Portable shelter

Abstract

A portable shelter is attachable to a receiver hitch of a vehicle. The portable shelter enables the user to use the base of the shelter as a cargo rack when the shelter is not being used as such. The cargo rack is used as the sub-base to the shelter. On top of the sub-base is a removable thermoformed plastic base having tent framing and one or more seats removably attached to it. Support legs are also provided at the sub-base. Each of the support legs is rotatable from the sub-base to ensure stability of the shelter and allow the shelter to stand by itself and without attachment to the vehicle. A framework is provided with telescoping members to allow the full frame of the shelter to be enclosed with a tent or other like covering, the covering intended to be a barrier against the elements.

Description

This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Pat. No. 60/619,719 filed Oct. 18, 2004.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to items and accessories that are used to protect persons from the elements during outdoor recreational activities. More particularly, it relates to a portable shelter that can be used as an attachment to a motor vehicle or as a stand-alone item. It also relates to a portable shelter that is particularly well-suited for ice fishing, but is not limited to that activity, and is easy to set up and to disassemble in the field by the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portable shelters of the type that are used in the sport and recreation of ice fishing are often transported inside a vehicle or on the bed of a pick-up truck. This can be a hindrance particularly where the angler wants to move between several fishing spots. In such instances, the angler must repeatedly load and unload the shelter as he or she moves between those spots.

In the view of these inventors, what is needed is a portable shelter that can be attached to the receiver hitch of a vehicle, thus making the shelter highly portable, or at least as movable as the vehicle that it is attached to is. The attachment means would need to accommodate receiver hitches of current manufacture. Maximum utility of such a shelter would be realized if the shelter were able to also be used as intended when detached from the receiver hitch, thus making it a stand-alone shelter as well. There are other types of shelters on the market that attach directly to an all terrain vehicle (or ATV) or to a snowmobile, for example. In the view of these inventors, such shelters are essentially vehicle-specific and are not easily adapted, if at all, for use with other vehicles. Moreover, they are not easily removed from the vehicles that they are intended to be used with.

What is also needed is a portable shelter that can also function as a cargo rack for such vehicle when the shelter base is not being used as part of a shelter. In order to accomplish this intended result, the base of the shelter would be fitted with one or more removable seats, one for each angler depending upon whether the shelter is a one-person or multiple-person design. It would also be desirable to provide such a shelter that could be used alternatively as a hunting blind, a tail-gating shelter, or a shelter for shore fishing in the summer. This would enhance to versatility and useful applications for such a device.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful portable shelter that is removably attachable to the receiver hitch of a vehicle, the attachment means accommodating hitches of current manufacture, thus making the shelter highly portable and versatile. It is another object of the present invention to provide such a portable shelter that can also be used as a stand-alone shelter when it is detached from the receiver hitch. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a portable shelter that utilizes a shelter base that can also function as a cargo rack for the vehicle when the base is not being used as a shelter. It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a shelter that can built as a one-person or as a two person shelter as required, the shelter base being fitted with one or more removable seats, one for each angler depending upon whether the shelter is a one-person or multiple-person design. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a portable shelter that can also be used for camping, tail-gating and any other activity where a portable shelter might be needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The portable shelter of the present invention has obtained these objects. It provides for a portable shelter that is attachable to a receiver hitch of a vehicle. The portable shelter enables the user to use the base of the shelter as a cargo rack when the shelter is not being used as such. The shelter is designed using a variation of a cargo rack that fits into any standard receiver hitch found on a vehicle or an ATV. The frame can be built to accommodate more than one user. The cargo rack is used as the sub-base to the shelter. On top of the sub-base is a removable thermoformed plastic base having tent framing and one or more seats attached to it. The seat or seats may be removable if such is desired or required.

Support legs are also provided at the sub-base. Each of the support legs is rotatable from the sub-base to ensure stability of the shelter. That is, the support legs are provided so that, when the shelter is attached to the trailer receiver of the vehicle, torsional forces about the receiver are prevented when unequal weights are applied to either side of the base, such as might occur by a sitting person, for example. The support legs are also provided to allow the shelter to stand by itself and without attachment to the vehicle. Additionally, the support legs are height adjustable to allow for different height vehicles and for terrain variations. The portable shelter of the present invention can also be easily adapted for use with an ATV.

The framework in the portable shelter of the present invention is provided with telescoping members to allow the full frame of the shelter to be enclosed with a tent or other like covering, the covering intended to be a barrier primarily against the elements, such as wind, rain or snow.

To use the sub-base as a cargo carrier, bolts are removed from the base and the base is lifted out of the sub-base together with the tenting framework all as one unit and all at one time. The portable shelter of the present invention can be used as an ice fishing shelter, a hunting blind, a tail-gating shelter or a shelter for shore fishing in the summer. It can also be used for camping, tail-gating or any other activity where a portable shelter is needed.

The foregoing and other features of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front, top and left side perspective view of a one-person portable shelter that is constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the shelter in its fully upright position.

FIG. 2 is a left side elevational and partially sectioned view of the shelter illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front, top and left side perspective view of a portable shelter shown in FIG. 1 and showing the shelter without a covering in place.

