Shelter structure

Claim 2

A shelter structure comprising: a wall unit; and, a roof unit detachably secured to said wall unit, said wall unit comprising a plurality of panels secured to each other along the side edges thereof, the upper edges of said panels forming a first polygon having a predetermined number of sides, the lower edges of said panels forming a second polygon similar to said first polygon having sides which are shorter than the respective sides of said first polygon, said roof unit comprising a like predetermined number of subunits, each roof subunit having a peripheral edge, two lateral edges which extend from opposite ends of said peripheral edge and converge, and a central edge disposed at the opposite ends of said lateral edges from said peripheral edge, each subunit being folded along a fold line which extends from said peripheral edge to said central edge intermediate said lateral edges, each subunit including an opening in the material thereof on each side of said fold line, each said opening having a portion of said wall unit upper edge extending therethrough, and said central edGes of said subunits defining an opening in the center of said roof unit, said opening providing flexibility for accommodation of stress in said roof unit.

Claim 3

A shelter structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fold line extends perpendicularly from the center of said peripheral edge.

Claim 4

The shelter structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said openings comprise slots cut into the material of each said subunit from each said lateral edge.

Claim 5

The shelter structure as claimed in claim 3 wherein portions of said slot adjacent said lateral edge are closer to said peripheral edge than portions of said slot removed from said lateral edge.

Claim 6

The shelter structure as claimed in claim 4 wherein each said slot has a length which is approximately ten percent of the length of said peripheral edge.

Claim 7

The shelter structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein neighboring pairs of said subunits are secured to each other.

Claim 8

The shelter structure as claimed in claim 6 wherein neighboring pairs of said subunits are secured by means of tape bearing a pressure sensitive adhesive.

Claim 9

The shelter structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said panels includes an opening which can serve as an entrance into the shelter structure.

Claim 10

The shelter structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said polygons are similar, regular polygons.

Claim 11

The shelter structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the number of said panels is equal to said predetermined number, each said panel has an upper edge and a lower edge which is shorter than the said upper edge thereof, and adjacent side edges of neighboring pairs of panels are uniformly spaced throughout their entire lengths.

Claim 12

The shelter structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said polygons are regular, similar polygons, adjacent side edges of neighboring pairs of panels are in abutting relation throughout their entire length and said lower edges form said second polygon, each said side of said second polygon being shorter than the sides of said first regular polygon.

Claim 13

A shelter structure as claimed in claim 11 including s floor unit secured to said wall unit.

Claim 14

A shelter structure as claimed in claim 12 wherein said floor unit comprises a polygon having the smae number of sides as said second polygon.

Claim 15

A shelter structure as claimed in claim 13 wherein said floor unit comprises a plurality of flaps attached to said floor unit polygon at a like plurality of sides thereof.

Claim 16

A shelter structure comprising a wall unit comprising a predetermined number of panels each having upper and lower edges and a pair of side edges, said upper edges being longer than said lower edges, neighboring pairs of panels having their adjacent sides in abutting relation and being secured to each other, said upper edges of said panels forming a first regular polygon and said lower edges of said panels forming a second regular polygon similar to but smaller than said first regular polygon, and said panels defining an opening which can serve as an entrance into the shelter structure; a roof unit detachably secured to said wall unit and comprising a like predetermined number of subunits, each subunit having a peripheral edge of one length, a central edge of lesser length and two lateral edges, each subunit being folded along a fold line which extends between the center points of said peripheral and central edges thereof, each subunit including a slot cut into the material thereof spaced from lateral edge thereof, neighboring pairs of subunits being secured to each other with the adjacent lateral edges thereof in abutting relation, each said slot having a portion of a wall unit panel extending therethrough, and the distance from each of said slots to the central edge of the subunit thereof being such that said central edges of said subunits define an opening in the center of said roof unit to provide flexibility for accomodation of stress therein; and, a floor unit comprising a regular polygon similar to and substantially tHe same size as said second regular polygon, and a flap extending from each side of said floor unit polygon, said flaps being secured to said wall unit.

Claim 17

A shelter structure comprising a wall unit comprising a predetermined number of panels each having upper and lower edges and a pair of side edges, said upper edges being longer than said lower edges, neighboring pairs of panels having their adjacent sides in abutting relation and being secured to each other, said upper edges of said panels forming a first regular polygon and said lower edges of said panels forming a second regular polygon similar to but smaller than said first regular polygon, and said panels defining an opening which can serve as an entrance into the shelter structure; a roof unit detachably secured to said wall unit and comprising a like predetermined number of subunits, each subunit having a peripheral edge of one length, a central edge of lesser length and two lateral edges, each subunit being folded along a fold line which extends between the center points of said peripheral and central edges thereof, each subunit including a slot cut into the material thereof spaced from lateral edge thereof, neighboring pairs of subunits being secured to each other with the adjacent lateral edges thereof in abutting relation, each said slot having a portion of a wall unit panel extending therethrough, and the distance from each of said slots to the central edge of the subunit thereof being such that said central edges of said subunits define an opening in the center of said roof unit to provide flexibility for accomodation of stress therein; and, a floor unit comprising a regular polygon similar to and substantially tHe same size as said second regular polygon, and a flap extending from each side of said floor unit polygon, said flaps being secured to said wall unit.

Claim 18

A shelter structure as claimed in claim 15 wherein there are twelve said panels.

Claim 19

A shelter structure as claimed in claim 15 wherein said wall unit, said roof unit, and said floor unit are each formed from corrugated cardboard.