Portable Shelters, Related Shelter Systems, and Methods of Their Deployment

Abstract

Portable shelters, shelter systems, and methods of deployment of such shelters are described. The shelters or housing units may be deployed in emergency housing situations and may be grouped into systems of shelters. One particular embodiment comprises a rigid top frame structure, a rigid bottom frame structure, and one or more collapsible support arms connecting the top frame structure to the bottom frame structure. The frame structures and the collapsible support arm(s) are sized and configured to form a shelter frame when the collapsible support arm(s) are in a fully extended position, and the top frame structure is brought into proximity with the bottom frame structure when the collapsible support arm(s) are in a collapsed position. Methods of rapid deployment of the shelters and systems of shelters are also described.

1 . A shelter comprising
 a rigid top frame structure,   a rigid bottom frame structure, and   one or more collapsible support arms connecting the top frame structure to the bottom frame structure,   
       wherein the frame structures and the collapsible support arm(s) are sized and configured to form a shelter frame when the collapsible support arm(s) are in a fully extended position, and wherein the top frame structure is brought into proximity with the bottom frame structure when the collapsible support arm(s) are in a collapsed position. 
     
     
         2 . The shelter as in  claim 1  wherein the top frame structure and the bottom frame structures are both rectangular in shape and the shelter further comprises (i) a covering complimentary in shape to the shelter and (ii) at least four collapsible support arms connecting the top frame structure to the bottom frame structure. 
     
     
         3 . The shelter as in  claim 2  further comprising at least one support cable attaching the top frame structure to the bottom frame structure, wherein the support cable is sized and configured to prevent sway of the shelter. 
     
     
         4 . The shelter as in  claim 2  wherein the bottom frame structure is at least partially hollow and is sized and configured to receive and retain a weighting substance for anchoring the shelter in place. 
     
     
         5 . The shelter as in  claim 2  wherein the collapsible support arms each are comprised of at least one hinge, wherein the hinge is positioned approximate to a midpoint along the length of the collapsible support arm. 
     
     
         6 . The shelter as in  claim 5  wherein the collapsible support arms each further comprise
 a locking mechanism proximate to the hinge, wherein the locking mechanism is sized and configured to lock the collapsible support arm in the fully extended position. 
 
     
     
         7 . The shelter as in  claim 2  further comprising at least one latch and at least one bed attached to at least two support arms, wherein the bed is sized and configured so that the bed can alternatively be placed in a substantially horizontal position or in a substantially vertical position, and wherein the bed can be nested in a substantially vertical plane that is substantially parallel to or substantially the same as a vertical plane defined by two of the collapsible support arms which are adjacent to one another when the bed is in the substantially vertical position, the latch further sized and configured for securing the bed in the substantially vertical position. 
     
     
         8 . The shelter of  claim 2  wherein the covering defines at least one door opening, and wherein the shelter further comprises a door operatively connected to the shelter at the door opening. 
     
     
         9 . The shelter of  claim 8  further comprising an elastic band connected to or integral with the covering, wherein the elastic band is sized and configured to put tension on the covering, to thereby facilitate collapsing the support arms for transport or storage of the shelter wherein the covering and any support cables are drawn in between the top and bottom frame structures when the shelter is in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprised of a plurality of shelters as described in  claim 1  and a canopy sized and configured to be draped and anchored over the top frame structures of the shelters when the shelters are placed in sufficient proximity to each other. 
     
     
         11 . The system of shelters as in  claim 10  further comprising a pole and a distal anchor device,
 wherein the pole is deployed vertically to a height at least as high as the top frame structures of the shelters, 
 wherein the shelters are placed around the pole to form a pod, such that one side of each shelter is proximal to the pole and an opposing side of each shelter is distal to the pole, 
 wherein the canopy is sized and configured to drape from near the top of the pole to the distal side of each shelter in the pod, and 
 wherein at least one distal anchor device is attached at least to the distal side of at least one shelter and is sized and configured to connect the canopy to the shelter. 
 
     
     
         12 . The system of shelters as in  claim 11  further comprising
 a proximal anchor device and 
 a canopy, wherein the canopy is comprised of an inner canopy and an outer canopy, 
 wherein the proximal anchor is attached to at least one shelter on its proximal side, 
 wherein the distal anchor is attached to at least one shelter on its distal side, 
 wherein the inner canopy is sized and configured to drape from near the top of the pole to the proximal side of the shelter, whereby the proximal anchor device connects the inner canopy to the shelter, and 
 wherein the outer canopy is sized and configured to drape from near the top of the pole to the distal side of the shelter, whereby the distal anchor device of the shelter connects the outer canopy to the shelter. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system of shelters as in  claims 1  further comprising a power generator operatively connected via at least one electrical conduit to one or more of the shelters in the system. 
     
     
         14 . The system of shelters as in  claim 10  further comprising climate control equipment operatively connected to one or more of the shelters in the system via at least one climate control conduit. 
     
     
         15 . A method for rapid deployment of temporary housing comprising:
 providing a shelter system which comprises a plurality of collapsible shelter structures wherein each shelter structure is comprised of a substantially uniform rigid top frame structure and a substantially uniform rigid bottom frame structure,   collapsing the shelter structures by urging each top frame structure and its respective bottom frame structure closer together,   loading a plurality of the shelter structures on one or more transportation units, and   unloading and expanding the collapsed shelter structures.