Erecting frame and protective skin shelter system

Abstract

A shelter system having an erecting frame system and a protective skin system. The erecting frame system has at least two A-frame legs and at least one tensioning element, each of the A-frame legs coalescing with at least one other A-frame leg with at least one hinge-type connection. The tensioning element is at least temporarily affixed to each free end of the A-frame legs and is capable of generating a tension force to draw the free ends of the A-frame legs towards one another, thereby lifting the hinge-type connection to a predetermined height above the free end of each A-frame leg. The protective skin system has at least one planar element that occupies at least one side plane, one roof plane, and one end plane of the erecting frame system. The planar element of the protective skin system provides at least a partial barrier from a ballistic threat to a volume behind said planar element. The loading of the protective skin system transfers at least in part first to the erecting frame system and ultimately to the ground surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shelter system comprising:
 a) an erecting frame system comprising at least two A-frame legs and at least one tensioning element, said A-frame legs each comprising at least one elongated structural member, each of said A-frame legs coalescing with at least one other A-frame leg with at least one hinge-type connection, said tensioning element being at least temporarily affixed to each free end of said at least two A-frame legs, said tensioning element comprising at least one substantially elongated structural element capable of generating a tension force to draw said free ends of said at least two A-frame legs towards one another, thereby at least temporarily lifting said hinge type connection to a predetermined height above said free end of each A-frame leg; and   b) a protective skin system comprising at least one planar element, said at least one planar element occupying at least one side plane, one roof plane, and one end plane of the erecting frame system, said side plane of the erecting frame system being defined as a plane occupying the plane between at least two A-frame legs of at least two distinct pairs of A-frame legs of the erecting A-frame structure, said end plane of the erecting frame system being defined as a plane occupying the plane between two legs of a constituent pair of A-frame legs and the ground surface, said roof plane being defined as a plane concordant with the ground surface and of a similar elevation above the ground surface as said hinge-type connection point of at least two A-frame legs, said planar element of the protective skin system providing at least a partial barrier from a ballistic threat to a volume behind said planar element, the loading of said protective skin system being transferred at least in part first to the erecting frame system and ultimately to the ground surface.   
     
     
         2 . The shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein the erecting frame system further comprises at least two offset and parallel pairs of A-frame legs and at least one cylindrical central axle and wherein the upper extent of each A-frame leg has at least one circular opening that functions as a bearing for said at least one axle component, said at least one axle component and said at least one circular opening forming the hinge-type connection, said at least one axle component extending between said at least two pairs of A-frame legs. 
     
     
         3 . The shelter system of  claim 2 , wherein the central axle is at least partially hollow and capable of containing liquid fill, and said axle being capable of receiving and distributing liquid fill, the central axle being filled with said liquid while the central axle is proximate the ground surface so that, as the A-frame legs are drawn together via the tensioning element and the central axle is raised off of the ground surface, a relative pressure head is established to facilitate a source of pressurized liquid for use in at least the protected volume thereinbelow. 
     
     
         4 . The shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein the erecting frame further comprises at least two offset pairs of A-frame legs and at least one central member, said central member extending from the point of coalescence of two A-frame legs in a pair to the point of coalescence of two A-frame legs in at least one other pair of A-frame legs. 
     
     
         5 . The shelter system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one skid element at least temporarily fastened to the free end of at least one A-frame leg in order to reduce friction between the ground surface and the erecting frame during the tensioning process. 
     
     
         6 . The shelter system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one wheel element at least temporarily fastened to the free end of each A-frame leg in order to reduce friction between the ground surface and the erecting frame during the tensioning process. 
     
     
         7 . The shelter system of  claim 1 , further comprising lateral bracing comprising at least one lateral member running substantially orthogonally from one A-frame leg within a pair of A-frame legs to at least one other A-frame leg of another pair of A-frame legs. 
     
     
         8 . The shelter system of  claim 1 , further comprising lateral bracing comprising at least one lateral leg extending from the point of coalescence of the two primary A-frame legs to the ground surface, said at least one lateral leg being oriented substantially perpendicular to the primary paired A-frame legs when viewed in plan; the end plane of the protective skin system being further defined as a plane concordant with the plane between at least one A-frame leg of said primary A-frame legs, said at least one lateral leg, and the ground surface. 
     
