Expeditionary Shelter Systems

Abstract

A shelter including a support frame (15). A flexible exterior shelter layer (32) can cover the support frame. The exterior shelter layer can form exterior shelter layer roof and sidewall portions of the shelter. A flexible waterproof floor (22) can be included having a floor bottom portion and a floor sidewall portion. The floor sidewall portion can extend upwardly above the floor bottom portion. The floor sidewall portion can be removably securable to the exterior shelter layer sidewall portion above the floor bottom portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shelter comprising:
 a support frame;   a flexible exterior shelter layer for covering the support frame, the exterior shelter layer for forming exterior shelter layer roof and sidewall portions of the shelter; and   a flexible waterproof floor having a floor bottom portion and a floor sidewall portion, the floor sidewall portion for extending upwardly above the floor bottom portion, the floor sidewall portion being removably securable to the exterior shelter sidewall portion above the floor bottom portion.   
     
     
         2 . The shelter of  claim 1  in which the floor sidewall portion is removably securable to the exterior shelter layer sidewall portion with a zipper joint that is about 6 inches above the floor bottom portion. 
     
     
         3 . The shelter of  claim 1  further comprising a flexible inner shelter layer for extending adjacent to the exterior shelter layer at the exterior shelter layer roof and sidewall portions and for also laterally extending inwardly over and covering the floor bottom portion at perimeter regions of the floor bottom portion in a generally ring-shaped manner. 
     
     
         4 . The shelter of  claim 3  in which the inner shelter layer covers the floor bottom portion about 18 inches from outer edges of the floor bottom portion. 
     
     
         5 . The shelter of  claim 4  in which the inner shelter layer is secured to the floor bottom portion with hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         6 . The shelter of  claim 3  in which the inner shelter layer further includes at least one of EMI shielding, insulation, light reflecting, anti-microbial and infrared reflecting properties, and includes at least one layer. 
     
     
         7 . The shelter of  claim 3  in which the support frame comprises at least two inflatable arch beams connected together by an inflatable ridge beam. 
     
     
         8 . The shelter of  claim 7  in which the exterior shelter layer is removably securable to the support frame by releasable support frame straps that extend around the beams at spaced apart locations, the support frame straps including releasable secondary attachment features for removably securing the inner shelter layer in a spaced relationship relative to the exterior shelter layer. 
     
     
         9 . The shelter of  claim 8  further comprising spacers attaching the exterior shelter layer to the inner shelter layer to maintain about a 1 inch gap between the exterior shelter layer and the inner shelter layer. 
     
     
         10 . The shelter of  claim 1  in which the shelter is a first shelter, the first shelter further comprising a first complexing member located on at least one end of the first shelter for mating with a second complexing member located on at least one end of a second shelter for joining the first and second shelters together, the first and second complexing members being configured to form a rain gutter for directing water between the first and second shelters to the ground. 
     
     
         11 . A method of forming a shelter comprising:
 providing a support frame;   covering the support frame with a flexible exterior shelter layer to form exterior shelter layer roof and sidewall portions of the shelter; and   removably securing a flexible waterproof floor to the exterior shelter layer sidewall portion of the shelter, the floor having a floor bottom portion and a floor sidewall portion, the floor sidewall portion for extending upwardly above the floor bottom portion, the floor sidewall portion being removably securable to the exterior shelter layer sidewall portion above the floor bottom portion.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising removably securing the floor sidewall portion to the exterior shelter layer sidewall portion with a zipper joint that is about 6 inches above the floor bottom portion. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising providing a flexible inner shelter layer, the inner shelter layer for extending adjacent to the exterior shelter layer at the exterior shelter layer roof and sidewall portions and for also laterally extending inwardly over and covering the floor bottom portion at perimeter regions of the floor bottom portion in a generally ring-shaped manner. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising covering the floor bottom portion about 18 inches from outer edges of the floor bottom portion with the inner shelter layer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising securing the inner shelter layer to the floor bottom portion with hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising providing the inner shelter layer with at least one of EMI shielding, insulation, light reflecting, anti-microbial and infrared reflecting properties, and with at least one layer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  in which the support frame comprises at least two inflatable arch beams connected together by an inflatable ridge beam. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 removably securing the exterior shelter layer to the support frame with releasable support frame straps that extend around the beams at spaced apart locations; and 
 removably securing the inner shelter layer in a spaced relationship relative to the exterior shelter layer with releasable secondary attachment features on the support frame straps. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising maintaining about a 1 inch gap between the exterior shelter layer and the inner shelter layer with spacers that attach the exterior shelter layer to the inner shelter layer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  in which the shelter is a first shelter, the first shelter further comprising a first complexing member located on at least one end of the first shelter for mating with a second complexing member located on at least one end of a second shelter for joining the first and second shelters together, the first and second complexing members being configured to form a rain gutter for directing water between the first and second shelters to the ground.