Tent-Like Structure

Abstract

One aspect of one embodiment of the present invention is a frame system for modular berthing compartments wherein a plurality of the frames can also function as a frame for a modular tent system, which frames are assembled on site and easily transportable and optimized to ship very efficiently disassembled. The assembled frame creates an environment that maximizes the volumetric space to provide sleeping accommodation or utility spaces in a high-density configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular berthing system comprising:
 a first frame wherein the frame comprises a left side and a right side, the right side includes a first vertical beam with a first end and a second end, the first end comprises a foot plate that is designed to contact the ground and the second end is configured to releasably attach by a securing means to a roof beam for support of the roof beam, a first platform beam having a first end and a second end, the first end releasably connects by a securing means to the first vertical beam at a location above the foot plate and also releasably connects by a securing means at the second end of the first platform beam to a location above the footplate on a second vertical beam having a first end and a second end, the footplate located on the first end of the second vertical beam, is configured to contact the ground and the second end of the second vertical beam is configured to releasably connect by a securing means to a roof beam for support of the roof beam, a second platform beam that horizontally releasably connects by a securing means the first vertical beam with the second vertical beam wherein the second platform beam is positioned above the first platform beam and in a same vertical plane with the first platform beam to form the right side of the frame wherein the left side of the first frame is configured with a first vertical beam, a second vertical beam, a first platform beam and a second platform beam that are mirrored in position as compared to the right side frame, the left side frame and the right side frame are arranged such that a ledge in the first platform beam of the right side of the frame is opposed to the ledge of the first platform beam on the left side of the frame;   a flat horizontal panel configured to be positioned on the ledge of the first platform beam or the second platform beam wherein the panel connects the left side of the frame and the right side of the frame thereby providing lateral stability to the frame;   a plurality of the roof beams releasably connectable by a securing means to the first frame at the second end of one or more of the first vertical beam, the second vertical beam or a combination thereof; and   the plurality of roof beams and the frame configured to support a skin that can be positioned over a top, a side or a combination thereof of the modular berthing system.   
     
     
         2 . The modular berthing system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second frame, the second frame comprising a right side and a left side, the right side comprising a third platform beam having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is releasably connectable by a securing means to the right side first vertical beam, the second end of the third platform beam is releasably connectable by a securing means with a third vertical beam, a fourth platform beam having a first end releasably connectable by a securing means to the right side first platform beam and a second end of the fourth platform beam is releasably connectable to the third vertical beam wherein the fourth platform beam is positioned above the third platform beam in a same vertical plane as the third platform beam and wherein the left side of the frame is configured with a third vertical beam, a third platform beam and a fourth platform beam that are mirrored as to position as compared to the right side frame, the left side frame and the right side frame are arranged such that a ledge in the third platform beam of the right side of the frame is opposed to the ledge of the third platform beam on the left side of the frame; 
 a flat horizontal panel configured to be positioned on the ledge of the third platform beam of the right side of the frame and the ledge of the third platform beam of the left side of the frame wherein the panel connects the left side of the frame and the right side of the frame thereby providing lateral stability to the second frame; 
 a plurality of the roof beams releasably connectable by a securing means to the second frame at the second end of the third vertical beam; and 
 the plurality of roof beams and the frame configured to support the skin that is positioned over a top, a side or a combination thereof of the second frame of the modular berthing system. 
 
     
     
         3 . The berthing system of  claim 1  wherein the right side first vertical beam, the right side second vertical beam or both include a groove into which the skin can be secured. 
     
     
         4 . The berthing system of  claim 1  wherein the left side first vertical beam, the left side second vertical beam or both include a groove into which the skin can be secured. 
     
     
         5 . The berthing system of  claim 1  wherein the right side first vertical beam, the right side second vertical beam or both include a channel into which a securing means are positioned. 
     
     
         6 . The berthing system of  claim 1  wherein the left side first vertical beam, the left side second vertical beam or both include a channel into which securing means are positioned. 
     
     
         7 . The berthing system of  claim 2  wherein the right side third vertical beam, the left side third vertical beam or both includes a channel into which a securing means are positioned. 
     
     
         8 . The berthing system of  claim 2  wherein the right side third vertical beam, the left side third vertical beam or both include a groove into which the skin can be secured. 
     
     
         9 . The berthing system of  claim 1  wherein the ledge is a surface upon which the horizontal platform rests when the first platform beam, the second platform beam, the third platform beam or the fourth platform beam is arced, angled or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The berthing system of  claim 1  wherein the ledge comprises a stepped recess right angle in the first platform beam, the second platform, the third platform beam or the fourth platform beam. 
     
     
         11 . The berthing system of  claim 1  wherein the horizontal platform is a flooring plank or a bed support platform. 
     
     
         12 . The berthing system of clam  11  wherein a bedframe integrates with the bed support platform and is secured into one or more vertical beams. 
     
     
         13 . The berthing system of  claim 1  wherein a) the left side first frame or the right side first frame is releasably connected by with a horizontal panel positioned between opposing ledges a securing means to form the first frame, b) the left side second frame or the right side second frame is releasably connected with a horizontal panel positioned between opposing ledges by a securing means to form the second frame to expand the berthing system laterally. 
     
     
         14 . The berthing system of  claim 1  wherein the second platform beam is positioned vertically at a height on the right side of the frame and at the height on the left side of the frame above the first platform beam to allow a sufficient distance between the first platform beam and the second platform beam to accommodate a second horizontal panel when the second horizontal panel is positioned on the second platform beam on the right side of the frame and the second platform beam on the left side of the frame. 
     
