Connection fittings for a transportable shelter

Abstract

An exemplary connection fitting for a frame for a transportable shelter includes a female connection fitting configured to be attached to a first interconnecting member of the frame, and a male connection fitting configured to be attached to a second interconnecting member of the frame. The female connection fitting includes a base and a channel extending through the base, and the male connection fitting includes a base and an extension extending from the base. When the female connection fitting is attached to the first interconnecting member and the male connection fitting is attached to the second interconnecting member, the extension of the male connection fitting is inserted into the channel of the female connection fitting to connect the first interconnecting member to the second interconnecting member.

1 . A connection fitting for a frame of a transportable shelter, the frame including a plurality of interconnecting members, in which a first interconnecting member of the plurality of interconnecting members is connectable to a second interconnecting member of the plurality of interconnecting members, the connection fitting comprising:
 a female connection fitting configured to be attached to the first interconnecting member, the female connection fitting having a base and a channel extending through the base;   a male connection fitting configured to be attached to the second interconnecting member, the male connection fitting having a base and an extension extending from the base;   wherein, when the female connection fitting is attached to the first interconnecting member and the male connection fitting is attached to the second interconnecting member, the extension of the male connection fitting is inserted into the channel of the female connection fitting to connect the first interconnecting member to the second interconnecting member.   
     
     
         2 . The connection fitting according to  claim 1 , wherein the female connection fitting further comprises a second channel extending through the base. 
     
     
         3 . The connection fitting according to  claim 1 , wherein the female connection fitting further comprises one or more apertures for attaching the female connection fitting to the first interconnecting member, and wherein the apertures of the female connection fitting are configured to align with one or more openings of the first interconnecting member such that the female connection fitting is configured to be attached to the first interconnecting member by placing a fastener through an aperture of the one or more apertures and through an aligned opening of the one or more openings. 
     
     
         4 . The connection fitting according to  claim 1 , wherein the male connection fitting further comprises one or more apertures for attaching the male connection fitting to the second interconnecting member, and wherein the apertures of the male connection fitting are configured to align with one or more openings of the second interconnecting member such that the male connection fitting is configured to be attached to the second interconnecting member by placing a fastener through an aperture of the one or more apertures and through an aligned opening of the one or more openings. 
     
     
         5 . The connection fitting according to  claim 1 , wherein the channel of the female connection fitting comprises an inlet having a first width and a wider portion having a second width, wherein the second width is greater than the first width. 
     
     
         6 . The connection fitting according to  claim 5 , wherein the extension of the male connection fitting comprises a connection portion having a third width and a wider portion having a fourth width, wherein the fourth width is greater than the third width, and wherein the fourth width of the wider portion of the male connection fitting is greater than the first width of the inlet of the female connection portion. 
     
     
         7 . The connection fitting according to  claim 3 , wherein the female connection fitting includes one or more securing openings that intersect the one or more apertures of the female connection fitting, wherein the securing openings are configured to receive a securing fastener for securing the female connection fitting to the first interconnecting member. 
     
     
         8 . The connection fitting according to  claim 4 , wherein the male connection fitting includes one or more securing openings that intersect the one or more apertures of the male connection fitting, wherein the securing openings are configured to receive a securing fastener for securing the male connection fitting to the second interconnecting member. 
     
     
         9 . The connection fitting according to  claim 1 , wherein the female connection fitting includes one or more first connection openings that extend through the channel, wherein the male connection fitting includes one or more second connection openings that extend through the extension, and wherein the first connection openings of the female connection fitting are aligned with the second connection openings of the male connection fitting when the extension of the male connection fitting is disposed in the channel of the female connection fitting such that a connection fastener can be placed through the first connection openings and second connection openings to secure the female connection fitting to the male connection fitting. 
     
     
         10 . The connection fitting according to  claim 1 , wherein the female connection fitting further comprises a first protrusion that is configured to engage a web of the first interconnecting member, and wherein the male connection fitting further comprises a second protrusion that is configured to engage a web of the second interconnecting member. 
     
     
         11 . A frame for a transportable shelter, the frame comprising:
 a first base member;   a second base member;   a plurality of structural members, each structural member comprising:
 a first end that is connectable to the first base member; 
 a second end that is connectable to the second base member; and 
 at least two interconnecting members that extend between the first end and the second end of the structural member, wherein the first interconnecting member is connectable to the second interconnecting member by a connection fitting, the connection fitting comprising:
 a female connection fitting attached to the first interconnecting member, the female connection fitting having a base and a channel extending through the base; 
 a male connection fitting attached to the second interconnecting member, the male connection fitting having a base and an extension extending from the base; 
 
 wherein the extension of the male connection fitting is inserted into the channel of the female connection fitting to connect the first interconnecting member to the second interconnecting member. 
   
     
     
         12 . The frame according to  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of purlins that are configured to connect one structural member to another structural member. 
     
     
         13 . The frame according to  claim 12 , wherein the female connection fitting comprises a second channel extending through the base of the female connection fitting, wherein a first purlin of the plurality of purlins comprises a male connection fitting, and wherein the male connection fitting of the first purlin is inserted into the second channel of the female connection fitting to attach the first purlin to the first interconnecting member. 
     
