Portable Shelter System

Abstract

A portable shelter system that has a shelter, such as a tent or awning, formed at least in part from a flexible material and foldable into a folded configuration, and a storage container, such as a bag, for receiving the shelter when the shelter is in the folded configuration. A fold guide indicator, positioned such that, when the shelter is folded into the folded configuration with a pre-defined part of the shelter aligned with the fold guide indicator, the shelter can be accommodated in the storage container. In an embodiment, the fold guide indicator is a fabric tab sewn into a seam of the shelter.

1 . A portable shelter system, comprising:
 a shelter formed at least in part from a flexible material and foldable into a folded configuration; and   a storage container for receiving the shelter when the shelter is in the folded configuration;   wherein the shelter comprises a fold guide indicator positioned such that, when the shelter is folded into the folded configuration with a pre-defined part of the shelter aligned with the fold guide indicator, the shelter can be accommodated in the storage container.   
     
     
         2 . The portable shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein the fold guide indicator comprises a tab attached to the shelter. 
     
     
         3 . The portable shelter system of  claim 2 , wherein the tab is of a fabric material. 
     
     
         4 . The portable shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein the fold guide indicator is attached to a seam of the shelter. 
     
     
         5 . The portable shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein the fold guide indicator is of a contrasting color to the shelter in a region adjacent the fold guide indicator. 
     
     
         6 . The portable shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage container defines a fitting length and the shelter has a first end, and wherein the fold guide indicator is positioned with respect to the first end such that, when the shelter is folded in a folding direction from the first end to form a folded portion with an edge of the folded portion aligned with the fold guide indicator, a width of the folded portion in the folding direction is substantially equal to the fitting length. 
     
     
         7 . The portable shelter system of  claim 6 , wherein the fold guide indicator is spaced from the first end by a distance substantially equal to twice the fitting length, such that the width of the folded portion in the folded direction is substantially equal to the fitting length when a free edge of the folded portion is aligned with the fold guide indicator. 
     
     
         8 . The portable shelter system of  claim 6 , wherein the fold guide indicator is spaced from the first end by a distance substantially equal to the fitting length, such that the width of the folded portion in the folded direction is substantially equal to the fitting length when a folded edge of the folded portion is aligned with the fold guide indicator. 
     
     
         9 . The portable shelter system of  claim 6 , wherein the storage container defines and the shelter has a first end, and wherein the fold guide indicator is positioned with respect to the first end such that, when the shelter is folded in the folding direction to form a folded portion with an edge of the folded portion aligned with the fold guide indicator, the width of the folded portion in the folding direction is substantially equal to two, four or eight times the fitting length. 
     
     
         10 . The portable shelter system of  claim 1 , comprising a pair of fold guide indicators disposed on opposite sides of the shelter. 
     
     
         11 . The portable shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein the shelter comprises a first fold guide indicator and a second fold guide indicator, the first and second fold guide indicators being positioned such that the shelter can be folded into the folded configuration with a first pre-defined part of the shelter aligned with the first fold guide indicator and a second pre-defined part of the shelter aligned with the second fold guide indicator. 
     
     
         12 . A method of folding a portable shelter into a folded configuration for fitting into a storage container, the method comprising: folding the shelter by bringing a pre-defined part of the shelter into alignment with a fold guide indicator provided on the shelter. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein folding the shelter comprises folding the shelter from an end of the shelter to form a folded portion, and aligning an edge of the folded portion or a fold line of the folded portion with the fold guide indicator. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising folding the shelter at least one additional time to arrive at the folded configuration.