Granted Patent B2

US 7,913,711 · App. 12/180,766 · Granted Mar 29, 2011

Abstract

Claims (28)

1. A door assembly for use with a shelter, wherein the shelter comprises an outer frame assembly comprising a plurality of intercoupled members forming a coverable structure and a cover for covering the outer frame assembly, wherein the door assembly comprises:

a door frame comprising a plurality of intercoupled members, wherein one of the intercoupled members of the door frame is a first upright having a first end and a second end and wherein another of the intercoupled members of the door frame is a second upright having a first end and a second end, wherein the first upright and the second upright each have a channel;

a retractable door arrangement coupled to the door frame, wherein the retractable door arrangement comprises a door comprised of flexible material that can be extended to enclose the shelter or retracted to provide an opening into the shelter, and wherein the retractable door arrangement comprises an alignment rail assembly having a first member having a first end insertable within the channel of the first upright and a second member having a first end insertable within the channel of the second upright and wherein the alignment rail assembly is intermediate and slidable along the first upright and the second upright; and

wherein the first member and the second member are independently rotatable relative to each other thereby facilitating the extension and retraction of the door even when the first upright is out of the at least essentially vertical alignment with the second upright.

2. The door assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the door frame is shiftable independently of the outer frame assembly.

3. The door assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the door frame comprises:

a baseplate coupling the respective bottom ends of the first upright and the second upright;

wherein the baseplate is flexible for assisting in maintaining the at least essentially vertical alignment of the first upright relative to the second upright.

4. The door assembly as claimed in claim 1 , including an upper guide roller, wherein the door extends over the upper guide roller as it is extended or retracted.

5. The door assembly as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the retractable door arrangement includes a handle for manually retracting and extending the door.

6. The door assembly as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the handle is positioned on the side of the door assembly such that when the door assembly is used with the shelter during normal usage, a user can manually retract and extend the door when the user is standing outside of the shelter.

7. The door assembly as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the retractable door arrangement includes a tube motor for retracting and extending the door.

8. The door assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the door assembly does not rigidly connect to the outer frame assembly of the shelter during normal usage thereof.

9. A shelter system comprising:

an outer frame assembly comprising a plurality of intercoupled members forming a coverable structure;

a cover for covering the outer frame assembly,

a door frame comprising a plurality of intercoupled members, wherein one of the intercoupled members of the door frame is a first upright having a first end and a second end, and wherein another of the intercoupled members of the door frame is a second upright having a first end and a second end, wherein the first upright and the second upright each have a channel; and

a retractable door arrangement coupled to the door frame, wherein the retractable door arrangement comprises a door comprised of flexible material that can be extended to enclose the shelter or retracted to provide an opening into the shelter, and wherein the retractable door arrangement comprises an alignment rail assembly having a first member having a first end insertable within the channel of the first upright and a second member having a first end insertable within the channel of the second upright and wherein the alignment rail assembly is intermediate and slidable along the first upright and the second upright; and

wherein the first member and the second member are independently rotatable relative to each other thereby facilitating the extension and retraction of the door even when the first upright is out of the at least essentially vertical alignment with the second upright.

10. The shelter system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the foor frame is shiftable independently of the outer frame assembly.

11. The shelter system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the door frame comprises:

a baseplate coupling the respective bottom ends of the first upright and the second upright;

wherein the baseplate is flexible for assisting in maintaining the at least essentially vertical alignment of the first upright relative to the second upright.

12. The shelter system as claimed in claim 9 , including an upper guide roller, wherein the door extends over the upper guide roller as it is extended or retracted.

13. The shelter system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the retractable door arrangement includes a handle for manually retracting and extending the door.

14. The shelter system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the handle is positioned on the side of the door assembly such that when the door assembly is used with the shelter during normal usage, a user can manually retract and extend the door when the user is standing outside of the shelter.

15. The shelter system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the retractable door arrangement includes a tube motor for retracting and extending the door.

16. The door assembly as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the door assembly does not rigidly connect to the outer frame assembly of the shelter during normal usage thereof.

Assignments (18)