Outdoor shelter system and method

Abstract

A frameless outdoor shelter system; the frameless outdoor shelter system may be suspended from an overhead structure by a single suspension member. The frameless outdoor shelter system includes a flexible four-sided sheet having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a peripheral edge having corners, such flexible four-sided sheet adapted to form a protective shelter by concurrent tensioning of selected portions of such top surface and the peripheral edge of the sheet. The system may be configured to form a wearable poncho.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims: 
     
         1 . A frameless outdoor shelter system comprising:
 a flexible four-sided sheet having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a peripheral edge having corners, said flexible four-sided sheet adapted to form a protective shelter by concurrent tensioning of selected portions of said top surface and said peripheral edge;   a plurality of ground-tetherable cords, each one adapted to be removably tetherable to at least one fixed ground structure;   a plurality of peripheral cord connectors adapted to couple said plurality of ground-tetherable cords to said peripheral edge, said plurality of peripheral cord connectors including
 a first peripheral cord-connector coupled to a first corner of said peripheral edge, 
 a second peripheral cord-connector coupled to a second corner of said peripheral edge, 
 a third peripheral cord-connector coupled to a third corner of said peripheral edge, 
 a fourth peripheral cord-connector coupled to a fourth corner of said peripheral edge, 
 a fifth peripheral cord-connector coupled to said peripheral edge at a point intermediate of said first corner and said second corner, 
 a sixth peripheral cord-connector coupled to said peripheral edge at a point intermediate of said second corner and said third corner, and 
 a seventh peripheral cord-connector coupled to said peripheral edge at a point intermediate of said first corner and said fourth corner; 
   a single top suspension cord adapted to be removably-coupleable to a fixed overhead structure;   a suspension-cord connector adapted to couple said single top suspension cord to said top surface at a point internal of said peripheral edge; and   formation of said protective shelter from said flexible four-sided sheet is achieved by such concurrent tensioning of said top surface by said single top suspension cord and said peripheral edge by said plurality of ground-tetherable cords.   
     
     
         2 . The frameless outdoor shelter system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one storage sleeve configured to store said frameless outdoor shelter system in a compact stowed configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The frameless outdoor shelter system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the at least one fixed ground structure;   wherein said at least one fixed ground structure consists of a plurality of ground-engageable stakes configured to releasably secure said plurality of ground-tetherable cords to a ground surface.   
     
     
         4 . The frameless outdoor shelter system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a throw weight adapted to assist a user in deploying said single top suspension cord over the fixed overhead structure;   wherein said throw weight includes a cord-to-weight coupler adapted to removably couple said throw weight to said single top suspension cord.   
     
     
         5 . The frameless outdoor shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said fifth peripheral cord-connector is coupled to said peripheral edge at a point equidistant from said first corner and said second corner;   said sixth peripheral cord-connector is coupled to said peripheral edge at a point equidistant from said second corner and said third corner; and   said seventh peripheral cord-connector is coupled to said peripheral edge at a point equidistant from said first corner and said fourth corner.   
     
     
         8 . The frameless outdoor shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein said suspension-cord connector is joined to said top surface at a point equidistant from said third corner and said fourth corner and separated from said peripheral edge a distance of about 10 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The frameless outdoor shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein said suspension-cord connector is joined to said top surface at a point equidistant from said first corner, said second corner, said third corner, and said fourth corner. 
     
     
         10 . The frameless outdoor shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of peripheral cord connectors each consist of a loop flexible woven webbing permanently joined with said peripheral edge. 
     
     
         9 . The frameless outdoor shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein each one of said ground-tetherable cords consist of elastic cords. 
     
     
         10 . The frameless outdoor shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible four-sided sheet has a width and a length of at least about seven feet. 
     
     
         11 . The frameless outdoor shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible four-sided sheet has a width of about seven feet and a length of about nine feet. 
     
     
         12 . The frameless outdoor shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible four-sided sheet is constructed from Silicone-coated nylon (Silnylon). 
     
     
         13 . The frameless outdoor shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible four-sided sheet is constructed from at least one of:
 Cuben Fiber (Dyneema® composite)   Silicone-coated polyester (SilPoly),   Polyurethane-coated polyester,   Polyurethane-coated nylon,   Tyvek®.   
     
     
         14 . The frameless outdoor shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein said single top suspension cord includes at least one carabiner-type fastener adapted to releasably couple said single top suspension cord to said suspension-cord connector. 
     
     
         15 . The frameless outdoor shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein said suspension-cord connector includes a gusset panel adapted to distribute tension forces, applied by said single top suspension cord, over an enlarged area of said top surface engaged with said at least one gusset panel. 
     
