RELIEF PACKAGE
A relief package for deployment from a stowed, portable configuration to a deployed shelter configuration. The relief package includes an outer shell having a first pouch and a second pouch. A supply kit is positioned within the first pouch, and a relief pod is positioned within the second pouch. The relief pod includes a foldable base, a cover, and a plurality of support poles that can be assembled to define an enclosure.
This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/824,854, filed Sep. 7, 2006.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates to a relief package, and in particular, a relief package including a relief pod for immediate deployment in a disaster, emergency relief or survival scenario.
SUMMARYThe present invention provides a relief package for deployment from a stowed, portable configuration to a deployed shelter configuration. The relief package includes an outer shell that includes a first pouch and a second pouch. A supply kit is positioned within the first pouch, and a relief pod is positioned within the second pouch. The relief pod includes a foldable base, a cover, and a plurality of support poles. When the relief package is deployed, the support poles support the cover above the base to define an enclosure.
It should be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated relative to each other for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the Figures to indicate corresponding elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONShown in
The relief package 80 includes an outer shell 181 that includes a dromedary pouch 182 and a supply pouch 184. The relief package also includes a relief pod 100 that is located within the dromedary pouch 182. As illustrated in
The tarp 102 includes a front surface 103 opposed to a back surface 104 and is divided into a top portion 106, a middle portion 104 and a bottom portion 132 as illustrated in
The top portion 106 of the tarp 102 is preferably rectangular in shape and forms four openings 110, wherein each opening 110 is located near one of four corners of the top portion 106, as illustrated
The tarp 102 includes a support spine tab 116 formed along a center of a bottom edge 117 of the top portion 106. The support spine tab 116 is attached at one end to the tarp 102 and forms an opening 110 with a grommet 112 secured around the opening 110. A pole support sleeve 118 is formed along the bottom edge 117, as illustrated in
The middle portion 124 of the tarp 102 is located between the top portion 106 and the bottom portion 132 and includes three ties 127 sewn or glued in place 129 along the center of the middle portion 124 in a generally straight line direction from the support spine tab 116 to a support spine tab 142, as shown in
The bottom portion 132 of the tarp 102 is preferably rectangular in shape and forms four openings 110, wherein each opening 110 is located near one of four corners of the bottom portion 132, as illustrated
The tarp 102 includes a support spine tab 142 formed along a center of a top edge 139 of the bottom portion 132. The support spine tab 142 is attached at one end to the tarp 102 and forms an opening 110 with a grommet 112 secured around the opening 110. A pole support sleeve 144 is formed along the top edge 139, as illustrated in
The back surface 104 includes fasteners 114, 115 located along opposing side edges 111, 113 of the top portion 106 and fasteners 137, 138 located along opposing side edges 111, 113 of the bottom portion 132, as illustrated in
The floatation/insulation pad 150 includes pads 154, 155, 156 and 157 located within a sleeve 151. Preferably sleeve 151 is formed from a sturdy, durable material which is preferably weatherproof, water resistant, wind resistant, fire resistant, tear resistant, and breathable. Materials for forming the sleeve 151 may include a spunbonded olefin, such as Tyvek®, polymer based woven fabric materials such as nylon or polyester taffeta, leather, cotton, or other such woven fabrics or materials. The tarp sleeve 151 and the various features of the sleeve 151 discussed below may be formed by stitching, sewing, gluing, or other suitable methods of forming textile or textile-like materials.
Preferably the pads 154, 155, 156 and 157 comprise a material which is less dense than water for floatation purposes, and also has a high thermal resistance (e.g. R-value) for insulating purposes. Suitable materials may include: insulating foam, including extruded polystyrene such as STYROFOAM®; and rubber or other polymer based foams or materials. Additionally, pads 154, 155, 156, and 157 may comprise materials which may not be less dense than water but still provide insulation, such as down, cotton, fur, padding made from polymer fibers, and other such types of materials. Pads 154, 155, 156 and 157 are preferably greater than ¼ inches thick, and preferably between ½ to two inches thick. Preferably, pads 154, 155, 156 and 157 have a width W and length L of between 10 and 40 inches, and more preferably between 12 and 30 inches, and most preferably of about length (L) of 18 inches and width (W) of 24 inches.
The floatation/insulation pad 150 includes a first seam 159 formed between the first pad 154 and the second pad 155, a second seam 160 formed between the second pad 155 and the third pad 156, and a third seam 161 formed between the third pad 156 and the fourth pad 157. The flotation/insulation pad 150 also includes a perimeter seam 162 formed around the perimeter of the pads 154, 155, 156 and 157, as illustrated in
A top fastener 164 is connected adjacent a top edge of the first pad 154 and a bottom fastener 165 is connected adjacent a bottom edge of the fourth pad 157. Both the top and bottom fasteners 164, 165 are located on the top surface 158 of the sleeve 151. A first side fastener 166 is located along a first side 169 of the pads 154, 155, 156 and 157 and a second side fastener 167 is located along a second side 168 of the pads 154, 155, 156 and 157. Both the first and second side fasteners 166, 168 are located on the bottom surface 158 of the sleeve 151.
