Abstract: A solar heating and humidifying device for use with a building wall having a window therein is attached to the wall and extends from above the window to the ground where the edges of the outer housing are buried. The outer housing is formed of a transparent plastic and is of multiple layers to provide an insulating effect. A heat storing frame conforms generally to the shape of the outer housing and extends from ground level to just beneath the window, and the frame is covered with a heat absorbing material such as black canvas. An air flow controlling baffle is located above the frame and at the bottom of the window so as to control the exit flow of heated air from the heating chamber located therebeneath. An air filter and inlet valve is located near the bottom of the heating chamber for intake of outside air into the chamber.

Abstract: A portable solar heated shelter comprising at least one fixed roof layer and a second roof layer which can be selectively deployed to vary the thermal characteristics of the shelter. The shelter preferably comprises a rigid frame on which first and second end walls are preferably pivotally mounted. The end walls are preferably foldable between a vertically upright operative position and a generally horizontal, lowered storage position, and when deployed support the roof layers to define the enclosure. The second roof layer is adapted to be unwound from a storage spool and drawn into a take-up spool, passing over the first roof layer, by a cranking action. The second roof layer preferably comprises a first sunshade portion and a series connected heat insulative portion of opaque material which may be selectively deployed to control the thermal characteristics of the enclosure.

Abstract: A compact, lightweight, self-storing, collapsible shelter for all-season recreational use has a rigid floor platform to which front and rear walls are swingably mounted for rotation about parallel axes, each of the walls being swingable between upright wall-defining positions and lowered storage positions wherein the rear wall closely overlies and confronts the floor platform, and the front wall overlies and confronts the lowered rear wall. The axis about which the front wall swings is positioned at a greater distance above the platform than the axis about which the rear wall swings so that the front wall will swing to a position closely overlying the rear wall to provide the cover for the collapsed shelter.