FIG. 4 is a rear, top and right side perspective view of a portable shelter shown in its folded and fully upright position.

FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of the portable shelter shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a rear elvational view of the shelter shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 7 is rear, top and left side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the portable shelter, shown as a two-person variation of the shelter illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a right side elevational and partially sectioned view of the shelter illustrated in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a rear, top and right side perspective view of the shelter illustrated in FIG. 7 and showing a portion of the covering removed.

FIG. 10 is a rear, top and right side perspective view of the shelter illustrated in FIG. 7 and showing the covering completely removed.

FIG. 11 is a rear, top and right side perspective view of the shelter illustrated in FIG. 7 and showing the shelter in its folded, but still horizontal, position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numbers represent like elements throughout, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the portable shelter, generally identified 10, that is constructed in accordance with the present invention. The shelter 10 includes a covering 60. The covering 60 can be made of any type of fabric that is used, for example, in the fabrication of tents and like structures. The specific type of covering fabric is not a limitation of the present invention. As shown in greater detail in FIG. 3, but without the covering 60 in place, the preferred embodiment of the portable shelter 10 includes a primary frame support member 20, the primary frame support member supporting a sub-base 40. The primary frame support member 20 is rotatably attached to a generally U-shaped tongue pivot 26 that allows the support member 20 to be movable from a generally vertical position to a generally horizontal position. See also FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. The tongue pivot 26 may use conventional means, such as a lock pin, to secure the support member 20 in either the horizontal or the vertical positions. The tongue pivot 26 is part of a secondary support member 22 that is bent and includes a generally horizontal portion 24 that is configured to be received within a standard 2-inch receiver hitch (not shown), the receiver hitch being of the type that is secured to the rear of a vehicle (also not shown). The tongue pivot 26 and its bent support member 22 create clearance for driving the vehicle and also change the weight distribution and the center of gravity of the shelter 10. In the preferred embodiment, the primary frame support member 20, the tongue pivot 26 and the secondary support member 22 are made of steel, but such is not a limitation of the present invention.

When the sub-base 40 is in its generally horizontal position as shown in FIG. 3, stablilizer legs 54, 56 are provided. Each stabilizer leg 54, 56 is rotatably attached to the sub-base 40 at generally U-shaped leg support member 55, 57, respectively. The stabilizer legs 54, 56 can be secured in one of two positions by conventional means, such as a lockable cotter pin or like device. The use of the stabilizer legs 54, 56 in the fashion illustrated in FIG. 3 prevents torsional loads being applied to the primary frame support member 20 when weight is unevenly distributed about the sub-base 40. It is also to be noted that the stabilizer legs 54, 56 are vertically-adjustable to allow for use of the shelter 10 with different height vehicles, and particularly vehicles having their receiver hitches mounted at different points above ground level. This adjustability allows the shelter to adjust to different terrain contours as well.

The sub-base 40, in turn, supports a base 30, the base 30 being removably attachable to the sub-base 40. The base 30, in the preferred embodiment, is fabricated of a thermoformed plastic material. The base 30 includes a seat-attachment point 32 that can be used to secured a seat (not shown) to the base 30. The base 30 also includes the elements of a framework for the covering 60. More specifically, the base 30 includes opposing tent frame mounts 34 disposed to either side of the base 30. Rotatably and telescopingly attached to the tent frame mounts 34 are several tent frame conduits 42, 44, 46. Each tent frame conduit 42, 44, 46 is movable to a position where the covering 60 is supported about the conduits 42, 44, 46 when the conduits 42, 44, 46 are positioned as shown in FIG. 3. Note that the conduits 42, 44, 46 are rotatable about the mounts 34 and are fully collapsible to the position as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, which show an overall illustration of the shelter 10 in a “transport” position.

As alluded to earlier, the shelter 10 of the present invention is intended to be a stand-alone shelter when such is desired or required. That is, the shelter 10 can be fully functional without attachment of the shelter 10 to a vehicle. For that purpose, a support leg 52 is secured to the secondary support member 22 at a generally U-shaped leg support member 54. The support leg 52 is movable from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position as it would be in when used. See, for example, FIGS. 1 and 2. The support leg 52 is also variably height-adjustable, the purpose of which is to accommodate vehicles and receiver hitches having various heights above grade.

In the portable shelter 10 of the present invention, the base 30 is intended to be a removable item such that the sub-base 40 and its attachment members 20, 22, 24, 26 can be used as a cargo carrier. Preferably, the base 30 is secured to the sub-base 40 by conventional means, such as a plurality of bolts, the precise type of attachment means not being a limitation of the invention. When lifted out from the sub-base 40, the base 30 and its framework members 34, 42, 44, 46 are removed with it as one unit.

It is also to be understood that the portable shelter 10 of the present invention can be constructed for multiple-person use. Another embodiment of the portable shelter, generally identified 100, is illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 11, this shelter 100 being configured to accommodate two persons. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the same attachment member 120 can be used with the sub-base 140. Significantly different in this embodiment is the fact that two bases 130 are mounted within the sub-base 140 in side-by-side relationship. This allows the base 30 of the one-person embodiment to be used with the two-person arrangement. Also noticeably different is the fact that the two-person embodiment includes additional support legs 152, in addition to the stabilizer legs 156, to provide greater stability and support to the shelter 100 when it is not attached to a vehicle. Another feature that is different is the length of the framework conduit members 142, 144, 146, which is required to simply accommodate the greater span between their framework support members 134. For the most part, the multiple-person embodiment is substantially the same as the one-person embodiment described above.

