Semi-permanent athletic dugout

Abstract

A semi-permanent shelter including first and second side frames that are spaced apart by a predetermined distance. Lateral and top fabric portions span the predetermined distance and are attached to side frames. Optionally, the side frames may include fabric portions.

1 . An athletic shelter comprising: first and second side frames that are spaced apart by a predetermined distance and 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; 
 a lateral fabric potion extending between the spaced apart side frames; and    a top fabric portion extending between the side frames and adjacent to the lateral panel.    
   
   
       2 . The shelter of  claim 1  wherein the lateral fabric includes a plurality of straps for engaging respective vertical posts and the top and bottom transverse supports of the first and second side frames.  
   
   
       3 . The shelter of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the fabric portions is a mesh fabric.  
   
   
       4 . The shelter of  claim 1  wherein the fabric portions are comprised of a single fabric.  
   
   
       5 . The shelter of  claim 1  wherein at least one fabric portion includes an area that is imprinted with human readable information.  
   
   
       6 . The shelter of  claim 1  further comprising lateral crossbars spanning the distance between the side frames.  
   
   
       7 . The shelter of  claim 6  further comprising a plurality of straps for attaching the fabric portions to the frame.  
   
   
       8 . The shelter of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of straps include hook and loop materials.  
   
   
       9 . The shelter of  claim 7  wherein the fabric portions are comprised of a single fabric.  
   
   
       10 . The shelter of  claim 1  further including a seat extending between the side frames.  
   
   
       11 . The shelter of  claim 10  wherein the seat is detachably engaged with the side frames.  
   
   
       12 . The shelter of  claim 1  wherein the top fabric panel slopes upwardly from the back vertical posts.  
   
   
       13 . The semi-permanent athletic dugout of  claim 12  wherein the upward slope is between approximately five degrees and approximately twenty degrees with respect to the solid surface.  
   
   
       14 . The shelter of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the side frames includes a fabric portion.  
   
   
       15 . The shelter of  claim 14  wherein at least one of the side fabric portions has defined therein an aperture.  
   
   
       16 . The shelter of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the fabric portions is spaced from the solid surface.  
   
   
       17 . The shelter of  claim 16  wherein the fabric portion is at least six inches shorter than the back vertical post of the side frame.  
   
   
       18 . A semi-permanent shelter comprising: first and second side frames each including spaced front and back vertical posts and top and bottom transverse supports to define a predetermined area; 
 a rear frame which is connected to the first and second side frames and spaces the first and second side frames by a predetermined distance;    a top frame extending between the top transverse supports of the first and second side frames; and    a seat which rests on the bottom transverse support of the first and second side frames and is located proximate to the rear frame.    
   
   
       19 . The shelter of  claim 18  further comprising a lateral fabric panel positioned over at least a portion of the rear frame and the first and second side frames for attachment thereto; and 
 a top fabric panel positioned over at least a portion of the top frame.    
   
   
       20 . The shelter of  claim 19  wherein the lateral fabric panel comprises a plurality of straps configured to engage the front vertical posts, the top transverse support, and the bottom transverse support of the first and second side frames.  
   
   
       21 . The shelter of  claim 18  wherein the rear frame comprises first and second crossbars extending between the first and second side frames and the top frame comprises the second crossbar and a third crossbar which extends between the first and second side frames.  
   
   
       22 . The shelter of  claim 19  wherein the lateral fabric panel is spaced from the solid surface supporting the shelter.  
   
   
       23 . The shelter of  claim 16  wherein the lateral fabric panel is spaced from the solid surface by at least six inches.  
   
   
       24 . A semi-permanent athletic dugout, comprising: first and second dugout side frames each including spaced front and back vertical posts and top and bottom transverse supports to define a predetermined area; 
 a rear dugout frame which is connected to the first and second dugout side frames and spaces the first and second dugout side frames by a predetermined distance;    a lateral fabric panel positioned along the predetermined distance and over at least a portion of the first and second dugout side frames for attachment thereto; and    a top fabric panel extending between the top transverse supports of the first and second dugout side frames and attached thereto.    
   
   
       25 . The semi-permanent athletic dugout of  claim 24 , wherein the lateral fabric panel comprises a plurality of straps configured to engage the front vertical post, the top transverse support, and the bottom transverse support of the first and second dugout side frames.  
   
   
       26 . The semi-permanent athletic dugout of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the top and lateral fabric panels is formed by a generally mesh fabric.  
   
   
       27 . The semi-permanent athletic dugout of  claim 25 , wherein the rear dugout frame comprises first and second crossbars extending between the first and second dugout side frames and configured to border a portion of the lateral fabric panel extending therebetween.  
   
   
       28 . The semi-permanent athletic dugout of  claim 27 , wherein some of the plurality of straps of the lateral fabric panel are configured to detachably engage the first and second crossbars.  
   
   
       29 . The semi-permanent athletic dugout of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of straps include hook and loop material.  
   
   
       30 . The semi-permanent athletic dugout of  claim 24 , further including a seat extending between the first and second dugout side frames and located on the bottom transverse supports thereof.  
   
   
       31 . The semi-permanent athletic dugout of  claim 24 , wherein the lateral fabric panel has cutouts therein defining windows therethrough that are positioned in the predetermined area of the first and second dugout side frames.  
   
   
       32 . The semi-permanent athletic dugout of  claim 24  wherein the lateral fabric panel is spaced from the solid surface to facilitate air flow through the semi-permanent athletic dugout.  
   
   
       33 . The semi-permanent athletic dugout of  claim 32 , wherein the lateral fabric panel is spaced from the solid surface by about six inches.  
   
   
       34 . A dugout consisting essentially of: 
 a pair of anchored side frames, each including spaced front and back vertical posts and top and bottom transverse supports, which are spaced apart by a predetermined distance;    a flexible panel vertically oriented and connected to at least one post of each side frame; and    a flexible panel horizontally oriented and connected to at least one transverse support of each side frame.    
   
   
       35 . A removable athletic dugout, comprising: side frames, each including spaced front and back vertical posts and top and bottom transverse supports, anchored at spaced apart locations; 
 a rear frame extending between the side frames;    a top frame extending between the side frames; and    a seat which extends between the side frames rests on the respective bottom transverse support of each side frames proximate to the rear frame.    
   
   
       36 . The removable athletic dugout of  claim 35  wherein a flexible material is removably attached to the frame.