Fast-Erecting Portable Structure

Abstract

In its preferred embodiment, the fast-erecting portable structure principally comprises two or more flexible framing rods and a flexible skin. The flexible framing rods essentially form inverted u-shapes and the flexible skin hangs from the flexible framing rods in substantially a dome shape. More specifically, the flexible skin can be supported from the flexible framing rods by sleeves sewn into the flexible skin. The sleeves allow the flexible skin to slide along the length of the flexible framing rods. The flexible skin is also fixed (or non-removably) connected to the ends of the flexible framing rods. The fast-erecting portable structure can be stored by coiling the flexible framing rods into a storage bag. The fast-erecting portable structure allows the structure to be immediately erected from the coiled position in the storage bag into the structure without any intermediate steps or the addition or removal of any parts.

1 . A fast-erecting portable structure comprising:
 a first flexible framing rod formed substantially into an inverted u-shape with an apex, the first flexible framing rod having two ends and a middle,   a second flexible framing rod formed substantially into an inverted u-shape with an apex, the second flexible framing rod having two ends and a middle, and wherein the second flexible framing rod crosses the first flexible framing rod near the apexes of the inverted u-shapes,   a flexible skin, the flexible skin slidably connected to the middle of the first flexible framing rod, slidably connected to the middle of the second flexible framing rod, non-removably connected to the two ends of the first flexible framing rod, and non-removably connected to the two ends of second flexible framing rod,   and wherein the two ends of the first flexible framing rod and the two ends of the second flexible framing rod act as a base of the fast-erected portable structure.   
     
     
         2 . The fast-erecting portable structure of  claim 1  wherein the first and second flexible framing rods are slidably connected to the flexible skin by sleeves. 
     
     
         3 . The fast-erecting portable structure of  claim 1  further comprising a third flexible framing rod formed substantially into an inverted u-shape with an apex, the third flexible framing rod having two ends and a middle, and wherein the third flexible framing rod crosses the first flexible framing rod and the second flexible framing rod near the apexes of the inverted u-shape of the first and second flexible framing rods, and wherein the flexible skin is removably connected to the middle of the third flexible framing rod and non-removably connected to the two ends of the third flexible framing rod. 
     
     
         4 . The fast-erecting portable structure of  claim 3  further comprising a fourth flexible framing rod formed substantially into an inverted u-shape with an apex, the fourth flexible framing rod having two ends and a middle, and wherein the fourth flexible framing rod crosses the first flexible framing rod, the second flexible framing rod, and the third flexible framing rod near the apexes of the inverted u-shape of the first, second, and third flexible framing rods, and wherein the flexible skin is removably connected to the middle of the fourth flexible framing rod and non-removably connected to the two ends of the fourth flexible framing rod. 
     
     
         5 . The fast-erecting portable structure of  claim 4  further comprising a fly and a fly framing rod, the fly framing rod having two ends and a middle, the fly non-removably connected to the two ends of the fly framing rod and the fly removably connected to the portable structure. 
     
     
         6 . The fast-erecting portable structure of  claim 3  wherein the third flexible framing rod is removably connected to the flexible skin by a plurality of framing rod hooks, the framing rod hooks being non-removably connected to the flexible skin. 
     
     
         7 . The fast-erecting portable structure of  claim 3  wherein the flexible framing rods are constructed from material selected from the group consisting of steel, spring wire, plastic rod, fiberglass and structural polymer material. 
     
     
         8 . The fast-erecting portable structure of  claim 1  wherein the flexible skin is connected to at least one flexible framing rod near the intersection of the framing rods by a flexible tie. 
     
     
         9 . The fast-erecting portable structure of  claim 1  further comprising a third flexible framing rod formed substantially into an inverted u-shape with an apex, the third flexible framing rod having two ends and a middle, and wherein the third flexible framing rod crosses the first flexible framing rod and the second flexible framing rod at a location offset from where the first flexible framing rod and the second flexible framing rod cross each other, and wherein the flexible skin is removably connected to the middle of the third flexible framing rod and non-removably connected to the two ends of the third flexible framing rod. 
     
     
         10 . The fast-erecting portable structure of  claim 9  further comprising a fourth flexible framing rod formed substantially into an inverted u-shape with an apex, the fourth flexible framing rod having two ends and a middle, and wherein the fourth flexible framing rod crosses the first flexible framing rod and the second flexible framing rod and third flexible framing rod at a location offset from where the first flexible framing rod, the second flexible framing rod, and third flexible framing rod cross each other, and wherein the flexible skin is removably connected to the middle of the fourth flexible framing rod and non-removably connected to the two ends of the fourth flexible framing rod. 
     
     
         11 . A fast-erecting portable structure system comprising:
 a flexible skin, a first flexible framing rod having two ends and a middle, a second flexible framing rod having two ends and a middle,   wherein the flexible skin is slidably connected to the middle of the first flexible framing rod, slidably connected to the middle of the second flexible framing rod,   non-removably connected to the two ends of the first flexible framing rods, and   non-removably connected to the two ends of second flexible framing rod, and   wherein when the fast-erecting portable structure is released, the first flexible framing rod forms substantially into an inverted u-shape with an apex, and the second flexible framing rod forms substantially into an inverted u-shape with an apex, and wherein the second flexible framing rod crosses the first flexible framing rod near the apexes of the inverted u-shapes and the flexible skin, supported by the first flexible framing rod and the second flexible framing rod, forms a dome shape, and   a storage bag having an interior pocket, wherein the first flexible framing rod, the second flexible framing rod and the flexible skin can be coiled and stowed inside the storage bag.   
     
     
         12 . A fast-erecting tent system comprising:
 a storage device,   a fast-erecting tent storable by the storage device, the fast-erecting tent comprising a first flexible framing rod, the first flexible framing rod having two ends and a middle,   a second flexible framing rod, the second flexible framing rod having two ends and a middle, a flexible skin, the flexible skin slidably connected to the middle of the first flexible framing rod, slidably connected to the middle of the second flexible framing rod, non-removably connected to the two ends of the first flexible framing rods, and non-removably connected to the two ends of second flexible framing rod,   wherein when the fast-erecting tent is released from the storage device, the fast-erecting tent springs into shape.