Reconfigurable shelter

Abstract

A reconfigurable shelter includes a set of biasable members that are secured or securable at a first end thereof at spaced positions to inhibit movement of the first ends from the spaced positions. A flexible cover is connected or connectable to the set of flexible members to at least partially enclose a space between the set of biasable members. A closure structure is connected to the set of biasable members or the flexible cover to alternately condition the set of biasable members between an open configuration, in which the second ends of the set of biasable members are positioned to provide an opening in the flexible cover towards the second ends of the set of biasable members, and a closed configuration, in which the second ends of the set of biasable members are positioned to diminish or close the opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reconfigurable shelter, comprising:
 a set of biasable members that are secured or securable at a first end thereof at spaced positions to inhibit movement of the first ends from the spaced positions;   a flexible cover connected or connectable to the set of flexible members to at least partially enclose a space between the set of biasable members;   a closure structure connected to at least one of the flexible cover and the set of biasable members to alternately condition the set of biasable members between an open configuration, in which the second ends of the set of biasable members are positioned to provide an upper opening in the flexible cover towards the second ends of the set of biasable members, and a closed configuration, in which the second ends of the set of biasable members are positioned to diminish or close the upper opening.   
     
     
         2 . The reconfigurable shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the biasable members are biased towards the open configuration, and wherein the closure structure biases the biasable members towards the closed configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The reconfigurable shelter of  claim 2 , wherein each of the set of biasable members is a flexible member. 
     
     
         4 . The reconfigurable shelter of  claim 2 , wherein each of the set of biasable members includes at least one joint at which the biasable member articulates. 
     
     
         5 . The reconfigurable shelter of  claim 2 , wherein the closure structure includes a cord bound to at least one of the set of biasable members towards the second ends thereof and the flexible cover towards the second ends of the set of biasable members, wherein pulling of the cord biases the set of biasable members towards the closed configuration and releasing of the cord permits the set of biasable members to return to the open configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The reconfigurable shelter of  claim 5 , wherein each of the set of biasable members includes a channel towards the second end thereof in which the cord is received. 
     
     
         7 . The reconfigurable shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the first ends are secured to a base frame. 
     
     
         8 . The reconfigurable shelter of  claim 2 , wherein the base frame includes a set of base frame members extending between and connected at the spaced positions, the base frame being conditionable between an assembled state in which the base frame members are secured to one another to prevent relative movement, and a collapsed state in which movement between at least some of the base frame members is less restricted than in the assembled state. 
     
     
         9 . The reconfigurable shelter of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible cover has a discontinuity extending from a bottom peripheral edge towards the first ends of the biasable members to a top peripheral edge towards the second ends of the set of biasable members, the discontinuity being reclosably openable to facilitate collapsing of the reconfigurable shelter and/or configure the reconfigurable shelter in an exposed configuration, in which a side opening at least partially extends from the top peripheral edge to the bottom peripheral edge. 
     
     
         10 . The reconfigurable shelter of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible cover includes a fastener system to reclosably open the discontinuity. 
     
     
         11 . The reconfigurable shelter of  claim 10 , wherein the fastener system can at least partially open the discontinuity. 
     
     
         12 . The reconfigurable shelter of  claim 1 , further comprising a top cover dimensioned to extend over a top perimeter of the flexible cover towards the second ends of the set of biasable members to inhibit precipitation from entering the upper opening.