Shelter module

Abstract

The invention relates to a shelter module that is easy to set up and take down, and is intended, for example, as emergency accommodation to house persons who have become homeless as the result of natural events (earthquakes, fires, storms, tsunamis) or events of war. The invention furthermore relates to a shelter module that serves as a playhouse, animal housing, military or expedition accommodation, and the like. The shelter module is composed of hollow or textured chamber panels and has excellent inherent stability.

1 . A shelter module for accommodating people and animals, comprising:
 four or more side walls; and   one or more roof elements;   wherein the side walls and the one or more roof elements are made from panels, each panel comprising a support layer and a first cover layer, the support layer having a plurality of elevations, the first cover layer contacting face surfaces of the elevations.   
   
   
       2 . A shelter module according to  claim 1 , wherein the panels comprise one or more plastics selected from among polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, and polypropylene. 
   
   
       3 . A shelter module according to  claim 1 , wherein the panels are made from polypropylene. 
   
   
       4 . A shelter module according to  claim 1 , wherein two or more of the side walls are connected with one another by a fold. 
   
   
       5 . A shelter module according to  claim 1 , wherein a circumference of the shelter module is less at a top of the shelter module than at a bottom of the shelter module. 
   
   
       6 . A shelter module according to  claim 1 , wherein the side walls are connected with one another using one or more fasteners selected from among a rivet, a cable tie, a reusable cable tie, a hook-and-loop closure, a rope, snap rivets, self-fastening rivets, shear pins, pressure rivets, binding rivets, binder screws, assembly clamps, quick connectors, quick clamps, and quick closures. 
   
   
       7 . A shelter module according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more floor elements. 
   
   
       8 . A shelter module according to  claim 1 , further comprising a base frame composed of profile strips for accommodating bottom edges of the side walls. 
   
   
       9 . A shelter module according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the side walls has a projection at a lower abutting edge of the side wall. 
   
   
       10 . A shelter module according to  claim 9 , wherein the projection of each side wall is 2 to 15 cm long. 
   
   
       11 . A shelter module according to  claim 1 , wherein elements of the shelter module that are adjacent to one another are connected with one another by a U fold. 
   
   
       12 . A shelter module according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more roof elements form a storage area. 
   
   
       13 . A shelter module according to  claim 1 , wherein a partial region of one of the side walls is configured as a door. 
   
   
       14 . A shelter module according to  claim 1 , wherein each panel further comprises a second cover layer contacting the support layer so that the first and second cover layers are on opposite sides of the support layer. 
   
   
       15 . A method, comprising:
 providing a shelter module for accommodating people and animals, comprising four or more side walls and one or more roof elements; and   forming at least a portion of the shelter module from panels made of polypropylene, each textured chamber panel comprising a support layer and a first cover layer, the support layer having a plurality of elevations, the first cover layer contacting face surfaces of the elevations.