Modular Shelter Structure
A modular shelter structure is an apparatus that provides readily available housing for a variety of environments. The apparatus includes a shelter, a plurality of first locking mechanisms, and a plurality of second locking mechanisms. The shelter includes a floor base, a plurality of portable walls, and at least one roof panel. The floor base balances the shelter across various terrains. The plurality of portable walls surrounds the floor base and defines an interior environment with the floor base. The interior environment is enclosed with the at least one roof panel. The plurality of portable walls is attached onto the floor base with the plurality of first locking mechanisms. Similarly, the plurality of portable walls is attached onto the roof panel with the plurality of second locking mechanisms. The plurality of first locking mechanisms and the plurality of second locking mechanisms each include an inner tube and an outer sleeve.
The current application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) application of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application PCT/IB2020/056144 filed on Jun. 29, 2020. The PCT application PCT/IB2020/056144 claims a priority to the U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/868,901 filed on Jun. 29, 2019.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention generally relates to outdoor activities. More specifically, the present invention is a modular shelter structure that provides a temporary or a permanent inhabitable structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCurrently, there are a number of solutions for lightweight shelter which typically includes tents and canopies. Some of these solutions attempt to deliver shelter, but these solutions fail to meet the needs of the industry because they do not replicate an insulated rigid wall, roof, and flooring structure. Other solutions attempt to deliver mobile shelter but they cannot be quickly disassembled, and the overall weight and dimensions prevent easy shipping and redeployment. While other solutions are similarly unable to meet the needs of the industry because they are not able to be assembled and disassembled quickly without advanced skills and machinery. Still, other solutions seek to deliver a mobile solution but cannot be disassembled into small lightweight transport units that can be quickly assembled into a desirable finished shelter with the amenities of a home.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to serve as either a temporary or permanent inhabitable structure that someone with little to no assembly skills can assemble and disassemble quickly. Furthermore, the present invention may be relocated easily as the structure is light but more secure and shielding from weather. The present invention facilitates temporary inhabiting conditions which might be desirable for an individual seeking structure that can be sized according to the needs of the individual. The present invention is desirable for situations where a more secure and climate-controlled structure is advantageous to a tent or what other less substantial structures offer. Furthermore, the present invention is designed to include electrical facilities that are used in the way more traditional shelter provides. This structure could be desirable in such cases as disaster relief, military installations, or when additional residence space is needed. Furthermore, it would also be desirable to have a device that that can be relocated when needed. Still further, it would be desirable to have a device that is quick to assemble and is very light weight but structurally strong. The disclosed device and associated method advantageously fill this need and addresses the aforementioned deficiencies by providing quick haven when needed.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention provides an inhabitable and portable living space that may be assembled in a variety of settings. The present invention is a modular shelter structure that provides a safe and comfortable housing that may be used for permanent living situations or outdoor activities such as camping. The present invention is easily assembled and disassembled, facilitating any transportation of the present invention. In order for the present invention to serve as sustainable housing for at least one individual, the present invention comprises a shelter 1, a plurality of first locking mechanisms 22, and a plurality of second locking mechanisms 23, seen in
The overall configuration of the aforementioned components facilitates the quick assembly and disassembly of a structurally sound housing. The shelter 1 is erected upright as the plurality of portable walls 8 is positioned adjacent with and positioned perpendicular to the floor base 2, seen in
The present invention is securely mounted onto the ground regardless of the type of terrain as the floor base 2 comprises a scaffold frame 3, a plurality of joists 6, and at least one floor panel 7, seen in
In order for the plurality of walls to preserve the structural integrity of the present invention while providing an inhabitable shelter 1, each of the plurality of portable walls 8 further comprises a first main post 12, a second main post 13, a first supplementary post 16, a second supplementary post 17, at least one first bolt 18, and at least one second bolt 19, seen in
