IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,077,978
Granted Patent B2
US 12,077,978 · App. 17/950,762 · Granted Sep 3, 2024

Hybrid collapsible shelter

Inventor: Ananda Wickramasekera (Cambridge, MA)
Assignee: Outlier Campers LLC
E04H15/48B60P3/34B60P3/341B60P3/39E04H15/008E04H15/324E04H15/54
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,077,978
App. No.
17/950,762
Granted
Sep 3, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a hybrid shelter comprising multiple rigid panels or panel sections comprising a floor section, a roof section, two side-wall sections, and two end-wall sections; a water-resistant soft-shell; and a case. The shelter is transitionable between an expanded configuration in which the side-wall sections and the end-wall sections are vertical and perpendicular to the floor section and a collapsed configuration in which the rigid panels and the soft-shell are folded or hinged and fully enclosed in the case. The soft-shell covers one or both sides of the roof section, the side-wall sections and the end-wall sections of the rigid panels in the expanded configuration.

Claims (41)

1. A hybrid shelter comprising:

multiple rigid panels or panel sections comprising a floor section, a roof section, two side-wall sections, and two end-wall sections;

a water-resistant soft-shell; and

a case,

wherein the shelter is transitionable between an expanded configuration in which the side-wall sections and the end-wall sections are vertical and perpendicular to the floor section and a collapsed configuration in which the rigid panels and the soft-shell are folded or hinged and fully enclosed in the case; and

wherein the soft-shell covers one or both sides of the roof section, the side-wall sections and the end-wall sections of the rigid panels in the expanded configuration.

2. The shelter of claim 1 , wherein the rigid panels comprise composite material, metal, plastic, wood or a combination thereof.

3. The shelter of claim 1 , wherein the soft-shell comprises canvas, fabric, plastic, nylon, vinyl, or a combination thereof.

4. The shelter of claim 1 , wherein the rigid panels include a door and/or a window that aligns with a door and/or a window of the soft-shell.

5. The shelter of claim 1 further comprising a bed system that includes a mattress platform and/or a mattress.

6. The shelter of claim 1 , wherein the rigid panels comprise structural panels covered by sleeves.

7. The shelter of claim 1 , wherein the floor section, the roof section, the two side-wall sections, and the two end-wall sections are bi-fold or hinged on one side, respectively.

8. The shelter of claim 1 , wherein the case comprises a top section and a bottom section.

9. The shelter of claim 1 , wherein the soft-shell comprises an elastic seam and an attachment that are configured to secure the soft-shell to the case.

10. The shelter of claim 1 , wherein the side-wall sections and the end-wall sections are vertical and perpendicular to the roof section in the expanded configuration.

11. The shelter of claim 1 , wherein the roof section comprising a first and a second roof sections forms a pitched roof, the first and the second roof sections being slanted relative to the side-wall sections.

12. A hybrid shelter comprising:

a first rigid panel comprising a first roof section, a first side-wall section and two first end-wall sections;

a second rigid panel comprising a second roof section, a second side-wall section and two second end-wall sections;

a water-resistant soft-shell; and

a case comprising a top section containing the first rigid panel and a bottom section containing the second rigid panel,

wherein the first and the second roof sections jointly make a roof portion of the shelter; the first side-wall section makes a first side wall portion of the shelter; the second side-wall section makes a second side-wall portion of the shelter; each of the first end-wall sections and each of the second end-wall sections make an end-wall portion of the shelter; and a floor of the case makes a floor portion of the shelter;

wherein the shelter is transitionable between an expanded configuration in which the side-wall portions and the end-wall portions are vertical and perpendicular to the floor portion and a collapsed configuration in which the rigid panels and the soft-shell are folded or hinged and fully enclosed in the case; and

wherein the soft-shell covers one or both sides of the roof portion, the side-wall sections and the end-wall sections of the rigid panels in the expanded configuration.

13. The shelter of claim 12 , wherein the rigid panels comprise composite material, metal, plastic, wood or a combination thereof.

14. The shelter of claim 12 , wherein the soft-shell comprises canvas, fabric, plastic, nylon, vinyl, or a combination thereof.

15. The shelter of claim 12 , wherein the rigid panels include a door and/or a window that aligns with a door and/or a window of the soft-shells.

16. The shelter of claim 12 further comprising a bed system that includes a mattress platform and/or a mattress.

17. The shelter of claim 12 , wherein the rigid panels comprise structural panels covered by sleeves.

18. The shelter of claim 12 , wherein the first roof section, the first side-wall section and the first end-wall sections are hingedly connected.

19. The shelter of claim 12 , wherein the second roof section, the second side-wall section and the second end-wall sections are hingedly connected.

20. The shelter of claim 12 , wherein the soft-shell comprises an elastic seam and an attachment that are configured to secure the soft-shell to the case.

21. The shelter of claim 12 , wherein the side-wall sections and the end-wall sections are vertical and perpendicular to the roof section in the expanded configuration.

22. The shelter of claim 12 , wherein the first and the second roof sections are slanted relative to the side-wall sections, thereby forming a pitched roof.

23. A hybrid shelter comprising:

multiple rigid panels or panel sections comprising a floor section, a roof section, two side-wall sections, and an end-wall section;

a water-resistant soft-shell; and

a case to which a part of the roof section is hinged,

wherein the shelter is transitionable between an expanded configuration in which the side-wall sections are vertical and perpendicular to the roof and floor sections and a collapsed configuration in which the rigid panels and the soft-shell are folded or hinged and fully enclosed in the case; and

wherein the soft-shell covers one or both sides of the roof section, the side-wall sections and the end-wall section of the rigid panels in the expanded configuration.

24. The shelter of claim 23 , wherein the end-wall section is slanted to the roof and floor sections, and the roof section is slanted to the floor section.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2022
From: WICKRAMASEKERA, ANANDA
To: OUTLIER CAMPERS LLC
Reel/Frame 061198/0822 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63316152 · Mar 3, 2022
Related Publication 20230279693A1 · Sep 7, 2023