Portable Shelter Assembly Without Stepladder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable shelters and tents face challenges in rapid assembly, high headroom provision, and cost-effectiveness, often requiring a stepladder and being cumbersome to transport and set up.
Innovation Solution
A portable shelter design where the top portion is assembled first, allowing hinged legs to be unfolded and extended in stages, enabling assembly without a stepladder and providing sufficient headroom, with components packaged for easy transportation and quick setup by hand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the shelter is designed with high headroom (at least seven feet), then comfort and utility are improved, but assembly becomes difficult without a stepladder
Solution Approach 1:
The shelter is divided into a top portion and bottom portion that can be assembled separately. The top portion is assembled first on the ground at a low height where all components are accessible, then the bottom portion is attached and the entire structure is lifted to its final high headroom configuration. This segmentation allows assembly of high-headroom shelter without requiring workers to reach high positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The top portion of the shelter is pre-assembled on the ground in a low, accessible configuration before being lifted to its final high position. All connections and adjustments are made at ground level during this preliminary assembly phase, eliminating the need for stepladders or other elevation equipment during the critical connection phases.
2Productivity
If the shelter is designed for rapid assembly, then deployment speed is improved, but structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The shelter is segmented into pre-fabricated top and bottom portions with integrated leg assemblies. These segments are designed to be quickly connected through simplified joining mechanisms that maintain full structural integrity. The segmentation allows rapid deployment while the engineered connection points ensure stability is not compromised despite the speed of assembly.
3Weight of moving object
If the shelter components are packaged for easy transportation, then portability is improved, but assembly complexity may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shelter components are packaged in a nested configuration where the top portion is positioned within the bottom portion, and leg assemblies are stored within the portions. This nesting arrangement minimizes packaging volume and weight for transportation while the components are designed with standardized connection interfaces that simplify assembly despite the multi-step process required.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable shelter is provided for sheltering materials or human occupants at a remote location. The shelter includes, among other things, a flexible cover and a supporting frame. In operation, hinged members that are part of the frame are used to support a first portion and then a second portion of the shelter. Before the frame is raised up, the people who are constructing it can easily reach the top parts of the shelter without a stepladder or the like. By avoiding the need for a stepladder, the overall size and weight of the assembled components that have to be transported to the remote location can be reduced, and the shelter can be constructed more quickly and easily. Hinges, purlin connections, and corner closure systems for the shelter are also disclosed.