Portable shelter systems and methods

Abstract

Aspects of the subject technology relate to a removable shelter that electrically and/or communicatively integrates with an electric vehicle when the removable shelter is mounted to the vehicle. The removeable shelter may leverage electrical contacts in accessory mounting ports on the roof, crossbars, and/or truck bed of the vehicle. The removeable shelter may also communicate wirelessly with the electric vehicle. The removable shelter may include any of various integrated electronic accessories that can be powered by the vehicle battery, including, but not limited to, external lighting, external proximity sensing, proximity-based external lighting, interior lighting, air temperature control, other temperature control, speakers, charging ports for mobile phones and/or other devices, and/or other features.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shelter, comprising:
 a first portion comprising a window, wherein the first portion is coupled to a second portion configured to form a first base of a floor of the shelter, and wherein the second portion is coupled to a third portion configured to form a second base for the floor;   a first hoop coupled to the second portion and the third portion; and   one or more second hoops coupled to the second portion, wherein one or more of the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, the first hoop, and the one or more second hoops are configured to support one or more fabrics that bind to form an enclosure for the shelter.   
     
     
         2 . The shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises an inner shell, an outer shell, and an air gap between the inner shell and the outer shell, and wherein the first portion is configured to open to an angle of greater than ninety degrees relative to the second portion. 
     
     
         3 . The shelter of  claim 1 , wherein an inner shell of the first portion is configured to house a control panel having a fan, and an inlet, wherein an air gap forms a duct between the inlet and the fan. 
     
     
         4 . The shelter of  claim 1 , wherein an inner shell of the first portion is configured to support a screen that is extendible over the window. 
     
     
         5 . The shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more second hoops comprise a frame for a door for the enclosure, and an outer frame. 
     
     
         6 . The shelter of  claim 1 , wherein a frame for a door for the enclosure is configured to receive an inner door frame of the door, the door comprising a plurality of panels coupled together by fabric hinges. 
     
     
         7 . The shelter of  claim 6 , wherein the inner door frame and the plurality of panels each include one or more magnets configured to hold the door in any of an open, partially open, or closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The shelter of  claim 5 , wherein the frame for the door is configured to open to an angle of ninety degrees relative to the second portion of the frame, and the outer frame is configured to open to an angle of greater than ninety degrees relative to the second portion of the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The shelter of  claim 8 , wherein the outer frame comprises a plurality of Keder slots configured to receive a plurality of anchors for a plurality of fabric portions of the one or more fabrics. 
     
     
         10 . The shelter of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of Keder slots include a Keder slot for an anchor for a first end of a fabric bridge between the frame and the outer frame, and wherein the frame comprises an additional Keder slot configured to receive an anchor for an opposing end of the fabric bridge between the frame and the outer frame. 
     
     
         11 . The shelter of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a hydraulic strut that couples the first portion and the second portion; and   a mechanism that couples the second portion and the outer frame.   
     
     
         12 . The shelter of  claim 11 , wherein the mechanism comprises a pulley mechanism or a ratchet mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The shelter of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of mechanical connectors on the second portion, each of the plurality of mechanical connectors configured to attach to a corresponding crossbar on a roof of a vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The shelter of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of mechanical connectors comprises a pair of opposing clamping members that are configured to move in unison to clamp that mechanical connector to the corresponding crossbar. 
     
     
         15 . The shelter of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of mechanical connectors comprises a spring and a paddle, the paddle configured to compress the spring to press the pair of opposing clamping members against the crossbar. 
     
     
         16 . The shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the window comprises a solid transparent cover. 
     
     
         17 . A removable shelter, comprising:
 a frame configured to removably mount to a vehicle, the frame comprising:
 a first base portion coupled to a window portion and configured to form at least part of a floor base; 
 a second base portion configured to form at least another part of the floor base; and 
 a support structure coupled to the first base portion and the second base portion, 
 wherein the first base portion, the second base portion, and the support structure are configured to support one or more fabrics that bind to form an enclosure for the removable shelter. 
   
     
     
         18 . The removable shelter of  claim 17 , further comprising the one or more fabrics, wherein at least one of the one or more fabrics is anchored within at least one respective Keder slot in the support structure. 
     
     
         19 . A system, comprising:
 a vehicle; and   a removable shelter configured to removably mount to the vehicle, the removable shelter comprising:
 a frame, comprising:
 a first portion comprising a window, wherein the first portion is coupled to a second portion configured to form a first base of a floor of the removable shelter, and wherein the second portion is coupled to a third portion configured to form a second base for the floor; 
 a first hoop coupled to the second portion and the third portion of the frame; and 
 one or more second hoops coupled to the second portion of the frame, 
 wherein the at least one of the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, the first hoop, and the one or more second hoops are configured to support one or more fabrics that bind to form an enclosure for the removable shelter. 
 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the removable shelter further comprises a first light source on the first hoop, a second light source on the one or more second hoops, and a third light source on the third portion.