Shelter barrier member

Abstract

According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed an apparatus for forming a shelter comprising a pair of parallel spaced apart beams, a flexible barrier sheet extending between the pair of beams and at least two braces extending between the beams. Each of the braces are foldable along a plane defined by an adjacent portion of the pair or beams and may be formed of first and second elongate members substantially similar lengths pivotally connected to each other which are foldable to be substantially parallel to the beams in a first position and substantially perpendicular to the beams in a second position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for forming a shelter comprising:
 a pair of parallel spaced apart beams;   a flexible barrier sheet extending between said pair of beams; and   at least two braces extending between said beams, each of said braces being foldable along a plane defined by an adjacent portion of said pair or beams.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said braces comprise foldable braces formed of first and second elongate members pivotally connected to each other at a pivot. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said first and second elongate members are foldable about said pivot so as to be substantially parallel to said beams in a first position and substantially perpendicular to said beams in a second position. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said first and second elongate members are substantially parallel to each other in said second position. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said first and second elongate members are lengthwise and rotatably lockable to each in said second position. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said brace includes a sleeve slidably located along said one of said first or second elongate members having a pin sized to be slidably located in a free end of the other of said first or second elongate members in said second position. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said braces are foldable along a plane defined by an adjacent portion of said pair or beams. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising end braces located adjacent to each end of said beams. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said beams comprise at least two beam portions having a bend therebetween. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a brace located proximate to said bend. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said first and second elongate members are connected to said beams by pivoting connectors comprising first and second sleeves each sized to surround one of said beam or said brace, wherein one of said first and second sleeves includes a locking plate extending therefrom and being pivotally supported between a pair of brace plates extending from the other of said first or second sleeves. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said brace plates support a locking pin therethrough, said locking pin slidable through bores in said brace plates and engagable within one of a plurality of notches around a peripheral edge of said locking plate. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said locking plate is pivotally supported by said brace plates by a pivot pin distally located from said first and second sleeves so as to permit said first and second sleeves to be axially aligned. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said one of said first or second sleeve includes a catch adapted to engage upon a ridge located on the other of said first or second sleeves when said first and second sleeves are axially aligned. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said flexible barrier sheet is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of fabric, rubber, plastic, mesh or rubberized fabric. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said flexible barrier extends between said end braces 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said sheet includes a first connection member located adjacent to a first end brace and a second connection member, connectable to said first connection member and located adjacent to a second opposed end brace such that adjacent apparatuses are connectable to each other. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said first and connection members comprise hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said flexible barrier includes an extended planar portion extending from one of said pair of parallel beams sized extend from a bottom of said apparatus when in a vertical orientation and to receive a weighted object thereon for stabilizing said apparatus.