Abstract: An emergency shelter for cold climates is disclosed. The shelter has a thermally insulating inner shell shaped to provide an occupant with adequate space for sitting, lying down or performing necessary tasks, while minimizing a technical volume and surface area for thermal efficiency. To this end, the shell has a small foot section, a taller knee section and a taller and wider head section joined to the knee section by an appropriate transition. The shell has an inflatable, impervious, self supporting outer layer and an air pervious, insulating inner layer. A canopy extends over the foot, knee and transition sections to provide a heat transfer diameter around those sections of the shell. The outer layer of the shell has an opening into the heat transfer chamber for ventilation.

Abstract: A method of producing a chamber assembly suitable for use in contaminated environments comprises arranging first and second chambers together, at or adjacent to the site at which they are to be used. Each chamber comprises a preformed enclosure comprising sheet material and support means for the enclosure and the chambers are arranged such that a side wall of the first chamber abuts a side wall of the second chamber. The abutting side walls are secured together and means are provided whereby the interior of at least one of the chambers is accessible without passing through the other chamber, and is also directly accessible from within the other chamber. A kit of parts for producing such an assembly, chambers for use in the method, and kits for producing such chambers are also described.

Abstract: A tent-hammock combination, in which up to five separate structures may be formed. The first is a hammock, the second is a hanging pup tent with the hammock serving as the floor of the tent, the third a lean-to, the fourth a ground pup tent, and the fifth a family-sized tent made by transforming and joining two group pup tents. The transition from ground pup tent to either the lean-to or family-sized tent is achieved by disconnecting the rear wall of the tent or pair of tents and pivoting its upwardly. In the lean-to version, the rear wall is pivoted until it is horizontal. In the family-sized tent, the rear wall is pivoted until it forms one continuous planar surface with the front wall, after which two such transformed tents are joined to form the large, family-sized tent. In the family-sized tent, two trianagular material inserts are used to fill in the vacant volume formed in each tent when the tent's rear wall has been pivoted upwardly.

Abstract: A contaminant shield prevents airborne contaminants from contacting manufactured parts in a work area in a manufacturing facility. The contaminant shield is formed of a plurality of like frames, each formed of a plurality of interconnected side frame members covered by a flexible sheet attached at its outer edges to the side frame members. The frames are interconnected at adjacent edges to form the complete contaminant shield. A sealing strip is applied to the joints between adjacent frames to form a continuous contaminant barrier in conjunction with the flexible sheet attached to each frame. The contaminant shield is constructed by first constructing a plurality of frames by interconnecting side frame members into a rigid, planar frame and attaching the edges of a flexible sheet to each side frame member of the frame.

Abstract: The invention provides a sheltering structure essentially constructed of a framework and a cover of sheet material. The structure includes a plurality of arched bars arranged in a plurality of rows, wherein at least most of the bars are supported at their end portions at least indirectly by the ground, wire or rod-like elements extending between at least some of the arched bars disposed along a row, strips of sheet material, each strip extending in the direction of the planes of, and supported by, the arched bars and the elements, and means for securing the strips above the bars, the means extending across the strips along troughs formed between adjoining rows of arched bars. A method of assembling a sheltering structure is also described.

Abstract: A tent uses outer and inner inflatable frame sections secured to one another in an inner-outer relationship to provide improved rigidity and support, and improved structural integrity upon puncture of one of the inflatable sections. The tent is provided with an inflatable base to which the first and second frame sections are secured. The tent covering is secured between the first and second frame sections. A rain fly draped over the outer frame section can be maintained spaced apart from the tent covering material. The shape and arrangement of frame sections and base provide a tent which is stable, rigid, and free-standing.

Abstract: An assembly system comprises a connection tube of flexible sheet material. The connection tube has at its end a rigid frame element which is larger than a rigid frame element formed in similar manner but of smaller dimensions. The larger frame element and the sheet material affixed thereto are pushed through the smaller frame element and drawn tight against the latter for sealingly urging the flexible sheet material thereagainst.

Abstract: A portable shelter structure (10) of variable size consisting of an even number of individual, folding, modular units (12) which, in their folded condition, serve as shipping containers for the shelter. Rigid floor and rigid sidewall sections (22, 28) are hinged (24) along an adjacent edge allowing rotation of the sidewall section from a closed position to an upright position so that the sidewall is substantially perpendicular. Collapsible roof support beams (72) and flexible, collapsible roof covering units (14) are stored in a cavity created between the floor (22) and sidewall (28) sections when they are in their closed state. Collapsible end walls (16) having a door structure (17) therein can be stored in the modular unit cavity or in a separate vestibule packing unit (18) which attaches to the end wall as a separate closed space outside the end wall door.

Abstract: A decontamination shelter with compartments arranged in adjacency with traversal enclosures therebetween defined by the walls of the adjacent compartments and openings in the adjacent walls provided with closures which, when closed, provide isolation corridors between compartments and wherein the openings and closures therefor provide for passage from one compartment to the next through the isolation corridors.

Abstract: A dome-shaped shelter of a plurality of water-proof foldable light-weight panels. Each panel is of three sections, trapezoidal base and middle sections and a truncated triangular top section with a transverse seam joining the sections. Each foldable panel has lateral flanges on each side. The flange along one side is flat and vertical while the flange on the other side is of an inverted U-shape, so that it can loop over the flat vertical flange on the adjacent panel and a sping clip holding the flanges together. Apertures in the panels form doors or windows therein.