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first main post 12 and the second main post 13 each comprises a first post end 14 and a second post end 15, seen in
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of portable walls 8 further comprises a fabric layer 20, seen in
In order for the shelter 1 to remain structurally sound while assembled in a variety of outdoor environments, the plurality of first locking mechanisms 22 is distributed around the shelter 1. Furthermore, each of the plurality of first locking mechanisms 22 comprises an inner tube 24 and an outer sleeve 27, seen in
The inner tube 24 and the outer sleeve 27 are locked together as each of the plurality of first locking mechanisms 22 further comprises a slot 28 and a stop 29, seen in
Similar to the plurality of first locking mechanisms 22, the plurality of second locking mechanisms 23 is distributed around the shelter 1 in order to secure the at least one roof panel 21 with the plurality of portable walls 8, seen in
The inner tube 24 and the outer sleeve 27 are locked together as each of the plurality of second locking mechanisms 23 further comprises a slot 28 and a stop 29. The slot 28 allows the stop 29 to traverse through the inner tube 24 while preserving the structural integrity of the inner tube 24. The stop 29 is preferably a nut, a bolt, and a washer that prevents the outer sleeve 27 from sliding past the first rim 25 of the inner tube 24 by locking into the slot 28. The slot 28 laterally traverses through the inner tube 24 and is positioned adjacent with the first rim 25. The stop 29 is mounted within the slot 28, securing the position of the outer sleeve 27 around the inner tube 24.
The present invention further comprises at least one entrance 32 so that a user may easily and safely enter into and exit out of the shelter 1, seen in
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
1. A modular shelter structure comprises:
- a shelter;
- a plurality of first locking mechanisms;
- a plurality of second locking mechanisms;
- the shelter comprises a floor base, a plurality of portable walls, and at least one roof panel;
- each of the plurality of portable walls comprises an outer panel, an insulation layer, and an inner panel;
- the plurality of portable walls being positioned adjacent with the floor base;
- the plurality of portable walls being positioned perpendicular to the floor base;
- the plurality of portable walls being perimetrically distributed around the floor base;
- the insulation layer being mounted in between the outer panel and the inner panel;
- the outer panel, the insulation layer, and the inner panel being coextensive with each other;
- a central axis being positioned normal to the floor base;
- the inner panel being positioned in between the central axis and the outer panel;
- the at least one roof panel being positioned adjacent with the plurality of portable walls, opposite the floor base;
- the at least one roof panel being positioned across the plurality of portable walls;
- the plurality of portable walls being attached onto the floor base with the plurality of first locking mechanisms; and,
- the plurality of portable walls being attached onto the roof panel with the plurality of second locking mechanisms.
2. The modular shelter structure as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- the floor base comprises a scaffold frame, a plurality of joists, and at least one floor panel;
- each the plurality of joists being fixed within the scaffold frame;
- the plurality of joists being distributed across the scaffold frame;
- the plurality of joists being positioned adjacent with a first base face of the scaffold frame;
- a second base face of the scaffold frame being positioned opposite the first base face about the scaffold frame;
- the plurality of portable walls being positioned adjacent with the first base face, opposite the plurality of joists;
- the at least one floor panel being positioned adjacent with the first base face;
- the at least one floor panel being positioned across the plurality of joists; and,
- the at least one floor panel being mounted within the scaffolding frame.
3. The modular shelter structure as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- each of the plurality of portable walls further comprises a first main post, a second main post, a first supplementary post, a second supplementary post, at least one first bolt, and at least one second bolt;
- the first main post, the second main post, the first supplementary post, and the second supplementary post traversing from the floor base and the at least one roof panel;
- the first main post and the second main post being positioned opposite to each other across the outer panel;
- the first main post and the second main post being mounted onto the outer panel;
- the first supplementary post and the second supplementary post being positioned opposite to each other across the inner panel;
- the first supplementary post and the second supplementary post being mounted onto the inner panel;
- the first supplementary post being pressed against the first main post by the at least one first bolt; and,
- the second supplementary post being pressed against the second main post by the at least one second bolt.
