Portable tensegrity structure

Abstract

A portable structure configured for erection with first and second front struts. The structure has a shell with front and rear edges. The shell has first and second strut couplers positioned adjacent the front edge that are configured to be coupled to first and second front struts, respectively. The shell has first and second tension members extending in a longitudinal direction away from the front and rear edges, respectively, when the shell is in an erect position. The first and second tension members are configured to be coupled to a ground surface or an external structure to tension the shell in the longitudinal direction when the shell is in the erect position. A rear strut is coupled to the shell when the shell is in the erect position. The portable structure is preferably a tent. The front struts may be provided separately from the tent.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows: 
     
         1 . A portable structure configured for erection with a first front strut and a second front strut, comprising:
 a shell moveable between a stowed position and an erect position, wherein a longitudinal direction of the shell extends between a front edge and a rear edge of the shell, and wherein the shell comprises:
 a first strut coupler that is positioned adjacent the front edge and that is configured to be coupled to a first front strut; 
 a second strut coupler that is positioned adjacent the front edge and that is configured to be coupled to a second front strut; 
 a first tension member extending in the longitudinal direction away from the front edge when the shell is in the erect position; and 
 a second tension member extending in the longitudinal direction away from the rear edge when the shell is in the erect position, and wherein the first tension member and the second tension member are each configured to be coupled to at least one of a ground surface and an external structure to tension the shell in the longitudinal direction when the shell is in the erect position; and 
   a rear strut coupled to the shell adjacent the rear edge when the shell is in the erect position.   
     
     
         2 . The portable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the shell further comprises a roof, a front wall coupled to the roof, and a rear wall coupled to the roof. 
     
     
         3 . The portable structure of  claim 2 , wherein the front wall comprises an upper edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, and a lower edge, wherein the first strut coupler comprises a first pocket positioned adjacent the upper edge and the first side edge, and wherein the second strut coupler comprises a second pocket positioned adjacent the upper edge and the second side edge. 
     
     
         4 . The portable structure of  claim 3 , wherein the upper edge of the front wall is longer than the lower edge of the front wall. 
     
     
         5 . The portable structure of  claim 2 , wherein the shell comprises a pair of side walls each coupled to the front wall and the roof, and wherein the shell comprises a floor that is coupled to at least one of the front wall, each of the side walls, and the rear wall. 
     
     
         6 . The portable structure of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the side walls comprises a door. 
     
     
         7 . The portable structure of  claim 6 , wherein a lateral direction of the shell is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and wherein no portion of the structure extends outward in the lateral direction in front of the side wall comprising the door to provide unobstructed access to the door. 
     
     
         8 . The portable structure of  claim 5 , wherein the floor has a first width and the roof has a second width adjacent the front wall that is greater than the first width. 
     
     
         9 . The portable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first tension member comprises a first guyline, and the second tension member comprises a second guyline. 
     
     
         10 . The portable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first tension member comprises a sheet coupled to the front edge, wherein the sheet comprises a tie down that is configured to be coupled to at least one of a ground surface and an external structure. 
     
     
         11 . The portable structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a first front strut comprising a first end coupled to the first strut coupler and a second end adjacent a ground surface, and a second front strut comprising a first end coupled to the second strut coupler and a second end adjacent a ground surface. 
     
     
         12 . The portable structure of  claim 11 , wherein, when the shell is in the erect position, the first front strut forms a first acute angle with respect to a ground surface and the second front strut forms a second acute angle with respect to a ground surface. 
     
     
         13 . The portable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the rear strut is one of a straight rod or a semicircular hoop. 
     
     
         14 . The portable structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a strut securing assembly coupled to the shell, wherein the strut securing assembly comprises a third strut coupler that is configured to be coupled to a first front strut, and a fourth strut coupler that is configured to be coupled to a second front strut. 
     
     
         15 . The portable structure of  claim 14 , wherein a lateral direction of the shell is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the third strut coupler is spaced from the first strut coupler in the lateral direction, and wherein the fourth strut coupler is spaced from the second strut coupler in the lateral direction. 
     
     
         16 . A portable structure comprising:
 a shell comprising a roof, a pair of sidewalls, a front wall, a rear wall, and a floor, wherein the roof, the pair of sidewalls, the front wall, the rear wall, and the floor are configured to cooperatively define an interior chamber of the shell; and   a tensegrity support assembly coupled to the shell and configured to support the shell, the tensegrity support assembly comprising a first strut, a second strut, a rear strut, and a plurality of tension members coupled to and extending between at least two of the first strut, the second strut, and the rear strut.   
     
     
         17 . The portable structure of  claim 16 , wherein the roof comprises an awning laterally extending outward therefrom and beyond the pair of sidewalls. 
     
     
         18 . The portable structure of  claim 16 , further comprising a first strut coupler coupled to the shell and removably coupled to the first strut and a second strut coupler coupled to the shell and removably coupled to the second strut. 
     
     
         19 . The portable structure of  claim 16 , further comprising a first strut coupler coupled to the shell and configured to reciprocally receive the first strut and a second strut coupler coupled to the shell and configured to reciprocally receive the second strut. 
     
     
         20 . A portable structure configured for erection with a first front strut and a second front strut, comprising:
 a shell moveable between a stowed position and an erect position, wherein the shell comprises a roof, a front wall coupled to the roof, a rear wall coupled to the roof, a pair of side walls each coupled to the front wall and the roof, and a floor coupled to the front wall, the rear wall, and each of the side walls, wherein a longitudinal direction of the shell extends between the front wall and the rear wall, wherein the front wall comprises an upper edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, and a lower edge, wherein the front wall comprises a first strut coupler positioned adjacent the upper edge and the first side edge, wherein the first strut coupler is configured to be coupled to a first front strut, wherein the front wall comprises a second strut coupler positioned adjacent the upper edge and the second side edge, wherein the second strut coupler is configured to be coupled to a second front strut, wherein the roof comprises a first tension member extending in the longitudinal direction away from the front wall when the shell is in the erect position, wherein the roof comprises a second tension member extending in the longitudinal direction away from the rear wall when the shell is in the erect position.