     
         14 . The frame according to  claim 13 , wherein the female connection fitting comprises a third channel extending through the base of the female connection fitting, where a second purlin of the plurality of purlins comprises a male connection fitting, and wherein the male connection fitting of the second purlin is inserted into the third channel of the female connection fitting to attach the second purlin to the first interconnecting member. 
     
     
         15 . The frame according to  claim 11 , wherein the female connection fitting further comprises one or more apertures for attaching the female connection fitting to the first interconnecting member, and wherein the apertures of the female connection fitting are configured to align with one or more openings of the first interconnecting member such that the female connection fitting is configured to be attached to the second interconnecting member by placing a fastener through an aperture of the one or more apertures and through an aligned opening of the one or more openings. 
     
     
         16 . The frame according to  claim 11 , wherein the male connection fitting further comprises one or more apertures for attaching the male connection fitting to the second interconnecting member, and wherein the apertures of the male connection fitting are configured to align with one or more openings of the second interconnecting member such that the male connection fitting is configured to be attached to the second interconnecting member by placing a fastener through an aperture of the one or more apertures and through an aligned opening of the one or more openings. 
     
     
         17 . The frame according to  claim 11 , wherein the channel of the female connection fitting comprises an inlet having a first width and a wider portion having a second width, wherein the second width is greater than the first width. 
     
     
         18 . The frame according to  claim 17 , wherein the extension of the male connection fitting comprises a connection portion having a third width and a wider portion having a fourth width, wherein the fourth width is greater than the third width, and wherein the fourth width of the wider portion of the male connection fitting is greater than the first width of the inlet of the female connection fitting. 
     
     
         19 . The frame according to  claim 15 , wherein the female connection fitting includes one or more securing openings that intersect the one or more apertures of the female connection fitting, wherein the securing openings are configured to receive a securing fastener for securing the female connection fitting to the first interconnecting member. 
     
     
         20 . The frame according to  claim 16 , wherein the male connection fitting includes one or more securing openings that intersect the one or more apertures of the male connection fitting, wherein the securing openings are configured to receive a securing fastener for securing the male connection fitting to the second interconnecting member. 
     
     
         21 . The frame according to  claim 11 , wherein the female connection fitting includes one or more first connection openings that extend through the channel, wherein the male connection fitting includes one or more second connection openings that extend through the extension, and wherein the first connection openings of the female connection fitting are aligned with the second connection openings of the male connection fitting when the extension of the male connection fitting is disposed in the channel of the female connection fitting such that a connection fastener can be placed through the first connection openings and second connection openings to secure the female connection fitting to the male connection fitting. 
     
     
         22 . The frame according to  claim 11 , wherein the first interconnecting member is an I-beam having a first web and first opposing flanges, and wherein the second interconnecting member is an I-beam having a second web and second opposing flanges, wherein the female connection fitting further comprises a first protrusion that is configured to engage the first web of the first interconnecting member when the female connection fitting is attached to the first interconnecting member, and wherein the male connection fitting further comprises a second protrusion that is configured to engage the second web of the second interconnecting member when the male connection fitting is attached to the second interconnecting member. 
     
     
         23 . A connection fitting for a frame of a transportable shelter, the frame including a plurality of beam members, the connection fitting comprising:
 a crown connection fitting having a base and a plurality of extensions extending from the base;   a female connection fitting configured to be attached to a beam member of the frame, the female connection fitting having a base and a channel extending through the base;   wherein the channel of the female connection fitting is placed over an extension of the plurality of extensions of the crown connection fitting to connect the beam member to the crown connection fitting.   
     
     
         24 . The connection fitting according to  claim 23 , wherein the female connection fitting further comprises one or more apertures for attaching the female connection fitting to the beam member, and wherein the apertures of the female connection fitting are configured to align with one or more openings in the beam member such that the female connection fitting is configured to be attached to the beam member by placing a fastener through an aperture of the one or more apertures and through an aligned opening of the one or more openings. 
     
     
         25 . The connection fitting according to  claim 23 , wherein the channel of the female connection fitting comprises an inlet having a first width and a wider portion having a second width, wherein the second width is greater than the first width. 
     
     
         26 . The connection fitting according to  claim 25 , wherein the extension of the crown connection fitting comprises a connection portion having a third width and a wider portion having a fourth width, wherein the fourth width is greater than the third width, and wherein the fourth width of the wider portion of the crown connection fitting is greater than the first width of the inlet of the female connection fitting. 
     
     
         27 . The connection fitting according to  claim 23 , wherein the female connection fitting includes one or more first connection openings that extend through the channel, wherein the extension of the crown connection fitting includes one or more second connection openings that extend through the extension, and wherein the first connection openings of the female connection fitting are aligned with the second connection openings of the extension of the crown connection fitting when the extension is disposed in the channel of the female connection fitting such that a connection fastener can be placed through the first connection openings and second connection openings to secure the female connection fitting to the crown connection fitting. 
     
     
         28 . The connection fitting according to  claim 23 , wherein an angle of a top surface of the base of the female connection fitting relative to a top surface of the base of the crown connection fitting when the female connection fitting is attached to the crown connection fitting is movable.