An additional feature of either embodiment of portable shelter 10, 100 is that the bottom side of the sub-base 40, 140, respectively, could be outfitted with brake lights and directional lights (not shown) if such are required, as where the brake lights and directional lights of the vehicle (also not shown) are blocked from the view of a following vehicle during transport. Such lights would plug into standard trailer light receptacles.

Based upon the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a new and useful portable shelter that removably attachable to the receiver hitch of a vehicle, the attachment means accommodating hitches of current manufacture, thus making the shelter highly portable and versatile; that can also be used as a stand-alone shelter when it is detached from the receiver hitch; that utilizes a shelter base that can also function as a cargo rack for the vehicle when the base is not being used as a shelter; that can built as a one-person or as a two person shelter as required, the shelter base being fitted with one or more removable seats, one for each angler depending upon whether the shelter is a one-person or multiple-person design; and that can also be used for camping, tail-gating and any other activity where a portable shelter might be needed.

Claims

1. A portable shelter which comprises

a sub-base,

means for removably attaching the sub-base to the receiver hitch of a vehicle,

at least one stabilizer leg,

means for attaching the at least one stabilizer leg to the sub-base,

at least one support leg,

means for attaching the at least one support leg to the sub-base attachment means,

a base,

a framework for supporting a covering, and

a covering.

2. The portable shelter of claim 1 wherein the sub-base attachment means comprises means for rotating the sub-base about the attachment means.

3. The portable shelter of claim 2 wherein the sub-base attachment means comprises a support member and the sub-base rotating means comprises a tongue pivot disposed on the support member, wherein the sub-base is rotatably movable from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position.

4. The portable shelter of claim 1 wherein the at least one support leg attachment means comprises a leg support member that is attached to the sub-base attachment means.

5. The portable shelter of claim 4 wherein the leg support member is configured to allow rotation of the support leg about the leg support member, wherein the support leg is movable from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position.

6. The portable shelter of claim 5 wherein the length of the support leg is adjustable.

7. The portable shelter of claim 1 wherein the at least one stabilizer leg attachment means comprises a stabilizer leg support member that is attached to the sub-base.

8. The portable shelter of claim 7 wherein the stabilizer leg support member is configured to allow rotation of the stabilizer leg about the support member, wherein the stabilizer leg is movable from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position.

9. The portable shelter of claim 8 wherein the length of the stabilizer leg is adjustable.

10. The portable shelter of claim 1 wherein the base is made of a single piece of molded material.

11. The portable shelter of claim 1 wherein the base is removably attachable to the sub-base.

12. The portable shelter of claim 1 wherein the base is provided with means for receiving at least one seat.

13. The portable shelter of claim 1 wherein the supporting framework for the covering is attached to the base.

14. The portable shelter of claim 1 wherein the supporting framework for the covering includes a plurality of extensible framework conduit members, each of the conduit members being rotatably attachable to a framework support member.

15. The portable shelter of claim 1 further comprising brake light and directional light means attachable to the sub-base.

16. A portable shelter for recreational use which comprises

a sub-base, said sub-base including means for removably attaching the sub-base to the receiver hitch of a vehicle,

at least one stabilizing leg, said at least one stabilizing leg including means for attaching the at least one stabilizing leg to the sub-base,

at least one supporting leg, said at least one supporting leg including means for attaching the at least one supporting leg to the sub-base attachment means,

a base, said base including a framework for supporting a covering, said supporting framework including a plurality of extensible framework conduit members, each of the conduit members being rotatably attachable to a framework support member, and

a covering to shield occupants of the portable shelter from the elements,

wherein the portable shelter can be used when attached to the vehicle and can be used as a stand-alone shelter when detached from the vehicle.

17. The portable shelter of claim 16 wherein the sub-base attachment means comprises means for rotating the sub-base about the attachment means and wherein the sub-base attachment means comprises a support member and the sub-base rotating means comprises a generally U-shaped tongue pivot disposed on the support member, wherein the sub-base is rotatably movable from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position.

18. The portable shelter of claim 16 wherein the at least one supporting leg attachment means comprises a generally U-shaped leg support member that is attached to the sub-base attachment means and is configured to allow rotation of the supporting leg about the leg support member, wherein the supporting leg is movable from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position and wherein the length of the supporting leg is adjustable.

19. The portable shelter of claim 16 wherein the at least one stabilizing leg attachment means comprises a generally U-shaped stabilizing leg support member that is attached to the sub-base and the stabilizing leg support member is configured to allow rotation of the stabilizing leg about the support member, wherein the stabilizing leg is movable from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position and wherein the length of the stabilizing leg is adjustable.

20. The portable shelter of claim 16 wherein the base is removably attachable to the sub-base and is provided with means for receiving at least one seat.