Hub leg joint system for a shelter

Abstract

A hub leg joint system is provided in which twisting of poles for a shelter is prevented. The hub leg joint system includes a hub having a socket or opening for receiving an end of a pole for a shelter. The opening and the end are configured so that the end may be inserted into the opening, but may not be rotated therein. As an example, the opening and the ends may have a cross section that is oblong in shape.

1 . A shelter, comprising: 
 a pole assembly, comprising:    a hub;    a first upper pole and a second upper pole, the first upper pole being removably and nonrotatably attached to the hub, and the second upper pole being attached to the hub; and    a first downwardly extending structural support connected to the first pole and fixed for rotation therewith; and    a canopy for extending over the pole assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the second upper pole is removably and nonrotatably attached to the hub.  
   
   
       3 . The shelter of  claim 2 , further comprising a second downwardly extending structural support connected to the second pole and fixed for rotation therewith.  
   
   
       4 . The shelter of  claim 3 , further comprising a first lower pole connected to and extending downward from the first downwardly extending structural support and a second lower pole connected to and extending downward from the second downwardly extending structural support.  
   
   
       5 . The shelter of  claim 4 , wherein the pole assembly comprises: 
 a first upright pole, wherein the first upright pole comprises the first upper pole, the first downwardly extending structural support, and the first lower pole; and    a second upright pole, wherein the second upright pole comprises the second upper pole, the second downwardly extending structural support, and the second lower pole.    
   
   
       6 . The shelter of  claim 2 , wherein an end of the first pole extends into a first opening on the hub to attach the first pole to the hub, the first opening and the end comprising first structures that permit attachment, but not rotation relative to one another and wherein an end of the second pole extends into a second opening on the hub to attach the second pole to the hub, the second opening and the end comprising second structures that permit attachment, but not rotation relative to one another.  
   
   
       7 . The shelter of  claim 6 , wherein the first structures and second structures each comprise oblong cross sections.  
   
   
       8 . The shelter of  claim 7 , wherein the oblong cross sections comprise flat portions that engage each other when the respective pole is inserted in the respective opening.  
   
   
       9 . The shelter of  claim 1 , further comprising a first lower pole connected to and extending downward from the first downwardly extending structural support.  
   
   
       10 . The shelter of  claim 9 , wherein the pole assembly comprises a first upright pole, wherein the first upright pole comprises the first upper pole, the first downwardly extending structural support, and the first lower pole.  
   
   
       11 . The shelter of  claim 10 , wherein the pole assembly comprises four upright poles, each connected to the hub and comprising an upper pole, a downwardly extending structural support, and a lower pole similar to the first upper pole, the first downwardly extending structural support, and the first lower pole.  
   
   
       12 . The shelter of  claim 10 , wherein the pole assembly comprises two hubs and four upright poles, two of the upright poles connected to a first hub and the other two connected to a second hub, each upright pole comprising an upper pole, a downwardly extending structural support, and a lower pole similar to the first upper pole, the first downwardly extending structural support, and the first lower pole.  
   
   
       13 . The shelter of  claim 1 , wherein an end of the first pole extends into a first opening on the hub to attach the first pole to the hub, the first opening and the end comprising first structures that permit attachment, but not rotation, relative to one another.  
   
   
       14 . The shelter of  claim 13 , wherein the first structures and second structures each comprise oblong cross sections.  
   
   
       15 . The shelter of  claim 14 , wherein the oblong cross sections comprise flat portions that engage each other when the respective pole is inserted in the respective opening.  
   
   
       16 . The shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the pole assembly comprises four upright poles, each comprising an upper pole, a downwardly extending structural support, and a lower pole similar to the first upper pole, the first downwardly extending structural support, and the first lower pole.  
   
   
       17 . A shelter, comprising: 
 a pole assembly, comprising: 
 a hub;  
 a first upper pole and a second upper pole, and the second upper pole being attached to the hub;  
 means for removably and nonrotatably attaching the first upper pole to the hub; and  
 a first downwardly extending structural support connected to the first pole and fixed for rotation therewith; and  
   a canopy for extending over the pole assembly.    
   
   
       18 . The shelter of  claim 17 , further comprising means for removably and nonrotatably attaching the first upper pole to the hub.  
   
   
       19 . The shelter of  claim 17 , further comprising a first lower pole connected to and extending downward from the first downwardly extending structural support.  
   
   
       20 . The shelter of  claim 17 , wherein the pole assembly comprises a first upright pole, wherein the first upright pole comprises the first upper pole, the first downwardly extending structural support, and the first lower pole.