The top and bottom fasteners 164, 165 each form three openings 110 having grommets 112 secured to each opening 110. One opening 110 is formed along a first end of the top fastener 164, a second opening 110 is formed at an opposing end of the top fastener 164, and a third opening 110 is formed between the first two openings 110 in the top fastener 164, as illustrated in
The relief pod 100 also includes two support poles 120, 146 which are preferably made out of a flexible yet rigid, lightweight material such as fiberglass, aluminum alloy, plastic, carbon fiber, wood, and other such materials, as shown in
The relief pod 100 also includes a spine pole 170 which is preferably made out of a flexible yet rigid, lightweight material such as fiberglass, aluminum alloy, plastic, carbon fiber, wood, and other such materials, as shown in
Relief package 80 includes an outer shell 181 affixed to a supply pouch 184 and a dromedary pouch 182, as illustrated in
Openings 110 are formed with grommets 112 secured around the openings 110 along both side edges 186, 187 and top and bottom edges 190, 191 of the outer shell 181. Preferably three openings 110 are formed along the top edge 190 of the outer shell 181. One opening 110 is formed along a first end of the top edge 190, a second opening 110 is formed at an opposing end of the top edge 190, and a third opening 110 is formed between the first two openings 110 along the top edge 190. Preferably three openings 110 are formed along the bottom edge 191 of the outer shell 181. One opening 110 is formed along a first end of the bottom edge 191, a second opening 110 is formed at an opposing end of the bottom edge 191, and a third opening 110 is formed between the first two openings 110 along the bottom edge 191. Preferably five openings 110 are formed along each side edge 186, 187 of the outer shell 181, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
The relief pod 100 includes a third support pole 200, as illustrated in
Preferably, the pod 100 is placed in the relief package 80 in a partially assembled configuration, as illustrated in
In order to take the relief pod 100 from a preassembled configuration, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, the pod 100 can be assembled in a partially open position, as illustrated in
Claims
1. A relief package for deployment from a stowed, portable configuration to a deployed shelter configuration, the relief package comprising:
- an outer shell including a first pouch and a second pouch;
- a supply kit within the first pouch;
- a relief pod within the second pouch, the relief pod including a foldable base, a cover, and a plurality of support poles, wherein upon deployment of the relief package, the support poles support the cover above the base to define an enclosure.
2. The relief package of claim 1, wherein the base includes a sleeve and a plurality of pads positioned within the sleeve, and wherein the pads are foldable upon one another.
3. The relief package of claim 2, wherein the sleeve is formed of a water resistant, wind resistant, breathable material, and wherein the pads are formed of insulative floatation material.
4. The relief package of claim 3, wherein the relief package comprises a floatation device when the relief package is in the stowed, portable configuration.
5. The relief package of claim 1, wherein when the relief package is deployed, the support poles define a substantially inverted U-shape, the relief package further comprising a support spine extending between the support poles, the cover coupled to the support spine between the support poles.
6. The relief package of claim 2, wherein the outer shell and the cover are formed of the same material as the sleeve.
7. The relief package of claim 1, wherein the cover includes cover side edges and the base includes base side edges, the cover and base side edges including fasteners to couple each cover side edge to a respective one of the base side edges.
8. The relief package of claim 7, wherein the cover includes a plurality of pole support sleeves defined in the cover and extending between the cover side edges, each pole support sleeve receiving a selective one of the support poles.
9. The relief package of claim 8, wherein the cover includes a pair of spine support tabs positioned adjacent the pole support sleeves between the cover side edges, and wherein the relief pod further includes a collapsible spine pole having ends, each spine pole end coupled to a respective one of the spine support tabs.
10. The relief package of claim 8, wherein the base includes a plurality of grommets and the support poles include ends, and wherein the ends of the grommets are received by respective grommets when the relief pod is deployed couple the support pole ends to the base.
11. The relief package of claim 1, wherein the base, the cover, and the support poles are coupled to each other in a partially assembled configuration when the relief package is in the stowed, portable configuration.
13. The relief package of claim 1, wherein the outer shell is foldable so that the first pouch overlies the second pouch, and includes a plurality of openings for receiving a length of cord for securing the outer shell in the folded position.
14. The relief package of claim 13, wherein when the outer shell is in the folded position, the cord is configurable to form a pair of arm openings to define a backpack.
15. The relief package of claim 1, wherein the cover includes an end portion defining a pull cord sleeve, and a pull cord extending through the pull cord sleeve, and wherein tightening the pull cord at least partially closes the enclosure.
16. A method for providing a relief shelter, the method comprising:
- packaging a partially assembled relief pod and a supply kit within an outer shell to form a portable relief package, the relief pod including a base portion, a cover, a plurality of support poles, and a support spine;
- transporting the relief package to a shelter area;
- opening the outer shell;
- removing at least the relief pod from the outer shell;
- unfolding the base portion of the relief pod;
- moving the support poles of the relief pod to a substantially upright position; and
- coupling a support spine to the cover to maintain the support poles in a substantially upright position and to support the cover above the base portion to define an enclosure.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein unfolding the base portion includes unfolding a plurality of extruded polystyrene pads coupled to one another by a sleeve formed of a water resistant, wind resistant, breathable material.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the sleeve defines a plurality of openings, and wherein moving the support poles of the relief pod to a substantially upright position includes positioning end portions of the support poles into respective ones of the plurality of openings.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein coupling the support spine to the cover includes assembling the support spine from a plurality of hollow tubes coupled to one another by a tensile cord.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein the cover includes a support sleeve and a portion extending away from the support sleeve and defining a pull cord sleeve, the method further comprising at least partially closing the enclosure by tightening a pull cord that extends through the pull cord sleeve to draw the portion toward the base.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 6, 2007
Publication Date: Mar 13, 2008
Inventor: Joshua Harker (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 11/851,009
International Classification: E04H 15/30 (20060101); E04H 15/00 (20060101);