     
         15 . The berthing system of  claim 9  wherein the second horizontal panel is positioned sufficiently above the ground to require a ladder to gain access to the top of the second horizontal panel surface. 
     
     
         16 . The berthing system of  claim 10  wherein a ladder is attached to the second horizontal panel to permit access from the ground to the second horizontal panel positioned above the ground. 
     
     
         17 . The berthing system of  claim 10  wherein the second horizontal panel is a bed platform. 
     
     
         18 . The berthing system of  claim 17  wherein a handrail system connects to the bed platform via a securing means and integrated securing channel within the bed platform. 
     
     
         19 . The berthing system according to  claim 1  wherein a securing means is a bolt or pin. 
     
     
         20 . The berthing system of  claim 1  wherein the first platform beam, the second platform, the third platform beam or the fourth platform beam comprises a step configuration. 
     
     
         21 . A method of constructing a modular berthing system comprising:
 assembling a frame wherein a frame comprises a left side and a right side, the right side comprises a first vertical beam with a first end and a second end, the first end comprises a footplate that is designed to contact the ground and the second end is configured to releasably attach to and support a roof beam;   releasably connecting a first end of a first platform beam to the first vertical beam at a location above the footplate and at a second end of the first platform beam to a second vertical beam at a location above the footplate wherein the second vertical beam is configured with the first end comprising a footplate that is configured to contact the ground and the second end that is configured to releasably connect to and support a roof beam;   releasably connecting a second platform beam horizontally to the first vertical beam and to the second vertical beam wherein the second platform beam is positioned above the first platform beam and in a same vertical plane with the first platform beam to form the right side of the frame wherein the first vertical beam, the second vertical beam , the first platform beam and the second platform beam are mirrored in position with respect to the right side frame and the left side of the frame and the right side of the frame are arranged such that a ledge in the first platform beam of the right side of the frame is opposing the a ledge of the first platform beam on the left side of the frame;   positioning a horizontal panel on the first platform beam of the right side of the frame and the first platform beam of the left side of the frame wherein the panel connects the left side of the frame and the right side of the frame thereby providing lateral stability to the frame;   releasably connecting a plurality of the roof beams to the frame at the second end of one or more of the first vertical beam on the right side, the second vertical beam on the right side, the first vertical beam on the left side, the second vertical beam on the left side or a combination thereof; and   positioning a skin to the plurality of roof beams, the frame, or a combination thereof of the berthing structure.   
     
     
         22 . A modular tent system comprising:
 a plurality of frames of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of frames of  claim 2  form part of the tent structure.   
     
     
         23 . The modular tent system of  claim 22  wherein the right side first vertical beam and the left side vertical beam can be of the same length or a different length. 
     
     
         24 . The modular tent system of  claim 22  wherein the right side second vertical beam and the left side vertical beam can be of the same length or a different length. 
     
     
         25 . The modular tent system of  claim 22  wherein the right side first vertical beam, the right side second vertical beam or both include a groove into which the skin can be secured. 
     
     
         26 . The modular tent system of  claim 22  wherein the left side first vertical beam, the left side second vertical beam or both include a groove into which the skin can be secured. 
     
     
         27 . The modular tent system of  claim 22  wherein the right side first vertical beam and the right side second vertical beam or both include a channel into which a securing means are positioned. 
     
     
         28 . The modular tent system of  claim 22  wherein the left side first vertical beam and the left side second vertical beam or both include a channel into which securing means are positioned. 
     
     
         29 . The modular tent system of  claim 22  wherein the right side third vertical beam or the left side third vertical beam includes a channel into which a securing means are positioned. 
     
     
         30 . The modular tent system of  claim 22  wherein the right side third vertical beam or the left side third vertical beam include a groove into which the skin can be secured. 
     
     
         31 . The modular tent system of  claim 22  wherein the ledge is a surface upon which the horizontal platform rests when the first platform beam or the second platform beam is arced, angled or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The modular tent system of  claim 22  wherein the ledge is a stepped recess right angle in the first platform beam or the second platform beam. 
     
     
         33 . The modular tent system of  claim 22  wherein the horizontal platform is a flooring plank or a bed support platform. 
     
     
         34 . The modular tent system of  claim 33  wherein a bedframe integrates with the bed support platform and is secured into one or more vertical beams. 
     
     
         35 . The modular tent system of  claim 22  wherein a second platform beam is positioned longitudinally at a height on the right side of the frame and at the height on the left side of the frame above the first platform beam to allow a sufficient distance between the first platform beam and the second platform beam. 
     
     
         36 . The modular tent system of  claim 35  wherein a second horizontal panel is positioned sufficiently above the ground to require a ladder to gain access to the top of the second horizontal panel surface. 
     
     
         37 . The modular tent system of  claim 36  wherein a ladder is attached to the second horizontal panel to permit access from the ground to the second horizontal panel positioned above the ground. 
     
     
         38 . The modular tent system of  claim 34  wherein a handrail system connects to the bed support platform via a securing means and integrated securing channel within the bed support platform. 
     
     
         39 . The modular tent system of  claim 22  wherein the modular tent system is transportable by truck or via a shipping container when the modular tent system is disassembled. 
     
     
         40 . The modular tent system of  claim 22  wherein one or more channels in the vertical beams into which additional structural bracing may be affixed increases the structural integrity of the modular tent system. 
     
     
         41 . The modular tent system of  claim 22  wherein a securing means is a bolt or pin.