Lightweight portable modular shelter and method

Abstract

A portable modular shelter, wall assembly, and method of assembly include a plurality of wall panels and a plurality of wall brackets operatively attached to the wall panels. A plurality of connector columns are configured to join two of the wall brackets together, such that two of the wall panels are operatively joined by each connector column. The wall bracket includes an L-shaped member, and the connector column includes a U-shaped member. Therefore, two of the L-shaped members of the wall brackets fit within the U-shaped member of each connector column. A bottom track and a top track are configured to hold the wall panels, wall brackets, and connector columns. A plurality of connector elements are configured to attach the bottom and top tracks to one or more of the connector columns. In some configurations, the connector elements are retractable spring pins.

1 . A portable modular shelter, comprising:
 a plurality of wall panels;   a plurality of wall brackets operatively attached to each of the wall panels; and   a plurality of connector columns configured to join two of the wall brackets together, such that two of the wall panels are operatively joined by each connector column.   
     
     
         2 . The portable modular shelter of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the wall bracket includes an L-shaped member, and   wherein the connector column is a U-shaped member, such that two of the L-shaped members of the wall brackets fit within the U-shaped member of each connector column.   
     
     
         3 . The portable modular shelter of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a bottom track configured to hold the wall panels, wall brackets, and connector columns; and   a plurality of bottom connector elements configured to attach the bottom track to one or more of the connector columns.   
     
     
         4 . The portable modular shelter of  claim 3 , wherein the bottom connector elements are retractable spring pins. 
     
     
         5 . The portable modular shelter of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a top track configured to hold the wall panels, wall brackets, and connector columns; and   a plurality of top connector elements configured to attach the top track to one or more of the connector columns.   
     
     
         6 . The portable modular shelter of  claim 5 , wherein the top connector elements are retractable spring pins. 
     
     
         7 . The portable modular shelter of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a corner column configured to join two of the wall brackets together at an angle greater than sixty degrees, such that two of the wall panels are operatively joined at an angle greater than sixty degrees.   
     
     
         8 . The portable modular shelter of  claim 7 ,
 wherein one of the wall panels includes a selectively openable door, and   wherein one of the wall panels includes a window element.   
     
     
         9 . The portable modular shelter of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a plurality of roof panels operatively attached to the wall panels; and   a plurality of roof columns configured to join two or more of the roof panels.   
     
     
         10 . The portable modular shelter of  claim 9 , wherein the roof columns define a gutter element configured to collect and drain liquid away an exterior roof surface defined by the roof panels. 
     
     
         11 . The portable modular shelter of  claim 10 , wherein the wall panels further include:
 a first sheet defining an exterior surface and an interior surface;   a second sheet defining an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are made of a polymer material; and   a core layer, wherein the core layer is made of an insulating material,   wherein the interior surfaces of the first sheet and the second sheet are adhered to the core layer to form a laminate structure.   
     
     
         12 . A wall assembly comprising:
 a plurality of panel members;   a plurality of wall brackets operatively attached to the panel members; and   a plurality of connector columns configured to join two of the wall brackets together, such that two of the panel members are operatively joined by each connector column.   
     
     
         13 . The wall assembly of  claim 12 , wherein:
 each of the wall brackets include an L-shaped member and a U-shaped receiver;   each of the connector columns is a U-shaped member, such that two of the L-shaped members of the wall brackets fit within the U-shaped member of each connector column; and   each of the panel members is connected to two of the U-shaped receivers of the wall brackets.   
     
     
         14 . The wall assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the panel members are laminated panels, and the laminated panels further include:
 a plurality of first sheets defining an exterior surface and an interior surface;   a plurality of second sheets defining an exterior surface and an interior surface; and   a plurality of core layers,   wherein the interior surfaces of the first sheets and the second sheets are adhered to the core layers to form the laminated panels.   
     
     
         15 . The wall assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the core layers are made of an insulating material; and   the first sheets and second sheets are made of a polymer material.   
     
     
         16 . The wall assembly of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the insulating material of the core layers is a foam material; and   the polymer material of the first sheets and second sheets includes at least one of a fiberglass reinforced polymer (FRP), a polyethylene based polymer, a high density polyethylene elastomer (HDPE), a polyamide, or a nylon based polymer material.   
     
     
         17 . A method of assembling a portable modular shelter, comprising:
 placing a plurality of wall panels within a bottom track;   connecting the wall panels with a plurality of connector columns;   placing a top track over the wall panels and connector columns; and   attaching the bottom track and the top track to the wall panels and the connector columns.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 ,
 wherein attaching the bottom track and the top track to the wall panels and the connector columns occurs via a plurality of connector elements; and   wherein the connector elements are:
 configured to be detachable and reattachable; and 
 integral to at least one of the wall panels, the bottom track, the top track, or the connector columns, such that no connectors other than the connector elements are required to join the bottom track and the top track to the wall panels and the connector columns. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the bottom track, the top track, the wall panels, the connector columns, and connector elements form a shelter kit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 detaching the bottom track and the top track from the wall panels and the connector columns via the connector elements, such that the shelter kit is disassembled;   moving the shelter kit; and   reattaching the bottom track and the top track to the wall panels and the connector columns via the connector elements, such that the shelter kit is reassembled.