Knockdown shelter

Dec. 14, 1965

L. M. BENING

3,222,829

KNOCKDOWN SHELTER

Filed June 18, 1962

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3,222,829

Patented Dec. 14, 1965

United States Patent Office

3,222,829

KNOCKDOWN SHELTER

Lucy M. Bening, 1813 Scott Road, Burbank, Calif. Filed June 18, 1962, Ser. No. 203,315

Ciaim. (Cl. 52—92)

This invention relates to temporary shelters of the class that includes tents.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive shelter of the character described.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel knockdown shelter structure made of heavier material than canvas tents are usually made of.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a tentlike shelter comprised of a plurality of lightweight panels that can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled for transportation and storage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel panel structure comprised of frame elements and sheet elements that are detachably secured together in a unique manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel lightweight knockdown shelter structure that may include panel elements made of sheet metal, plastic, wood or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear and be brought out more fully in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a knockdown shelter incorporating a preferred form of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the frame elements of the invention as seen in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view enlarged taken along lines 3—3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 taken along line 4—4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view in section showing a modified form of a structural element and panel formation.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the shelter of this invention comprises a base 10 of any convenient and suitable form but shown as comprising bar or plate members 11 secured together at their ends as by connectors 12 to form the base which is shown as rectangular but may be of other form if desired by suitable dimensioning of the bar members 11. Bars 11 have apertures or recesses 13 in their upper faces at the corners of the base and at predetermined intermediate positions which form the panel spacing. A plurality of upright members 15 which are shown as being cylindrical in cross-section have suitable reduced diameter end portions 14 which fit in apertures or recesses 13 to space the upright members for forming the panels. The panels are comprised of the upright members 15 and a plurality of wall sections 16 made of relatively thin sheet material such as aluminum, steel, plastic, wood or other such material. The panels are generally rectangular in shape and the edge portions thereof are adapted for interfitting engagement in longitudinal grooves 17 formed in the upright members 15. Grooves 17 are undercut at 18 to provide holding means for beads or flange formations 19 at the edges of the panels sections 16. These beads or flanges may be of any suitable form however are shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 as being reversed -bent edges which can be readily formed of metallic material but will be otherwise formed if the sheets 16 are of plastic or wood or other than metallic material.

A door panel 2® is formed of a pair of uprights 21 suit- ably hinged at 22 to one of the upright members 15 and provided with a latch or lock 23 mounted to another upright member 15 which provides the door spacing. Door members 21 will have the longitudinal groove formation 5 17-18 similar to that of the upright members 15.

A roof for the shelter structure is provided by a rigid member 24, two pairs of inclined side members 25, a pair of horizontal side members 26 and a pair of side members 27. These members are severally formed with the recess jq and pin formations 13 and 14 to form the roof frames and also have the groove formations 17 and 18 to receive the edges of the sheets 16α which complete the roof panels.

Side members 27 are secured to the upper ends of the 15 front and rear upright members 15 and support the roof members 25 and may be secured thereto as by clamps or brackets 28. One or another of the panels may be provided with windows 29 of any desired form and construction.

FIGURE 5 shows modified features of the invention wherein upright members 30 of rectangular or square cross-section are substituted for the cylindrical upright members 15 and are formed with longitudinal grooves or rabbets 31 which receive the edges of the panels 32 which may -be secured in the grooves as by retractable lock pins 33. If desired the panel members 16 may be secured in the grooves 17-18 as by pins 33.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 1 to 4 the shelter structure is assembled by sliding the wall 30 section sheets 16 longitudinally into the grooves 17-18 of the upright members and the attachment will be such as to prevent separation of the sheets from the upright members. The upright members may then be secured to the floor or base bar members 11 by inserting the pins 14 in 35 the recesses or grooves 13 and, thereafter, the roof member is assembled and secured to the upright members in a manner which should be clear. The assembly of the structure of using the uprights 3β and of the panel members 32 should likewise be clear.

It will be understood that the foregoing description is illustrative rather than restrictive of the invention and that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subjoined claim.