System for Rapid Concealment and Shelter Including Angular Frames and Warfighter Covers

Abstract

A modular free-standing shelter including a frame and a cover. The frame has an upper plate and a lower plate, and a number of cover shafts are each pivotally connected at one end to the upper plate. A number of stretcher shafts are each pivotally connected between a respective one of the cover shafts and the lower plate. A separation shaft is affixed to one of the plates for separating the upper and lower plates at a predetermined distance. The cover is a skin having a predetermined shape that is engaged by the cover shafts. Some embodiments include angular frames. Some embodiments include warfighter covers.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A collapsible, free-standing shelter, comprising:
 a frame and a cover;   the frame comprising:
 a thin flat upper plate and a thin flat lower plate, the upper plate substantially forming an apex of the shelter prior to engagement of a separation shaft, the shelter having a vertical axis perpendicular to the upper plate; 
 three or more cover shafts each pivotably connected to the upper plate; 
 three or more stretcher shafts each pivotably connected to respective ones of the cover shafts and each pivotably connected to the lower plate, and 
 the separation shaft connected to one of the plates, wherein the separation shaft includes a separation shaft tip configured to pass through an opening formed in the other plate and a separation shaft stop larger than the opening and configured medially on the separation shaft to engage the proximal face of the other plate after the separation shaft tip has passed through the opening, and 
 a puller for applying opposing forces to the upper plate and the lower plate to cause the separation shaft to separate the plates at a predetermined distance, the predetermined distance set by the separation shaft stop, and 
 the cover attached to the frame, comprising a skin having a predetermined shape, 
 wherein one of the plates has sufficient size and shape to be engaged by feet of an operator while the operator is applying force to the puller. 
   
     
     
         2 . A collapsible shelter, comprising:
 a frame and a cover;   the frame comprising:
 a thin flat upper plate; 
 a plurality of cover shafts each pivotally connected at one end to the upper plate; 
 a thin flat lower plate; 
 a plurality of stretcher shafts each pivotally connected between a respective one of the cover shafts and the lower plate; 
 a separation shaft affixed to one of the upper or lower plates and configured to pass through an opening formed in the other plate for separating the upper and lower plates at a predetermined distance; 
 a separation shaft stop larger than the opening and configured medially on the separation shaft to engage the other plate after a tip of the separation shaft has passed through the opening; and 
 the cover comprising a skin having a predetermined shape and engaged by the cover shafts, 
 wherein at least one plate has a plurality of predetermined plate anchors perpendicular to the plane of the plate, each plate anchor being used to connect to one of the shafts, 
 wherein the plate anchors extend perpendicularly toward the other plate, within a plate perimeter of the plate, 
 whereby the plate perimeter of the plate protects the plate anchors from damage when the frame is in a collapsed position. 
   
     
     
         3 . The shelter of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first central aperture traversing the upper plate forming the opening in the other plate;   a second central aperture traversing the lower plate; and   a rope connected to the lower plate and extending through the first and second central apertures and the skin for engagement by a user.   
     
     
         4 . The shelter of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 at least one window in the skin having a window perimeter surrounding the window;   a flap of material affixed to the skin proximate to the window, the flap of material having an edge substantially corresponding to the window perimeter; and   a connector detachably connecting the edge of the flap to the window perimeter.   
     
     
         5 . The shelter of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a cord affixed to the skin proximate to the window; and   a clip affixed to the flap and detachably connectable to the cord to displace the flap from the window.   
     
     
         6 . The shelter of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a webbing strap affixed to the skin and traversing the flap;   at least one buckle slidably positioned along said webbing strap to displace the flap from the window.   
     
     
         7 . The shelter of  claim 4 , wherein the connector includes hook and loop material affixed to the flap and the skin for a breakable connection. 
     
     
         8 . The shelter of  claim 4 , wherein the connector includes magnets affixed to the flap and the skin for a breakable connection. 
     
