3 way fittings at 112°;  
         [0031]     2—3 way fittings at 68°;  
         [0032]     1—4 way fittings at 112°;  
         [0033]     1—4 way fittings at 68°;  
         [0034]     2—2″tees fittings (preferably adjustable);  
         [0035]     2—2″ corner fittings (preferably adjustable);  
         [0036]     1—2″ Cross Fitting (preferably adjustable); and  
         [0037]     6—2″ feet with female uprights.  
         [0038]     While various configurations have been described and shown in the drawings for various embodiments of the present invention, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that changes may be made to the above described embodiments

Technology Category: a