     
         16 . The frameless outdoor shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said bottom surface comprises a pair of spaced-apart interlocking couplers adapted to releasably couple two points of said bottom surface together to form a user-wearable hood; and   said flexible four-sided sheet is adapted to form a user-wearable poncho.   
     
     
         17 . A frameless outdoor shelter system, the frameless outdoor shelter system comprising:
 a flexible four-sided sheet having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a peripheral edge having corners, said flexible four-sided sheet adapted to form a protective shelter by concurrent tensioning of said top surface and said peripheral edge;   a plurality of ground-tetherable cords, each one adapted to be removably tetherable to a ground surface by at least one ground-engageable stake;   a plurality of peripheral cord connectors adapted to couple at least one of said plurality of ground-tetherable cords to said peripheral edge, said plurality of peripheral cord connectors including
 a first peripheral cord-connector coupled to a first corner of said peripheral edge, 
 a second peripheral cord-connector coupled to a second corner of said peripheral edge, 
 a third peripheral cord-connector coupled to a third corner of said peripheral edge, 
 a fourth peripheral cord-connector coupled to a fourth corner of said peripheral edge, 
 a fifth peripheral cord-connector coupled to said peripheral edge at a point intermediate of said first corner and said second corner, 
 a sixth peripheral cord-connector coupled to said peripheral edge at a point intermediate of said second corner and said third corner, and 
 a seventh peripheral cord-connector coupled to said peripheral edge at a point intermediate of said first corner and said fourth corner; 
   a single top suspension cord adapted to be removably-coupleable to a fixed overhead structure;   a suspension-cord connector adapted to couple said single top suspension cord to said top surface at a point on said top surface internal of said peripheral edge;   a throw weight adapted to assist a user in deploying said single top suspension cord over the fixed overhead structure; and   at least one storage sleeve configured to store said frameless outdoor shelter system in a compact stowed configuration;   wherein formation of said protective shelter from said flexible four-sided sheet is achieved by such concurrent tensioning of said top surface by said single top suspension cord and said peripheral edge by said plurality of ground-tetherable cords;   wherein said throw weight includes a cord-to-weight coupler adapted to removably couple said throw weight to said top suspension cord;   
       wherein said fifth peripheral cord-connector is coupled to said peripheral edge at a point equidistant from said first corner and said second corner; 
       wherein said sixth peripheral cord-connector is coupled to said peripheral edge at a point equidistant from said second corner and said third corner; 
       wherein said seventh peripheral cord-connector is coupled to said peripheral edge at a point equidistant from said first corner and said fourth corner; 
       wherein said suspension-cord connector is joined to said top surface at a point equidistant from said third corner and said fourth corner; 
       wherein the plurality of peripheral cord connectors each consist of a loop flexible woven webbing permanently joined with said peripheral edge; 
       wherein said flexible four-sided sheet has a width and a length of at least about seven feet; and 
       wherein said flexible four-sided sheet is constructed substantially from at least one waterproof fabric. 
     
     
         18 . The frameless outdoor shelter system of  claim 17 , further comprising set of instructions; and
 wherein the frameless outdoor shelter system is arranged as a kit.   
     
     
         19 . A method of providing a frameless protective outdoor shelter, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a flexible four-sided sheet having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a peripheral edge having corners;   joining a plurality of peripheral cord connectors to the peripheral edge   providing a plurality of ground-engageable stakes adapted to be removably driven into a ground   providing a plurality of ground-tetherable cords attachable to the plurality of peripheral cord connectors and to the plurality of ground-engageable stakes;   joining a suspension-cord connector to the top surface of the flexible four-sided sheet at a point internal of the peripheral edge;   providing a single top suspension cord attachable to the suspension-cord connector and removably-couplable to a fixed overhead structure;   providing a throw weight adapted to assist a user in deploying the top suspension cord over the fixed overhead structure;   providing a set of instructions describing the formation of a protective shelter from said flexible four-sided sheet by concurrent tensioning of said top surface by said single top suspension cord and said peripheral edge by said plurality of ground-tetherable cords; and   providing a storage sleeve configured to store the flexible four-sided sheet, the plurality of ground-engageable stakes, the single top suspension cord, the throw weight, and the set of instructions in a compact stowed configuration.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of:
 joining a pair of spaced-apart interlocking couplers to the flexible four-sided sheet, the interlocking couplers adapted to releasably couple two points of the bottom surface together to form a user-wearable hood; and, wherein said flexible four-sided sheet is adapted to form a user-wearable poncho.