     
         9 . A method of tightening the skin of the shelter of  claim 3  by a human operator, the human operator having a body having hands and feet, comprising the steps of:
 a) pulling the rope with at least one hand or foot from the group of the hands or the feet while pushing in the opposite direction with one of the other of the group of the hands or the feet, and 
 b) applying a skin tightening force using a plurality of large muscle groups of the full body of the operator from the hands to the feet, 
 
       whereby the shelter is rapidly set up, 
       whereby the frame stores and transfers the force to the cover shafts, and 
       whereby the cover shafts stretch panels of the cover with sufficient force that the skin is held taut without substantial movement or noise. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the steps of:
 a) before the pulling step, placing the collapsed shelter horizontally on the ground, the collapsed frame being folded at the upper plate, 
 b) sitting along the axis of the collapsed shelter nearest the upper plate, 
 c) placing one or more feet of the operator on the upper plate, 
 d) lifting and spreading two of the cover shafts, 
 wherein the pulling step is performed with at least one hand and the upper plate is lifted with one or more of the feet, and 
 wherein the applying step is performed with the operator in a seated row position. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the steps of:
 a) before the pulling step, placing the collapsed shelter vertically, the collapsed frame being partially folded at the upper plate, 
 b) standing inside the partially collapsed shelter, parallel to the axis of the shelter, 
 wherein the pulling step is performed with at least one foot attached to the rope, 
 wherein the pushing is performed by one or more hand and is applied directly or indirectly to the lower plate, and 
 wherein the applying step is performed with the operator in a power jerk position. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the steps of the method are completed in less than about seven seconds. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the shelter further comprises a safety means comprising one of a safety strap, a safety clip, or a safety pin, the method further comprising a step of engaging the safety means. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising a take down step, wherein the operator, positioned outside the shelter, holds the shelter substantially horizontally and kicks a tip of the separation shaft with the bottom of one foot to release the stored force, whereby the hands and head of the operator are positioned safely away from the area of potential injury. 
     
     
         15 . The shelter of  claim 2 , wherein each of the cover shafts further comprise an angular hinge, forming a lower shaft below the angular hinge and an upper shaft above the angular hinge,
 wherein the angular hinge is configured to allow the lower shaft to fold up parallel to the upper shaft, forming a substantially zero degree angle,   wherein the angular hinge is configured to fold down and hold the lower shaft at a predetermined angle with respect to the upper shaft, wherein the predetermined angle is between about two hundred ten degrees and about two hundred sixty degrees.   
     
     
         16 . The shelter of  claim 15 , wherein the cover skin is an angular cover having a shape configured to match the angular hinges of the frame. 
     
     
         17 . The shelter of  claim 2 , wherein the cover comprises fully enclosing netting and a water resistant floor, the shelter further comprising a removable rain cover having a shape similar to the netting. 
     
     
         18 . The shelter of  claim 17 , wherein the entire bottom edge of the rain cover is configured to reach the surface upon which the shelter is standing, and
 wherein at least one rain cover panel has additional material capable of being extended beyond the area enclosed by the netting.   
     
     
         19 . A collapsible shelter, comprising:
 a frame and a cover;   the frame comprising:
 a flat upper plate, having an upper plate width and an upper plate height, wherein the upper plate width is greater than the upper plate height; 
 a plurality of cover shafts each pivotally connected at one end to the upper plate; 
 a flat lower plate, having a lower plate width and a lower plate height, wherein the lower plate width is greater than the lower plate height; 
 a plurality of stretcher shafts each pivotally connected between a respective one of the cover shafts and the lower plate; 
 a separation shaft affixed to the lower plate and configured to pass through an opening formed in the upper plate, for separating the upper and lower plates at a predetermined distance; 
 a separation shaft stop permanently larger than the opening and configured medially on the separation shaft to engage the upper plate without passing through the upper plate after a tip of the separation shaft has passed through the opening; and 
   the cover comprising a skin having a predetermined shape and engaged by the cover shafts,
 wherein the upper plate has a plurality of predetermined plate anchors perpendicular to the plane of the upper plate, each plate anchor being used to connect to one of the shafts, 
 wherein the plate anchors extend perpendicularly toward the lower plate, within a plate perimeter of the upper plate, 
 whereby the plate perimeter of the upper plate protects the plate anchors from damage when the frame is in a collapsed position. 
   
     
     
         20 . The shelter of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a first central aperture traversing the upper plate;   a second central aperture traversing the lower plate; and   a pull cord connected to the lower plate and extending through the first and second central apertures and the skin for engagement by a user,   wherein the upper plate has sufficient size and shape for engagement by feet of the user.