     
         9 . The shelter system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least two additional A-frame legs with respective tensioning elements, and with a hinge type connection similar in nature to a primary A-frame leg pair, at least temporarily affixed to the free end of each A-frame leg within the primary A-frame leg pairs; said additional pairs of A-frame legs serve to raise the primary shelter system off the ground surface by drawing the free ends of each pair of additional A-frame legs together with a tensioning element more or less in the same manner used to erect the primary A-frame legs. 
     
     
         10 . The shelter system of  claim 2 , further comprising a protective roof structure; said protective roof structure comprising a multiplicity of rafter elements and a multiplicity of purlin elements; said rafter elements extending more or less laterally from and supported by the central axle; said purlins extending laterally from and supported by at least two offset rafter elements; the protective skin system at least partially occupies the roof plane; said roof plane being further defined as the plane established by more or less the extents of said rafter and purlin elements when viewed in plan. 
     
     
         11 . The shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein the planar element comprises:
 a) at least one vessel element comprising a plurality of sidewalls, each sidewall being attached to at least two other sidewalls, an outer perimeter of said attached sidewalls forming at least one closed shape when viewed in plan and establishing an internal volume referred to as a compartment;   b) a containment system comprising at least two more or less planar enclosure elements, each enclosure element being oriented on the plane of at least one opening established by the sidewalls of the vessel, each enclosure element at least partially sealing at least one opening of at least one compartment within at least one vessel element, each opening of each compartment being at least partially and at least temporarily sealed by at least one enclosure element; and   c) at least one internal ballistic protection element comprising at least one object that occupies and at least partially fills a compartment of a vessel element for at least partially mitigating a ballistic threat.   
     
     
         12 . The shelter system of  claim 11 , wherein the ballistic protection element comprises particle fill. 
     
     
         13 . The shelter system of  claim 12 , wherein the ballistic protection element further comprises at least one compartment plate in addition to at least one layer of the particle fill, the face area of said compartment plate being of a similar shape to that of a compartment opening when viewed in plan, the compartment opening being larger than the face area of the compartment plate, said compartment plate being oriented on a plane concordant to that of a compartment opening, said particle fill being positioned within the compartment between at least one compartment plate and the protected volume behind the protective skin system. 
     
     
         14 . The shelter system of  claim 13 , wherein the ballistic protection element comprises multiple layers of particle fill and compartment plates within at least one compartment. 
     
     
         15 . The shelter system of  claim 13 , wherein the particle fill is compacted by an applied force on at least one compartment plate, said compartment plate remaining in the compartment for at least the duration of said force application. 
     
     
         16 . The shelter system of  claim 15 , wherein the ballistic protection element further comprises multiple compartment plates along with associated compacted layers of particle fill, said layers of compartment plates and associated compacted layers of particle fill forming layered strata. 
     
     
         17 . The shelter system of  claim 12 , wherein a ballistic protection element that at least in part comprises particle fill may be swapped with a ballistic protection element not comprising particle fill. 
     
     
         18 . The shelter system of  claim 13 , wherein the vessel element and containment system are constructed of non-rigid materials and the ballistic protection element further comprises at least one rigid form that is at least temporally inserted into at least one compartment to aid in the compaction of the particle fill, said rigid form comprising a plurality of rigid sidewalls having top and bottom openings, both of said openings established by said rigid sidewalls; when viewed in plan, said rigid form is similar in shape to the opening of the compartment. 
     
     
         19 . The shelter system of  claim 11 , wherein the vessel element and containment system comprise non-rigid materials. 
     
     
         20 . The shelter system of  claim 11 , wherein the vessel element is at least in part constructed of rigid materials. 
     
     
         21 . The shelter system of  claim 20 , wherein at least one sidewall of a vessel element performs the structural role of, and replaces, an A-frame leg, the hinge type connections and tensioning elements of the erecting frame system being attached directly to the vessel element and its respective containment system.