4. The modular shelter structure as claimed in claim 3 comprises:
- the first main post and the second main post each comprise a first post end and a second post end;
- the first post end being positioned adjacent with the floor base;
- the second post end being positioned adjacent with the at least one roof panel;
- the at least one first bolt being positioned in between the first post end of the first main post and the second post end of the first main post; and,
- the at least one second bolt being positioned in between the first post end of the second main post and the second post end of the second main post.
5. The modular shelter structure as claimed in claim 3 comprises:
- the at least one first bolt traversing through the first main post, the outer panel, the insulation layer, the inner panel, and the first supplementary post.
6. The modular shelter structure as claimed in claim 3 comprises:
- the at least one second bolt traversing through the second main post, the outer panel, the insulation layer, the inner panel, and the second supplementary post.
7. The modular shelter structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer panel is a corrugated metal sheet.
8. The modular shelter structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner panel is made of a thermally-insulative material.
9. The modular shelter structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insulation layer is made of a thermally-insulative material.
10. The modular shelter structure as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- each of the plurality of portable walls further comprises a fabric layer;
- the fabric layer being positioned adjacent with the inner panel, opposite the insulation layer;
- the fabric layer and the inner panel being coextensive to each other; and,
- the fabric layer being removably attached onto the inner panel.
11. The modular shelter structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fabric layer is made of a fire-retardant material.
12. The modular shelter structure as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- a fire-retardant coating; and
- the fire-retardant coating being applied across the inner panel, opposite the insulation layer.
13. The modular shelter structure as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- the plurality of first locking mechanisms being distributed around the shelter.
14. The modular shelter structure as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- each of the plurality of first locking mechanisms comprises an inner tube and an outer sleeve;
- the floor base comprises a first base face and a second base face;
- the inner tube comprises a first rim and a second rim;
- the first base face being positioned opposite the second base face about the floor base;
- the plurality of portable walls being positioned adjacent with the first base face;
- the first rim being positioned opposite the second rim along the inner tube;
- the second rim being positioned in between the first base face and the second base face;
- the first rim being positioned offset from the first base face;
- the inner tube being laterally fixed with the floor base;
- the outer sleeve of each of the plurality of first locking mechanisms being fixed onto a corresponding wall from the plurality of portable walls; and,
- the inner tube being slidably engaged through the outer sleeve.
15. The modular shelter structure as claimed in claim 14 comprises:
- each of the plurality of first locking mechanisms further comprises a slot and a stop;
- the slot laterally traversing through the inner tube;
- the slot being positioned adjacent with the first rim; and,
- the stop being mounted within the slot.
16. The modular shelter structure as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- the plurality of second locking mechanisms being distributed around the shelter.
17. The modular shelter structure as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- each of the plurality of second locking mechanisms comprises an inner tube and an outer sleeve;
- the inner tube comprises a first rim and a second rim;
- the first rim being positioned opposite the second rim along the inner tube;
- the first rim of each of the plurality of second locking mechanisms being positioned offset from a corresponding portable wall of the plurality of portable walls;
- the inner tube being laterally fixed with the corresponding wall;
- the outer sleeve being fixed adjacent onto the at least one roof panel; and,
- the inner tube being slidably engaged through the outer sleeve.
18. The modular shelter structure as claimed in claim 17 comprises:
- each of the plurality of second locking mechanisms further comprises a slot and a stop;
- the slot laterally traversing through the inner tube;
- the slot being positioned adjacent with the first rim; and,
- the stop being mounted within the slot.
19. The modular shelter structure as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- at least one entrance; and
- the at least one entrance being integrated into a specific wall from the plurality of portable walls.
20. The modular shelter structure as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- at least one illumination device;
- the at least one illumination device being positioned within the shelter; and
- the at least one illumination device being mounted onto the at least one roof panel.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 29, 2021
Publication Date: Apr 21, 2022
Inventor: Christopher Lawson (Palm Bay, FL)
Application Number: 17/565,240