Abstract: A canopy structure is provided and includes a framework unit and a flexible covering. The framework unit is formed by a plurality of upright corner members and a plurality of roof support members that are pivotally connected at the top ends of the corner members and, in an erected position, extend upwardly and inwardly to a central apex where they are pivotally connected to one another. The roof support members are formed of extendable sections which preferably telescope with respect to one another so that the framework unit may move into a collapsed state with the corner support and roof support members oriented in closely spaced, parallel relation. Latches are provided to prevent the framework unit from collapsing from the erected position. Constraining and support structure, preferably in the form of scissor assemblies, interconnect adjacent corner support members to prevent them from moving apart past the erect state.

Abstract: An umbrella and a temporary shelter comprised of a plurality of the connected together umbrellas includes a protective sheet having at least three straight sides. An elongate pole is attached to the center of the protective sheet for spacing the sheet in a predetermined spaced-apart relation above a surface. Ribs are attached to the sheet and means are provided for opening and closing the umbrella. Connecting means cooperate with the protective sheet for connecting together a plurality of like umbrellas along adjacent sheet edges to form a relatively large temporary protective shelter.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel rain fly for a tent wherein the rain fly is readily mountable/demountable to the tent through a unique spar system and lanyard system. The spar is flexible and can be formed from segments so as to reduce the overall size of the tent rain fly when the rain fly is in its folded configuration. The length of the spar is sufficient to provide a unique gable/eave over the door/window of the tent.

Abstract: An apparatus which utilizes precut, coated fiber canvases, vertical and horizontal support elements, multiple rotatable couplings and detachable shoe-like receptacles, together with lacing rope and other miscellaneous hardware, to provide a shelter for a boat secured in a floating dock. The modular structure and unique design of the apparatus permits it to be easily and quickly erected or dismantled, on site, using only a set of Allen Wrenches. Each of the partially preassembled vertical support elements is unfolded and reenforced on the site with a lateral support member and a pair of angular truss members. Multiple numbers of these vertical support elements are then interconnected by three precut horizontal truss members and two precut horizontal roof support members to produce whatever length of dock cover is required.

Abstract: An expandable multi-purpose utility shelter (10), designed in several sizes, which is quickly erectable by two to six persons. The structure has a sturdy metal frame (12, 16) with a durable fabric cover (11) attached to the inside of the frame. The frame (12, 16) comprises a series of ribs (12) which can be very quickly and easily extended from a compact folded configuration needed for easy transportation to a full sized shelter at erection. Adjacent ribs (12) are connected by a single reinforcing member (16) or by X-shaped reinforcing members (16a) on each side of the shelter. These reinforcing members serve as force transmitting means for opening and closing the shelter (10) and keeping adjacent ribs (12) stabilized and spaced equidistant. Individual reinforcing members (16 or 16a) are pivotally connected to the lower portion of one shelter leg and rollably or slidably connected to the upper portion of a next adjacent shelter leg.

Abstract: An aircraft hanger structure utilizes a flexible membrane fabric as the aircraft cover and a pylon and boom arrangement which connects to and supports the fabric in a double curvature configuration. The structure adapts to contiguous parking areas of different aircraft or for closely parking aircraft of the same or different configuration.

Abstract: A portable tent construction in which an outer tent of see-through "mosquito net-like" material completely encloses an inner waterproof weather tent which can be erected by the occupant from within the outer tent without the inconvenient necessity of exiting the tent. Implementation is uncomplicated and may be partially or totally completed as desired.

Abstract: A collapsible panel structure consisting of at least one rod member, restraint elements secured to the rod member and a removable stress device acting to exert a continuous force between the rod member and the restraint elements. In one modification, two rod members have attached thereto a sheet of flexible material or fabric which acts as the restraint elements. Additional cable restraints can be employed joining the outer ends of adjacent rod members. The rod members are slightly bowed, and a bar member is secured centrally thereto in substantially chordal relationship. The stressing member rolls or slides on one bar member and pivots on the other. The stressing member is a slightly precambered one-piece rod or tube of spring material, carrying bifurcations at both of its ends to partially encompass the chord members, one bifurcation acting as a pivot and the other as a slide.

Abstract: A lawn umbrella expansion device in which an enlarged canopy is provided with a centrally disposed pole cap to engage the tip of an umbrella pole and thereafter be unfurled and stabilized with canopy poles to provide a greatly increased containment area.

Abstract: A covered structure is formed in an arched shape and utilizes PVC pipe which is slidable through sleeves electrically welded to a cover. The PVC pipe is bent into an arched shape and is attached to spreader bars which serve as the ground contacting portion of the structure. Fiberglass rods are inserted within the arched PVC pipe so as to both strengthen and define the arch, and water bags and stakes may be attached to the spreader bar, which is also constructed of PVC pipe, so as to anchor the structure to the ground. This construction provides for a flexible covered structure which will not be destroyed by external forces, such as wind, rain, etc., since only resilient materials are used in its construction. Additionally, building code requirements which relate to the method of attachment of a structure to the ground are not applicable since a direct attachment between the structure and the ground is not required.

Abstract: A device for the trapping of snakes and similar animals having a sheet of netting to be placed on the ground shaped so that a plurality of areas of the netting are substantially non-horizontal to the ground. A snake attempting to traverse the sheet will pass into an interstices until its body size prevents forward motion. The scales of the snake will catch on the strands of the netting preventing the snake from retreating from the netting.